Belknap County, New Hampshire

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Belknap County

| state = New Hampshire

| ex image = Laconia District Court.jpg

| ex image size =

| ex image cap = Laconia District Court on Academy Square in Laconia

| seal = Belknap County Seal.png

| founded date =

| founded year = 1840

| seat wl = Laconia

| largest city wl = Laconia

| area_total_sq_mi = 470.0

| area_land_sq_mi = 401.8

| area_water_sq_mi = 68.2

| area percentage = 14.5

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 63705 {{increase}}

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est =

| density_sq_mi = 158.5

| web = www.belknapcounty.gov

| district = 1st

| district2 = 2nd

| time zone = Eastern

| named for = Jeremy Belknap }}

Belknap County ({{IPAc-en|'|b|ɛ|l|n|æ|p}}) is a county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2020 census, the population was 63,705.{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=0500000US33001&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=Belknap County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=October 28, 2021}} The county seat is Laconia.{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120704084002/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=July 4, 2012 }} It is located in New Hampshire's Lakes Region, slightly southeast of the state's geographic center. Belknap County comprises the Laconia, NH Micropolitan Statistical Area, which in turn constitutes a portion of the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area.

The southwestern half of Lake Winnipesaukee lies in Belknap County, while several other major lakes such as Squam Lake and Lake Winnisquam lie partially or wholly within the county. The Belknap Mountains lie along the shore of Winnipesaukee east of Laconia and feature Mount Major, known for its numerous hiking trails and Gunstock Mountain, home of a popular ski resort. Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion is a concert venue in Gilford which features major national touring music acts, while the Laconia Motorcycle Week attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every June. Funspot Family Fun Center, located in Weirs Beach, is the largest video game arcade in the world.

History

Belknap County was organized in 1840 by removing parts of northeastern Merrimack County and northwestern Strafford County.{{cite web|url=http://www.nh.searchroots.com/countylist.html|title=COUNTY LIST - New Hampshire Genealogy and History AT SEARCHROOTS|work=searchroots.com|access-date=September 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716025825/http://www.nh.searchroots.com/countylist.html|archive-date=July 16, 2011|url-status=dead}} It is named for Dr. Jeremy Belknap, a renowned preacher, historian, and author of The History of New Hampshire. The first County Court was held within the town of Meredith, at a village known as Meredith Bridge on the Winnipesaukee River. In 1855, the town of Laconia was separated from Meredith.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|469|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|400|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|68|sqmi}} (15%) are water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_33.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 27, 2014|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files|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|url-status=dead}} It is the second-smallest county in New Hampshire by area. Most of the county's water area is part of Lake Winnipesaukee.

=Adjacent counties=

Carroll County (north)
Strafford County (east)
Merrimack County (southwest)
Grafton County (northwest)

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1850= 17721

|1860= 18549

|1870= 17681

|1880= 17948

|1890= 20321

|1900= 19526

|1910= 21309

|1920= 21178

|1930= 22623

|1940= 24328

|1950= 26632

|1960= 28912

|1970= 32367

|1980= 42884

|1990= 49216

|2000= 56325

|2010= 60088

|2020= 63705

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

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

}}

=2000 census=

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 56,325 people, 22,459 households, and 15,496 families living in the county. The population density was {{convert|140|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 32,121 housing units at an average density of {{convert|80|/mi2|/km2|adj=pre|units }}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.61% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.55% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.2% were of English, 13.6% Irish, 13.3% French, 12.2% French Canadian, 8.5% American, 6.9% Italian and 5.7% German ancestry. 95.0% spoke English, 2.7% French and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 22,459 households, out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 3% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,605, and the median income for a family was $50,510. Males had a median income of $34,741 versus $25,445 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,758. About 4.50% of families and 6.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.60% of those under age 18 and 4.90% of those age 65 or over.

=2010 census=

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 60,088 people, 24,766 households, and 16,609 families living in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US33001

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024253/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US33001

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|150.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 37,386 housing units at an average density of {{convert|93.4|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US33001

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213191818/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US33001

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 1.2% Asian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.8% were English, 20.7% were Irish, 8.5% were Italian, 8.0% were German, 7.1% were French Canadian, and 6.6% were American.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US33001

|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020348/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US33001

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 24,766 households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.9% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 44.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,929 and the median income for a family was $64,875. Males had a median income of $46,378 versus $34,690 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,517. About 5.2% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US33001

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=January 12, 2016

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024914/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US33001

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Politics and government

Belknap County has become the most Republican county in New Hampshire: the Republican Party is the majority political party in the county, holding 17 of 18 seats in the General Court as of December 2024. Since 1888, only three Democrats have won Belknap County: Woodrow Wilson in 1912 when the Republican Party was mortally divided between William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt; 1964, when Lyndon B. Johnson swept the Northeast due to Republican Barry Goldwater's conservative views regarding the Civil Rights Movement; and 2008, when Barack Obama swept every county in New England bar one. In 2020, Senator Jeanne Shaheen became the first Democrat to win Belknap County in a Senate race in over 50 years.{{cite web|author=David Leip|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|work=uselectionatlas.org}}

{{PresHead|place=Belknap County, New Hampshire|whig=no|source1={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 5, 2018}}}}

=County Commission=

The executive power of Belknap 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

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Peter Spanos (chair)

| Winnisquam

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Glen Waring (Vice Chair)

| Gilmanton

| {{party shading/Republican}}|Republican

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Stephen Hodges (Clerk)

| Gilford

| {{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.{{Cite web |url=http://www.belknapcounty.org/pages/index |title=Belknap County |access-date=August 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180807190143/http://www.belknapcounty.org/pages/index |archive-date=August 7, 2018 |url-status=dead }}

class=wikitable

valign=bottom

! Office

! Name

County Attorney

| {{party shading/Democratic}} | Keith Cormier (D)

| {{party shading/Republican}}| Judith McGrath (R)

County Sheriff

| {{party shading/Republican}} | William Wright (R)

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Alan Glassman (R)

County Treasurer

| {{party shading/Republican}} | Michael Muzzey (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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525000223/https://sos.nh.gov/media/l4odlvyb/general-election-winners.pdf |archive-date=May 25, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=December 8, 2020 |website=New Hampshire Secretary of State's Office}}

=General court=

The legislative branch of Belknap County is made up of all of the members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the county. In total, there are 18 members from nine different districts. After the 2022 elections, the party distribution and representatives were as follows.

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 \| 3 \| align=center \| 16.7%
{{party color cell\|Republican Party (United States)}} \| Republican Party \| align=center \| 15 \| align=center \| 83.3%
colspan=2 \| Total ! 18 ! 100%

class=wikitable

valign=bottom

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

! Members

! Voting share

| Democratic Party

| align=center | 3

| align=center | 16.7%

| Republican Party

| align=center | 15

| align=center | 83.3%

colspan=2 | Total

! 18

! 100%

Communities

There are ten towns and one city in Belknap County.

=City=

Laconia (county seat)

=Towns=

=Census-designated places=

=Villages=

References

External links

{{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20061114034233/http://www.belknapcounty.org:80/ }}
[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/NH/Belknap/districts.html National Register of Historic Places listing for Belknap County]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Belknap County, New Hampshire

|North = Carroll County

|Northeast =

|East = Strafford County

|Southeast =

|South =

|Southwest = Merrimack County

|West =

|Northwest = Grafton County

}}

{{coord|43.52|-71.42|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-NH_source:UScensus1990}}