Freedom, New Hampshire
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| Freedom, New Hampshire | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | New Hampshire |
| County | Carroll County |
| Incorporated | 1831 |
| Area | |
| - Town | 38.0 sq mi (98.3 km²) |
| - Land | 34.7 sq mi (89.7 km²) |
| - Water | 3.3 sq mi (8.6 km²) |
| Elevation | 439 ft (134 m) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Town | 1,303 |
| - Density | 37.6/sq mi (14.5/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
Freedom is a town located in Carroll County, New Hampshire, USA. The 2000 Census showed a population of 1,303. As of 2005, the population was estimated by the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning at 1,431.[1] The town's eastern boundary runs along the Maine state border. Ossipee Lake, with a resort and camps, is in the southwest of the town.
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[edit] History
The town was once a part of Effingham called "North Effingham." Following an influx of new settlers from Maine, there was a conflict of culture and religion between them and people from the New Hampshire seacoast area who already populated Effingham. As a result, North Effingham separated into a town of its own. The community, incorporated in 1831, was appropriately named "Freedom."
The town has been the setting for a couple of stories, including the children's fantasy book called The Enormous Egg, first published in 1956 but reissued years later (ISBN 0-316-11920-2). Freedom was also the setting for a 2001 broadcast of This American Life, entitled The House at Loon Lake. That episode depicted an abandoned house explored by young boys, in town for summer camp at Loon Lake.
[edit] Notable Residents
- Frank S. Black, governor of New York (summer resident)
[edit] Geography
Freedom is situated between the Lakes Region and the White Mountains. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 98.3 km² (38.0 mi²). 89.7 km² (34.7 mi²) of it is land and 8.6 km² (3.3 mi²) of it is water, comprising 8.75% of the town. Freedom is drained by the Ossipee River. The highest point in the town is Cragged Mountain (1,806 feet / 550 meters above sea level).
Freedom is one of several sites for Nature's Classroom. It is also home to one of the permanent campsites of the Luethi-Peterson Camps and to Cragged Mountain Farm [1], a co-ed summer camp on Cragged Mountain started by Dr. Henry Utter in 1927, and still owned by the Utter family.
[edit] Demographics
As of the United States 2000 Census, there are 1303 people in the town, organized into 602 households, and 402 families. The population density is 14.5/km² (37.6/mi²). There are 1,406 housing units at an average density of 15.7/km² (40.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 99.16% White, 0.15% African American, 0.08% Asian, and 0.61% from two or more races. There are no Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, or people identifying themselves as being of another race. None of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
There are 602 households out of which 19.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% are married couples living together, 4.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% are non-families. 28.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.15 and the average family size is 2.60.
In the town the population is spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 3.1% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 49 years. For every 100 females there are 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $40,188, and the median income for a family is $49,167. Males have a median income of $32,150 versus $26,000 for females. The per capita income for the town is $23,036. 6.8% of the population and 4.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.7% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
[edit] Sites of Interest
- Allard House & Works Museum, Freedom Historical Society
[edit] References
- ^ "2005 Population Estimates of New Hampshire Cities and Towns", NH Office of Energy and Planning, July 2006
[edit] External links
- New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
- Traffic volume report, New Hampshire Department of Transportation
- 1958 USGS area map (JPEG), University of New Hampshire Library
- Freedom Public Library
- Freedom Old Home Week
- Nature's Classroom at Freedom
- Luethi-Peterson Camps
