Berlin New Hampshire Community Profile
Berlin, NH
Community Contact City of Berlin
Patrick MacQueen, City Manager
168 Main Street, City Hall
Berlin, NH 03570

Telephone (603) 752-7532
Fax (603) 752-8550
E-mail bcm@ncia.net
Web Site www.berlinnh.gov

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

County Coos
Labor Market Area Berlin NH Micro-NECTA
Tourism Region Great North Woods
Planning Commission North Country Council
Regional Development Coos Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress
 District 2 (All Wards)
Executive Council
 District 1 (All Wards)
State Senate
 District 1 (All Wards)
State Representative
 Coos County District 4 (All Wards)
Incorporated: 1829
Origin: This community was first granted in 1771 as Maynesborough in honor of Sir William Mayne, an associate of Governor John Wentworth in the West Indies trade. The area was not settled by the original grantees, and the town was renamed Berlin in 1829 by new settlers originally from Berlin, Massachusetts. According to historical information from the City of Berlin website, the first attempt at building a sawmill powered by the river was in the early 1820s. This was the start of a booming lumber and paper business in Berlin, and at one time it was the largest newsprint supplier in the world. Berlin was incorporated as a city in 1897, and is the northernmost city in New Hampshire.
Villages and Place Names: Cascade, Berlin Mills

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 73 residents in 1830
Population Trends: Berlin had the largest decrease in both percent and numeric population change over 50 years, with total change of 6,284, from 16,615 in 1950 down to 10,331 in 2000. The only decennial increase was seven percent between 1950 and 1960; the population has declined since. The 2006 Census estimate for Berlin was 9,954 residents, which ranked 29th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2006: 162.0 persons per square mile of land area. Berlin contains 61.5 square miles of land area and 0.7 square miles of inland water area.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Manager & Council
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2004 $17,737,411
Budget: School Appropriations, 2005 $14,215,636
Zoning Ordinance 1964/05
Master Plan 1992
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 City Council; School
Appointed:
 Planning; Zoning; Library; Berlin Industrial Dev Park Auth.; Recreation; Water; Police

Public Library Berlin Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 5/9
Emergency Medical Service Commercial

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Androscoggin Valley, Berlin Local 92

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier Portland Natural Gas; KeySpan
Water Supplier Berlin Water Works

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Municipal
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 No
Recycling
 Voluntary

Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
 Yes
Residential
 Yes

PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2006 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $29.24
2006 Equalization Ratio 96.8
2006 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $29.84

2006 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 68.9%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 15.6%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 15.5%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2006 Total Housing Units 5,062
   
2006 Single-Family Units 2,450
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 -4
2006 Multi-Family Units 2,518
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 -3
2006 Manufactured Housing Units 94
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2006 9,954 33,019
2000 10,331 33,156
1990 11,889 34,879
1980 13,084 35,014
1970 15,256 34,189

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 4,922
Female
 5,409

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 529
Age 5 to 19
 1,914
Age 20 to 34
 1,590
Age 35 to 54
 2,965
Age 55 to 64
 997
Age 65 and over
 2,336
Median Age
 42.5 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 72.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 6.7%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $15,780
Median 4-person family income $38,750
Median household income $29,647

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $33,190
Female
 $21,156

Families below the poverty level 9.1%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1996 2006
Civilian Labor Force
 5,296 4,708
Employed
 4,962 4,471
Unemployed
 334 237
Unemployment Rate
 6.3% 5.0%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1996 2006
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 1,478 509
Average Weekly Wage
 $692 $685
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 2,124 1,973
Average Weekly Wage
 $370 $587
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 3,602 2,482
Average Weekly Wage
 $502 $607
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 1,052 1,386
Average Weekly Wage
 $442 $619
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 4,654 3,868
Average Weekly Wage
 $488 $611
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Berlin operates grades K-12 District: SAU 3
Career Technology Center(s): Berlin High School Region: 02

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 4 1 1 2
Grade Levels
 K 1-6 7-8 9-12 P K 1-12
Total Enrollment
 706 282 568 70
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2007: Total Facilities: 7 Total Capacity: 456
Nearest Community/Technical College: Berlin
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Granite State College-Berlin

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Androscoggin Valley Hospital Health care 409 1971
City of Berlin School System - SAU #3 Education 280
Northern NH Correctional Facility Corrections 198 2001
Isaacson Steel Steel fabricators 151 1962
City of Berlin Municipal services 125 1825
Northern Human Services Behavioral health services 100
Androscoggin Valley Home Care Services Home care 80 1975
Coos County Family Health Services Health services 80
CarFreshner Manufacturing 75
Northway Bank (fka Berlin City Bank) Banking services 65

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes
  State Routes 16, 110
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 35
         Distance 43 miles
Railroad Canadian National/B&M
Public Transportation Yes

Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Berlin Municipal
Runway
 5,200 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Portland (ME) International Distance 100 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 7

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 127 miles
Portland, ME
 98 miles
Boston, MA
 171 miles
New York City, NY
 379 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 179 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 81.4%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 12.1%
Public transportation
 0.4%
Walked
 4.6%
Other Means
 0.8%
Worked at home
 0.7%
Mean Travel Time to Work 15.4 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
 69%
Commuting to another NH community
 29%
Commuting out-of-state
 2%
    
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Wildcat
   
Other: Northern Forest Heritage Park; Nansen Ski Jump; Historic Churches; Moose Tours; Hiking; Canoe/Kayak; Boat Tours; ATV Trails

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2007. Community Response Received 09/28/07

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

For Source Information Click Here