Concord, New Hampshire

Concord, New Hampshire
State capital city
New Hampshire State House
Main Street in Downtown Concord
View from Eagle Square
New Hampshire State Library
City Hall
Old Post Office
St. Paul's School chapel
Flag of Concord, New Hampshire
Flag
Official seal of Concord, New Hampshire
Seal
Official logo of Concord, New Hampshire
Logo
Location in Merrimack County, New Hampshire
Location in Merrimack County, New Hampshire
Concord is located in New Hampshire
Concord
Concord
Concord is located in the United States
Concord
Concord
Concord is located in North America
Concord
Concord
Coordinates: 43°12′24″N 71°32′17″W / 43.20667°N 71.53806°W / 43.20667; -71.53806
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyMerrimack
RegionNew England
Settled1659[1]
Incorporated1733[1]
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • MayorByron Champlin
 • City council
Members
  • Brent Todd
  • Michele Horne
  • Jennifer Kretovic
  • Karen McNamara
  • Stacey Brown
  • Paula McLaughlin
  • Jim Schlosser
  • Ali Sekou
  • Kris Schultz
  • Jeff Foote
  • Nathan Fennessy
  • Amanda Grady Sexton
  • Fred Keach
  • Judith Kurtz
 • City managerThomas J. Aspell Jr.
Area
[2]
 • Total67.19 sq mi (174.02 km2)
 • Land63.96 sq mi (165.66 km2)
 • Water3.23 sq mi (8.36 km2)
Elevation
[3]
272 ft (83 m)
Population
 (2020)[5]
 • Total43,976
 • Density687.52/sq mi (265.46/km2)
 • μSA
155,238[4]
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
03301, 03302, 03303, 03305
Area code603
FIPS code33-14200
GNIS feature ID873303
Websitewww.concordnh.gov

Concord (/ˈkɒŋkərd/)[6] is the capital city of the U.S. state of New Hampshire and the seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2020 census the population was 43,976,[5] making it the 3rd most populous city in New Hampshire after Manchester and Nashua.

The area was first settled by Europeans in 1659.[1] On January 17, 1725, the Province of Massachusetts Bay granted the Concord area as the Plantation of Penacook,[7]: 107  and it was incorporated on February 9, 1734, as the Town of Rumford.[7] Governor Benning Wentworth gave the city its current name in 1765 following a boundary dispute with the neighboring town of Bow; the name was meant to signify the new harmony between the two towns.[8] In 1808, Concord was named the official seat of state government,[7] and the State House was completed in 1819; it remains the oldest U.S. state capitol wherein the legislature meets in its original chambers.[9]

Concord is entirely within the Merrimack River watershed[10] and the city is centered on the river. The Merrimack runs from northwest to southeast through the city. The city's eastern boundary is formed by the Soucook River, which separates Concord from the town of Pembroke. The Turkey River passes through the southwestern quarter of the city. The city consists of its downtown, including the North End and South End neighborhoods, along with the four villages of Penacook, Concord Heights, East Concord, and West Concord.[11] Penacook sits along the Contoocook River, just before it flows into the Merrimack.

As of 2020, the top employer in the city was the State of New Hampshire, and the largest private employer was Concord Hospital.[12] Concord is home to the University of New Hampshire School of Law, New Hampshire's only law school; St. Paul's School, a private preparatory school; NHTI, a two-year community college; the New Hampshire Police Academy; and the New Hampshire Fire Academy. Concord's Old North Cemetery is the final resting place of Franklin Pierce, 14th President of the United States.[13]

Interstate 89 and Interstate 93 are the two main interstate highways serving the city, and general aviation access is via Concord Municipal Airport. The nearest airport with commercial air service is Manchester–Boston Regional Airport, 23 miles (37 km) to the south. There has been no passenger rail service to Concord since 1981.[14] Historically, the Boston and Maine Railroad served the city.

  1. ^ a b c ""Concord, NH", NH Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau profile".
  2. ^ "ArcGIS REST Services Directory". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  3. ^ "Geographic Names Information System". edits.nationalmap.gov. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  4. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts Merrimack County, New Hampshire". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Concord city, Merrimack County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  6. ^ Gallager, Eric. "HB 1095 - AS INTRODUCED". The General Court of New Hampshire. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Lyford was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference watershed was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ Lamb, Brian (February 9, 2010). Who's Buried in Grant's Tomb?. PublicAffairs. ISBN 9781586488703.
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).