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Durham, New Hampshire

Durham is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 15,490 at the 2020 census,[2] up from 14,638 at the 2010 census.[3] Durham is home to the University of New Hampshire.

Durham, New Hampshire
Town
Location within Strafford County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 43°08′02″N 70°55′35″W / 43.13389°N 70.92639°W / 43.13389; -70.92639
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyStrafford
Settled1635
Incorporated1732
Government
 • Town Council
Members
  • Sally Needell, Chair
  • James Lawson
  • Wayne Burton
  • Joe Friedman
  • Emily Friedrichs
  • Charles "Chuck" Hotchkiss
  • Eleanor "Ellie" Lonske
  • Eric Lund
  • Carden Welsh
 • Town AdministratorTodd I. Selig
Area
 • Total24.7 sq mi (64.1 km2)
 • Land22.4 sq mi (58.0 km2)
 • Water2.4 sq mi (6.1 km2)  9.50%
Elevation
50 ft (20 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total15,490
 • Density691/sq mi (266.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
03824
Area code603
FIPS code33-19700
GNIS feature ID0873584
Websitewww.ci.durham.nh.us

The primary settlement in the town, where 11,147 people resided at the 2020 census,[4] is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Durham census-designated place (CDP) and includes the densely populated portion of the town centered on the intersection of New Hampshire Route 108 and Main Street, which includes the university that dominates the town.

History Edit

 
General view of UNH in 1913

Durham sits beside Great Bay at the mouth of the Oyster River, an ideal location for people who lived close to the land, like the Western Abenaki and their ancestors who've lived in the region for an estimated 11,000 years.[5] The Shankhassick[6] (now Oyster) River provided shellfish and access to the north woods for hunting and trapping; the sea provided food and access to long-established trade routes between tribes both north and south; and the open meadows provided land easy to cultivate for crops. Wecannecohunt (or Wecohamet),[7] as the settlement was known until English settlers arrived, proved immediately attractive to them, too.[5]

English settlers first colonized the region in 1622 when King James I granted Sir Fernandino Gorges and John Mason "all that part or porcon of that country now commonly called New-England ... between the latitude of forty and fortyeight degrees northerly latitude," including every island within 100 miles of the coast and "all the lands, soyle, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, mines, ... minerals, pearls and pretious stones, woods, queries, marshes waters, fishings, hunting, hawking, fowling, commodities and hereditaments whatsoever."[8] Gorges and Mason agreed to split the vast tract along the Piscataqua River (still known by its Abenaki name pesgatak was, for "the water looks dark").[9] Gorges took the tract to the east and named it Maine. Mason took the land to west and named it New Hampshire.[10] The region was first named "N'dakinna".[11] It is the traditional ancestral homeland of the Abenaki, Pennacook and Wabanaki peoples.[12]

Colonists first arrived in Wecannecohunt in 1622, the year of the Gorges-Mason grant.[13] They spent their earliest years fishing, cutting, and trapping to sell salted fish, lumber, and fur to European markets. By 1633, colonists were spread along the tidal shores of the Oyster River, and by 1640, they were "in 'recognized possession' of lands up to the fall line."[14] Colonial Durham was first known as the Oyster River Plantation.[13] The English settlers brought non-native livestock aboard their ships, "thousands of cattle, swine, sheep, and horses," requiring them to clear acres merely for pasture. Wecannecohunt's fields, carefully cultivated across centuries, were trampled and their crops destroyed. "The animals exacerbated a host of problems related to subsistence practices, land use, property rights and, ultimately, political authority." When violence between the colonized and the colonizers erupted, livestock were frequently killed. The Abenaki saw them as a direct threat to their food supply.[15]

During King William's War, on July 18, 1694, the fledgling English colonial settlement was attacked in the Raid on Oyster River by French career soldier Claude-Sébastien de Villieu with about 250 Abenaki from Norridgewock under command of their sagamore Bomazeen (or Bomoseen). In all, 104 inhabitants were killed and 27 taken captive,[16] with half the dwellings, including the garrisons, pillaged and burned to the ground.

Oyster River was part of Dover throughout its first century.[13] The Plantation was granted rights as an independent parish in 1716 and incorporated as a township in 1732 when it was renamed Durham.[17] Rev. Hugh Adams claimed to have proposed the name "Durham" in an address to the General Assembly in 1738.[18][19] Two of the earliest settlers of Dover were William and Edward Hilton, the direct descendants of Sir William de Hilton, Lord of Hilton Castle in County Durham, England, but there is nothing to prove that Durham was named in their honor.

Benjamin Thompson, a descendant of an early settler, bequeathed his assets and family estate, Warner Farm, to the state for the establishment of an agricultural college.[20][21] Founded in 1866 in Hanover, the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts moved to Durham in 1893 and became the University of New Hampshire in 1923. Thompson Hall, built in 1892 with an iconic clock tower, is named in his honor. Designed in the Romanesque Revival style by the Concord architectural firm of Dow & Randlett, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.[22]

On October 22, 1999, Durham was the site of a debate between Republican candidates in the 2000 Presidential Election. Future president George W. Bush was present, along with other notable Republicans of the era, such as John McCain, Alan Keyes, Steve Forbes, and Gary Bauer.[23] The debate became the subject of a skit on Saturday Night Live which featured Darrell Hammond playing then President Bill Clinton.[24]

In 2017, Durham became the first community in New Hampshire to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day in place of Columbus Day.[25] In 2018, the Oyster River Cooperative School District, which includes Durham, Lee and Madbury, adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day on its school calendar.[26]

Libraries Edit

Over the years the people of Durham have created several libraries:

Durham Social Library (1815–1857): This library was incorporated by act of the New Hampshire Legislature in 1815. The library contained several hundred books and had a membership numbering nearly 50.

Durham Agricultural Library (1862–1881): Formed Feb. 3, 1862, with Benjamin Thompson as president, this library was small (approximately 72 books) and vocationally-based.

Durham Social Library (1881–1892): Organized March 9, 1881, the library had a membership of 80 and several hundred books. In 1883 the Richardson house was purchased to house the library. It eventually merged with the Durham Public Library.

Durham Public Library (1892–1906): Established in 1892 through the provisions of a New Hampshire state act, this was the town's first "public" library. It contained more than 3,500 books and eventually merged with the library of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts.

Library of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts (1893–): Came to Durham with the arrival of the College in 1893. Initially, the College housed the library in a single room in Thompson Hall. In 1900 Hamilton Smith gave the University $10,000 to construct a library, another $20,000 was obtained from Andrew Carnegie. In 1907—a year after the town and the college agreed to merge their collective library resources—the building (Hamilton Smith Hall) was completed.[27]

Dimond Library (1958): The construction of a new building on the University of New Hampshire's campus brought a new library into the modern age. Recognizable columns such as at the Hamilton Smith Hall were replaced with bolder designs that allowed the library to look more towards the future for inspiration.

In March 1997 by a margin of 2–1, Durham voters passed a charter amendment to establish a board of trustees and allow plans for a new library to go forward. In July 1997 a temporary space was found for the new Public Library in a storefront between the dollar store and a pizzeria. Under the guidance of the Trustees and a newly formed Friends of the Library group, many volunteer townspeople come forward to sheetrock, paint, assemble shelves, and unpack and shelve 719 boxes of books. On July 21, 1997 a dedication ceremony was held for the new library, with Governor Jeanne Shaheen as the keynote speaker. It was the first new public library to be established in New Hampshire in almost a century. In July 2013 a new public library building was completed on Madbury Road.

Police department Edit

A police force of some manner has served Durham since at least 1848.[28] Durham Police Department is made up of 20 full-time and part-time officers and provides service 24-hours a day.[29]

The Police Department's Adopt-A-Cop program was instituted in 1999 to improve relationships between University of New Hampshire fraternities. Each fraternity is assigned a police officer who attends house meetings and events and acts a liaison between the fraternity and the community.[30]

Fire department and EMS Edit

The first fire department organization in Durham was organized in 1927 and the first salaried firefighter was employed in 1934.[31]

The Durham Fire Department is one of the few fire departments in the country that is funded by both a municipality and a university.[31]

In addition, McGregor Memorial EMS is a regional, non-profit organization delivering emergency medical services and education to the New Hampshire Seacoast area since 1968.

Geography Edit

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 24.7 square miles (64.1 km2), of which 22.4 square miles (58.0 km2) are land and 2.4 square miles (6.1 km2) are water, comprising 9.50% of the town.[1] The town is drained by the Oyster River. The highest point in Durham is Beech Hill, at 291 feet (89 m) above sea level, located on the town's northern border.[32] Durham lies fully within the Piscataqua River (coastal) watershed.[33]

Adjacent municipalities Edit

Transportation Edit

Amtrak's Downeaster train provides five round trips daily through Durham–UNH station, with service north to Portland, Freeport, and Brunswick, Maine, and south to Boston's North Station.

Climate Edit

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Durham has a warm-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.

Climate data for Durham, New Hampshire, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 68
(20)
73
(23)
89
(32)
95
(35)
99
(37)
102
(39)
103
(39)
102
(39)
99
(37)
91
(33)
80
(27)
74
(23)
103
(39)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 54.1
(12.3)
56.1
(13.4)
65.7
(18.7)
80.0
(26.7)
88.7
(31.5)
92.3
(33.5)
93.9
(34.4)
92.5
(33.6)
88.5
(31.4)
77.9
(25.5)
68.3
(20.2)
57.8
(14.3)
95.8
(35.4)
Average high °F (°C) 32.9
(0.5)
36.1
(2.3)
44.6
(7.0)
57.8
(14.3)
68.4
(20.2)
77.1
(25.1)
82.5
(28.1)
81.1
(27.3)
73.3
(22.9)
60.6
(15.9)
48.3
(9.1)
37.7
(3.2)
58.4
(14.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 23.7
(−4.6)
26.1
(−3.3)
34.3
(1.3)
45.8
(7.7)
56.1
(13.4)
65.2
(18.4)
70.9
(21.6)
69.3
(20.7)
61.9
(16.6)
49.8
(9.9)
39.2
(4.0)
29.3
(−1.5)
47.6
(8.7)
Average low °F (°C) 14.4
(−9.8)
16.2
(−8.8)
24.0
(−4.4)
33.9
(1.1)
43.9
(6.6)
53.4
(11.9)
59.2
(15.1)
57.4
(14.1)
50.4
(10.2)
39.1
(3.9)
30.1
(−1.1)
21.0
(−6.1)
36.9
(2.7)
Mean minimum °F (°C) −7.6
(−22.0)
−5.0
(−20.6)
2.8
(−16.2)
20.8
(−6.2)
29.8
(−1.2)
40.3
(4.6)
48.3
(9.1)
45.6
(7.6)
33.9
(1.1)
24.4
(−4.2)
14.5
(−9.7)
2.3
(−16.5)
−10.6
(−23.7)
Record low °F (°C) −35
(−37)
−30
(−34)
−18
(−28)
8
(−13)
18
(−8)
30
(−1)
35
(2)
28
(−2)
21
(−6)
11
(−12)
−13
(−25)
−31
(−35)
−35
(−37)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.65
(67)
3.04
(77)
3.49
(89)
4.11
(104)
3.63
(92)
3.96
(101)
4.02
(102)
3.77
(96)
4.00
(102)
4.72
(120)
3.92
(100)
4.04
(103)
45.35
(1,153)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 14.5
(37)
13.2
(34)
9.8
(25)
2.5
(6.4)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(0.51)
2.3
(5.8)
11.4
(29)
54.2
(138)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.8 8.0 9.0 11.1 11.6 11.5 10.5 9.8 9.5 10.4 10.6 10.5 121.3
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 3.3 3.9 2.3 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.6 2.8 13.4
Source 1: NOAA[34]
Source 2: National Weather Service[35]

Demographics Edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
17901,247
18001,126−9.7%
18101,44928.7%
18201,5386.1%
18301,6064.4%
18401,498−6.7%
18501,497−0.1%
18601,5342.5%
18701,298−15.4%
1880962−25.9%
1890871−9.5%
190099614.4%
1910823−17.4%
1920749−9.0%
19301,21762.5%
19401,53326.0%
19504,770211.2%
19605,50415.4%
19708,86961.1%
198010,65220.1%
199011,81810.9%
200012,6647.2%
201014,63815.6%
202015,4905.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[2][36]
 
Hamilton Smith Hall c. 1920

The demographics of the town of Durham are strongly influenced by the presence of the campus of the University of New Hampshire. As of the census of 2010, there were 14,638 people, 2,960 households, and 1,544 families residing in the town. There were 3,092 housing units, of which 132, or 4.3%, were vacant. 7,266 town residents lived in group quarters such as dormitories, rather than in households. The racial makeup of the town was 93.8% white, 0.9% African American, 0.1% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.01% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.4% some other race, and 1.6% from two or more races. 2.0% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[37]

Of the 2,960 households, 23.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.8% were headed by married couples living together, 4.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.8% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49, and the average family size was 2.94.[37]

In the town, 8.6% of the population were under the age of 18, 64.3% were from 18 to 24, 7.7% from 25 to 44, 12.5% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.[37]

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $71,190, and the median income for a family was $120,039. Male full-time workers had a median income of $72,197 versus $58,750 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,650. 24.5% of the population and 1.4% of families were below the poverty line. 0.7% of the population under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.[38]

Notable people Edit

 
Sam Fuld
 
Historical marker for Major General John Sullivan

Sites of interest Edit

Gallery Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ a b "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Durham town, Strafford County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  3. ^ United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census website, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Durham CDP, New Hampshire". Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Dionne, Mark (June 13, 2017). "Paths to New Hampshire's Native Past". New Hampshire Magazine. from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  6. ^ "Environmental Factsheet: The Oyster River" (PDF). New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. 2019. (PDF) from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  7. ^ "Historical Sketch of Dover, NH". City of Dover, NH, Public Library. 1926. from the original on October 22, 2015.
  8. ^ "A Grant of the Province of Maine to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and John Mason, esq., 10th of August, 1622". Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library. December 18, 1998. from the original on July 28, 2009. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  9. ^ NH State Council on the Arts. "NH: Native American Heritage". Folklife. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Dow, John. "History of Hampton: The Gorges and Mason Grants". Hampton (NH) Public Library. from the original on October 22, 2015.
  11. ^ "A Land Called N'dakinna". UNH Today. June 21, 2019. from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  12. ^ "Land Acknowledgement". Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective. February 7, 2020. from the original on May 24, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  13. ^ a b c Stackpole, Everett S.; Meserve, Winthrop S. (1913). "History of the Town of Durham, NH (Oyster River Plantation)". from the original on April 26, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  14. ^ Wilcox, Philip (1976). "History in an Oystershell: A Brief History of Durham NH" (PDF). Durham Historic Association. (PDF) from the original on August 9, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  15. ^ Anderson, Virginia DeJohn (1994). "King Philip's Herds: Indians, Colonists, and the Problem of Livestock in Early New England" (PDF). Omohundro Institute. (PDF) from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  16. ^ Webster, John Clarence. Acadia at the End of the Seventeenth Century. Saint John, NB, New Brunswick Museum, 1979. p. 65
  17. ^ "A Chronological Perspective of Durham, NH". Town of Durham, NH. from the original on September 13, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  18. ^ N.H. Province Papers, Vol. V, page 35
  19. ^ Mary P. Thompson, Landmarks in Ancient Dover, p. 67
  20. ^ Butterfield, Martha Lamson (2016). The land in our hands: Burley-Demeritt Farm in Lee, NH : its history. Lulu.com. p. 21. ISBN 9781329902954.
  21. ^ "Will of Benjamin Thompson - University of New Hampshire Library". www.library.unh.edu. from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved May 3, 2018.
  22. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Listings -- December 13, 1996". from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  23. ^ "New Hampshire Republican Primary Debate". C-SPAN. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "Clinton On Republicans Cold Open - Saturday Night Live". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  25. ^ "Durham to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day on Columbus Day | New Hampshire". UnionLeader.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  26. ^ Allee, Daniela. "Oyster River Cooperative School District Adopts Indigenous People's Day". Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  27. ^ "Durham Town Records, New Hampshire". University of New Hampshire Library. from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
  28. ^ . Town of Durham, NH. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  29. ^ . Town of Durham, NH. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  30. ^ . Town of Durham, NH. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  31. ^ a b . Town of Durham, NH. Archived from the original on December 15, 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2010.
  32. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. Dover Quadrangle, New Hampshire-Maine map. 1:62,500. 15 Minute Series (Topographic). Washington D.C.: USGS, 1956. Available from University of New Hampshire Dimond Library Documents Department & Data Center, "Archived copy". from the original on March 26, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) accessed 2009-03-17.
  33. ^ 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. Archived from the original on June 21, 2011.
  34. ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  35. ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data". National Weather Service. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  36. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  37. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Durham town, Strafford County, New Hampshire". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  38. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Durham town, Strafford County, New Hampshire". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
  39. ^ Schermerhorn, S. E. History of the town of Durham, New Hampshire (Oyster River Plantation) with genealogical notes. Ripol Classic. p. 92. ISBN 978-1-178-23433-6.
  40. ^ "History of Fort Sullivan". American Forts Network. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  41. ^ Doyle, Bill. "NESN's Jack Edwards calls on his dramatic heritage". Worcester Telegram. from the original on April 24, 2014.
  42. ^ Durham Historic Association & Museum 2005-11-18 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading Edit

  • "Recognized Historic Properties in Durham" (PDF). durham.nh.us. January 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  • via Wayback Machine

External links Edit

  • Official website
  • New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile

durham, hampshire, confused, with, durham, town, strafford, county, hampshire, united, states, population, 2020, census, from, 2010, census, durham, home, university, hampshire, townthompson, hall, university, hampshire, campusseallocation, within, strafford, . Not to be confused with New Durham New Hampshire Durham is a town in Strafford County New Hampshire United States The population was 15 490 at the 2020 census 2 up from 14 638 at the 2010 census 3 Durham is home to the University of New Hampshire Durham New HampshireTownThompson Hall on the University of New Hampshire campusSealLocation within Strafford County New HampshireCoordinates 43 08 02 N 70 55 35 W 43 13389 N 70 92639 W 43 13389 70 92639CountryUnited StatesStateNew HampshireCountyStraffordSettled1635Incorporated1732Government Town CouncilMembers Sally Needell ChairJames LawsonWayne BurtonJoe FriedmanEmily FriedrichsCharles Chuck HotchkissEleanor Ellie LonskeEric LundCarden Welsh Town AdministratorTodd I SeligArea 1 Total24 7 sq mi 64 1 km2 Land22 4 sq mi 58 0 km2 Water2 4 sq mi 6 1 km2 9 50 Elevation50 ft 20 m Population 2020 2 Total15 490 Density691 sq mi 266 8 km2 Time zoneUTC 5 EST Summer DST UTC 4 EDT ZIP code03824Area code603FIPS code33 19700GNIS feature ID0873584Websitewww wbr ci wbr durham wbr nh wbr usThe primary settlement in the town where 11 147 people resided at the 2020 census 4 is defined by the U S Census Bureau as the Durham census designated place CDP and includes the densely populated portion of the town centered on the intersection of New Hampshire Route 108 and Main Street which includes the university that dominates the town Contents 1 History 1 1 Libraries 1 2 Police department 1 3 Fire department and EMS 2 Geography 2 1 Adjacent municipalities 2 2 Transportation 3 Climate 4 Demographics 5 Notable people 6 Sites of interest 7 Gallery 8 References 9 Further reading 10 External linksHistory Edit nbsp General view of UNH in 1913Durham sits beside Great Bay at the mouth of the Oyster River an ideal location for people who lived close to the land like the Western Abenaki and their ancestors who ve lived in the region for an estimated 11 000 years 5 The Shankhassick 6 now Oyster River provided shellfish and access to the north woods for hunting and trapping the sea provided food and access to long established trade routes between tribes both north and south and the open meadows provided land easy to cultivate for crops Wecannecohunt or Wecohamet 7 as the settlement was known until English settlers arrived proved immediately attractive to them too 5 English settlers first colonized the region in 1622 when King James I granted Sir Fernandino Gorges and John Mason all that part or porcon of that country now commonly called New England between the latitude of forty and fortyeight degrees northerly latitude including every island within 100 miles of the coast and all the lands soyle grounds havens ports rivers mines minerals pearls and pretious stones woods queries marshes waters fishings hunting hawking fowling commodities and hereditaments whatsoever 8 Gorges and Mason agreed to split the vast tract along the Piscataqua River still known by its Abenaki name pesgatak was for the water looks dark 9 Gorges took the tract to the east and named it Maine Mason took the land to west and named it New Hampshire 10 The region was first named N dakinna 11 It is the traditional ancestral homeland of the Abenaki Pennacook and Wabanaki peoples 12 Colonists first arrived in Wecannecohunt in 1622 the year of the Gorges Mason grant 13 They spent their earliest years fishing cutting and trapping to sell salted fish lumber and fur to European markets By 1633 colonists were spread along the tidal shores of the Oyster River and by 1640 they were in recognized possession of lands up to the fall line 14 Colonial Durham was first known as the Oyster River Plantation 13 The English settlers brought non native livestock aboard their ships thousands of cattle swine sheep and horses requiring them to clear acres merely for pasture Wecannecohunt s fields carefully cultivated across centuries were trampled and their crops destroyed The animals exacerbated a host of problems related to subsistence practices land use property rights and ultimately political authority When violence between the colonized and the colonizers erupted livestock were frequently killed The Abenaki saw them as a direct threat to their food supply 15 During King William s War on July 18 1694 the fledgling English colonial settlement was attacked in the Raid on Oyster River by French career soldier Claude Sebastien de Villieu with about 250 Abenaki from Norridgewock under command of their sagamore Bomazeen or Bomoseen In all 104 inhabitants were killed and 27 taken captive 16 with half the dwellings including the garrisons pillaged and burned to the ground Oyster River was part of Dover throughout its first century 13 The Plantation was granted rights as an independent parish in 1716 and incorporated as a township in 1732 when it was renamed Durham 17 Rev Hugh Adams claimed to have proposed the name Durham in an address to the General Assembly in 1738 18 19 Two of the earliest settlers of Dover were William and Edward Hilton the direct descendants of Sir William de Hilton Lord of Hilton Castle in County Durham England but there is nothing to prove that Durham was named in their honor Benjamin Thompson a descendant of an early settler bequeathed his assets and family estate Warner Farm to the state for the establishment of an agricultural college 20 21 Founded in 1866 in Hanover the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts moved to Durham in 1893 and became the University of New Hampshire in 1923 Thompson Hall built in 1892 with an iconic clock tower is named in his honor Designed in the Romanesque Revival style by the Concord architectural firm of Dow amp Randlett it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 22 On October 22 1999 Durham was the site of a debate between Republican candidates in the 2000 Presidential Election Future president George W Bush was present along with other notable Republicans of the era such as John McCain Alan Keyes Steve Forbes and Gary Bauer 23 The debate became the subject of a skit on Saturday Night Live which featured Darrell Hammond playing then President Bill Clinton 24 In 2017 Durham became the first community in New Hampshire to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day in place of Columbus Day 25 In 2018 the Oyster River Cooperative School District which includes Durham Lee and Madbury adopted Indigenous Peoples Day on its school calendar 26 Libraries Edit Over the years the people of Durham have created several libraries Durham Social Library 1815 1857 This library was incorporated by act of the New Hampshire Legislature in 1815 The library contained several hundred books and had a membership numbering nearly 50 Durham Agricultural Library 1862 1881 Formed Feb 3 1862 with Benjamin Thompson as president this library was small approximately 72 books and vocationally based Durham Social Library 1881 1892 Organized March 9 1881 the library had a membership of 80 and several hundred books In 1883 the Richardson house was purchased to house the library It eventually merged with the Durham Public Library Durham Public Library 1892 1906 Established in 1892 through the provisions of a New Hampshire state act this was the town s first public library It contained more than 3 500 books and eventually merged with the library of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts Library of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts 1893 Came to Durham with the arrival of the College in 1893 Initially the College housed the library in a single room in Thompson Hall In 1900 Hamilton Smith gave the University 10 000 to construct a library another 20 000 was obtained from Andrew Carnegie In 1907 a year after the town and the college agreed to merge their collective library resources the building Hamilton Smith Hall was completed 27 Dimond Library 1958 The construction of a new building on the University of New Hampshire s campus brought a new library into the modern age Recognizable columns such as at the Hamilton Smith Hall were replaced with bolder designs that allowed the library to look more towards the future for inspiration In March 1997 by a margin of 2 1 Durham voters passed a charter amendment to establish a board of trustees and allow plans for a new library to go forward In July 1997 a temporary space was found for the new Public Library in a storefront between the dollar store and a pizzeria Under the guidance of the Trustees and a newly formed Friends of the Library group many volunteer townspeople come forward to sheetrock paint assemble shelves and unpack and shelve 719 boxes of books On July 21 1997 a dedication ceremony was held for the new library with Governor Jeanne Shaheen as the keynote speaker It was the first new public library to be established in New Hampshire in almost a century In July 2013 a new public library building was completed on Madbury Road Police department Edit A police force of some manner has served Durham since at least 1848 28 Durham Police Department is made up of 20 full time and part time officers and provides service 24 hours a day 29 The Police Department s Adopt A Cop program was instituted in 1999 to improve relationships between University of New Hampshire fraternities Each fraternity is assigned a police officer who attends house meetings and events and acts a liaison between the fraternity and the community 30 Fire department and EMS Edit The first fire department organization in Durham was organized in 1927 and the first salaried firefighter was employed in 1934 31 The Durham Fire Department is one of the few fire departments in the country that is funded by both a municipality and a university 31 In addition McGregor Memorial EMS is a regional non profit organization delivering emergency medical services and education to the New Hampshire Seacoast area since 1968 Geography EditAccording to the United States Census Bureau the town has a total area of 24 7 square miles 64 1 km2 of which 22 4 square miles 58 0 km2 are land and 2 4 square miles 6 1 km2 are water comprising 9 50 of the town 1 The town is drained by the Oyster River The highest point in Durham is Beech Hill at 291 feet 89 m above sea level located on the town s northern border 32 Durham lies fully within the Piscataqua River coastal watershed 33 Adjacent municipalities Edit Madbury New Hampshire north Dover New Hampshire northeast Newington New Hampshire east Newmarket New Hampshire south Lee New Hampshire west Transportation Edit Amtrak s Downeaster train provides five round trips daily through Durham UNH station with service north to Portland Freeport and Brunswick Maine and south to Boston s North Station Climate EditAccording to the Koppen Climate Classification system Durham has a warm summer humid continental climate abbreviated Dfb on climate maps Climate data for Durham New Hampshire 1991 2020 normals extremes 1893 presentMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 68 20 73 23 89 32 95 35 99 37 102 39 103 39 102 39 99 37 91 33 80 27 74 23 103 39 Mean maximum F C 54 1 12 3 56 1 13 4 65 7 18 7 80 0 26 7 88 7 31 5 92 3 33 5 93 9 34 4 92 5 33 6 88 5 31 4 77 9 25 5 68 3 20 2 57 8 14 3 95 8 35 4 Average high F C 32 9 0 5 36 1 2 3 44 6 7 0 57 8 14 3 68 4 20 2 77 1 25 1 82 5 28 1 81 1 27 3 73 3 22 9 60 6 15 9 48 3 9 1 37 7 3 2 58 4 14 7 Daily mean F C 23 7 4 6 26 1 3 3 34 3 1 3 45 8 7 7 56 1 13 4 65 2 18 4 70 9 21 6 69 3 20 7 61 9 16 6 49 8 9 9 39 2 4 0 29 3 1 5 47 6 8 7 Average low F C 14 4 9 8 16 2 8 8 24 0 4 4 33 9 1 1 43 9 6 6 53 4 11 9 59 2 15 1 57 4 14 1 50 4 10 2 39 1 3 9 30 1 1 1 21 0 6 1 36 9 2 7 Mean minimum F C 7 6 22 0 5 0 20 6 2 8 16 2 20 8 6 2 29 8 1 2 40 3 4 6 48 3 9 1 45 6 7 6 33 9 1 1 24 4 4 2 14 5 9 7 2 3 16 5 10 6 23 7 Record low F C 35 37 30 34 18 28 8 13 18 8 30 1 35 2 28 2 21 6 11 12 13 25 31 35 35 37 Average precipitation inches mm 2 65 67 3 04 77 3 49 89 4 11 104 3 63 92 3 96 101 4 02 102 3 77 96 4 00 102 4 72 120 3 92 100 4 04 103 45 35 1 153 Average snowfall inches cm 14 5 37 13 2 34 9 8 25 2 5 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 51 2 3 5 8 11 4 29 54 2 138 Average precipitation days 0 01 in 8 8 8 0 9 0 11 1 11 6 11 5 10 5 9 8 9 5 10 4 10 6 10 5 121 3Average snowy days 0 1 in 3 3 3 9 2 3 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2 8 13 4Source 1 NOAA 34 Source 2 National Weather Service 35 Demographics EditHistorical population CensusPop Note 17901 247 18001 126 9 7 18101 44928 7 18201 5386 1 18301 6064 4 18401 498 6 7 18501 497 0 1 18601 5342 5 18701 298 15 4 1880962 25 9 1890871 9 5 190099614 4 1910823 17 4 1920749 9 0 19301 21762 5 19401 53326 0 19504 770211 2 19605 50415 4 19708 86961 1 198010 65220 1 199011 81810 9 200012 6647 2 201014 63815 6 202015 4905 8 U S Decennial Census 2 36 nbsp Hamilton Smith Hall c 1920The demographics of the town of Durham are strongly influenced by the presence of the campus of the University of New Hampshire As of the census of 2010 there were 14 638 people 2 960 households and 1 544 families residing in the town There were 3 092 housing units of which 132 or 4 3 were vacant 7 266 town residents lived in group quarters such as dormitories rather than in households The racial makeup of the town was 93 8 white 0 9 African American 0 1 Native American 3 2 Asian 0 01 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0 4 some other race and 1 6 from two or more races 2 0 of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race 37 Of the 2 960 households 23 0 had children under the age of 18 living with them 45 8 were headed by married couples living together 4 4 had a female householder with no husband present and 47 8 were non families 25 2 of all households were made up of individuals and 10 2 were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 49 and the average family size was 2 94 37 In the town 8 6 of the population were under the age of 18 64 3 were from 18 to 24 7 7 from 25 to 44 12 5 from 45 to 64 and 6 9 were 65 years of age or older The median age was 21 0 years For every 100 females there were 85 7 males For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 83 5 males 37 For the period 2011 2015 the estimated median annual income for a household was 71 190 and the median income for a family was 120 039 Male full time workers had a median income of 72 197 versus 58 750 for females The per capita income for the town was 22 650 24 5 of the population and 1 4 of families were below the poverty line 0 7 of the population under the age of 18 and 5 1 of those 65 or older were living in poverty 38 Notable people Edit nbsp Sam FuldEliphalet Daniels 1713 1799 military commander of the New Hampshire Militia 39 40 Dudley Dudley born 1936 political and environmental activist Jack Edwards born 1957 41 play by play announcer for the Boston Bruins Daniel Ford born 1931 writer Sam Fuld born 1981 outfielder in Major League Baseball during 2007 2015 General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies from 2020 present Louise Janin 1893 1997 painter Manuela Lutze born 1974 four time Olympic rower two time Olympic gold medalist citation needed Joyce Maynard born 1953 writer Hercules Mooney 1715 1800 lieutenant colonel in the U S Revolutionary War Don Murray 1924 2006 journalist Deron Quint born 1976 defenseman with six NHL teams Alexander Scammell 1747 1781 colonel of the 3rd New Hampshire Regiment Daniel C Stillson 1826 1899 inventor of the Stillson pipe wrench nbsp Historical marker for Major General John SullivanJohn Sullivan 1740 1795 Revolutionary War general Ben Sulsky born 1987 professional poker player Benjamin Thompson 1806 1890 farmer businessman and benefactor of U N H Sites of interest EditDurham Historic Association amp Museum 42 New Hampshire Historical Marker No 8 Site of Piscataqua Bridge New Hampshire Historical Marker No 50 Oyster River Massacre New Hampshire Historical Marker No 89 Major General John Sullivan 1740 1795 New Hampshire Historical Marker No 154 Packer s FallsGallery Edit nbsp Pettee Hall nbsp Taylor Hall nbsp Murkland Hall nbsp Thompson Hall nbsp Dimond Library nbsp St Thomas More Parish nbsp Downtown at Madbury Road and Main Street nbsp Babcock HallReferences Edit nbsp New Hampshire portal a b 2021 U S Gazetteer Files New Hampshire United States Census Bureau Retrieved November 10 2021 a b c Durham town Strafford County New Hampshire 2020 DEC Redistricting Data PL 94 171 U S Census Bureau Retrieved November 10 2021 United States Census Bureau U S Census website 2010 Census figures Retrieved March 23 2011 Census Geography Profile Durham CDP New Hampshire Retrieved December 24 2021 a b Dionne Mark June 13 2017 Paths to New Hampshire s Native Past New Hampshire Magazine Archived from the original on August 11 2020 Retrieved January 3 2021 Environmental Factsheet The Oyster River PDF New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services 2019 Archived PDF from the original on August 9 2021 Retrieved February 1 2021 Historical Sketch of Dover NH City of Dover NH Public Library 1926 Archived from the original on October 22 2015 A Grant of the Province of Maine to Sir Ferdinando Gorges and John Mason esq 10th of August 1622 Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library December 18 1998 Archived from the original on July 28 2009 Retrieved January 2 2021 NH State Council on the Arts NH Native American Heritage Folklife Retrieved January 31 2021 Dow John History of Hampton The Gorges and Mason Grants Hampton NH Public Library Archived from the original on October 22 2015 A Land Called N dakinna UNH Today June 21 2019 Archived from the original on August 3 2020 Retrieved January 31 2021 Land Acknowledgement Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective February 7 2020 Archived from the original on May 24 2020 Retrieved January 31 2021 a b c Stackpole Everett S Meserve Winthrop S 1913 History of the Town of Durham NH Oyster River Plantation Archived from the original on April 26 2008 Retrieved February 5 2020 Wilcox Philip 1976 History in an Oystershell A Brief History of Durham NH PDF Durham Historic Association Archived PDF from the original on August 9 2021 Retrieved January 31 2021 Anderson Virginia DeJohn 1994 King Philip s Herds Indians Colonists and the Problem of Livestock in Early New England PDF Omohundro Institute Archived PDF from the original on February 3 2021 Retrieved February 5 2020 Webster John Clarence Acadia at the End of the Seventeenth Century Saint John NB New Brunswick Museum 1979 p 65 A Chronological Perspective of Durham NH Town of Durham NH Archived from the original on September 13 2014 Retrieved January 31 2021 N H Province Papers Vol V page 35 Mary P Thompson Landmarks in Ancient Dover p 67 Butterfield Martha Lamson 2016 The land in our hands Burley Demeritt Farm in Lee NH its history Lulu com p 21 ISBN 9781329902954 Will of Benjamin Thompson University of New Hampshire Library www library unh edu Archived from the original on October 20 2017 Retrieved May 3 2018 National Register of Historic Places Listings December 13 1996 Archived from the original on May 26 2017 Retrieved November 17 2017 New Hampshire Republican Primary Debate C SPAN Retrieved February 20 2021 Clinton On Republicans Cold Open Saturday Night Live YouTube Archived from the original on December 12 2021 Retrieved February 20 2021 Durham to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on Columbus Day New Hampshire UnionLeader com Retrieved October 11 2018 Allee Daniela Oyster River Cooperative School District Adopts Indigenous People s Day Retrieved October 11 2018 Durham Town Records New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Library Archived from the original on February 2 2014 Retrieved February 3 2014 Police Dept History Town of Durham NH Archived from the original on July 20 2011 Retrieved December 16 2010 A Welcome from the Chief of Police Town of Durham NH Archived from the original on August 13 2011 Retrieved December 16 2010 Durham PD Programs Town of Durham NH Archived from the original on August 13 2011 Retrieved December 16 2010 a b Durham Fire Department History Town of Durham NH Archived from the original on December 15 2010 Retrieved December 16 2010 U S Geological Survey Dover Quadrangle New Hampshire Maine map 1 62 500 15 Minute Series Topographic Washington D C USGS 1956 Available from University of New Hampshire Dimond Library Documents Department amp Data Center Archived copy Archived from the original on March 26 2009 Retrieved March 17 2009 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link accessed 2009 03 17 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 Archived from the original on June 21 2011 U S Climate Normals Quick Access National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Retrieved August 3 2022 NOAA Online Weather Data National Weather Service Retrieved August 3 2022 Census of Population and Housing Census gov Retrieved June 4 2016 a b c Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics 2010 Census Summary File 1 DP 1 Durham town Strafford County New Hampshire American Factfinder U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on February 13 2020 Retrieved November 9 2017 Selected Economic Characteristics 2011 2015 American Community Survey 5 Year Estimates DP03 Durham town Strafford County New Hampshire American Factfinder U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on February 13 2020 Retrieved November 9 2017 Schermerhorn S E History of the town of Durham New Hampshire Oyster River Plantation with genealogical notes Ripol Classic p 92 ISBN 978 1 178 23433 6 History of Fort Sullivan American Forts Network Retrieved July 12 2023 Doyle Bill NESN s Jack Edwards calls on his dramatic heritage Worcester Telegram Archived from the original on April 24 2014 Durham Historic Association amp Museum Archived 2005 11 18 at the Wayback MachineFurther reading Edit Recognized Historic Properties in Durham PDF durham nh us January 2020 Retrieved December 11 2020 The Great Massacre of 1694 Understanding the Destruction of Oyster River Plantation via Wayback MachineExternal links EditOfficial website New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Durham New Hampshire amp oldid 1180685489, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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