Brentwood, New Hampshire
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| Brentwood, New Hampshire | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | New Hampshire | ||
| County | Rockingham County | ||
| Incorporated | 1742 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Board of Selectmen | |||
| Area | |||
| - Town | 17.0 sq mi (44.0 km²) | ||
| - Land | 16.8 sq mi (43.6 km²) | ||
| - Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 115 ft (35 m) | ||
| Population (2000) | |||
| - Town | 3,197 | ||
| - Density | 190.1/sq mi (73.4/km²) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| Website: brentwood.town-center.org | |||
Brentwood is a town located in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, USA. Along with neighboring Exeter, Brentwood is the county seat of Rockingham County. It is drained by the Piscassic, Little and Exeter rivers. The new Rockingham County Botanical Garden is now taking shape in Brentwood.
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[edit] History
Long before Europeans settled the area, Brentwood was home to the Pennacook Abenaki tribes which farmed, fished and hunted there. Two main foot trails ran through the town, one along the Exeter River, where arrowheads and other stone and wooden artifacts have been found. At Pickpocket Dam, this pathway joined with the historic Pentucket Trail leading to Haverhill, Massachusetts, or points north.
The town was once a part of Exeter known as Brentwood Parish. It was named after Brentwood, Essex, a London suburb originally called "Burnt Wood," where, in 1177, King Henry II granted permission for 40 acres of the king's forest to be cut, burned and cultivated. As early as 1738, residents living in the southeastern portion of Exeter, now Brentwood and Fremont, petitioned to be set off, but were denied. In 1742, however, permission was granted, and Brentwood was incorporated by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth.
But almost from the beginning, a dispute arose between districts regarding the placement of a meetinghouse. It divided the community. Consequently, Gov. Wentworth, acting without approval of the General Assembly, in 1744 issued a King's Patent to establish a new town within Brentwood called Keeneborough Parish, named after his friend, Sir Benjamin Keene (1697 - 1757), English minister to Spain. Factions would reconcile in 1750, however, when Keeneborough reunited with Brentwood.
Mills along the rivers produced lumber and manufactured goods in the early days, although the community would shift towards the cultivation of agriculture. It is now predominantly residential.
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.0 km² (17.0 mi²). 43.6 km² (16.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it is water, comprising 0.94% of the town. The highest point in Brentwood is Great Hill (275 feet / 84 meters above sea level), whose summit is in the southeast corner of the town. The town is drained by the Exeter River and its tributaries.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 3,197 people, 911 households, and 777 families residing in the town. The population density was 73.4/km² (190.1/mi²). There were 920 housing units at an average density of 21.1/km² (54.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.47% White, 0.84% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.47% of the population.
There were 911 households out of which 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 76.0% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.6% were non-families. 10.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.99 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $68,971, and the median income for a family was $71,875. Males had a median income of $46,081 versus $33,359 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,027. About 3.3% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
