Effingham is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 1,273. Effingham includes the village of Effingham Falls. Pine River State Forest is in the south.

History

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This town was settled by the Leavitts of Hampton, and named "Leavittstown." In 1749, the land was granted by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth, and he named it "Effingham" for the Howard family, who were Earls of Effingham. The town was incorporated in 1778. North Effingham would be set off in 1831 to become the town of Freedom.

Effingham was home to the first normal school in New Hampshire, established in 1830 on the second floor of the Effingham Union Academy Building, erected in 1819. James W. Bradbury, later a U.S. Senator from Maine, took charge of the school only on condition that it should be for the "instruction and training of teachers." The idea was his own and, at that time, entirely novel.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 102.7 km² (39.7 mi²). 99.8 km² (38.5 mi²) of it is land and 2.9 km² (1.1 mi²) of it (2.80%) is water. Effingham is drained by the Ossipee River. Green Mountain, elevation 1,884 feet (574 meters) above sea level, is the highest point in town. The community is bounded on the east by the Maine state line, and on the north by the Ossipee River.

Demographics

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As of the census² of 2000, there were 1,273 people, 490 households, and 336 families residing in the town. The population density was 12.7/km² (33.0/mi²). There were 791 housing units at an average density of 7.9/km² (20.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.35% White, 0.39% African American, 0.31% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39% of the population.

There were 490 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 106.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $36,000, and the median income for a family was $38,000. Males had a median income of $29,650 versus $22,188 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,089. About 8.1% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

External links

*New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
Category:Carroll County, New Hampshire
Category:Towns in New Hampshire