Westmoreland, New Hampshire

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Town in New Hampshire, United States

Westmoreland, New Hampshire
Town
Union Church c. 1915
Location in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 42°57′43″N 72°26′32″W / 42.96194°N 72.44222°W / 42.96194; -72.44222
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
County	Cheshire
Incorporated	1752
Villages	Westmoreland East Westmoreland Park Hill Poocham
Government
• Board of Selectmen	John Snowdon, Chair Bill McGahie Mark Terry
• Town Administrator	Jodi Scanlan
Area
• Total	36.8 sq mi (95.4 km)
• Land	35.8 sq mi (92.7 km)
• Water	1.0 sq mi (2.7 km) 2.80%
Elevation	417 ft (127 m)
Population
• Total	1,706
• Density	48/sq mi (18.4/km)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	03467
Area code	603
FIPS code	33-82660
GNIS feature ID	0873753
Website	www.westmorelandnh.com

Westmoreland is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,706 at the 2020 census, down from 1,874 at the 2010 census. Westmoreland is historically an agricultural town, with much arable farmland.

History

Indigenous peoples

Prior to European colonization, present-day Westmoreland was inhabited by numerous indigenous tribes. The upper Connecticut River valley was a popular region for short-term Indigenous villages mostly used for hunting and fishing. Tribes such as the Pennacook Confederation and the Abenaki were frequent visitors to the area. In the 1670s, King Philip's War led to the migration of most indigenous tribes to Canada. Indigenous peoples did not understand the concept of individual land ownership, which resulted in numerous misunderstandings and conflict between them and English settlers. The English settlers purchase of land and construction of permanent settlements disrupted the hunting and fishing traditions of the indigenous tribes.

While Indigenous activity was common in Westmoreland, not many aboriginal sites have been found. A "Pow-wow Rock" can be located off Poocham Road in Westmoreland across from the Thompson place (1970). The name Poocham is an Abenaki word for "gathering place". The Pow-wow Rock is a large boulder that was deposited by glaciers and is measured at 12 by 14 by 8 feet (3.7 by 4.3 by 2.4 m) in height. At this location, records describe the hosting of Indigenous pow-wows and the exchanging of prisoners.

Colonial

Once known as "Great Meadow", the town was first granted in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts as "Number 2", second in a line of Connecticut River fort towns designed to protect the colonies from Indian attack. This part of the river was a favorite Indian campsite, and the settlers who came beginning in 1741 were several times victims of attack. When the border between Massachusetts and the Province of New Hampshire was fixed (with Number 2 on the New Hampshire side), the town was regranted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth as Westmoreland, named for John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland.

The Park Hill Meetinghouse, built in 1762, has a Paul Revere bell. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in New England, it was moved to its present site by oxen in 1779 and renovated in 1826.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.8 square miles (95.4 km), of which 35.8 square miles (92.7 km) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.7 km), or 2.80%, is water. Westmoreland is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River, which is the state border with Vermont. Hyland Hill, elevation 1,510 feet (460 m) and the highest point in town, is on the eastern border and although it is now private land, it is a local hiking and hunting destination.

Westmoreland is served by state routes 12 and 63.

Adjacent municipalities

Walpole (north)
Surry (northeast)
Keene (east)
Chesterfield (south)
Dummerston, Vermont (southwest)
Putney, Vermont (west)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	2,018	—
1800	2,066	2.4%
1810	1,937	−6.2%
1820	2,029	4.7%
1830	1,647	−18.8%
1840	1,546	−6.1%
1850	1,678	8.5%
1860	1,285	−23.4%
1870	1,256	−2.3%
1880	1,095	−12.8%
1890	830	−24.2%
1900	875	5.4%
1910	758	−13.4%
1920	615	−18.9%
1930	745	21.1%
1940	755	1.3%
1950	789	4.5%
1960	921	16.7%
1970	998	8.4%
1980	1,452	45.5%
1990	1,596	9.9%
2000	1,747	9.5%
2010	1,874	7.3%
2020	1,706	−9.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

At the 2000 census there were 1,747 people, 576 households, and 445 families living in the town. The population density was 48.7 inhabitants per square mile (18.8/km). There were 618 housing units at an average density of 17.2 per square mile (6.7/km). The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.34% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92%.

Of the 576 households 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.4% of households were one person and 7.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.92.

The age distribution was 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males.

The median household income was $55,875 and the median family income was $62,857. Males had a median income of $40,515 versus $28,456 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,488. About 0.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Clinton Babbitt (1831–1907), US congressman
Goldsmith Bailey (1823–1862), US congressman
Nathaniel S. Benton (1792–1869), Secretary of State, state senator from New York
Joseph Buffum, Jr. (1784–1874), US congressman, judge
Martin Butterfield (1790–1866), US congressman
Levi K. Fuller (1841–1896), 44th governor of Vermont
John M. Goodenow (1782–1838), US congressman
Ernest Hebert (born 1941), author
Thomas B. Marsh (1800–1866), religious leader
Robert Olmstead (born 1954), author
Maria Brewster Brooks Stafford (1809–1896), educator
Everett Warner (1877–1963), artist, print-maker

References

"2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
^ "Westmoreland town, Cheshire County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
United States Census Bureau, American FactFinder, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
^ History of Westmoreland (Great Meadow) New Hampshire: 1741-1970, and Genealogical Data. Westmoreland History Committee. 1976.
^ Austin, Carol (November 18, 2014). "A Westmoreland home with history". Keene Sentinel. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
Coolidge, Austin J.; John B. Mansfield (1859). A History and Description of New England. Boston, Massachusetts: A.J. Coolidge. p. 677. coolidge mansfield history description new england 1859.
History of Westmoreland, Cheshire County, New Hampshire
"Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
"U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

External links

Places adjacent to Westmoreland, New Hampshire

Westmoreland

v t e Municipalities and communities of Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States
County seat: Keene
City	Keene	Map of New Hampshire highlighting Cheshire County
Towns	Alstead Chesterfield Dublin Fitzwilliam Gilsum Harrisville Hinsdale Jaffrey Marlborough Marlow Nelson Richmond Rindge Roxbury Stoddard Sullivan Surry Swanzey Troy Walpole Westmoreland Winchester
CDPs	Hinsdale Jaffrey Marlborough North Walpole Troy Walpole West Swanzey Winchester
Other villages	Ashuelot Chesham Drewsville East Swanzey Munsonville Poocham Spofford West Chesterfield
New Hampshire portal United States portal

Connecticut River watershed

Tributaries

Connecticut	Blackledge River Coginchaug River Connecticut River Duck River Eightmile River Falls River Farmington River Hockanum River Hubbard River Jeremy River Lieutenant River Mattabesset River Nepaug River Pameacha Creek Park River Pequabuck River Salmon River Scantic River
Massachusetts	Burnshirt River Chapel Brook Chicopee River Connecticut River Cranberry River Deerfield River East Brookfield River Farmington River Fall River Five Mile River Green River Hubbard River Manhan River Mill River (Northampton) Mill River (Springfield) Millers River Mirey Brook North Branch Millers River North Branch Westfield River North River Otter River Quaboag River Scantic River Seven Mile River Tarbell Brook Ware River Westfield River
New Hampshire	Ammonoosuc River Ashuelot River Blow-me-down Brook The Branch Cold River Connecticut River East Branch Mohawk River Gale River Great Brook Halls Stream Ham Branch Indian River Indian Stream Israel River Johns River Knox River Little River Little Sugar River Mascoma River Millers River Mink Brook Mirey Brook Mohawk River Nash Stream North Branch Gale River North Branch Millers River North Branch Sugar River North Branch Upper Ammonoosuc River Oliverian Brook Otter Brook Partridge Brook Perry Stream Phillips Brook Simms Stream South Branch Ashuelot River South Branch Gale River South Branch Israel River South Branch Sugar River Stocker Brook Sugar River Tarbell Brook Upper Ammonoosuc River West Branch Mohawk River West Branch Upper Ammonoosuc River Wild Ammonoosuc River Zealand River
Vermont	Black River Connecticut River Deerfield River Fall River Green River Halls Stream Leach Creek Moose River Nulhegan River Ompompanoosuc River Ottauquechee River Passumpsic River Rock River Saxtons River Utley Brook Waits River Wells River West River Whetstone Brook White River Williams River Winhall River

Lakes

Connecticut	Barkhamsted Reservoir Lake Beseck Lake Hayward Lake Pocotopaug
Massachusetts	Brooks Pond Browning Pond Lake Monomonac Quabbin Reservoir Lake Wyola
New Hampshire	Ashuelot Pond Back Lake Canaan Street Lake Cedar Pond Christine Lake Comerford Reservoir Connecticut Lakes Crystal Lake Dublin Pond Eastman Pond Echo Lake Lake Francis (Murphy Dam) Goose Pond Grafton Pond Granite Lake Lakes of the Clouds Little Sunapee Lake Mascoma Lake McIndoes Reservoir Lake Monomonac Moore Reservoir Pearly Lake Silver Lake Spofford Lake Lake Sunapee Surry Mountain Lake Lake Tarleton
Vermont	Ball Mountain Lake Comerford Reservoir Harriman Reservoir Harvey's Lake McIndoes Reservoir Moore Reservoir North Hartland Lake Lake Rescue Townshend Lake

Towns

Connecticut	Chester Cromwell Deep River East Haddam East Hampton East Hartford East Windsor Enfield Essex Glastonbury Haddam Hartford Higganum Lyme Middletown Moodus Old Lyme Old Saybrook Portland Rocky Hill South Windsor Suffield Thompsonville Wethersfield Windsor Windsor Locks
Massachusetts	Agawam Chicopee Deerfield Easthampton Gill Greenfield Hadley Hatfield Holyoke Longmeadow Millers Falls Montague Northampton Northfield South Hadley Springfield Sunderland Turners Falls West Springfield Whately
New Hampshire	Bath Charlestown Chesterfield Claremont Clarksville Colebrook Columbia Cornish Dalton Groveton Hanover Haverhill Hinsdale Lancaster Lebanon Littleton Lyme Monroe Northumberland Orford Piermont Pittsburg Plainfield Stewartstown Stratford Walpole West Lebanon Westmoreland Woodsville
Quebec	East Hereford
Vermont	Ascutney Barnet Beecher Falls Bellows Falls Bloomfield Bradford Brattleboro Brunswick Canaan Concord Dummerston Fairlee Gilman Guildhall Hartford Hartland Lemington Lunenburg Maidstone Newbury Norwich Putney Rockingham Ryegate Springfield Thetford Vernon Waterford Weathersfield Wells River Westminster White River Junction Wilder Windsor

Crossings

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