Rockingham County, New Hampshire

Rockingham County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of 2000, the population was 277,359. Its county seat is Brentwood ⁶.

History

The area that today is Rockingham County was first settled by Europeans moving north from the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts as early as 1623. The government was linked tightly with Massachusetts until New Hampshire became a separate colony in 1679, but Counties weren't introduced until 1769.

Rockingham was identified in 1769 as one of five original counties for the colony. It is named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, who had been Prime Minister in 1765-1766. The county was organized in 1771, with its County Seat at Exeter. In 1844 its area was reduced by the formation of Belknap County to the northwest. In 1997 the county court facilities were moved to the current county seat at Brentwood.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,056 km² (794 mi²). 1,800 km² (695 mi²) of it is land and 256 km² (99 mi²) of it (12.47%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 277,359 people, 104,529 households, and 74,320 families residing in the county. The population density was 154/km² (399/mi²). There were 113,023 housing units at an average density of 63/km² (163/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.80% White, 0.58% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.11% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 104,529 households out of which 35.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 22.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.40% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 32.80% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 10.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $58,150, and the median income for a family was $66,345. Males had a median income of $45,598 versus $30,741 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,656. About 3.10% of families and 4.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.00% of those under age 18 and 6.40% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

Rockingham County Communities - Population, Land Area, and Population Density Rankings


City/Town	Population (2000)	Population Ranking	Land Area km²	Area Ranking	Density /km²	Density Ranking
Atkinson	6,178	14	28.8	28	214.3	11
Auburn	4,682	19	65.3	11	71.7	26
Brentwood	3,197	30	43.6	16	73.4	25
Candia	3,911	23	78.5	5	49.8	31
Chester	3,792	24	67.1	10	18.6	37
Danville	4,023	22	30.3	27	132.6	18
Deerfield	3,678	26	131.9	1	27.9	36
Derry	34,021	1	92.7	4	367.0	4
East Kingston	1,784	33	25.9	31	68.9	27
Epping	5,476	16	67.4	9	32.9	34
Exeter	14,058	6	50.9	13	276.4	7
Fremont	3,510	28	44.4	15	79.0	24
Greenland	3,208	29	27.2	30	118.1	21
Hampstead	8,297	9	34.5	21	240.5	9
Hampton	14,937	5	33.7	22	442.6	3
Hampton Falls	1,880	32	31.6	25	59.4	29
Kensington	1,893	31	31.0	26	61.2	28
Kingston	5,862	15	50.8	14	115.4	22
Londonderry	23,236	3	108.3	3	214.6	10
New Castle	1,010	35	2.1	37	469.8	2
Newfields	1,551	34	18.2	36	85.3	23
Newington	775	37	21.7	34	35.8	33
Newmarket	8,027	10	32.5	24	247.0	8
Newton	4,289	20	25.7	32	167.1	13
North Hampton	4,259	21	36.0	20	118.2	20
Northwood	3,640	27	72.5	7	50.2	30
Nottingham	3,701	25	120.4	2	30.8	35
Plaistow	7,747	12	27.5	29	281.4	6
Portsmouth	20,784	4	40.4	17	514.1	1
Raymond	9,674	8	74.5	6	129.8	19
Rye	5,182	17	32.7	23	158.5	15
Salem	29,115	2	64.0	12	169.9	12
Sandown	5,143	18	36.0	19	142.8	17
Seabrook	7,934	11	22.9	33	345.7	5
South Hampton	844	36	20.4	35	41.4	32
Stratham	6,355	13	39.1	18	162.4	14
Windham	10,709	7	69.4	8	154.3	16
Totals:	278,362		1,800		155.0

Attractions

The Rockingham County Botanical Garden is a new botanical garden now starting to take shape in Brentwood.

External links

New Hampshire counties | Rockingham County, New Hampshire