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Chester, NH
Community Contact Town of Chester Planning Department
Cynthia Robinson, Planning Coordinator
PO Box 217, Municipal Office Building
Chester, NH 03036
Telephone (603) 887-5629
Fax (603) 887-4404
E-mail chstrpl@gsinet.net
Web Site www.chesternh.org
Municipal Office Hours Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8 am - 12:30 pm, and Tuesday, 8 am - 3:30 pm
County Rockingham
Labor Market Area Nashua NH-MA NECTA Division, NH Portion
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Southern NH
Regional Development Rockingham Economic Development Corp.
Election Districts
US Congress District 1
Executive Council District 3
State Senate District 17
State Representative Rockingham County District 7
Incorporated: 1722
Origin: First called the "chestnut country," it may have been the first of the settlement grants by Massachusetts selected for expansion of
growing populations in the seacoast. The name may have derived from Cheshire, Chester being the county seat of Cheshire in England. Earl of
Chester is a title held by the Prince of Wales.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,902 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population growth rates in Chester were well above the statewide average over the last five decades, and the population grew nearly five times larger. Decennial growth rates ranged from thirty percent between 1950-1960 to a high of 45 percent between 1970-1980. Chester's population increased by a total of 2,985 residents, going from 807 in 1950 to 3,792 residents in 2000. The 2004 Census estimate for Chester was 4,565 residents, which ranked 76th among New Hampshire's
incorporated cities and towns. Population Density, 2004: 175.4 persons per square mile of land area. Chester contains 26.0 square miles of land area and 0.1 square miles of inland water area. Villages and Place Names: North Chester
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2005 $3,560,132
Budget: School Appropriations, 2005 $9,521,870
Zoning Ordinance 1960/05
Master Plan 1997
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected: Selectmen; Library Trustees, Budget
Appointed: Planning; Zoning; Conservation; Recreation
Public Library Chester Public
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Volunteer
Town Fire Insurance Rating 9/10
Emergency Medical Service Municipal
Nearest Hospital(s):
Parkland Medical Center, Derry
Distance: 5 miles Staffed Beds: 82
UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop.
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Private wells
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 Granite State;
Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service: Business Yes
Residential Yes
PROPERTY TAXES
2004 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $30.96
2004 Equalization Ratio 59.4
2004 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $18.23
2004 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings 95.2%
Commercial Land and Buildings 1.9%
Other Property including Utilities 3.0%
HOUSING
2003 Total Housing Units 1,464
2003 Single-Family Units 1,330
Building Permits Issued 0
2003 Multi-Family Units 108
Building Permits Issued 0
2003 Manufactured Housing Units 26
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2004 4,565 292,526
2000 3,863 278,748
1990 2,744 246,744
1980 2,006 190,345
1970 1,382 138,951
Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male 1,875 Female 1,917
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 315
Age 5 to 19 961
Age 20 to 34 564
Age 35 to 54 1,422
Age 55 to 64 300
Age 65 and over 230
Median Age 35.7 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher 92.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher 31.1%
ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $23,842
Median 4-person family income $75,092
Median household income $68,571
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $44,056
Female $35,382
Families below the poverty level 3.4%
LABOR FORCE 1994 2004
Annual Average
Civilian labor force 1,762 2,601
Employed 1,664 2,501
Unemployed 98 100
Unemployment rate 5.6% 3.8%
EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1994 2004
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 88 77
Average Weekly Wage $333 $1,036
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 107 201
Average Weekly Wage $360 $580
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 195 278
Average Weekly Wage $348 $706
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 77 159
Average Weekly Wage $308 $472
Total, Private Industry plus Government
Average Employment 272 437
Average Weekly Wage $336 $621
EDUCATION AND CHILD CARE
Schools students attend: Chester operates grades 1-8; grades 9-12 are tuitioned to Pinkerton Academy
(Derry)
District: SAU 14
Career Technology Center(s): Pinkerton Academy, Derry; Salem High School Vocational Center Region: 17
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1
Grade Levels 1-8
Total Enrollment 620
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2004: Total Facilities: 6 Total Capacity: 199
Nearest Community/Technical College: Manchester; Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Chester College of New England; Hesser; Southern NH University; UNH-Manchester
LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Chester College of New England Education 61 1967
Genesis Woodcraft Wooden housewares, accessories 18 1979
Stone Machine Co., Inc. Machine shop 15 1980
TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes
State Routes 102, 121
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 4
Distance 7 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No
Nearest Airport Manchester
Runway 9,250 feet
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport Manchester
Distance 13 miles
Driving distance to select cities:
Manchester, NH 12 miles
Portland, Maine 86 miles
Boston, Mass. 48 miles
New York City, NY 248 miles
Montreal, Quebec 273 miles
COMMUTING TO WORK (Census 2000)
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van 84.2%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 6.8%
Public transportation 1.2%
Walked 0.6%
Other means 0.0
Worked at home 7.2%
Mean Travel Time to Work 32.2 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence 16%
Commuting to another NH community 63%
Commuting out-of-state 21%
COPYRIGHT 2005 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/03/05
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