Henniker, New Hampshire

The area was first known as "Number Six" in a line of settlements running between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers. In 1752, the Masonian Proprietors granted the land to Andrew Todd, who called it "Todd's Town". Settled in 1761 by James Peter, it was dubbed "New Marlborough" by others from Marlboro, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1768 by Governor John Wentworth, the town was named for Sir John Henniker, a London merchant of leather and fur, with shipping interests in Boston and Portsmouth. In the 19th century Henniker had a high rate of congenital deafness, and its own sign language, which may have played a significant role in the emergence of American Sign Language. Farmers found the town's surface relatively even, with fertile soil. Various mills operated by water power on the Contoocook River, including a woolen factory. By 1859, the population was 1,688. Image:Millpond, West Henniker, NH.jpg|West Henniker millpond in 1914 Image:HennikerTownHall.JPG|Town Hall Image:TuckerFreeLibrary.JPG|Tucker Free Library Image:NECCoveredBridge.JPG|Covered bridge Image:HennikerStoneBridge.JPG|Edna Dean Proctor Bridge over the Contoocook River ==Geography==

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which are land and are water, comprising 1.52% of the town. Craney Hill, elevation above sea level and home of the Pats Peak ski area, is in the south. The highest point in Henniker is an unnamed summit near the town's northwestern corner, with an elevation of . Henniker is crossed by U.S. Route 202 and state routes 9 and 114. Adjacent municipalities • Warner (north) • Hopkinton (east) • Weare (southeast) • Deering (southwest) • Hillsborough (west) • Bradford (northwest) ==Demographics==

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,836 people, 1,780 households, and 1,124 families residing in the town. There were 1,928 housing units, of which 148, or 7.7%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the town was 95.7% white, 1.2% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.5% some other race, and 1.1% from two or more races. Of the population, 1.7% were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 1,780 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were headed by married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. Of all households, 26.3% were made up of individuals, and 7.1% 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 2.91. 541 residents, or 11.3% of the population, lived in group quarters rather than households. ==Government==

In the New Hampshire Senate, Henniker is in the 7th District, represented by Republican Daniel Innis. On the New Hampshire Executive Council, Henniker is in the 2nd District, represented by Democrat Karen Liot Hill. In the United States House of Representatives, Henniker is in New Hampshire's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Maggie Goodlander. ==Education==

Henniker is part of New Hampshire School Administrative Unit #24, which also includes Weare and Stoddard, New Hampshire. Kindergarten and primary school students attend Henniker Community School, while secondary level students attend John Stark Regional High School in Weare. Henniker is also home to New England College, a four-year private liberal arts college. Henniker has a free library for residents, two community centers, and a Parent-Teacher Association. ==Culture==

Religion Henniker has a Congregational church, a Roman Catholic church, a Quaker meeting house, and Community Christian Fellowship. == Notable people ==

• Amy Beach (1867–1944), composer, pianist • Laurie D. Cox (1883–1968), landscape architect, college president • Robert Goodenow (1800–1874), US congressman • Rufus K. Goodenow (1790–1863), US congressman • Ocean Born Mary (1720–1814), subject of a local ghost legend • James W. Patterson (1823–1893), US congressman, senator • Parker Pillsbury (1809–1898), minister; abolitionist • Edna Dean Proctor (1829–1923), writer • Jacob Rice (1787–1879), state legislator, farmer • Kristen Ulmer (born 1966), extreme skier, writer • Ted Williams (1918–2002), member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum ==Sites of interest==

• Ames State Forest • Craney Hill State Forest • Henniker Historical Society at Henniker Academy • New England College • Pats Peak == See also ==