bridgewater New Hampshire Community Profile
Bridgewater, NH
Community Contact Town of Bridgewater
Terence Murphy, Selectman
297 Mayhew Turnpike
Bridgewater, NH 03222

Telephone (603) 744-5055
Fax (603) 744-5971
E-mail not available
Web Site not available

Municipal Office Hours Tuesday, 12 noon - 3 pm, Thursday, 9 am - 12 noon, and as needed

County Grafton
Labor Market Area Plymouth NH LMA
Tourism Region Lakes
Planning Commission Lakes Region
Regional Development Grafton County Economic Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress
 District 2
Executive Council
 District 1
State Senate
 District 2
State Representative
 Grafton County District 8
Incorporated: 1788
Origin: Bridgewater received its charter in 1788, when it was part of the town of New Chester. New Chester was separated into Bridgewater and Hill, as well as portions of Bristol, Danbury, and Wilmot. Early settlers of the area were from Bridgewater, Massachusetts, giving the town its name. Bridgewater was officially incorporated by John Sullivan, who was President of New Hampshire before the title was changed to Governor. The town line follows the eastern shore of Newfound Lake.
Villages and Place Names: unknown

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 281 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Bridgewater totaled 757 over 50 years, from 222 in 1950 to 979 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was a 52 percent increase between 1970 and 1980; all but one of the last five decades had increases of 30 percent or more. The 2007 Census estimate for Bridgewater was 1,075 residents, which ranked 180th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2007: 48.0 persons per square mile of land area. Bridgewater contains 21.5 square miles of land area and 0.2 square miles of inland water area.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2007 $1,210,600
Budget: School Appropriations, not available
Zoning Ordinance 1983/07
Master Plan 2006
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Selectmen
Appointed:
 Planning; Conservation

Public Library River Road Library

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Part-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 9/10
Emergency Medical Service Part-time

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Speare Memorial, Plymouth 13 miles 25

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop
Natural Gas Supplier None
Water Supplier Private wells

Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 none
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 No
Recycling
 Mandatory

Telephone Company Fairpoint
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
 Yes
Residential
 Limited

PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2007 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $7.68
2007 Equalization Ratio 90.5
2007 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $7.07

2007 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 91.9%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 2.7%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 5.4%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2007 Total Housing Units 938
   
2007 Single-Family Units 780
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 6
2007 Multi-Family Units 55
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 0
2007 Manufactured Housing Units 103
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2007 1,075 85,514
2000 979 81,826
1990 743 74,998
1980 606 65,806
1970 398 54,914

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 479
Female
 495

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 33
Age 5 to 19
 175
Age 20 to 34
 130
Age 35 to 54
 317
Age 55 to 64
 131
Age 65 and over
 188
Median Age
 45.4 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 92.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 31.8%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $28,600
Median 4-person family income $54,722
Median household income $50,662

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $33,250
Female
 $26,250

Families below the poverty level 6.1%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1997 2007
Civilian Labor Force
 400 571
Employed
 391 555
Unemployed
 9 16
Unemployment Rate
 2.3% 2.8%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1997 2007
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 13 16
Average Weekly Wage
 $379 $642
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 24 56
Average Weekly Wage
 $138 $1,135
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 37 72
Average Weekly Wage
 $223 $1,027
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 10 13
Average Weekly Wage
 $221 $439
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 48 85
Average Weekly Wage
 $222 $938
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Newfound Area (Alexandria, Bridgewater, Bristol, Danbury, Groton, Hebron, New Hampton) District: SAU 4
Career Technology Center(s): Plymouth Regional High School Region: 05

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 1
Grade Levels
 P K 1-5
Total Enrollment
 157
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2008: Total Facilities: 0 Total Capacity: 0
Nearest Community/Technical College: Lakes Region
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Plymouth State University; Granite State College-Laconia

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Bridgewater Steam Power Utility 12 1988

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes 3
  State Routes 3A
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 23
         Distance 10 miles
Railroad No
Public Transportation No

Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Newfound Valley, Bristol
Runway
 1,930 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 No  Navigational Aids? No
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Lebanon Municipal Distance 42 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 1

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 58 miles
Portland, ME
 111 miles
Boston, MA
 108 miles
New York City, NY
 312 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 224 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 86.5%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 8.6%
Public transportation
 0.4%
Walked
 1.2%
Other Means
 0.2%
Worked at home
 3.0%
Mean Travel Time to Work 31 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
 13%
Commuting to another NH community
 80%
Commuting out-of-state
 7%
    
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
Cinemas
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
Youth Sports: Hockey
X Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Ragged Mountain
   
Other:

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2008. Community Response Received 08/04/08

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.

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