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Alton, NH
Community Contact Town of Alton
Board of Selectmen
PO Box 659
Alton, NH 03809
Telephone (603) 875-2161
Fax (603) 875-0207
E-mail administrator@alton.nh.gov
Web Site www.alton.nh.gov
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
County Belknap
Labor Market Area Wolfeboro NH LMA
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Belknap County Economic Development Council
Election Districts
US Congress District 1
Executive Council District 1
State Senate District 4
State Representative Belknap County District 5
Incorporated: 1796
Origin: Originally called New Durham Gore, the town was settled by a group from Roxbury, Massachusetts. The name Roxbury had already
been used, so the town was named for the Alton family. The town’s boundary envelopes the five-mile long Alton Bay, the southeastern point of
Lake Winnipesaukee, and includes the southern side of Wolfeboro Harbor and all of the largest islands in the southeast end of the lake. Alton’s
19.3 square miles of inland water area is the largest of any town in New Hampshire.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 445 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Alton has grown well above the statewide average rate for four of the lastfive decades. After only a four percent between 1950-1960, decennial growth rates have beenabove thirty percent, peaking at a 48 percent increase between 1970-1980. Alton's population
increased by 3,313 residents, going from 1,189 in 1950 to 4,502 residents in 2000. The 2004Census estimate for Alton was 4,962 residents, which ranked 66th among New Hampshire'sincorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2004: 77.6 persons per square mile of land area. Alton contains63.9 square miles of land area and 19.3 square miles of inland water area.Villages and Place Names: Alton Bay, East Alton, Mount Major, South Alton, West
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2005 $5,018,998
Budget: School Appropriations not available
Zoning Ordinance 1970/04
Master Plan 2002
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected: Selectmen; Planning; Library Trustees; Cemetery
Trustees; Budget; Supvsr. of Check list; Trustees
of Trust Funds; Water
Appointed: Conservation; Zoning; Parks & Recreation
Public Library Gilman
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full & part-time
Fire Department Full & part-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 6/9
Emergency Medical Service Volunteer
Nearest Hospital(s):
Huggins Hospital, Wolfeboro
Distance: 13 miles Staffed Beds: 49
UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop.; WolfeboroElectric
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Alton Water Works
Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup Private
Pay-As-You-Throw Program No
Recycling Program Mandatory
Telephone Company Verizon; Union
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service: Business Yes
Residential unknown
PROPERTY TAXES
2004 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $16.99
2004 Equalization Ratio 62.1
2004 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $10.53
2004 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings 94.0%
Commercial Land and Buildings 5.5%
Other Property including Utilities 0.6%
HOUSING
2003 Total Housing Units 3,847
2003 Single-Family Units 3,413
Building Permits Issued 100
2003 Multi-Family Units 236
Building Permits Issued 4
2003 Manufactured Housing Units 198
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2004 4,962 60,858
2000 4,528 56,576
1990 3,289 49,294
1980 2,440 42,884
1970 1,647 32,367
Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male 2,238 Female 2,264
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 273
Age 5 to 19 887
Age 20 to 34 630
Age 35 to 54 1,472
Age 55 to 64 545
Age 65 and over 695
Median Age 41.4 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher 87.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher 21.5%
ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $25,940
Median 4-person family income $46,467
Median household income $43,451
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $37,585
Female $29,375
Families below the poverty level 5.4%
LABOR FORCE 1994 2004
Annual Average
Civilian labor force 1,784 2,663
Employed 1,687 2,574
Unemployed 97 89
Unemployment rate 5.4% 3.3%
EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1994 2004
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 23 71
Average Weekly Wage $305 $625
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 437 543
Average Weekly Wage $249 $449
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 460 614
Average Weekly Wage $252 $470
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 134 244
Average Weekly Wage $439 $528
Total, Private Industry plus Government
Average Employment 594 858
Average Weekly Wage $294 $486
EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE
Schools students attend: Alton operates grades K-8; grades 9-12 are jointly managed with Barnstead. District: SAU72/JMA
Career Technology Center(s): Region 9 Vocational Technical Center, Wolfeboro Region: 09
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1 1
Grade Levels P K 1-8 9-12
Total Enrollment 578 301
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2004: Total Facilities: 3 Total Capacity:114
Nearest Community/Technical College: Laconia
Nearest Colleges or Universities: University of NH; McIntosh
LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Alton School Department Education 116
Town of Alton Municipal services 110 1796
McDonald's Fast food restaurant 50 1995
Dunkin' Donuts Donut shop 20 1996
Water Industries Commercial pumping systems 20 1963
Hillsgrove Machine Custom machine shop 9 1979
Alton Service Center Car repairs 4 1996
RF Plante Company Custom tooling, machinery 3 1982
Christian Conference Center Recreational/campground 8 1863
Alton Home & Lumber Hardware & lumber sales 5
TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes
State Routes 11, 28
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 20
Distance 21 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
Nearest Airport Laconia
Runway 5,286 feet
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport Manchester
Distance 48 miles
Driving distance to select cities:
Manchester, NH 41 miles
Portland, Maine 88 miles
Boston, Mass. 91 miles
New York City, NY 299 miles
Montreal, Quebec 255 miles
COMMUTING TO WORK (Census 2000)
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van 80.2%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 14.4%
Public transportation 0.0%
Walked 1.2%
Other means 0.3%
Worked at home 3.9%
Mean Travel Time to Work 31.1 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence 24%
Commuting to another NH community 68%
Commuting out-of-state 9%
COPYRIGHT 2005 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/03/05
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