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Strafford, NH

Community Contact Town of Strafford
Stephen Leighton, Chairman
PO Box 23
Center Strafford, NH 03815
 
Telephone (603) 664-2192
Fax (603) 664-7276
E-mail not available
Web Site www.strafford.nh.gov
 
Municipal Office Hours Selectmen: Monday through Wednesday, 9 am - 12 noon; Town Clerk: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8:30 am - 2 pm, and Tuesday, 1 pm - 7 pm
 
County Strafford
Labor Market Area Rochester-Dover NH-ME Metro-NECTA, NH Portion
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Strafford Regional
Regional Development Southeast Economic Development Corp.
 
Election Districts  
US Congress
 District 1
Executive Council
 District 2
State Senate
 District 4
State Representative
 Strafford County District 3
Incorporated: 1820
 
Origin: This territory was for a long time part of Barrington, and settled prior to the Revolution. It was incorporated as a separate town in 1820, taking its name from the county in which it is located. Earl of Strafford was a title of the Wentworth family in England. Strafford, Vermont is also named for the family. The name was also adopted by a state militia company in Dover, the Strafford Guards, who later became part of the New Hampshire National Guard. The company served as escort for the Marquis de Lafayette on his visit to America, and saw service in the Civil War. 
 
Villages and Place Names: Berrys Corner, Bow Lake Village, Center Strafford, Hills Corner, Leighton Corners, Strafford Corner, Welshs Corner
 
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 2,144 residents in 1820
 
Population Trends: Population change for Strafford totaled 2,879 over 50 years, from 770 in 1950 to 3,649 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was a 77 percent increase between 1980 and 1990, which followed a 72 percent increase between 1970 and 1980. The 2008 Census estimate for Strafford was 4,065 residents, which ranked 94th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
 
Population Density, 2008: 83.0 persons per square mile of land area. Strafford contains 49.0 square miles of land area and 2.2 square miles of inland water area.
 
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2009 $2,228,354
Budget: School Appropriations, 2008-2009 $9,451,159
Zoning Ordinance 1970/07
Master Plan 2002
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Selectmen; Library
Appointed:
 Planning; Conservation

Public Library Hill

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Part-time
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Frisbie Memorial, Rochester 10 miles 70
     
     

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Private wells

Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal  
Curbside Trash Pickup
 none
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 No
Recycling
 Mandatory

Telephone Company Fairpoint; Union
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
 Limited
Residential
 Limited

PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2008 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $18.88
2008 Equalization Ratio 100.0
2008 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $18.87

2008 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 97.9%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 1.1%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 1.0%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2008 Total Housing Units 1,802
   
2008 Single-Family Units 1,612
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 4
2008 Multi-Family Units 88
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 0
2008 Manufactured Housing Units 102
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2008 4,065 121,914
2000 3,649 112,676
1990 2,936 104,348
1980 1,663 85,324
1970 965 70,431

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 1,814
Female
 1,812

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 212
Age 5 to 19
 953
Age 20 to 34
 486
Age 35 to 54
 1,424
Age 55 to 64
 272
Age 65 and over
 279
Median Age
 37.4 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 92.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 28.5%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $23,500
Median 4-person family income $62,238
Median household income $59,044

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $40,423
Female
 $30,524

Families below the poverty level 1.0%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1998 2008
Civilian Labor Force
 1,810 2,400
Employed
 1,772 2,323
Unemployed
 38 77
Unemployment Rate
 2.1% 3.2%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1998 2008
Goods Producing Industries    
Average Employment
 71 135
Average Weekly Wage
 $508 $839
     
Service Providing Industries    
Average Employment
 38 105
Average Weekly Wage
 $315 $618
     
Total Private Industry    
Average Employment
 109 240
Average Weekly Wage
 $441 $742
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)    
Average Employment
 127 152
Average Weekly Wage
 $401 $528
     
Total, Private plus Government    
Average Employment
 236 392
Average Weekly Wage
 $420 $659
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Strafford operates grades K-8; grades 9-12 are tuitioned to Coe-Brown Academy (Northwood) District: SAU 44
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
 1      
Grade Levels
 K 1-8      
Total Enrollment
 456      
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2009: Total Facilities: 2 Total Capacity: 55
Nearest Community/Technical College: NHTI-Concord
Nearest Colleges or Universities: University of NH

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
David R. Whitcher, Builder Building contractor 25 1971
Strafford Machine & Welding Job machine shop 5 1974
Amusement Media, Inc. Media and marketing 15 1997
Isinglass Country Store Convenience store 3 1985
Strafford Insulating Technologies Insulation 1 1985
Great Crates Storage containers 3 2004
Blue Loon General Store Convenience store, deli 5 2001
       
       
       

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes  
  State Routes 126, 202A
Nearest Interstate, Exit Spaulding Tpk., Exit 16; I-95, Exit 5
         Distance 9 miles; 29 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Skyhaven, Rochester
Runway
 4,001 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 37 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 6

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 37 miles
Portland, ME
 62 miles
Boston, MA
 77 miles
New York City, NY
 294 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 275 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 86.4%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 10.8%
Public transportation
 0.0%
Walked
 0.0%
Other Means
 0.0%
Worked at home
 2.8%
Mean Travel Time to Work 36.6 minutes
   
Percent of Working Residents:  
Working in community of residence
 9%
Commuting to another NH community
 84%
Commuting out-of-state
 7%
   
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
  Municipal Parks
  YMCA/YWCA
  Boys Club/Girls Club
  Golf Courses
  Swimming: Indoor Facility
  Swimming: Outdoor Facility
  Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
  Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
  Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
  Bowling Facilities
  Museums
  Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
  Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
  Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
  Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
  Bicycle Trails
  Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
  Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
  Other:

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2009. Community Response Received 09/21/09

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.