Strafford County, New Hampshire

Strafford County is a county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2010 census, the population was 123,143.[1] Its county seat is Dover.[2] Strafford County was one of the five original counties identified for New Hampshire in 1769. It was named after William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford in the mistaken belief that he was the ancestor of governor John Wentworth – although they were distantly related, William had no descendants. The county was organized at Dover in 1771. In 1840, the size of the original county was reduced with the creation of Belknap County. Strafford County constitutes a portion of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

Strafford County
U.S. county
Strafford County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Hampshire
New Hampshire's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 43°15′30″N 70°58′34″W
Country United States
State New Hampshire
Founded1771
Named forWilliam Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford
SeatDover
Largest cityDover
Area
 • Total382.6 sq mi (991 km2)
 • Land367.6 sq mi (952 km2)
 • Water15.0 sq mi (39 km2)  3.9%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total123,143
 • Estimate 
(2019)
130,633
 • Density353.9/sq mi (136.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.strafford.nh.us

Geography

Strafford County is in southeastern New Hampshire, separated from York County in the state of Maine by the Salmon Falls River. The southern part of the Salmon Falls, from Rollinsford to Dover, is a tidal river that flows into the Piscataqua River.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (990 km2), of which 369 square miles (960 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (3.9%) is water.[3] It is the smallest county in New Hampshire by area.

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
179023,611—
180032,61438.1%
181041,59527.5%
182051,11722.9%
183058,91015.2%
184061,1273.8%
185029,374−51.9%
186031,4937.2%
187030,243−4.0%
188035,55817.6%
189038,4428.1%
190039,3372.3%
191038,951−1.0%
192038,546−1.0%
193038,5800.1%
194043,55312.9%
195051,56718.4%
196059,79916.0%
197070,43117.8%
198085,40821.3%
1990104,23322.0%
2000112,2337.7%
2010123,1439.7%
2019 (est.)130,633[4]6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2018[1]

2000 census

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 112,233 people, 42,581 households, and 27,762 families living in the county. The population density was 304 people per square mile (118/km2). There were 45,539 housing units at an average density of 124 per square mile (48/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.29% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.8% were of English, 14.9% Irish, 14.0% French, 10.5% French Canadian, 7.6% American, 6.3% Italian and 6.2% German ancestry. 93.7% spoke English and 3.2% French as their first language.

There were 42,581 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.10% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 13.60% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,803, and the median income for a family was $53,075. Males had a median income of $36,661 versus $26,208 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,479. About 5.00% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over.

The largest cities in Strafford County are Dover (population) and Rochester (land area) .

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 123,143 people, 47,100 households, and 29,862 families living in the county.[10] The population density was 333.7 inhabitants per square mile (128.8/km2). There were 51,697 housing units at an average density of 140.1 per square mile (54.1/km2).[11] The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% white, 2.6% Asian, 1.0% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 24.4% were French or French Canadian, 19.7% were Irish, 17.4% were English, 9.5% were Italian, 8.7% were German, 5.2% were American, and 5.0% were Scottish.[12]

Of the 47,100 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.6% were non-families, and 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 36.9 years.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $57,809 and the median income for a family was $72,286. Males had a median income of $50,489 versus $37,178 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,059. About 6.7% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Politics and government
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 41.3% 30,489 56.5% 41,721 2.2% 1,595
2016 42.1% 29,072 50.6% 34,894 7.3% 5,034
2012 41.8% 26,729 56.3% 36,026 1.9% 1,214
2008 39.2% 25,021 59.5% 37,990 1.3% 837
2004 43.6% 25,825 55.6% 32,942 0.9% 514
2000 42.7% 21,108 51.4% 25,400 5.8% 2,885
1996 33.8% 14,484 54.8% 23,475 11.4% 4,884
1992 33.7% 16,028 44.7% 21,247 21.6% 10,264
1988 54.7% 20,636 43.9% 16,547 1.4% 515
1984 61.3% 20,452 38.2% 12,752 0.5% 152
1980 50.4% 16,399 33.9% 11,041 15.7% 5,091
1976 48.9% 14,569 48.9% 14,566 2.3% 680
1972 57.8% 16,846 41.3% 12,028 0.9% 255
1968 47.3% 12,427 50.0% 13,129 2.8% 727
1964 32.0% 8,342 68.0% 17,737
1960 48.6% 13,539 51.4% 14,335
1956 61.6% 15,494 38.4% 9,659 0.0% 7
1952 53.9% 13,729 46.1% 11,753
1948 45.9% 9,988 53.3% 11,603 0.9% 185
1944 42.9% 9,388 57.1% 12,497 0.1% 13
1940 41.2% 8,996 58.8% 12,847
1936 41.7% 8,215 55.9% 11,005 2.4% 477
1932 47.4% 9,060 52.2% 9,970 0.4% 68
1928 58.4% 10,470 41.5% 7,441 0.2% 28
1924 56.6% 9,167 39.8% 6,445 3.6% 575
1920 60.4% 8,700 39.2% 5,643 0.5% 69
1916 49.6% 4,037 49.6% 4,040 0.8% 65
1912 37.7% 2,962 44.1% 3,468 18.3% 1,436
1908 56.3% 4,822 41.1% 3,523 2.7% 228
1904 56.6% 4,869 41.3% 3,553 2.1% 183
1900 55.3% 4,987 42.1% 3,792 2.6% 236
1896 68.6% 5,483 28.3% 2,259 3.2% 253
1892 51.7% 4,666 46.8% 4,229 1.5% 134
1888 51.3% 4,580 47.8% 4,270 0.9% 82
1884 52.7% 4,370 45.6% 3,781 1.6% 135
1880 53.8% 4,634 45.5% 3,922 0.7% 61
1876 54.6% 4,052 45.4% 3,363 0.0% 1

County Commission

The executive power of Strafford County's government is held by three county commissioners.[15]

Name Hometown Party
George Maglaras (Chairman) Dover, NH Democratic
Robert Watson (Vice Chairman) Rochester, NH Democratic
Deanna Rollo (Clerk) Rollinsford, NH Democratic

In addition to the County Commission, there are five directly elected officials: they include County Attorney, Register of Deeds, County Sheriff, Register of Probate, and County Treasurer.[16]

Office Name
County Attorney Thomas Velardi (D)
Register of Deeds Catherine Berube (D)
County Sheriff David Dubois (D)
Register of Probate Cynthia Sweeney (D)
County Treasurer Pamela Arnold (D)

Legislative branch

The legislative branch of Strafford County is made up of all of the members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the county. In total, as of January 2019 there were 37 members from 25 different districts.

Affiliation Members Voting share
Democratic Party 27 73%
Republican Party 10 27%
Total 37 100%

Communities
Order naming Daniel Waldron justice of the peace, Strafford County, 1815

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Villages

See also

Footnotes
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  4. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  10. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  11. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  15. http://sos.nh.gov/2016CountyGen.aspx?id=8589964161
  16. https://www.co.strafford.nh.us/country-information/state-and-county-elected-officials

Further reading

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