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Somersworth, NH

Community Contact Somersworth Dept of Development Services
Craig Wheeler, Director
One Government Way
Somersworth, NH 03878
 
Telephone (603) 692-9519
Fax (603) 692-9575
E-mail cwheeler@somersworth.com
Web Site www.somersworth.com
 
Municipal Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm, Wednesday, 8 am - 6 pm
 
County Strafford
Labor Market Area Rochester-Dover NH-ME Metro-NECTA, NH Portion
Tourism Region Seacoast
Planning Commission Strafford Regional
Regional Development Southeast Economic Development Corp.
 
Election Districts  
US Congress
 District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council
 District 2 (All Wards)
State Senate
 District 6 (All Wards)
State Representative
 Strafford County District 2 (All Wards)
Incorporated: 1754
 
Origin: This territory was first settled about 1650 when it was part of Dover. It was made a separate parish in 1729, called Summersworth. In 1753, residents petitioned Governor Benning Wentworth for a separate township. The town was incorporated as Somersworth in 1754. In 1849, the town was divided nearly in half when the southern portion was incorporated as Rollinsford. Somersworth was incorporated as a city in 1893. Situated on the Salmon River, Somersworth has been home to many gristmills, sawmills, and cotton and woolen making establishments.
 
Villages and Place Names: unknown
 
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 943 residents in 1790
 
Population Trends: Population change for Somersworth totaled 4,578 over 50 years, from 6,927 in 1950 to 11,505 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was a 23 percent increase between 1950 and 1960; the smallest, a three percent increase between 1990 and 2000. The 2008 Census estimate for Somersworth was 11,967 residents, which ranked 25th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
 
Population Density, 2008: 1,219.9 persons per square mile of land area, the fifth highest among the cities and towns. Somersworth contains 9.8 square miles of land area and 0.2 square miles of inland water area.
 
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government City Manager & Council
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2010 $17,501,748
Budget: School Appropriations, 2010 $21,240,628
Zoning Ordinance 1953/09
Master Plan 2000
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 City Council
Appointed:
 Planning; Zoning; Conservation; Library; Cemetery; HDC

Public Library Somersworth Public

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

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Wentworth-Douglass, Dover 4 miles 134
Frisbie Memorial, Rochester 6 miles 70
     

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier Unitil Northern
Water Supplier Municipal

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal  
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Private
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 Yes
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) $23.43
2008 Equalization Ratio 93.1
2008 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $21.76

2008 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 74.7%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 24.2%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 1.1%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2008 Total Housing Units 5,282
   
2008 Single-Family Units 2,438
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 16
2008 Multi-Family Units 2,338
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 4
2008 Manufactured Housing Units 506
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2008 11,967 121,914
2000 11,505 112,676
1990 11,200 104,348
1980 10,350 85,408
1970 9,026 70,431

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 5,521
Female
 5,956

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 832
Age 5 to 19
 2,449
Age 20 to 34
 2,482
Age 35 to 54
 3,446
Age 55 to 64
 895
Age 65 and over
 1,373
Median Age
 34.9 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 84.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 18.8%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $19,592
Median 4-person family income $47,933
Median household income $42,739

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $36,585
Female
 $25,804

Families below the poverty level 6.3%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1998 2008
Civilian Labor Force
 6,425 6,533
Employed
 6,226 6,280
Unemployed
 199 253
Unemployment Rate
 3.1% 3.9%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1998 2008
Goods Producing Industries    
Average Employment
 1,660 1,108
Average Weekly Wage
 $663 $910
     
Service Providing Industries    
Average Employment
 2,407 3,477
Average Weekly Wage
 $431 $654
     
Total Private Industry    
Average Employment
 4,067 4,585
Average Weekly Wage
 $526 $716
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)    
Average Employment
 439 530
Average Weekly Wage
 $517 $694
     
Total, Private plus Government    
Average Employment
 4,507 5,115
Average Weekly Wage
 $525 $714
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Somersworth operates grades K-12 District: SAU 56
Career Technology Center(s): Dover Voc. Center; Somersworth Reg. Voc. Center; Creteau Voc. Center, Rochester Region: 12
 
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 2 1 1 3
Grade Levels
 P K 1-4 5-8 9-12 P K 1-12
Total Enrollment
 651 537 589 361
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2009: Total Facilities: 10 Total Capacity: 480
Nearest Community/Technical College: Great Bay
Nearest Colleges or Universities: University of NH

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
General Electric Co. Manufacturing, meter control division 300+/-  
Trelleborg Palmer-Chenard Manufacturing, rubber products 200+/-  
Busy Bee Janitorial Services Janitorial services 120+/-  
Wal-Mart Retail store 400+/-  
Somersworth School Department Education 291  
Market Basket Supermarket 180  
City of Somersworth Municipal services 114+/-  
Velcro Hook & loop products 129+/-  
The Works Athletic Club Physical fitness, wellness center 120+/-  
General Linen Laundry facility 116  

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes  
  State Routes 16A, 16B, 108, 236
Nearest Interstate, Exit Spaulding Tpk., Exit 9; I-95, Exit 5
         Distance 4 miles; 17 miles
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation Yes
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Skyhaven, Rochester
Runway
 4,001 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Portland (ME) International Jetport Distance 43 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 6

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 46 miles
Portland, ME
 49 miles
Boston, MA
 72 miles
New York City, NY
 283 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 278 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 85.2%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 9.3%
Public transportation
 0.8%
Walked
 2.1%
Other Means
 1.2%
Worked at home
 1.4%
Mean Travel Time to Work 23.8 minutes
   
Percent of Working Residents:  
Working in community of residence
 20%
Commuting to another NH community
 69%
Commuting out-of-state
 11%
   
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
  YMCA/YWCA
  Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
  Swimming: Indoor Facility
  Swimming: Outdoor Facility
  Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
  Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
  Bowling Facilities
X Museums
  Cinemas
  Performing Arts Facilities
  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
  Campgrounds
  Fishing/Hunting
  Boating/Marinas
  Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
  Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
  Overnight or Day Camps
   
  Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
  Other: Pumpkin Festival; Childrens Festival; Walking Trails; Baseball/Softball Fields; Basketball Courts; Childrens Playground

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2009. Community Response Received 11/09/09

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.