Durham, New Hampshire
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| Durham, New Hampshire | |
|---|---|
| Name | Durham |
| Settlement type | Town |
| Nickname | Home of the Wildcats |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | United States |
| Subdivision type1 | State |
| Subdivision name1 | New Hampshire |
| Subdivision type2 | County |
| Subdivision name2 | Strafford |
| Government type | Town meeting |
| Leader title | Board of Selectmen |
| Established title | Incorporated |
| Established date | 1732 |
| Area total km2 | 64.0 |
| Area total sq mi | 24.7 |
| Area land km2 | 58.0 |
| Area land sq mi | 22.4 |
| Area water km2 | 6.0 |
| Area water sq mi | 2.3 |
| Elevation m | 15 |
| Elevation ft | 49 |
| Population total | 15720 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population density km2 | 271.0 |
| Population density sq mi | 701.8 |
| Timezone | Eastern |
| Utc offset | -5 |
| Timezone DST | EDT |
| Utc offset DST | -4 |
| Coordinates | 43, 08, 01, N... |
| Postal code type | ZIP Code |
| Postal code | 03824 |
| Area code | 603 |
| Blank name | FIPS code |
| Blank info | 33-19140 |
| Blank1 name | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 info | 0873584 |
| Website | www.ci.durham.nh.us |
Durham, New Hampshire is a town in Strafford County within the Seacoast Region of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. It is best known as the home of the state's flagship public research university, the University of New Hampshire, which dominates the town's character and economy. The community is situated along the Oyster River near its confluence with the Great Bay estuary, blending a historic New England village center with a vibrant academic atmosphere.
History
The area was originally part of a land grant from the Massachusetts Bay Colony known as **Oyster River Plantation**, settled by Europeans in the early 1630s. It was incorporated in 1732 and named for Durham in England. The settlement was the site of the Raid on Oyster River in 1694 during King William's War, a devastating attack by French and Abenaki forces. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, its economy was based on agriculture, lumber, and shipbuilding along the tidal rivers. The arrival of the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts in 1893, which later became the University of New Hampshire, fundamentally transformed the town from a quiet farming community into a major educational center.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 24.7 square miles, of which 22.4 square miles is land and 2.3 square miles is water. Durham is drained by the **Oyster River** and **Lamprey River**, which flow into the tidal **Great Bay**, part of the **Piscataqua River** watershed bordering Maine. The town contains several protected areas, including the **Adams Point Wildlife Management Area** and the **University of New Hampshire Kingman Farm**. It is bordered by the towns of Madbury, Lee, and Newmarket.
Demographics
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 15,720 people residing in the town. The population is heavily shaped by the presence of the **University of New Hampshire**, resulting in a notably young adult demographic. The racial makeup was predominantly White, with growing diversity from international students and faculty. A significant portion of housing consists of university-owned residences and off-campus student apartments, creating distinct seasonal population fluctuations between academic sessions and summer months.
Education
The town is overwhelmingly defined by the presence of the **University of New Hampshire**, a land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research institution and the flagship campus of the **University System of New Hampshire**. The university's influence extends to the **New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station** and the **UNH School of Law** in Concord. Durham's public school students attend the **Oyster River Cooperative School District**, which includes the **Oyster River High School** and serves several neighboring towns. The **Durham Public Library** serves as a community and academic resource.
Government
Durham operates under the **town meeting** form of government with an elected **Board of Selectmen** and a professional **Town Administrator**. The town is part of **New Hampshire's 1st congressional district** and is represented in the **New Hampshire Senate** and **New Hampshire House of Representatives**. Local services include a professional **Durham Police Department** and **Durham Fire Department**. The university maintains its own **UNH Police Department**, and the two entities collaborate closely on community safety and large events.
Notable people
Notable individuals associated with the town include astronaut **Alan B. Shepard**, the first American in space and a graduate of the **Admiral Farragut Academy** when it was located here; Nobel Prize-winning economist **Oliver Hart**; poet **Donald Hall**, who served as U.S. Poet Laureate; and former **Governor of New Hampshire** and **U.S. Senator** **John H. Sununu**. Famed baseball player **Chris Carpenter** and hockey executive **Paul Fenton** also have connections to the community through the university.
Category:Towns in New Hampshire Category:Towns in Strafford County, New Hampshire Category:1732 establishments in New Hampshire Category:Populated places established in 1732