New London is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 4,400 at the 2020 census.

Geography

thumb|Town offices

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which are land and are water, comprising 12.12% of the town.

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,397 people, 1,666 households, and 1,037 families residing in the town. There were 2,303 housing units, of which 637, or 27.7%, were vacant. 521 of the vacant units were for seasonal or recreational use. The racial makeup of the town was 96.5% white, 1.1% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.05% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.1% some other race, and 1.2% from two or more races. 1.5% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 1,666 households, 18.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were headed by married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 22.2% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09, and the average family size was 2.63. 912 town residents, or 20.7% of the population, lived in group quarters rather than households.

Sites of interest

  • Colby–Sawyer College: A small liberal arts school that includes a gym open to the public.
  • Lake Sunapee: A large lake that is 4,125 acres in size and is both a cold and warm water fishery. It attracts many people in the summer, and the northeast corner of the lake is located in New London.
  • Little Sunapee Lake: A clean, small lake on the west side of town with public and private beaches. Bucklin Beach, owned and operated by the town, allows parking in its lot only by town residents.
  • Pleasant Lake: Located on the east side of town, the lake features public beach access from Elkins Beach. Fireworks on the Fourth of July.
  • New London Barn Playhouse: A prominent summer stock small professional theatre. New Hampshire's oldest summer theatre. Each summer it produces Musicals and Dramas to sold-out crowds of residents and tourists. Listed in the New Hampshire State Register of Historic Places (NHSRHP) since 2006.
  • First Baptist Church: Built in 1826 and opened in January of the following year, the church is of a classical New England design by the renowned church architect Asher Benjamin. Listed in both the National Register of Historic Places and NHSRHP since 2005.
  • New London Town Green: Friday nights during the summer there are free concerts here. The first weekend in August is Hospital Day, featuring a small carnival, a parade, and a triathlon to help raise money for the local hospital.

Notable people

  • John F. Bateman (1914–1998), American football player and coach
  • Tomie dePaola (1934–2020), children's book writer and illustrator
  • Minnie Mary Lee (pen name of Julia Amanda Sargent Wood; 1825–1903), writer
  • Pamela Low (1928–2007), flavorist, created the flavor coating for Cap'n Crunch

References

  • New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile
  • New London Historical Society