Portsmouth, NH
Community Contact:
Portsmouth Economic Development Commission
Nancy Carmer, Economic Dev Program Mgr.
1 Junkins Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Telephone: (603) 610-7220
Fax: (603) 427-1593
E-mail: info@lib.cityofportsmouth.com
Web Site: http://cityofportsmouth.com
Municipal Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm
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 (All Wards)
Executive Council: District 3 (All Wards)
State Senate: District 24 (All Wards)
State Representative: Rockingham County District 16 (All Wards)
Incorporated: 1653
Origin: First settled in 1630 as Piscataqua, the settlement was soon named Strawberry Banke. The name Portsmouth was adopted in 1653 to honor the colony's founder, John Mason, Captain of the Port in Portsmouth, England. Portsmouth became the New Hampshire province's capitol in 1679. It was home to many famous colonials, such as William Whipple, signer of the Declaration of Independence; Governor John Langdon, first US Senate president; and John Paul Jones, naval hero. Portsmouth was incorporated as a city in 1849. The original Strawberry Banke settlement has been preserved as an example of a colonial American town.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 4,720 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Like many cities, Portsmouth's population growth rate was very low over the last five decades. Population increased by a total of 1,954 residents, going from 18,830 in 1950 to 20,784 in 2000. Population in Portsmouth declined over three decades; decennial growth ranged from a 20 percent decrease between 1990-2000 to a 43 percent increase between 1950-1960. The 2004 Census estimate for Portsmouth was 20,786 residents, which ranked 12th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2004: 1,326.5 persons per square mile of land area, the third highest among the cities and towns. Portsmouth contains 15.7 square miles of land area and 1.1 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: Atlantic Heights, Christian Shore, Creek Area, Elwyn Park, Meadowbrook, Pannaway Manor, Portsmouth Plains, Haymarket Square, Sagamore Hill, Strawberry Banke |