Nelson is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 629 at the 2020 census, Nelson includes the village of Munsonville.

History

thumb|The Common

Originally named "Monadnock No. 6", the town was granted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth. It was first settled in 1767 by Breed Batchelder. On February 22, 1774, the town was incorporated by Governor John Wentworth as "Packersfield", after a major proprietor, Thomas Packer, the sheriff at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The name was changed in 1814 to Nelson in honor of Viscount Horatio Nelson, British admiral and naval hero.

Located on the height of land separating the watersheds of the Connecticut and Merrimack rivers, Nelson became primarily an agricultural community. The uneven surface proved good for grazing. But with streams rising from four ponds to provide water power, it also developed industry. The village of Munsonville, situated on the stage line at the outlet of Granite Lake, manufactured cotton cloth and chairs. The L. J. Colony Chair Co. produced between 25,000 and 30,000 chairs annually, hiring women and children from local farms to weave the rattan seats and backs. At one time, Munsonville had 1,000 homesteads and 10 school districts. The mills have since closed, and Munsonville is today a resort of summer homes.

Nelson is the home of a popular Monday night contradance. Similar dances have been held for over 200 years in Nelson's town hall. Many claim this is the world's longest-running public contradance, though there have been no attempts to document this as an "official" record. The Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music, a classical chamber music group that attempts to bring members of cultures in conflict closer together through music, is also in Nelson.

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File:Soldiers' Monument & Church, Nelson, NH.jpg|Soldiers' monument and church

File:L.J. Colony Chair Co., Munsonville, NH.jpg|L. J. Colony Chair Co. at Munsonville

File:Sawmill, Munsonville, NH.jpg|Old sawmill at Munsonville

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Geography

Nelson is in the eastern part of Cheshire County, in southwestern New Hampshire. Its eastern border is the Hillsborough County line. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of , of which are land and are water, comprising 5.88% of the town.

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 729 people, 303 households, and 208 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 460 housing units, of which 157, or 34.1%, were vacant. 144 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 97.7% White, 0.0% African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.5% Asian, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.

Of the 303 households in the town, 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were headed by married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41, and the average family size was 2.79.

Notable people

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  • Ursula Newell Emerson (1806–1888), missionary in Hawaii
  • Alfred B. Kittredge (1861–1911), US senator from South Dakota
  • Ralph Page (1903–1985), contra dance caller and authority on American folk dance
  • May Sarton (1912–1995), poet, writer

References

  • Olivia Rodham Memorial Library
  • Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music
  • New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile