Fremont, New Hampshire

Settled in the 1720s, Fremont was originally part of Exeter. The area was once famous for its heavy growth of high-quality eastern white pine trees, reserved for use as masts of the Royal Navy. But residents began to use the wood for home construction. When in 1734 David Dunbar, surveyor-general, visited the Copyhold Mill to inspect fallen lumber, local citizens assembled, discharged firearms, and convinced Dunbar to leave. Returning with 10 men, Dunbar's group was attacked, and dispersed to a local tavern, by citizens disguised as Indians. This insurrection would be known as the Mast Tree Riot.

The town was granted in 1764 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth as Poplin. In 1853, Poplin petitioned the state legislature to change the name. In 1854, it became Fremont after General John C. Frémont,[2] the first candidate of the Republican Party in the presidential election of 1856. Benton in Grafton County bears the name of Fremont's father-in-law, Senator Thomas Hart Benton.

Fremont is noted for an unspoiled meetinghouse, built in 1800, and today listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town was once home to the largest brickyard in the state, producing 5 million bricks a year, and to the downtown Spaulding & Frost Cooperage, established in 1874, one of the oldest operating wooden barrel manufacturers in the country.

More recently, Fremont was home to the cult favorite, all-female band The Shaggs.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 17.4 square miles (45 km²), of which 17.2 sq mi (45 km²) is land and 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km²) is water, comprising 1.44% of the town. The highest point in Fremont is an unnamed summit, with an elevation of 322 feet (98 m) above sea level, near the town's western border. It is drained by the Exeter River. Fremont lies fully within the Piscataqua River (Coastal) watershed.[3]

Fremont Meeting House

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 3,510 people, 1,165 households, and 983 families residing in the town. The population density was 204.6 people per square mile (79.0/km²). There were 1,201 housing units at an average density of 70.0 per square mile (27.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.15% White, 0.06% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.

There were 1,165 households, out of which 44.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.1% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.6% were non-families. 10.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 3.5% 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 3.20.

Exeter River at Sand Hill in 1913

In the town, the population was spread out, with 29.1% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 38.0% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,171, and the median income for a family was $63,808. Males had a median income of $45,560 versus $27,964 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,082. About 3.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Two New Hampshire State Routes cross Fremont.

• NH 107 crosses from Raymond in the northwest to Brentwood in the southeast, following Main Street through the center of town.
• NH 111A enters from Danville in the south, runs along Danville Road north to Main Street, then joins a concurrency with NH 107 running east, before leaving along Middle Road to the north shortly before entering Brentwood.

• Rockingham Recreation Trail: Fremont Branch

• The Shaggs, musical group
• Lee Bergere (1918-2007), actor known for his work on Dynasty; lived in Fremont for some time before his death
• Dan Itse (born 1958), current New Hampshire State Representative from Rockingham County

• New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 142: Mast Tree Riot of 1734
• New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 156: John Brown Family - Gunsmiths
• New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 157: Spaulding & Frost Cooperage
• New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 167: Meetinghouse and Hearse House
• New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 170: Civil War Riot of 1861

• Town of Fremont official website
• Fremont Public Library
• New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile