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Laconia, NH

Community Contact City of Laconia
Eileen Cabanel, City Manager
45 Beacon Street East
Laconia, NH 03246
 
Telephone (603) 527-1270
Fax (603) 527-1292
E-mail citymanager@city.laconia.nh.us
Web Site www.cityoflaconianh.org
 
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 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 (All Wards)
Executive Council
 District 1 (All Wards)
State Senate
 District 4 (All Wards)
State Representative
 Belknap County District 4 (All Wards)
Incorporated: 1855
 
Origin: The name Laconia was first used in documents granting the land between the Merrimack and Sagadahock Rivers to Captain John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges. Some documents call the grant the Province of Maine, others call it the Province of Laconia, named after a region of Greece. In the 1620s explorers had hoped to follow the Piscataqua River north to Lake Champlain, in search of the great lakes and rivers of Canada told of in Indian lore. These explorers were known as the Laconia Adventurers. The town was originally a portion of Meredith and Gilford named Meredith Bridge, and was incorporated as Laconia in 1855. Incorporated as a city in 1893, Laconia includes Weirs Beach, which bears the name of primitive fishing devices discovered at the outlet of Lake Winnipesaukee.
 
Villages and Place Names: Lakeport, Weirs Beach
 
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,806 residents in 1860
 
Population Trends: Population change for Laconia totaled 1,706 over 50 years, from 14,745 in 1950 to 16,451 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was five percent between 1970 and 1980, and the city's population increased just 12 percent over five decades. The 2008 Census estimate for Laconia was 17,065 residents, which ranked 15th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
 
Population Density, 2008: 849.4 persons per square mile of land area. Laconia contains 20.1 square miles of land area and 6.0 square miles of inland water area.
 
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Manager & Council
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2007-2008 $58,002,005
Budget: School Appropriations, included with Municipal appropriations
Zoning Ordinance 1948/05
Master Plan 2007
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By City Planner

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 City Council; Police
Appointed:
 Planning; Zoning; Library; Conservation; Assessors; Building Code; Housing; Parks & Recreation; Putnam Fund; Trust Funds; Water; Personnel

Public Library Laconia 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 Local 113
     
     

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop
Natural Gas Supplier National Grid
Water Supplier Laconia Water Works

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal  
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Municipal
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) $16.97
2008 Equalization Ratio 100.0
2008 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $16.76

2008 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 83.6%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 15.2%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 1.1%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2008 Total Housing Units 9,475
   
2008 Single-Family Units 4,928
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 77
2008 Multi-Family Units 1,282
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 0
2008 Manufactured Housing Units 265
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2008 17,065 61,281
2000 16,451 56,576
1990 15,831 49,294
1980 15,575 42,884
1970 14,888 32,367

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 7,969
Female
 8,442

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 869
Age 5 to 19
 3,186
Age 20 to 34
 3,203
Age 35 to 54
 4,746
Age 55 to 64
 1,579
Age 65 and over
 2,828
Median Age
 38.8 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 81.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 19.6%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $19,540
Median 4-person family income $45,307
Median household income $37,796

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $31,714
Female
 $22,818

Families below the poverty level 7.5%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1998 2008
Civilian Labor Force
 9,176 8,329
Employed
 8,932 7,945
Unemployed
 244 384
Unemployment Rate
 2.7% 4.6%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1998 2008
Goods Producing Industries    
Average Employment
 3,319 2,183
Average Weekly Wage
 $624 $909
     
Service Providing Industries    
Average Employment
 6,737 6,339
Average Weekly Wage
 $460 $691
     
Total Private Industry    
Average Employment
 10,055 8,522
Average Weekly Wage
 $514 $747
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)    
Average Employment
 1,332 1,521
Average Weekly Wage
 $565 $820
     
Total, Private plus Government    
Average Employment
 11,387 10,043
Average Weekly Wage
 $520 $758
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Laconia operates grades K-12 District: SAU 30
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
 3 1 1 3
Grade Levels
 P K 1-5 6-8 9-12 K 1-12
Total Enrollment
 1,019 478 754 232
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2009: Total Facilities: 17 Total Capacity: 775
Nearest Community/Technical College: Lakes Region
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State University

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Aavid Engineering Corp. Semiconductor heat sinks 620 1966
NH Ball Bearings, Inc. Spherical bearings 478 1968
Lewis & Sanders, Inc. Metal tubular assemblies 130 1956
Wilcom Products, Inc Telecommunications test equipment 85  
Baron Machine Co., Inc. Machine parts, heat treating 70 1957
Lakes Region General Hospital Medical care services    
       
       
       
       

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes 3
  State Routes 106, 107, 11, 11A, 11B
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 20
         Distance 8 miles
Railroad State owned line
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 50 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 6

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 45 miles
Portland, ME
 89 miles
Boston, MA
 95 miles
New York City, NY
 298 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 235 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 78.9%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 12.1%
Public transportation
 0.8%
Walked
 3.7%
Other Means
 1.6%
Worked at home
 3.0%
Mean Travel Time to Work 21.3 minutes
   
Percent of Working Residents:  
Working in community of residence
 52%
Commuting to another NH community
 45%
Commuting out-of-state
 2%
   
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
  YMCA/YWCA
X Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
  Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities
  Museums
X Cinemas
  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: Mount Washington Cruises; Weirs Beach; Scenic Railroad; Prescott Farm Audubon Center

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2009. Community Response Received 09/17/09

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.