Holderness is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,004 at the 2020 census.

Holderness became a farming and fishing community, except for the "business or flat iron area" located on the Squam River, which has falls that drop about before meeting the Pemigewasset River. With water power to operate mills, the southwestern corner of town developed into an industrial center, to which the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad entered in 1849. But the mill village would be at odds with the agricultural community, especially when denied civic amenities including gaslights and sidewalks. Consequently, in 1868, it was set off as Ashland.

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Image:Carnes Island, Holderness, NH.jpg|Carne's Island

Image:Steamer Halcyon, Holderness, NH.jpg|Steamer Halcyon

Image:The Asquam House, Holderness, NH.jpg|Asquam House in 1912. A "high-class modern hotel on Shepherd Hill on the shores of Asquam Lakes".

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Geography

Holderness is in central New Hampshire along the southeastern border of Grafton County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which are land and are water, comprising 15.05% of the town.

The town is served by U.S. Route 3 and state routes 25, 113 and 175.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,930 people, 768 households, and 546 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,208 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 97.88% White, 0.47% African American, 0.05% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 768 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,895, and the median income for a family was $55,526. Males had a median income of $36,500 versus $26,116 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,825. About 2.8% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Town government

Holderness is governed in the traditional New England style, with a five-member board of selectmen as its executive branch, and the traditional town meeting as its legislative branch. Municipal elections and town meetings are customarily held in March.

Notable people

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  • George Butler (1943–2021), documentary filmmaker (Pumping Iron, The Endurance)
  • Moses Cheney (1793–1875), abolitionist, conductor on Underground Railroad
  • Oren B. Cheney (1816–1903), founder of Bates College
  • Arthur Livermore (1766–1853), US congressman
  • Samuel Livermore (1732–1803), US senator
  • Hercules Mooney (1715–1800), officer in the Continental Army
  • Lorenzo L. Shaw (1828–1907), mill owner
  • May Rogers Webster (1873–1938), naturalist, founded Lost River Conservation Camp
  • James H. Wolff (1847–1913), lawyer, war veteran, civil rights activist

thumb|right|[[Chapel of the Holy Cross (Holderness, New Hampshire)|Chapel of the Holy Cross]]

Sites of interest

The town has multiple properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

  • Boulderwood, a private summer camp
  • Burleigh Brae and Webster Boathouse
  • Camp Carnes, a private summer camp
  • Camp Ossipee, a private summer camp
  • Chapel of the Holy Cross
  • Chocorua Island Chapel
  • Holderness Free Library
  • Holderness Inn
  • North Holderness Freewill Baptist Church–Holderness Historical Society Building
  • Rockywold–Deephaven Camps
  • Shepard Hill Historic District
  • Trinity Church
  • True Farm
  • Watch Rock Camp, a private summer camp
  • Webster Estate

References

Further reading

  • Holderness Free Library
  • Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau (ELMI) profile at NH.gov
  • Holderness Historical Society
  • Squam Lakes Association
  • Squam Lakes Natural Science Center