Bedford, New Hampshire

Bedford, New Hampshire
Town

Town Hall

Seal

Location in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 42°56′47″N 71°30′57″W / 42.94639°N 71.51583°W / 42.94639; -71.51583Coordinates: 42°56′47″N 71°30′57″W / 42.94639°N 71.51583°W / 42.94639; -71.51583
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Hillsborough
Incorporated 1750
Government
 • Town Council Kelleigh Murphy, Chair
Jim Aguiar
Chris Bandazian
Bill Duschatko
David Gilbert
John Schneller
Melissa Stevens
 • Town Manager Rick Sawyer[1]
Area
 • Total 33.1 sq mi (85.8 km2)
 • Land 32.8 sq mi (85.0 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)  0.85%
Elevation 308 ft (94 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 21,203
 • Density 640/sq mi (250/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC−5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC−4)
ZIP code 03110
Area code 603
FIPS code 33-04500
GNIS feature ID 0873541
Website www.bedfordnh.org

Bedford is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 21,203 at the 2010 census.[2] Bedford is a suburb of Manchester, the largest city in the state.

History

In 1733, Massachusetts established Bedford as "Narragansett, No. 5" for the benefit of soldiers who fought against the Narragansett Indians in Rhode Island.[3] The area was also known as "Souhegan East". The settlement was incorporated as Bedford in 1750,[4] and was named for Lord Russell, the Fourth Duke of Bedford.[5] Lord Russell was the Secretary of State for the Southern Department from 1748-1751 and a close friend of Governor Benning Wentworth, whose first wife, Diana Spencer, was cousin to the Duke of Marlborough.[6]

The first settlers in Bedford were Robert and James Walker III. A monument dated 1737 stands on what is now known as Station Road (adjacent to Hawthorne Drive), marking the first settlement. Bedford's first moderator was Mayor John Goffe, son of Colonel John Goffe, for whom Goffstown was named.

In 1874, Bedford was served by Concord Railroad, and service by the Manchester and Ashburnham Railroad was being planned.[7]

Like much of southeastern New Hampshire, Bedford has grown rapidly over the last fifty years. The 2000 population of 18,274 was over eight times the population in 1950 of 2,176. Every decade has had a substantial rate of growth, ranging from 33 percent between 1980–1990 to a 67 percent increase between 1950-60. The 2005 population estimate by the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning was 20,738 residents,[8] which ranked 13th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.1 square miles (86 km2), of which 32.8 sq mi (85 km2) is land and 0.3 sq mi (0.78 km2) is water, comprising 0.85% of the town. The largest body of water other than the Merrimack River is Sebbins Pond, which is connected to smaller, neighboring bodies of water by Sebbins Brook. Bedford is bordered by the town of Goffstown and the city of Manchester to the north, by Manchester to the east across the Merrimack River, by the town of Merrimack to the south, and by the towns of Amherst and New Boston to the west.

A rock formation called Pulpit Rock (originally the Devil's Pulpit) is located in the northwest part of the town on New Boston Road and is the feature of the town-owned Pulpit Rock Conservation Area. The highest point in Bedford is Holbrook Hill, at 845 feet (258 m) above sea level, located in the extreme northwest corner of town. Bedford lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.[9]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790898—
18001,18231.6%
18101,2969.6%
18201,3756.1%
18301,55413.0%
18401,549−0.3%
18501,91423.6%
18601,172−38.8%
18701,2214.2%
18801,204−1.4%
18901,102−8.5%
19001,1484.2%
19101,110−3.3%
19201,1180.7%
19301,32618.6%
19401,56117.7%
19502,17639.4%
19603,63667.1%
19705,85961.1%
19809,48161.8%
199012,56332.5%
200018,27445.5%
201021,20316.0%
Est. 201522,204[10]4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 21,203 people, 7,364 households, and 5,834 families residing in the town. The population density was 646.4 people per square mile (249.4/km²). There were 7,634 housing units at an average density of 232.7 per square mile (89.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.5% White, 0.6% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

There were 7,364 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.8% were headed by married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.8% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town the age distribution of the population shows 28.6% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.4% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.3 years. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.[2]

For the period 2006–2010, the median income for a household in the town was $116,299 (in 2010 dollars), and the median income for a family was $127,589. Full-time male workers had median earnings of $99,366 versus $53,286 for females. The per capita income for the town was $50,952. About 2.7% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 1.0% of those age 65 or over.[11] Bedford had the fifth highest average personal income in the state between 2006 and 2010.[12]

Politics

Politically, Bedford votes solidly Republican, not having elected a Democrat to the state legislature since 1932.

Education

There are six schools in Bedford: Memorial, Peter Woodbury and Riddle Brook are neighborhood schools and accommodate grades K through 4. McKelvie Intermediate School accommodates grades 5 and 6. In 2007, Lurgio Middle School (grades 7 and 8) and Bedford High School (grades 9 through 12) opened.

Lurgio Middle School and Bedford High School comprise one 300,000 sq ft (28,000 m2) building. This was done to support economies of scale (shared kitchen, auditorium, security), but they operate as separate schools with different entrances, bus schedules, start times and end times. Additionally, key-controlled access is required to move between schools.

A small number of athletic fields on the campus of Saint Anselm College are located in Bedford.

Bedford School District (SAU 25) Teacher Salary

While Bedford has the highest income per household out of all of the towns in New Hampshire, the salaries that the school district's teachers are paid do not reflect this statistic.

For an entry level educator with a Bachelor's Degree, the minimum salary is $39,597.[13] Districts that have higher salaries for entry level educator with a bachelor's degree include Amherst, Chesterfield, East Kingston, Concord, Exeter, Exeter Region Cooperative, Fall Mountain Regional, Dresden, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Hanover, Harrisville, Kensington, Lebanon, Milford, Littleton, Lyme, Oyster River Coop, New Castle, Newington, Portsmouth, North Hampton, Rye, Stratham, Seabrook, Souhegan Cooperative, South Hampton, Winnacunnet Coop and Coe Brown Academy.[13]

The teachers of the Bedford School District are renowned across the country, with the high school having won both statewide and national recognition, including #2 Best Bang for Your Housing Buck School in 2013 by Forbes Magazine,[14] #10 School in New Hampshire by U.S. News[15] and the Secondary School of Excellence Award by the New Hampshire Excellence in Education Awards.[16]

In New Hampshire, the income per year needed in order to support two adults and one child is $55,000 per year.[17] With that being said, in the wealthiest town in 6th wealthiest state in the United States, an entry level educator is unable to support a family without having to pursue a second job.

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ Boufford, Dawn. "TOWN OF BEDFORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING April 13, 2016" (PDF). Town of Bedford. Town of Bedford. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data, Bedford town, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (DP-1)". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  3. ↑ "Bedford". Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire, 1875. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Bedford, New Hampshire". City-Data.com. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Profile for Bedford, New Hampshire, NH". ePodunk. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  6. ↑ Laybourn, Keith (2001). British Political Leaders: A Biographical Dictionary. Keith. p. 29. ISBN 9781576070437.
  7. ↑ "Bedford". Statistics and Gazetteer of New-Hampshire, 1875. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  8. ↑ "2005 Population Estimates of New Hampshire Cities and Towns" (PDF). New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning. July 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-07-11. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
  9. ↑ Foster, Debra H.; Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.; Medalie, Laura (1995). Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers. U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey.
  10. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  11. ↑ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP-3) – Bedford town, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire (DP-3)". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  12. ↑ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS: 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP-3) – All Towns, New Hampshire". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  13. 1 2 "New Hampshire School Districts and Public Academies Teacher Salary Schedules 2015-2016**" (PDF). New Hampshire Department of Education. New Hampshire Department of Education. October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 17, 2016. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)
  14. ↑ Fisher, Daniel. "Midwest Dominates 2013 Best Schools For Your Housing Buck". Forbes. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  15. ↑ "How Does Bedford High School Rank Among America's Best High Schools?". www.usnews.com. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  16. ↑ "2012 NH "ED"ies Award Recipients". old.edies.org. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  17. ↑ "The Minimum Income It Takes to Live in Each State". Mental Floss. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  18. ↑ Kingsbury, John Dennison (1870). Sketch of Rev. Silas Aiken. Welch, Bigelow and Company. p. 3.
  19. ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
  20. ↑ "Chris Carpenter". New Hampshire.com. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  21. ↑ Daughters of the American Revolution (1905). Lineage Book – National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Volume 19. Daughters of the American Revolution. p. 225.
  22. ↑ "Dean Kamen's House Rivals Best Industrial Museums". Design News. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  23. ↑ "For Seth Meyers, you can go home again". Bedford Journal. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  24. ↑ Dobbs, Katelyn. "For Seth Meyers, you can go home again". Bedford Journal. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
  25. ↑ "Biography of HON. MACE MOULTON of Manchester NH". GENEALOGY AND HISTORY OF MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  26. ↑ "A Soprano's Hat Trick: Puccini Triple Bill". The New York Times. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  27. ↑ Willis, John and Monush, Barry (2010). Screen World 2006. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 404.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bedford, New Hampshire.


Neighboring cities and towns

 New Boston Goffstown Manchester
New Boston Manchester
   Bedford  
Amherst Merrimack Manchester
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