Bristol is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,033 at the 2000 census. It is home to Wellington State Park and Sugar Hill State Forest. Surrounded by hills and lakes, Bristol includes the lower two-thirds of Newfound Lake, a resort area. The primary settlement in town, where over 55% of the population resides, is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as the Bristol census-designated place (CDP) and is located at the intersection of New Hampshire Routes 3A and 104.

History

The town was incorporated in 1819. Extensive deposits of fine sand or clay similar to the "Bristol sand" used in Bristol, England to make fine china and pottery gave the town its name. Here the sand was used to make a superior quality brick, marketed as Bristol brick. With water power from the Pemigewasset River, the town was a center of manufacturing in the early days for goods such as paper, leather, woolens, flannel, bedsteads and piano stools.

Bristol is one of four towns with shoreline on Newfound Lake, which has been a tourist destination since the mid-1800s. Farmers at first rented rooms and provided meals, but in the 1870s, hotels including the Hotel Bristol and G. G. Brown Hotel were built. In the 1920s, W. F. Darling created a compound of about one hundred cottages for rent, first known as Hiland Park and later as Bungalo Village. In 2004, the compound was sold to a proprietor who sold individual cottages to permanent owners.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 22.3 square miles (58 km2), of which 17.3 square miles (45 km2) is land and 4.99 square miles (12.9 km2) is water, comprising 22.10% of the town. Bristol is drained by the Pemigewasset River (forming the southeastern boundary of the town), the Smith River (on the town's short southern boundary) and the Newfound River, draining Newfound Lake and most of the center of town. The highest point in town is Bristol Peak, elevation 1,803 feet (550 m) above sea level. Bristol lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.

The town center, defined as a census-designated place (CDP), covers an area of 4.8 square miles (12 km2), about 21.5% of the area of the town.

Bristol is served by state routes 3A and 104.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,033 people, 1,219 households, and 830 families residing in the town. The population density was 174.9 people per square mile (67.5/km²). There were 2,073 housing units at an average density of 46.2 persons/km² (119.5 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 96.08% White, 0.26% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.35% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,219 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 11.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 31.9% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,032, and the median income for a family was $44,766. Males had a median income of $31,088 versus $22,406 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,807. 6.9% of the population and 5.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.6% are under the age of 18 and 8.4% are 65 or older.

Town center

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,670 people, 692 households, and 458 families residing in the CDP (census-designated place) occupying the town center. The population density was 352.1 people per square mile (136.0/km²). There were 928 housing units at an average density of 75.6 persons/km² (195.7 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 96.53% White, 0.06% African American, 0.42% Native American, 1.20% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 1.74% from two or more races. 1.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 692 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 14.2% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 33.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median income for a household is $32,992, and the median income for a family was $40,804. Males had a median income of $30,478 versus $21,741 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,011. 9.8% of the population and 7.7% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 10.6% are under the age of 18 and 14.0% are 65 or older.

Notable inhabitants

• Nathaniel S. Berry, governor of New Hampshire
• John Cheever, writer (summer resident)
• Benjamin Flanders, Reconstruction governor of Louisiana; mayor of New Orleans
• Thomas A. Watson, inventor (summer resident

External links

• Town website
• Minot-Sleeper Library
• Bristol Historical Society
• Pemigewasset Valley Snowmobile Club
• Wellington State Park
• A Walking Tour of Historic Bristol, New Hampshire
• New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile

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