Peterborough (town), New Hampshire
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Peterborough is a town located in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 5,883.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 98.7 km² (38.1 mi²). 97.7 km² (37.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.1 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.08% water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 5,883 people, 2,346 households, and 1,531 families residing in the town. The population density is 60.2/km² (156.0/mi²). There are 2,509 housing units at an average density of 25.7/km² (66.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 96.97% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,346 households out of which 32.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.5% are married couples living together, 11.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% are non-families. 28.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.37 and the average family size is 2.94.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 42 years. For every 100 females there are 84.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 77.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $47,381, and the median income for a family is $54,375. Males have a median income of $42,178 versus $27,422 for females. The per capita income for the town is $26,154. 9.1% of the population and 6.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 17.0% of those under the age of 18 and 4.7% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
See also: Peterborough (CDP), New Hampshire
Cultural life
A rural area of Peterborough has been the location, since its creation in 1907, of the MacDowell art colony.
The town features an institution it calls "First Friday", a group of free events described as a "festive community celebration" on the first Friday of each month. As of 2003, these are
- MacDowell Downtown, in association with the MacDowell Colony
- contra dancing
- a program presented by the Peterboro Folk Music Society
The town was the model for the play Our Town, written by Thornton Wilder while in residence at the MacDowell Colony.