Cornish, New Hampshire

Cornish is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2010 census.[1] Cornish has four covered bridges. Each August, it is home to the Cornish Fair.

Cornish, New Hampshire
The Square in 1917
Location in Sullivan County and the state of New Hampshire.
Coordinates: 43°27′53″N 72°22′09″W
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountySullivan
Incorporated1765
VillagesCornish Center
Cornish City
Cornish Flat
Cornish Mills
Balloch
South Cornish
Government
 • Board of SelectmenJohn Hammond, Chair
Scott Baker
Lyle Parry
Area
 • Total42.8 sq mi (111.0 km2)
 • Land42.1 sq mi (109.1 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (1.9 km2)  1.68%
Elevation
466 ft (142 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,640
 • Density38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
03745 (Cornish)
03746 (Cornish Flat)
Area code(s)603
FIPS code33-15060
GNIS feature ID0873571
Websitewww.cornishnh.net

History

The town was granted in 1763 and contained an area once known as "Mast Camp" because it was the shipping point for the tall masts floated down the river by English settlers. It was incorporated in 1765 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth and named for Sir Samuel Cornish, a distinguished admiral of the Royal Navy.[2]

Since the late 19th century, Cornish has been a well-known summer resort for artists and writers. Sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens began coming to Cornish in 1885, seeking a studio away from the summer heat of New York City. Artist friends followed him, including painter and illustrator Maxfield Parrish, who designed and built his estate, the Oaks, in the area. The surrounding area became the center of the popular Cornish Art Colony.[3] Cornish was the residence of the reclusive author J. D. Salinger, from the 1950s until his death in 2010.


Cornish is the site of the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States, and the longest two-span covered bridge in the world. The Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge spans the Connecticut River and was built in 1866 at an original cost of $9,000. Cornish also has three other covered bridges: the Blow-Me-Down Covered Bridge, Dingleton Hill Covered Bridge, and Kenyon Bridge.


Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 42.8 square miles (111 km2), of which 42.1 sq mi (109 km2) is land and 0.7 sq mi (1.8 km2) is water, comprising 1.68% of the town. The long ridge of Croydon Mountain follows the eastern boundary of town; the highest point in town is a knob on Croydon Mountain which reaches an elevation of 2,323 ft (708 m) above sea level.[4] Cornish is drained by Mill Brook, Blow-me-down Brook, and the Connecticut River, which bounds it on the west. Cornish lies fully within the Connecticut River watershed.[5] The eastern part of the town is a portion of the approximately 25,000-acre (100 km2) Blue Mountain Forest Association private game preserve, also known locally as Corbin Park, named after its founder, Austin Corbin.

Cornish is dotted with several small villages, including Cornish Center, Cornish Flat, Cornish City, Cornish Mills, South Cornish, Balloch, and Squag City.

Cornish is served by state routes 12A and 120.

Adjacent municipalities

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1790982—
18001,26829.1%
18101,60626.7%
18201,7015.9%
18301,687−0.8%
18401,7262.3%
18501,606−7.0%
18601,520−5.4%
18701,334−12.2%
18801,156−13.3%
1890954−17.5%
19009620.8%
19101,0054.5%
1920844−16.0%
19308551.3%
1940790−7.6%
195098925.2%
19601,10611.8%
19701,26814.6%
19801,3909.6%
19901,65919.4%
20001,6610.1%
20101,640−1.3%
2017 (est.)1,624[6]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 1,661 people, 645 households, and 465 families residing in the town. The population density was 39.4 people per square mile (15.2/km2). There were 697 housing units at an average density of 16.5 per square mile (6.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.71% White, 0.30% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.48% of the population.

There were 645 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. Of all households 21.2% were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.9% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,393, and the median income for a family was $60,313. Males had a median income of $36,115 versus $29,474 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,165. About 2.8% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

Notable people

References
  1. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census website, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. pp. 460–461. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
  3. "Cornish Arts Colony in Cornish and Plainfield, NH 1885-1930". www.crjc.org.
  4. The knob is unnamed on federal topographic maps, but is shown as "Buffalo Mountain" on a hand-drawn map by Ms. Gross, town historian of Croydon.
  5. 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.
  6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017 (PEPANNRES): Minor Civil Divisions – New Hampshire". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. Erdrich, Louise; Dorris, Michael (1994). Conversations with Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris. Univ. Press of Mississippi. ISBN 9780878056521.
  10. Katie Zezima, "Cornish Journal: J. D. Salinger a Recluse? Well, Not to His Neighbors", The New York Times, January 31, 2010.
  11. Emily Jones Smith (1914). The Life and letters of Nathan Smith, M.B., M.D. Yale University Press. p. xxvi. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  12. Wade, M; Tracy, S. P.; Wood, D. C. (1976). A brief history of Cornish,1763-1974. for the Town of Cornish by University Press of New England. ISBN 978-0-87451-129-1.
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