:Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Hillsborough County

| state = New Hampshire

| seal = Hillsborough County, New Hampshire seal.png

| founded year = 1769

| founded date =

| seat = Manchester and Nashua

| largest city = Manchester (by population)
Weare (by area)

| area_total_sq_mi = 892.5

| area_land_sq_mi = 876.5

| area_water_sq_mi = 15.9

| area percentage = 1.8

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 422937

| pop_est_as_of = 2022

| population_est = 426594 {{increase}}

| density_sq_mi = 486.7

| time zone = Eastern

| web = hcnh.org

| ex image = Manchester Skyline Night.jpg

| ex image cap = Manchester skyline

| district = 1st

| district2 = 2nd

| named for = The Earl of Hillsborough

| flag =

}}

Hillsborough County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2020 census, the population was 422,937,{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/hillsboroughcountynewhampshire/PST045222 |access-date=April 6, 2023 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} almost one-third the population of the entire state. Its county seats are Manchester and Nashua, the state's two biggest cities. Hillsborough is northern New England's most populous county as well as its most densely populated.

Hillsborough County comprises the Manchester-Nashua, NH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn constitutes a portion of the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

History

Hillsborough was one of the five original counties identified for the old Province of New Hampshire in 1769, and was named for Wills Hill, 1st Earl of Hillsborough, who was British Secretary of State for the Colonies at the time. The county was formally organized at Amherst on March 19, 1771.[https://www.loc.gov/item/01007954/ History of Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.] Hurd, Duane Hamilton, ed. Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co., 1885. Accessed via Library of Congress July 19, 2023.

In 1823, twelve townships of Hillsborough Country – Andover, Boscawen, Bradford, Dunbarton, Fishersfield (now Newbury), Henniker, Hooksett, Hopkinton, New London, Salisbury, Sutton, and Warner – became part of Merrimack County. The town of Merrimack along the Merrimack River in south-central Hillsborough County was not included in the newly formed county {{convert|9|mi|0}} to the north. Hillsborough County's administrative functions were moved from Amherst to Milford in 1866, and then to the current seats of Manchester and Nashua in 1869.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|892|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|876|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|16|sqmi}} (1.8%) is water.{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_33.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227204852/http://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_33.txt |archive-date=December 27, 2014 |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} The highest point in Hillsborough county is Pack Monadnock Mountain at {{convert|2290|ft}}.

=Adjacent counties=

Merrimack County (north)
Rockingham County (east)
Essex County, Massachusetts (southeast)
Middlesex County, Massachusetts (south)
Worcester County, Massachusetts (southwest)
Cheshire County (west)
Sullivan County (northwest)

=National protected area=

Wapack National Wildlife Refuge

Politics and government

File:Hillsborough County NH 2020 Presidential Results.svg

In the 2012 presidential election, Time had listed Hillsborough as one of five critical counties affecting the outcome in the swing state of New Hampshire. Obama ended up winning with a margin of 50%–49%.{{Citation |title=The White House – Obama's Path to Victory |date=November 19, 2012 |work=Time |pages=16–17}} Despite its more urban nature, Hillsborough County has historically been a more Republican leaning part of the state, although there is evidence to suggest that is changing. In 2020, Joe Biden and Jeanne Shaheen won Hillsborough County by a wider margin than they won statewide by.{{Cite web |title=NH-SOS – 2020 |url=https://sos.nh.gov/elections/elections/election-results/2020/ |access-date=July 26, 2021 |website=sos.nh.gov}} Biden also received the highest percentage of the vote for a Democrat since Lyndon Johnson's 1964 landslide, largely driven due to large swings to Democrats in the county's historically Republican suburban communities.{{Cite web |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/}}

{{PresHead|place=Hillsborough County, New Hampshire|whig=no|source1={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=June 9, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

|}

=County Commission=

The executive power of Hillsborough County's government is held by three county commissioners, each representing one of the three commissioner districts within the county.

class=wikitable

valign=bottom

! District

! Commissioner

! Hometown

! Party

1

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Toni Pappas

| Manchester

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican

2

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Michael Soucy

| Nashua

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican

3

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Robert Rowe

| Amherst

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican

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.[http://hcnh.org/Departments Hillsborough County > Departments]

class=wikitable

valign=bottom

! Office

! Name

County Attorney

| {{party shading/Republican}} | John Coughlin (R)

Register of Deeds

| {{party shading/Republican}}| Dennis Hogan (R)

County Sheriff

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Christopher Connelly (R)

Register of Probate

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Christopher Maidment (R)

County Treasurer

| {{party shading/Republican}} | David Fredette (R)

{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2020 |title=General Election Winners – 11/03/2020 |url=https://sos.nh.gov/media/l4odlvyb/general-election-winners.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525000223/https://sos.nh.gov/media/l4odlvyb/general-election-winners.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |access-date=December 8, 2020 |website=New Hampshire Secretary of State's Office}}{{Cite web |title=2024 General Election Results |url=https://www.sos.nh.gov/2024-general-election-results |website=New Hampshire Secretary of State}}

= County Convention =

The legislative branch of Hillsborough County, also known as the County Convention or County Delegation, is made up of all of the members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the county.{{Cite web |title=RSA Chapter 24 |url=https://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/II/24/24-mrg.htm |website=The New Hampshire General Court}}{{Cite web |title=DELEGATION |url=https://hcnh.org/Delegation |website=Hillsborough County, New Hampshire}} As of 2022, there are 123 members from 45 districts.

class=wikitable
valign=bottom ! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"\| Affiliation ! Members ! Voting share
{{party color cell\|Democratic Party (United States)}} \| Democratic Party \| align=center \| 72 \| align=center \| 58.5%
{{party color cell\|Republican Party (United States)}} \| Republican Party \| align=center \| 51 \| align=center \| 41.5%
colspan=2 \| Total ! 123 ! 100%

class=wikitable

valign=bottom

! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Affiliation

! Members

! Voting share

| Democratic Party

| align=center | 72

| align=center | 58.5%

| Republican Party

| align=center | 51

| align=center | 41.5%

colspan=2 | Total

! 123

! 100%

Demographics

{{US Census population

| 1790 = 32883

| 1800 = 43899

| 1810 = 49249

| 1820 = 53884

| 1830 = 37724

| 1840 = 42494

| 1850 = 57478

| 1860 = 62140

| 1870 = 64238

| 1880 = 75634

| 1890 = 93247

| 1900 = 112640

| 1910 = 126072

| 1920 = 135512

| 1930 = 140165

| 1940 = 144888

| 1950 = 156987

| 1960 = 178161

| 1970 = 223941

| 1980 = 276608

| 1990 = 336073

| 2000 = 380841

| 2010 = 400721

| 2020 = 422937

| estyear = 2024

| estimate = 430462

| estref = {{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=April 6, 2023}}

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1790–1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900–1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nh190090.txt |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}
1990–2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} 2010–2020

}}

=2020 census=

class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:85%; margin:10px"

|+2020 American Community Survey Population Estimates, Race and Hispanic Origin{{Cite web |title=U.S Census Bureau QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bedfordtownhillsboroughcountynewhampshire,hooksetttownmerrimackcountynewhampshire,NH/PST045219}}

!Race

!Percentage

White, not Hispanic or Latino

|83%

Asian

|6%

Hispanic or Latino

|8%

Black or African American

|3%

As of the census of 2020, there were 422,937 people residing in the county.{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html |access-date=August 14, 2021 |website=The United States Census Bureau |language=EN-US}} The population density was {{convert|482.8|PD/sqmi}}.

The racial makeup of the county was 81.0% white, 4.8% Asian, 3.9% black or African American, 1.7% American Indian, 2.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8% of the population.{{Cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US33011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014747/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US33011 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=January 12, 2016 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

For the period 2011–2015, 24.8% of the county's population had French ancestry (including 9.9% of the total population with French Canadian ancestry), 20.9% had Irish, 13.1% had English, 10.2% had Italian, and 8.2% had German ancestry.{{Cite web |title=DP02 Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2011–2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US33011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213040847/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP02/0500000US33011 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 7, 2017 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} For the same time period, the estimated median annual income for a household in the county was $71,244, and the median income for a family was $85,966. Male full-time workers had a median income of $60,349 versus $44,270 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,242. About 5.8% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.7% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.{{Cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2011–2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0500000US33011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213040253/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0500000US33011 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=March 7, 2017 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

Communities

=Cities=

Manchester (county seat)
Nashua (county seat)

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

=Villages=

=Former towns=

Monson

Education

School districts include:{{Cite web |title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hillsborough County, NH |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st33_nh/schooldistrict_maps/c33011_hillsborough/DC20SD_C33011.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220722155756/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st33_nh/schooldistrict_maps/c33011_hillsborough/DC20SD_C33011.pdf |archive-date=July 22, 2022 |access-date=July 22, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st33_nh/schooldistrict_maps/c33011_hillsborough/DC20SD_C33011_SD2MS.txt Text list]

K-12 districts:

Secondary districts:

Elementary districts:

Previously Bedford sent high school students to the Manchester School District.{{Cite journal |date=January 10, 2006 |title=Bedford withdrawal from West approved |url=https://unionleader.newsbank.com/doc/news/10F14BBE54B5C200?search_terms=%22Bedford%22%2BManchester%2BWest&text=%22Bedford%22%20Manchester%20West&content_added=&date_from=01-01-2005&date_to=01-01-2008&pub%255B0%255D=MULB&pdate=2006-01-10 |journal=New Hampshire Union Leader |location=Manchester, NH |page=B1CI |access-date=January 10, 2006 |ref=none |no-tracking=yes}}

References

External links

[http://hcnh.org/ Hillsborough County web site]
[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NH/Hillsborough/districts.html National Register of Historic Places listing for Hillsborough County]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070125111924/http://www.hcsonh.us/ Hillsborough County Sheriff Office]
[http://gedcomindex.com/Reference/New_Hampshire_1875/391.html Historical material in Statistics and Gazetteer of New Hampshire (1875)]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Hillsborough County, New Hampshire

|North = Merrimack County

|Northeast =

|East = Rockingham County

|Southeast = Essex County, Massachusetts

|South = Middlesex County, Massachusetts

|Southwest = Worcester County, Massachusetts

|West = Cheshire County

|Northwest = Sullivan County

}}

{{coord|42.92|-71.72|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NH_source:UScensus1990}}