Loudon, New Hampshire

Loudon, New Hampshire is a town in Merrimack County, situated within the Lakes Region of the state. Incorporated in 1773, it is named for John Campbell, the 4th Earl of Loudoun, a British Army officer during the French and Indian War. The town is known for its rural character, the prominent New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and its location along the Merrimack River.

History

The area was originally part of a Massachusetts Bay Colony grant known as Narragansett Township No. 1, later regranted by New Hampshire as Concord's northern parish. It was incorporated as a separate town by Governor John Wentworth in 1773. Early settlers were involved in agriculture and milling along the Soucook River, a tributary of the Merrimack River. During the American Revolution, local militia from the town participated in events like the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Saratoga campaign. The 19th century saw the establishment of several small villages, including Loudon Center, and the arrival of the Concord and Claremont Railroad, which spurred modest industrial growth. The town's character remained predominantly agricultural throughout the 20th century, a trajectory significantly altered by the 1990 opening of the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, a major venue for NASCAR and IndyCar Series events.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 128.4 square kilometers, of which 125.8 square kilometers is land and 2.6 square kilometers is water. Loudon is drained by the Soucook River and several smaller streams, with the Merrimack River forming part of its southwestern boundary. The town contains several ponds, including the sizeable Clough Pond, and features rolling hills characteristic of the New England Upland. It is bordered by the towns of Canterbury to the north, Pittsfield to the east, Epsom to the southeast, Chichester and Concord to the south, and Webster to the west. Major state routes serving the community include NH Route 106 and NH Route 129.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 5,482, representing growth from the 5,317 recorded in the 2010 census. The population density was approximately 43.6 persons per square kilometer. The racial makeup was predominantly White, with smaller populations of African American, Native American, Asian, and multiracial residents, alongside a growing Hispanic or Latino community. The median household income has historically been above the state average, with a significant portion of the workforce employed in management, sales, and manufacturing sectors in nearby Concord and other Merrimack County communities.

Government

Loudon operates under the traditional New England town government system, with an annual Town Meeting serving as the primary legislative body. Executive authority is vested in a three-member elected Board of Selectmen, which includes a chair. The town employs a full-time Town Administrator to manage daily operations. For representation in the New Hampshire General Court, Loudon is part of the Merrimack 8 district. At the federal level, the town is within New Hampshire's 1st congressional district, represented in the U.S. House by a member of the Republican Party. Key municipal services include a police department, a volunteer fire department, and a public works department.

Notable people

* John H. Bartlett (1869–1952), U.S. Representative from New Hampshire and former Governor of New Hampshire. * Samuel Bell (1770–1850), U.S. Senator and Governor of New Hampshire; practiced law in Loudon early in his career. * John W. Weeks (1860–1926), U.S. Senator, Secretary of War under Presidents Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge, and namesake of the Weeks Act; born in nearby Lancaster but had familial ties to Loudon. * Moses F. Shurtleff (1834–1914), Wisconsin State Representative and newspaper publisher; born in Loudon.

Category:Towns in Merrimack County, New Hampshire Category:Populated places established in 1773 Category:1773 establishments in New Hampshire