Alton is a town located in Belknap County, New Hampshire. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 4,502. Drained by the Merrymeeting River, Alton is located beside Lake Winnipesaukee. Mount Major, in Mount Major State Forest, has an elevation of 1,780 feet (543 metres), and is the highest point in town. It is popular with hikers.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 212.9 km2 (82.2 mi2). 163.5 km2 (63.1 mi2) of it is land and 49.3 km2 (19.0 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 23.18% water.
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 4,502 people, 1,825 households, and 1,295 families residing in the town. The population density is 27.5/km2 (71.3/mi2). There are 3,522 housing units at an average density of 21.5/km2 (55.8/mi2). The racial makeup of the town is 98.76% White, 0.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,825 households out of which 28.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% are married couples living together, 6.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% are non-families. 23.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 2.93.
In the town the population is spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $43,451, and the median income for a family is $46,467. Males have a median income of $37,585 versus $29,375 for females. The per capita income for the town is $25,940. 6.5% of the population and 5.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.4% of those under the age of 18 and 2.5% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Originally called New Durham Gore because of rocky upland areas, or "gores," the town was settled in the middle 1770s, mainly by farmers because the highland areas provided less frost. Merchants then filled the lowlands. Early Alton history recounts stories of the merchants trying to convince the farmers to incorporate. They would succeed in 1796, when the community was named for the Alton family.
By 1840, the Village of Alton existed at the town's center. In 1847, railways began bringing passengers and freight to Alton Village and Alton Bay. Various businesses flourished, the most famous being the Rockwell Clough Company, established in 1875, inventor and manufacturer of the corkscrew. By 1903, the company was producing 30 million of these gadgets worldwide.
Since the mid-1800s, however, tourism has been the principal business. In 1863, the Adventist Campground held their first camp meeting at Alton Bay. In 1872, the Boston and Maine Railroad launched at Alton Bay the steamer Mount Washington, the first side-wheeler and largest vessel on Lake Winnipesaukee. When destroyed by fire in 1939, a replacement ship was found, also christened Mount Washington. Today, it continues to carry summer tourists between stops on the lake. The railway survived until 1935, but the old station at Alton Bay is now a community center.
Notable Inhabitants:
Source:
Alton, NH
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS