Bethlehem, New Hampshire

Last updated

Bethlehem, New Hampshire
Town
Bethlehem NH Stevage.jpg
Main street of Bethlehem, spring 2009
Motto: 
Star of the White Mountains
Grafton-Bethlehem-NH.png
Coordinates: 44°16′49″N71°41′17″W / 44.28028°N 71.68806°W / 44.28028; -71.68806
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Grafton
Incorporated 1799
Villages
  • Bethlehem
  • Bethlehem Hollow
  • Maplewood
  • Pierce Bridge
Government
   Select Board
  • Mike Bruno, Chair
  • Nancy Strand
  • Veronica Morris
  • April Hibberd
  • Bruce Caplain
  Town AdministratorMary Moritz
Area
[1]
  Total91.0 sq mi (235.6 km2)
  Land90.6 sq mi (234.7 km2)
  Water0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2)  0.39%
Elevation
1,426 ft (435 m)
Population
 (2020) [2]
  Total2,484
  Density27/sq mi (10.6/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
03574
Area code 603
FIPS code 33-05460
GNIS feature ID0873546
Website www.bethlehemnh.org

Bethlehem is a hillside town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,484 at the 2020 census. [2] It is home to Cushman and Strawberry Hill state forests. The eastern half of the town is within the White Mountain National Forest. The Appalachian Trail crosses a small portion of the town in the south.

Contents

The main village of the town, where 826 people resided at the 2020 census, is defined as the Bethlehem census-designated place (CDP), and is located at the junction of U.S. Route 302 with New Hampshire Route 142. The town also includes the villages of Maplewood and Pierce Bridge.

History

Panoramic Map of Bethlehem in 1883 Bethlehem nh.jpg
Panoramic Map of Bethlehem in 1883

Granted as "Lloyd's Hills" in 1774 by colonial Governor John Wentworth, the town was named for James Lloyd of Boston. It was the last of the provincial grants in New Hampshire. In the aftermath of the Revolutionary War, the original grant could not be found. Lack of documentation deterred settlement until 1787, when the first permanent houses were built. Dropping its homage to Lloyd, a Loyalist, the town was incorporated as "Bethlehem" on December 27, 1799, the name having been selected on Christmas Day. There were just 33 families, with agriculture the only industry.

By 1850, the population had grown to 950, and the town contained a gristmill, five large sawmills, and two starch factories. In 1867, the railroad came to Bethlehem Junction. With it traveled tourists from Boston, New York and elsewhere, many to avoid respiratory ailments in the low pollen count environment of "the highest town in New Hampshire" (as claimed on a present-day sign in the village). Others were attracted by the paintings of the White Mountain artists. Conveniently located near Mount Washington and other attractions of the White Mountains, Bethlehem developed into a Gilded Age resort for the rich and famous.

The Maplewood Hotel c. 1905 Maplewood Hotel, Maplewood, NH.jpg
The Maplewood Hotel c.1905

In 1873, at the beginning of a building boom, Governor Henry Howard of Rhode Island built Howard House. Eventually, over 30 hotels would line Bethlehem's streets. Seven trains arrived daily, some direct from Grand Central Terminal, stopping at Bethlehem's five depots. Patrons included Presidents Grant, Hayes, Roosevelt, Taft and Harding, as well as author Thornton Burgess and poet Robert Frost. Entertainments included strolling Main Street on a two and a half mile raised boardwalk, carriage rides in the countryside, croquet games, or simply lounging about the hotels' sweeping piazzas.

On the hills and thoroughfares were built large summer "cottages", including that of the Woolworth family. Beginning in 1887, an annual Coaching Parade was held, with prizes awarded for lavishly decorated horse-drawn carriages. Ornamentations cost as much as $5,000, prompting visitor Phineas T. Barnum to proclaim it "the Second Greatest Show on Earth."

But the rise of the automobile would bring the decline of grand hotels. Tourists could now explore regions beyond the limits of rail service. Beginning about 1916, Jewish families began arriving in town, often seeking relief from hay fever symptoms. In fact, an organization named the Hebrew Hay Fever Relief Association, which was organized in the 1920s, existed in Bethlehem for many years. [3] [4] For a town in northern New Hampshire, contemporary Bethlehem has a sizeable Jewish community (and a number of synagogues), a legacy of its hay-fever-relief experience.

It was at Bethlehem that the National Hay Fever Relief Association was founded. World War II gave the hotels a second life, as tourists avoided war-ravaged Europe and stayed closer to home. By the 1950s, however, hotel attendance had dwindled. Many would close and be demolished. Today, the town is known for its special Christmas postal cancellation stamp. Every year, people from all over the world send Christmas cards to the Bethlehem post office to have them postmarked. In 2000, it handled 56,000 Christmas cards.

Bethlehem has experienced a continuing controversy, beginning in the 1980s. Casella Waste Systems of Rutland, Vermont, through its subsidiary North Country Environmental Services, purchased the town dump and created a landfill. The company has made efforts to expand the landfill. Town residents have tried to terminate the landfill, but Casella has repeatedly challenged the residents in court. [4]

Geography and climate

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 91.0 square miles (235.6 km2), of which 90.6 square miles (234.7 km2) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km2) are water, comprising 0.39% of the town. [5] Bethlehem is drained by the Ammonoosuc, Gale, Zealand and Little rivers, together with Tuttle, Baker and Haystack brooks. Mount Cleveland, elevation 2,397 feet (731 m), and Mount Agassiz, 2,378 ft (725 m), rise to the south of the center of town. Town boundaries contain several of the famous 4,000-footers of New Hampshire: North Twin Mountain (the highest point in Bethlehem at 4,761 ft (1,451 m)), Mount Hale, Mount Tom, Mount Field, and Mount Willey. Bethlehem lies almost fully within the Connecticut River watershed, though a tiny portion of the southeastern corner of the town is in the Merrimack River watershed, and an even smaller portion on the eastern side of the Willey Range is in the Saco River watershed. [6]

Climate data for Bethlehem 2, NH (19912020 normals, extremes 18931991)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)65
(18)
61
(16)
80
(27)
89
(32)
91
(33)
94
(34)
96
(36)
95
(35)
90
(32)
85
(29)
75
(24)
62
(17)
96
(36)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)27.8
(−2.3)
30.4
(−0.9)
39.7
(4.3)
53.4
(11.9)
67.4
(19.7)
75.7
(24.3)
80.2
(26.8)
78.8
(26.0)
71.7
(22.1)
58.2
(14.6)
44.7
(7.1)
33.1
(0.6)
55.1
(12.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)15.6
(−9.1)
17.3
(−8.2)
27.1
(−2.7)
40.4
(4.7)
53.2
(11.8)
61.8
(16.6)
66.4
(19.1)
64.5
(18.1)
56.8
(13.8)
45.3
(7.4)
34.1
(1.2)
22.3
(−5.4)
42.1
(5.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)3.4
(−15.9)
4.1
(−15.5)
14.4
(−9.8)
27.3
(−2.6)
39.0
(3.9)
47.9
(8.8)
52.7
(11.5)
50.2
(10.1)
42.0
(5.6)
32.4
(0.2)
23.5
(−4.7)
11.6
(−11.3)
29.0
(−1.6)
Record low °F (°C)−36
(−38)
−34
(−37)
−22
(−30)
−4
(−20)
20
(−7)
28
(−2)
36
(2)
33
(1)
22
(−6)
8
(−13)
−9
(−23)
−34
(−37)
−36
(−38)
Average precipitation inches (mm)2.59
(66)
2.04
(52)
2.56
(65)
3.15
(80)
3.69
(94)
4.24
(108)
4.63
(118)
4.16
(106)
3.58
(91)
3.97
(101)
3.04
(77)
3.34
(85)
40.99
(1,041)
Average snowfall inches (cm)21.3
(54)
21.5
(55)
16.7
(42)
5.4
(14)
0.4
(1.0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
1.6
(4.1)
7.1
(18)
26.9
(68)
100.9
(256)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)16.012.113.812.615.516.614.713.011.414.113.515.7169.0
Average snowy days (≥ 0.01 in)12.89.88.43.00.200000.94.811.151.0
Source: NOAA [7] / Western Regional Climate Center [8]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1800 171
1810 422146.8%
1820 46710.7%
1830 66542.4%
1840 77917.1%
1850 95022.0%
1860 896−5.7%
1870 99811.4%
1880 1,40040.3%
1890 1,267−9.5%
1900 1,261−0.5%
1910 1,201−4.8%
1920 866−27.9%
1930 8720.7%
1940 9357.2%
1950 882−5.7%
1960 8981.8%
1970 1,14227.2%
1980 1,78456.2%
1990 2,03314.0%
2000 2,1998.2%
2010 2,52614.9%
2020 2,484−1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [2] [9]
Main Street in 1907 Church & Main Street, Bethlehem, NH.jpg
Main Street in 1907

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,526 people, 1,103 households, and 698 families residing in the town. There were 1,517 housing units, of which 414, or 27.3%, were vacant. 305 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 97.2% white, 0.1% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.04% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.3% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. [10]

Of the 1,103 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were headed by married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27, and the average family size was 2.77. [10]

The Colonial Theatre c. 1920 The Colonial Theatre, Bethlehem, NH.jpg
The Colonial Theatre c.1920

In the town, 20.9% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% were from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 37.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males. [10]

For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $49,329, and the median income for a family was $56,458. Male full-time workers had a median income of $43,447 versus $41,563 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,853. 19.7% of the population and 15.1% of families were below the poverty line. 29.7% of the population under the age of 18 and 12.0% of those 65 or older were living in poverty. [11]

Sites of interest

Footnotes

  1. "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Bethlehem town, Grafton County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  3. The New Hampshire Atlas and Gazetteer. (1988). Freeport, ME: DeLorme Mapping Company. See Map 44.
  4. 1 2 The Bethlehem Landfill Controversy WhiteMountainNews.com June 20, 2010
  5. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001) - Bethlehem town, New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 10, 2011.
  6. Foster, Debra H.; Batorfalvy, Tatianna N.; Medalie, Laura (1995). Water Use in New Hampshire: An Activities Guide for Teachers. U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey.
  7. "Station Name: BETHLEHEM 2, NH US". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  8. WRCC. "Period of Record General Climate Summary - Temperature". WRCC. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  9. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Bethlehem town, Grafton County, New Hampshire". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
  11. "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Bethlehem town, Grafton County, New Hampshire". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 27, 2017.

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Lincoln is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. It is the second-largest town by area in New Hampshire. The population was 1,631 at the 2020 census. The town is home to the New Hampshire Highland Games and to a portion of Franconia Notch State Park. Set in the White Mountains, large portions of the town are within the White Mountain National Forest. The Appalachian Trail crosses the western and northeastern parts of the town. Lincoln is the location of Loon Mountain Ski Resort and associated recreation-centered development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grafton County, New Hampshire</span> County in New Hampshire, United States

Grafton County is a county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,118. Its county seat is the town of Haverhill. In 1972, the county courthouse and other offices were moved from Woodsville, a larger village within the town of Haverhill, to North Haverhill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carroll, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Carroll is a town in Coös County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 820 at the 2020 census. The two largest villages are Twin Mountain and Bretton Woods. Carroll is an important access point for recreational areas in the White Mountains, including many 4,000-footers, the Zealand River area, the Presidential Range, and the Presidential Dry River Wilderness. The town is home to the Mount Washington Hotel at Bretton Woods and to the Highland Center at Crawford Notch, the Appalachian Mountain Club's four-season lodge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benton, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Benton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 374 at the 2020 census. Located in the White Mountains, Benton is largely surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest. The town is crossed by the Appalachian Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridgewater, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Bridgewater is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,160 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campton, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Campton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,343 at the 2020 census. Campton, which includes the villages of Blair, Campton Hollow, Lower Campton and West Campton, is home to Blair State Forest and Livermore Falls State Forest. It is located in the foothills of the White Mountains, and parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the northeast and northwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellsworth, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Ellsworth is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 93 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franconia, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Franconia is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,083 at the 2020 census. Set in the White Mountains, Franconia is home to the northern half of Franconia Notch State Park. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the eastern and southern portions of the town. The Appalachian Trail crosses the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monroe, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Monroe is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 864 at the 2020 census, up from 788 at the 2010 census. The town is located along the Connecticut River, across from Barnet, Vermont. It was originally chartered as part of Lyman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orford, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Orford is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,237 at the 2020 census, unchanged from the 2010 census. The Appalachian Trail crosses in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Hill, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Sugar Hill is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 647 at the 2020 census, an increase over the figure of 563 tabulated in 2010. The town overlooks the White Mountain National Forest, with views of the Presidential, Franconia, Kinsman and Dalton ranges. Sugar Hill was incorporated as a town in 1962, the most recent in New Hampshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornton, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Thornton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,708 at the 2020 census, up from 2,490 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Warren is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 825 at the 2020 census, down from 904 at the 2010 census. Warren includes the village of Glencliff. The Appalachian Trail crosses the town in the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waterville Valley, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Waterville Valley is a New England town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 508 at the 2020 census, up from 247 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodstock, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Woodstock is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,434 at the 2020 census. Woodstock includes the village of North Woodstock, the commercial center. Its extensive land area is largely forested, and includes the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. Parts of the White Mountain National Forest are in the east and west. The Appalachian Trail crosses the town's northwestern corner. Russell Pond Campground is in the east. West of North Woodstock is the Lost River Reservation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancaster, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Lancaster is a town located along the Connecticut River in Coös County, New Hampshire, United States. The town is named after the city of Lancaster in England. As of the 2020 census, the town population was 3,218, the second largest in the county after Berlin. It is the county seat of Coös County and gateway to the Great North Woods Region of the state. Lancaster, which includes the villages of Grange and South Lancaster, is home to Weeks State Park and the Lancaster Fair. Part of the White Mountain National Forest is in the eastern portion. The town is part of the Berlin, NH−VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitefield, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Whitefield is a town in Coös County, New Hampshire, United States, in the White Mountains Region. The population was 2,490 at the 2020 census. Situated on the northern edge of the White Mountains, Whitefield is home to the Mount Washington Regional Airport and the White Mountains Regional High School.

Littleton is a census-designated place (CDP) and the main village in the town of Littleton in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population of the CDP was 4,467 at the 2020 census, out of 6,005 in the entire town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Littleton, New Hampshire</span> Town in New Hampshire, United States

Littleton is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 6,005 at the 2020 census. Situated at the northern edge of the White Mountains, Littleton is bounded on the northwest by the Connecticut River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethlehem (CDP), New Hampshire</span> Census-designated place in New Hampshire, United States

Bethlehem is a census-designated place (CDP) and the main village in the town of Bethlehem in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population of the CDP was 826 at the 2020 census, out of 2,484 in the entire town.