Alstead () is a
town
A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world.
Origin and use
The word "town" shares an ori ...
in
Cheshire County,
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...
, United States. The population was 1,864 at the
2020 census.
Alstead is home to Feuer State Forest.
History
The town was chartered by
Governor
Jonathan Belcher
Jonathan Belcher (8 January 1681/8231 August 1757) was a merchant, politician, and slave trader from colonial Massachusetts who served as both governor of Massachusetts Bay and governor of New Hampshire from 1730 to 1741 and governor of New J ...
in 1735 as one in a line of nine forts intended to protect southwestern New Hampshire from
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
attack. It was granted as "Newton" or "Newtown" in 1752 by Governor
Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth (July 24, 1696 – October 14, 1770) was an American merchant and colonial administrator who served as the governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766. While serving as governor, Wentworth is best known for issuing several la ...
, but would be incorporated in 1763 as Alstead. It was named for
Johann Heinrich Alsted
Johann Heinrich Alsted (March 1588 – November 9, 1638), "the true parent of all the Encyclopædias", s:Budget of Paradoxes/O. was a German-born Transylvanian Saxon Calvinist minister and academic, known for his varied interests: in Ramism and ...
, who compiled an early
encyclopedia
An encyclopedia (American English) or encyclopædia (British English) is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge either general or special to a particular field or discipline. Encyclopedias are divided into articles ...
that was popular at
Harvard College
Harvard College is the undergraduate college of Harvard University, an Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636, Harvard College is the original school of Harvard University, the oldest institution of higher lea ...
. Settled about 1764, Alstead would be one of the towns that wavered in its allegiance after the
Revolutionary War. It decided to join
Vermont
Vermont () is a state in the northeast New England region of the United States. Vermont is bordered by the states of Massachusetts to the south, New Hampshire to the east, and New York to the west, and the Canadian province of Quebec to ...
in April 1781, but at the insistence of
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...
, returned to New Hampshire authority early the next year.
Formerly known as "Paper Mill Village", Alstead is the location of one of the state's first paper mills. It was established in 1793 on the
Cold River by Ephraim and Elisha Kingsbury. Paper was then a rare and expensive product, made by chopping rags of
linen
Linen () is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant.
Linen is very strong, absorbent, and dries faster than cotton. Because of these properties, linen is comfortable to wear in hot weather and is valued for use in garments. It also ...
and
cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus ''Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor perce ...
cloth into pulp. The mill was destroyed by fire in 1880. While Alstead was basically an
agricultural
Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating Plant, plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of Sedentism, sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of Domestication, domesticated species created food ...
community, its streams and ponds once powered a variety of small mills. A turbine water mill at East Alstead is probably the last of its type anywhere in the region.
Shedd-Porter Memorial Library
The Shedd-Porter Memorial Library, located at 3 Main Street, is the public library of Alstead, New Hampshire. The library building was a gift to the town from John Graves Shedd and Mary Roenna (Porter) Shedd, and is a Beaux Arts building built in ...
, built in 1909–1910 in the
Beaux-Arts style, was a gift to Alstead and
Langdon by native son
John G. Shedd
John Graves Shedd (July 20, 1850October 22, 1926) was the second president, and chair of the board, of Marshall Field & Company.
Biography
Born on a New Hampshire farm on July 20, 1850, Shedd arrived in Chicago, Illinois in 1871 and began workin ...
, president of
Marshall Field's
Marshall Field & Company (commonly known as Marshall Field's) was an upscale department store in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in the 19th century, it grew to become a large chain before Macy's, Inc acquired it in 2005. Its eponymous founder, Mar ...
department store in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
. Another native son
philanthropist
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
, Charles M. Vilas, gave a large public recreation area, school building and the only
carillon
A carillon ( , ) is a pitched percussion instrument that is played with a keyboard and consists of at least 23 cast-bronze bells. The bells are hung in fixed suspension and tuned in chromatic order so that they can be sounded harmoniou ...
in Cheshire County.
On the weekend of October 8–9, 2005, parts of Alstead were devastated by a severe flood. Heavy rain in Cheshire County—at least in a 30-hour period—caused the Cold River and its tributaries to swell. The streamflows, which were swollen by the surge of water from Warren Brook, exceeded a 500-year recurrence interval. The storm created major property damage in Alstead, Langdon, and
Walpole along the Cold River and Warren Brook. It washed away homes, cars, and of
Route 123. Four inhabitants of the town were killed. A ''
Save Our History
''Save Our History'' is a television program sponsored by The History Channel. It is a national history education and preservation program that raises awareness and support for preserving local and national heritage. It partnered with Preserve Ame ...
'' grant from
The History Channel
History (formerly The History Channel from January 1, 1995 to February 15, 2008, stylized as HISTORY) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by A&E Networks, a joint venture between Hearst Communications and the Disney ...
provided funding to the Alstead Historical Society and several students of the local high school, who wrote and printed a book called ''Too Much Water, Too Much Rain'',
chronicling the disaster and its aftermath.
Image:Langdon Road, Alstead, NH.jpg, Langdon Road in 1910
Image:Street Scene, Alstead, NH.jpg, Street scene
Image:Lake Warren, East Alstead, NH.jpg, Lake Warren in 1910
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the town has a total area of , of which are land and are water, comprising 1.44% of the town.
Alstead is drained by the
Cold River, and Lake Warren is in the east part of the town. The highest point in Alstead is Smith Hill, at above
sea level
Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardised g ...
. Alstead lies fully within the
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the longest river in the New England region of the United States, flowing roughly southward for through four states. It rises 300 yards (270 m) south of the U.S. border with Quebec, Canada, and discharges at Long Island ...
watershed
Watershed is a hydrological term, which has been adopted in other fields in a more or less figurative sense. It may refer to:
Hydrology
* Drainage divide, the line that separates neighbouring drainage basins
* Drainage basin, called a "watershe ...
.
The town is served by state routes
123 123 may refer to:
* The first three positive Arabic numerals
* 123 (number), the natural number following 122 and preceding 124
* AD 123, a year of the Julian calendar, in the second century AD
* 123 BC, a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar
En ...
,
123A and
12A.
Adjacent municipalities
*
Acworth (north)
*
Marlow (east)
*
Gilsum (southeast)
*
Surry (southwest)
*
Walpole (west)
*
Langdon (northwest)
Demographics
As of the
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...
of 2000, there were 1,944 people, 771 households, and 534 families residing in the town. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...
was 50.0 people per square mile (19.3/km
2). There were 941 housing units at an average density of 24.2 per square mile (9.3/km
2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.20%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...
, 0.21%
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.62%
Native American, 0.51%
Asian
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
, and 0.46% from two or more races.
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
or
Latino
Latino or Latinos most often refers to:
* Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America
* Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States
* The people or cultures of Latin America;
** Latin A ...
of any race were 0.51% of the population.
There were 771 households, out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $43,191, and the median income for a family was $47,311. Males had a median income of $35,481 versus $23,785 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population.
Per capita i ...
for the town was $20,444. About 3.5% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 10.9% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Police department
The Alstead Police Department is staffed by one full-time officer, a full-time chief, a part-time officer, and a part-time administrative assistant. The town has two police cruisers, a 2017 Police Interceptor SUV and a 2016 Police Interceptor SUV, one of which was donated by an Alstead citizen.
Sites of interest
* Alstead Historical Society Museum
* Shedd Porter Memorial Library
* Vilas Pool and its carillon of bells
Notable people
*
Sarah Hall Boardman (1803–1845), missionary
*
Titus Brown
Titus Brown (February 11, 1786 – January 29, 1849) was an American politician and a United States Representative from New Hampshire.
Early life
Born in Alstead, New Hampshire, Brown graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1811. He then ...
(1786–1849), US congressman
*
John Curtis Chamberlain (1772–1834), US congressman
*
Thomas Fletcher (1787–1866), silversmith, retailer
*
Salma Hale
Salma Hale (March 7, 1787 – November 19, 1866) was an American politician, author, editor, and a United States representative from New Hampshire.
Early life
Hale was born in Alstead, Cheshire County, New Hampshire. He became apprentice as a ...
(1787–1866), printer, US congressman
*
Corrina Sephora Mensoff
Corrina Sephora Mensoff (born November 4, 1971, in Alstead, New Hampshire) is a visual artist who specializes in metal work, sculpture, painting, installation, and mixed media in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. Corrina works with universal ...
(born 1971), artist
*
Marion Nicholl Rawson (1878–1956), author, lecturer, illustrator
*
John G. Shedd
John Graves Shedd (July 20, 1850October 22, 1926) was the second president, and chair of the board, of Marshall Field & Company.
Biography
Born on a New Hampshire farm on July 20, 1850, Shedd arrived in Chicago, Illinois in 1871 and began workin ...
(1850–1926), former chairman of
Marshall Field & Co., founder of
Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium (formally the John G. Shedd Aquarium) is an indoor public aquarium in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Opened on May 30, 1930, the aquarium was for some time the largest indoor facility in the world. Today it holds about ...
in
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
*
Samuel Thomson
Samuel Thomson (9 February 1769 – 5 October 1843) was a self-taught American herbalist and botanist, best known as the founder of the alternative medicine, alternative system of medicine known as "Thomsonian Medicine", which enjoyed wide popul ...
(1769–1843), founder of the Thomsonion System of Medicine
*
Allen Wardner
Allen Wardner (December 13, 1786 – August 29, 1877) was a Vermont banker, businessman and politician who served as Vermont State Treasurer, State Treasurer. He was also the Parent-in-law#Fathers-in-law, father-in-law of United States Attorney ...
(1786–1877),
Windsor, Vermont
Windsor is a town in Windsor County, Vermont, United States. As the "Birthplace of Vermont", the town is where the Constitution of Vermont was adopted in 1777, thus marking the founding of the Vermont Republic, a sovereign state until 1791, when ...
, businessman and banker who was also
Vermont State Treasurer
The State Treasurer's Office is responsible for several administrative and service duties, in accordance with Vermont Statutes. These include: investing state funds; issuing state bonds; serving as the central bank for state agencies; managing the ...
*
Asa Wentworth Jr.
Asa Wentworth Jr. (April 4, 1797 – August 7, 1882) was a Vermont businessman and politician who served as President of the Vermont State Senate.
Biography
Asa Wentworth Jr. was born in Alstead, New Hampshire on April 4, 1797. He was raised a ...
(1797–1882), businessman, politician
References
External links
*
Shedd-Porter Memorial Library
{{authority control
Towns in Cheshire County, New Hampshire
Populated places established in 1763
Towns in New Hampshire