Hampton, New Hampshire

First called the "Plantation of Winnacunnet", Hampton was one of four original New Hampshire townships chartered by the General Court of Massachusetts, which then held authority over the colony. Winnacunnet is an Algonquian Abenaki word meaning "pleasant pines" and is the name of the town's high school, serving students from Hampton and the surrounding towns of Seabrook, North Hampton, and Hampton Falls.

In March 1635, Richard Dummer and John Spencer of the Byfield section of Newbury, Massachusetts, came round in their shallop, coming ashore at the landing, and were much impressed by the location. Dummer, who was a member of the General Court, got that body to lay its claim to the section and plan a plantation here. The Massachusetts General Court of March 3, 1636, ordered that Dummer and Spencer be given power to "To presse men to build there a Bound house."{{cite web |url=http://www.hampton.lib.nh.us/hampton/history/dow/chap1/bound.htm |title=The Pre-Bachiler Days of the White Men at Hampton |first= Roland D.|last= Sawyer|date=August 31, 1950 |work= Some Account of the History of Earlier Hampton and its Daughter and Neighbor Towns |publisher= Hampton Union |access-date= December 18, 2009}}

Image:HamptonNH Library.jpg

The town was settled in 1638 by a group of parishioners led by Oxford University graduate Reverend Stephen Bachiler, who had formerly preached at the settlement's namesake: Hampton, England.{{cite news |last1=Boyd |first1=M. |title=Stephen Bachiler |url=http://www.boydhouse.com/michelle/hussey/stephenbachiler.html |access-date=November 7, 2017|publisher=© 2004 by Michelle Boyd, All rights reserved.}} The town, incorporated in 1639, once included Seabrook, Kensington, Danville, Kingston, East Kingston, Sandown, North Hampton and Hampton Falls. On September 18, 1679, the Acts of Privy Council records that Stephen Bachiler's son-in-law, "Christopher Hussey of Hampton, Esquire", was appointed by King Charles II to "govern the provence of New Hampshire" as a member of the newly established council of seven men.{{cite book |last1=Robertson |first1=William |title=A General History of North and South America: Including the Celebrated Work by Robertson |date=1834 |publisher=Mayhew, Isaac, and Company |page=424 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ywuAAAAYAAJ&q=1679++christopher+Hussey+Acts+Privy+Council&pg=PA424 |access-date=November 6, 2017 |quote=18th September 1679....The king was represented by a president and council of his own appointment....to govern the provence of New Hampshire.....Christopher Hussey of Hampton, Esquire...to be of the council...}}{{cite web |last1=Dow |first1=Joseph |title=An historical address: delivered at Hampton, New-Hampshire, on the 25th of ... |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6dVYAAAAMAAJ&q=Stephen+Bachiler++Hussey+christopher+Hampton&pg=PA43 |publisher=Printed by Asa McFarland |date=1839 |access-date=November 7, 2017 |quote=The names of the first settlers are Stephen Bachiler, Christopher Hussey...}}

Also among Hampton's earliest settlers was Thomas Leavitt, who previously had been among the first settlers at Exeter. His descendant Thomas Leavitt, Esq., lived in Hampton Falls, and was the leading Democratic politician in southern New Hampshire for many years.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X7oMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA606 |title=History of the Town of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, From the Time of the First Settlement Within Its Borders, 1640 until 1900 |first= Warren |last=Brown |publisher= John B. Clarke Company |location= Manchester, N.H. |year= 1900}} He made a noted early survey and plan of the town of Hampton in 1806.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-bkMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA815 |title= History of the Town of Hampton, New Hampshire, From Its Settlement in 1638 to the Autumn of 1892, Vol. II |first= Joseph |last= Dow |author2=Lucy Ellen Dow |publisher= Salem Press Printing and Publishing Co. |location= Salem, Massachusetts |year= 1893|isbn= 9781548542160 }} James Leavitt, of the same family, occupied the home which had previously belonged to Gen. Jonathan Moulton. Later members of the family ran Leavitts' Hampton Beach Hotel, a fixture in the area for generations.

Construction of the railroad in the 1850s, as well as the Exeter and Hampton Trolley line, made Hampton's oceanfront a popular resort. Hampton Beach remains a tourist destination, offering shops, restaurants, beaches, and summer seasonal housing.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|37.9|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|33.4|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|4.5|sqkm|order=flip}} are water, comprising 11.76% of the town.

Hampton is drained by the Hampton and Drakes rivers. The town lies fully within the New Hampshire Coastal watershed.{{cite book |title=Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers |url=http://nh.water.usgs.gov/Publications/nh.intro.html |last=Foster |first=Debra H. |author2=Batorfalvy, Tatianna N. |author3= Medalie, Laura |publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey |year=1995}} The highest point in Hampton is Bride Hill (approximately {{convert|150|ft|m}} above sea level), near the town line with Exeter.

• North Hampton (north)
• Seabrook (south)
• Hampton Falls (southwest)
• Exeter (northwest)

{{Weather box | width=auto

|location = Hampton, New Hampshire

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 61

|Feb record high F = 66

|Mar record high F = 79

|Apr record high F = 91

|May record high F = 99

|Jun record high F = 95

|Jul record high F = 101

|Aug record high F = 100

|Sep record high F = 94

|Oct record high F = 87

|Nov record high F = 76

|Dec record high F = 68

|year record high F= 101

|Jan high F = 31.6

|Feb high F = 33.8

|Mar high F = 42.2

|Apr high F = 53.6

|May high F = 65.0

|Jun high F = 74.3

|Jul high F = 79.8

|Aug high F = 77.8

|Sep high F = 70.3

|Oct high F = 59.7

|Nov high F = 48.5

|Dec high F = 36.1

|year high F= 56.1

|Jan low F = 16.1

|Feb low F = 18.0

|Mar low F = 27.3

|Apr low F = 36.7

|May low F = 46.7

|Jun low F = 55.7

|Jul low F = 61.6

|Aug low F = 60.0

|Sep low F = 52.2

|Oct low F = 42.0

|Nov low F = 33.8

|Dec low F = 21.8

|year low F= 39.3

|Jan record low F = −16

|Feb record low F = −9

|Mar record low F = 0

|Apr record low F = 17

|May record low F = 29

|Jun record low F = 38

|Jul record low F = 47

|Aug record low F = 40

|Sep record low F = 32

|Oct record low F = 23

|Nov record low F = 11

|Dec record low F = −9

|year record low F= −16

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.59

|Feb precipitation inch = 3.80

|Mar precipitation inch = 5.02

|Apr precipitation inch = 4.63

|May precipitation inch = 4.45

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.82

|Jul precipitation inch = 3.77

|Aug precipitation inch = 4.00

|Sep precipitation inch = 4.19

|Oct precipitation inch = 5.20

|Nov precipitation inch = 4.09

|Dec precipitation inch = 5.03

|year precipitation inch = 52.59

|Jan snow inch = 18.6

|Feb snow inch = 20.5

|Mar snow inch = 10.9

|Apr snow inch = 1.4

|May snow inch = 0

|Jun snow inch = 0

|Jul snow inch = 0

|Aug snow inch = 0

|Sep snow inch = 0

|Oct snow inch = 0.2

|Nov snow inch = 0.8

|Dec snow inch = 10.2

|year snow inch = 62.6

|source = NOAA{{cite web|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/us-climate-normals/#dataset=normals-monthly&timeframe=30&station=USC00276070|title = NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|access-date = November 21, 2021}}

}}

Image:Hotel Whittier & Annex, Hampton, NH.jpg

{{US Census population

|1790= 853

|1800= 875

|1810= 990

|1820= 1098

|1830= 1102

|1840= 1320

|1850= 1192

|1860= 1230

|1870= 1177

|1880= 1184

|1890= 1330

|1900= 1209

|1910= 1215

|1920= 1251

|1930= 1507

|1940= 2137

|1950= 2847

|1960= 5379

|1970= 8011

|1980= 10493

|1990= 12324

|2000= 14973

|2010= 14976

|2020= 16214

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}

}}

As of the census of 2010, there were 14,976 people, 6,868 households, and 4,079 families residing in the town. There were 9,921 housing units, of which 3,053, or 30.8%, were vacant. 2,221 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational uses. The racial makeup of the town was 96.1% White, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.5% some other race, and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3301533060| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Hampton town, Rockingham County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=November 7, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213235227/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3301533060| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}

Of the 6,868 households, 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were headed by married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16, and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, 17.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.0% were from 18 to 24, 22.3% from 25 to 44, 35.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $76,836, and the median income for a family was $98,642. Male full-time workers had a median income of $65,519 versus $51,009 for females. The per capita income for the town was $45,189. 5.9% of the population and 4.7% of families were below the poverty line. 5.9% of the population under the age of 18 and 2.5% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.{{Cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0600000US3301533060| title=Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Hampton town, Rockingham County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| work=American Factfinder| access-date=November 7, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213155557/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/15_5YR/DP03/0600000US3301533060| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}

Image:The Marshes, Hampton Beach, NH.jpg

Hampton is part of School Administrative Unit 90, which covers the elementary and middle schools,{{Cite web|url=https://www.sau90.org/|title=Hampton School District SAU 90|website=www.sau90.org}} and SAU 21 which includes Winnacunnet High School, a regional high school serving Hampton and several surrounding communities.

Hampton is home to the headquarters of Planet Fitness.{{cite web|url=https://www.hamptonchamber.com/list/member/planet-fitness-world-headquarters-6131 |title=Planet Fitness World Headquarters |website=Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce |access-date=June 3, 2024}}

File:HamptonNH TownOffices.jpg

• Benjamin James House (1723)
• Hampton Beach State Park
• Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

Image:Beach & Casino, Hampton Beach, NH.jpg

• Bill Alfonso (born 1957), professional wrestling personality
• Stephen Bachiler (1561–1656), English clergyman; town founder
• Eunice "Goody" Cole ({{circa|1590}}–1680), the only woman convicted of witchcraft in New Hampshire
• Henry Dearborn (1751–1829), physician, general and 5th U.S. Secretary of War
• Abraham Drake (1715–1781), Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and politician
• Jimmy Dunn, stand-up comedian, actor
• Christopher Hussey (1599–1686), English nobleman, one of the original founders of Nantucket, Massachusetts
• Thomas Leavitt (1616–1696), early settler
• Paul Maher Jr. (born 1963), author
• Stephen E. Merrill (1946–2020), 77th governor of New Hampshire
• Jonathan Moulton (1726–1787), Revolutionary War era brigadier general
• Jane Pierce (1806–1863), First Lady of the United States, wife of Franklin Pierce
• Robert Preston (1929–2021), businessman and New Hampshire state senator
• Trish Regan (born 1972), business news broadcaster
• Tristram Shaw (1786–1843), U.S. congressman

{{portal|New Hampshire}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Hampton, New Hampshire}}

{{wikivoyage|Hampton (New Hampshire)|Hampton, New Hampshire}}

• {{Official website|hamptonnh.gov}}
• [https://www.nhstateparks.org/visit/state-parks/hampton-beach-state-park Hampton Beach State Park]
• [http://hamptonhistoricalsociety.org/ Hampton Historical Society]
• [https://www.hampton.lib.nh.us Lane Memorial Library], Hampton's public library (with town historical information)
• [https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/hampton.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]
• [https://www.winnacunnet.org/ Winnacunnet High School]
• [https://www.seacoastonline.com/HamptonUnion Hampton Union], local newspaper

{{Geographic location

| Centre = Hampton

| North = North Hampton

| Northeast = North Hampton

| East = Atlantic Ocean

| Southeast =

| South = Seabrook

| Southwest = Hampton Falls

| West = Hampton Falls

| Northwest = Stratham
Exeter

}}

{{Rockingham County, New Hampshire}}

{{Greater Boston}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Rockingham County, New Hampshire

Category:Populated places established in 1638

Category:Towns in New Hampshire

Category:Populated coastal places in New Hampshire

Category:1638 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies