 County: Rockingham
Labor Market Area: Portsmouth NH-ME Metro-NECTA, NH Portion
Tourism Region: Seacoast
Planning Commission: Rockingham
Regional Development: Seacoast Business Alliance Corp.
Election Districts
US Congress: District 1
Executive Council: District 3
State Senate: District 24
State Representative: Rockingham County District 15
Incorporated: 1639
Origin: First called Winnacunnet, the Indian name for "pleasant pines," Hampton was one of four original New Hampshire towns established by the Massachusetts government. In 1638, the area, which included land now in Seabrook, Kensington, Danville, Kingston, East Kingston, Sandown, North Hampton, South Hampton, Hampton Falls, and Great Boar's Head, was settled by a group of parishioners led by Reverend Stephen Bachiler. The Reverend had previously preached in Hampton, England, and the town was incorporated as Hampton in 1639. Poet John Greenleaf Whittier was a direct descendant of Reverend Bachiler. Construction of the railroad in the 1850's made Hampton’s oceanfront a popular resort.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 853 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Hampton's population grew above the statewide average rate over four of the last five decades. Decennial growth rates ranged from 17 percent between 1980-1990 to 89 percent between 1950-1960. Over fifty years, Hampton's population increased by a total of 12,090 residents, the 11th largest numeric increase, going from 2,847 in 1950 to 14,937 residents in 2000. The 2004 Census estimate for Hampton was 15,363 residents, which ranked 16th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2004: 1,117.3 persons per square mile of land area, the seventh highest among the cities and towns. Hampton contains 13.8 square miles of land area and 0.4 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: Coffins Mill, Eastman Point, Elmwood Corners, Great Boars Head, Hampton Beach, Hampton Landing, North Beach, Plaice Cove, Smith Colony, The Five Corners, The Plantation, The Willows |