Wakefield is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,201 at the 2020 census.

Although the soil was considered "stubborn", farmers made it productive. Lumber became a chief product, and by 1859 there were five sawmills, five gristmills, and ten shingle, clapboard and planing mills. Shoemaking was another local industry. the center of Wakefield shifted from Wakefield Corner to Sanbornville, which today remains the retail district of town.

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Image:Bridge Street, Union, NH.jpg|Bridge Street in 1916 (Union)

Image:Bird's-eye View, Sanbornville, NH.jpg|Bird's-eye View in 1908 (Sanbornville)

Image:Davis House, East Wakefield, NH.jpg|Davis House Inn in 1909 (East Wakefield)

Image:Main Street, Wakefield, NH.jpg|Main Street in 1909

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Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which are land and are water, comprising 11.71% of the town.

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,252 people, 1,685 households, and 1,213 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 3,331 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.21% White, 0.09% African American, 0.45% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.56% of the population.

There were 1,685 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,500, and the median income for a family was $45,774. Males had a median income of $35,804 versus $24,898 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,507. About 5.1% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

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  • Melissa Fifield (born 1992), racing driver
  • Joshua G. Hall (1828–1898), US congressman
  • Joseph Kenney (born 1960), member of the Executive Council of New Hampshire
  • Harry Libbey (1843–1913), US congressman
  • Freddy Meyer (born 1981), defenseman for four NHL teams
  • William Nathaniel Rogers (1892–1945), US congressman
  • George A. Wentworth (1835–1906), teacher and author of textbooks

References

  • Gafney Library
  • Greater Wakefield Chamber of Commerce
  • New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile