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Gilford, NH

Community Contact Town of Gilford
Scott Dunn, Town Administrator
47 Cherry Valley Road
Gilford, NH 03249
 
Telephone (603) 527-4700
Fax (603) 527-4711
E-mail selectmen@gilfordnh.org
Web Site www.gilfordnh.org
 
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm; Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm, and Thursday, 8 am - 6:30 pm
 
County Belknap
Labor Market Area Laconia NH Micro-NECTA
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Belknap County Economic Development Council
 
Election Districts  
US Congress
 District 1
Executive Council
 District 1
State Senate
 District 4
State Representative
 Belknap County District 5
Incorporated: 1812
 
Origin: Once a part of Gilmanton called Gunstock Parish, this town was named for a key battle at the end of the revolution, the Battle of Guilford Court House, North Carolina. The American forces managed to deplete Cornwallis's army so they were forced to retreat, leading to the surrender at Yorktown. Sargent Lemuel B. Mason, who had fought in that battle, had retired to Gunstock Parish. As the town's oldest citizen when it was incorporated in 1812, Sargent Mason had the honor of selecting a name, and he chose Gilford. North Carolina's Guilford Court House has long since been renamed Martinsville. 
 
Villages and Place Names: Ames, Dockham Shore, Glendale, Lake Shore Park, Belknap Point
 
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,816 residents in 1820
 
Population Trends: Population change for Gilford totaled 5,585 over 50 years, from 1,251 in 1950 to 6,836 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was 63 percent between 1950 and 1960, followed by increases of 58 percent and 50 percent over the next two decades. The 2008 Census estimate for Gilford was 7,450 residents, which ranked 41st among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
 
Population Density, 2008: 192.1 persons per square mile of land area. Gilford contains 38.8 square miles of land area and 14.7 square miles of inland water area.
 
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2008 $11,563,184
Budget: School Appropriations, 2008 $23,535,067
Zoning Ordinance 1962/09
Master Plan 2004
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Selectmen; Fire Engineer; School; Library; Budget
Appointed:
 Planning; Conservation; Zoning; Recreation; Historic

Public Library Gilford Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Emergency Medical Service Municipal

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Lakes Region General, Laconia 4 miles 113
     
     

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop
Natural Gas Supplier National Grid
Water Supplier Gilford Village District; Gunstock Acres Village District

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal  
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Private
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 No
Recycling
 Voluntary

Telephone Company Fairpoint
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
 Yes
Residential
 Yes

PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2008 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $16.89
2008 Equalization Ratio 86.8
2008 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $14.62

2008 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 90.7%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 8.8%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 0.5%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2008 Total Housing Units 4,875
   
2008 Single-Family Units 3694
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 23
2008 Multi-Family Units 569
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 0
2008 Manufactured Housing Units 612
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2008 7,450 61,281
2000 6,836 56,576
1990 6,016 49,294
1980 4,841 42,884
1970 3,219 32,367

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 3,259
Female
 3,544

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 361
Age 5 to 19
 1,368
Age 20 to 34
 788
Age 35 to 54
 2,328
Age 55 to 64
 813
Age 65 and over
 1,145
Median Age
 42.9 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 93.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 34.9%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $32,667
Median 4-person family income $56,554
Median household income $48,658

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $38,839
Female
 $27,325

Families below the poverty level 2.2%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1998 2008
Civilian Labor Force
 3,805 3,654
Employed
 3,719 3,519
Unemployed
 86 135
Unemployment Rate
 2.3% 3.7%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1998 2008
Goods Producing Industries    
Average Employment
 593 332
Average Weekly Wage
 $676 $857
     
Service Providing Industries    
Average Employment
 1,837 2,187
Average Weekly Wage
 $368 $573
     
Total Private Industry    
Average Employment
 2,430 2,519
Average Weekly Wage
 $443 $611
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)    
Average Employment
 439 551
Average Weekly Wage
 $493 $684
     
Total, Private plus Government    
Average Employment
 2,868 3,070
Average Weekly Wage
 $451 $624
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Gilford operates grades K-12 District: SAU 73
Career Technology Center(s): J. Oliva Huot Technical Center, Laconia; Winnisquam Regional High School, Tilton Region: 08
 
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 1 1 1  
Grade Levels
 K 1-4 5-8 9-12  
Total Enrollment
 372 369 585  
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2009: Total Facilities: 10 Total Capacity: 199
Nearest Community/Technical College: Lakes Region
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State University

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Gunstock Recreation Area Ski, recreation area 550  
Hannaford Brothers Supermarket 200 1991
Wal-Mart Retail store 200 1998
Gilford School District Education 260  
Town of Gilford Municipal services 83 1812
Orthopedic Professional Association Medical services 50 1999
WLNH/WLKZ/WEMJ Radio stations 33  
Shaws Supermarket Supermarket 113 2001
Laconia Savings Bank Banking services 115 2002
       

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes  
  State Routes 11, 11A, 11B, 11C
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 20
         Distance 12 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation Yes
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Laconia Municipal
Runway
 5,286 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 54 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 6

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 48 miles
Portland, ME
 84 miles
Boston, MA
 98 miles
New York City, NY
 302 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 241 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 87.3%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 6.6%
Public transportation
 0.2%
Walked
 1.8%
Other Means
 0.3%
Worked at home
 3.9%
Mean Travel Time to Work 22.8 minutes
   
Percent of Working Residents:  
Working in community of residence
 29%
Commuting to another NH community
 65%
Commuting out-of-state
 6%
   
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
  YMCA/YWCA
  Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
  Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
  Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
  Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
  Other: Meadowbrook Musical Arts Center; Ellacoya State Beach

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2009. Community Response Received 09/16/09

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.