manchester New Hampshire Community Profile
Manchester, NH
Community Contact Manchester Economic Development Office
Jay Minkarah, Economic Development Director
One City Hall Plaza, Suite 110
Manchester, NH 03101-2099

Telephone (603) 624-6505
Fax (603) 624-6308
E-mail econdev@manchesternh.gov
Web Site www.ManchesterNH.gov

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 5 pm

County Hillsborough
Labor Market Area Manchester NH Metro-NECTA
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Southern NH
Regional Development Capital Regional Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress
 District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council
 District 4 (All Wards)
State Senate
 District 16 (Wards 1, 2, & 12), 18 (Wards 5-9), and 20 (Wards 3, 4, 10, & 11)
State Representative
 Hillsborough County Districts 8 (Ward 1), 9 (Ward 2), 10 (Ward 3), 11 (Ward 4), 12 (Ward 5), 13 (Ward 6), 14 (Ward 7), 15 (Ward 8) 16 (Ward 9), and 17 (Wards 10, 11, & 12)
Incorporated: 1751
Origin: This territory, first known as Harrytown, was granted in 1735 as Tyng's Town to Captain William Tyng's snow-shoe men who had fought in the French and Indian War during the winter of 1703. In 1751, it was incorporated as Derryfield, and included part of Chester and Londonderry. The name Manchester was suggested by Samuel Blodgett, a businessman who found that the Amoskeag Falls impeded shipping on the Merrimack River. He had visited Manchester, England, and was determined to build a canal like those in England. The canal was opened in May 1807, and though Mr. Blodgett died later that year, the town was renamed Manchester in 1810. The first cotton spinning mill opened in 1804, and the Amoskeag Cotton and Wool Manufacturing Company opened in 1810. Manchester was incorporated as a city in 1846.
Villages and Place Names: Goffs Falls, Massabesic, Youngsville, Bakersville, Amoskeag

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 362 residents in 1790
Population Trends: The state's largest city, population change for Manchester was the third largest, totaling 24,487 over 50 years, from 82,732 in 1950 to 107,219 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was just nine percent, between 1980 and 1990. The 2007 Census estimate for Manchester was 108,874 residents, which ranked first among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2007: 3,290.3 persons per square mile of land area, the state's highest population density. Manchester contains 33.0 square miles of land area and 1.9 square miles of inland water area.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Mayor & 14 Aldermen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2008 $121,108,008
Budget: School Appropriations, 2008 $147,250,000
Zoning Ordinance 1927/01
Master Plan 1993
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By City Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Mayor; Aldermen
Appointed:
 Planning; Conservation; Library; 25 others

Public Library Manchester City; West Side Community

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 2
Emergency Medical Service Municipal

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Elliot Hospital, Manchester Local 296
Catholic Medical Center, Manchester Local 330

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier KeySpan
Water Supplier Manchester Water Works

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

Telephone Company Fairpoint
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) 
2007 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $16.57
2007 Equalization Ratio 98.6
2007 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $15.79

2007 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 64.6%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 33.9%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 1.5%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2007 Total Housing Units 48,618
   
2007 Single-Family Units 17,966
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 45
2007 Multi-Family Units 30,491
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 128
2007 Manufactured Housing Units 161
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2007 108,874 402,302
2000 107,219 382,384
1990 99,426 336,549
1980 90,936 276,608
1970 87,754 223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 52,394
Female
 54,612

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 7,162
Age 5 to 19
 20,928
Age 20 to 34
 25,525
Age 35 to 54
 31,468
Age 55 to 64
 8,094
Age 65 and over
 13,829
Median Age
 34.9 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 80.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 22.3%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $21,244
Median 4-person family income $50,039
Median household income $40,774

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $34,287
Female
 $26,584

Families below the poverty level 7.7%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1997 2007
Civilian Labor Force
 56,302 62,106
Employed
 54,663 59,684
Unemployed
 1,639 2,422
Unemployment Rate
 2.9% 3.9%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1997 2007
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 11,361 9,245
Average Weekly Wage
 $674 $999
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 43,520 50,769
Average Weekly Wage
 $555 $875
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 54,881 60,014
Average Weekly Wage
 $580 $894
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 7,045 7,335
Average Weekly Wage
 $685 $1,046
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 61,926 67,349
Average Weekly Wage
 $592 $910
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Manchester operates grades K-12 District: SAU 37
Career Technology Center(s): Manchester School of Technology Region: 15

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 15 4 3 12
Grade Levels
 P K R 1-5 6-8 9-12 K 1-12
Total Enrollment
 6,838 3,376 6,095 2363
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2008: Total Facilities: 68 Total Capacity: 4,561
Nearest Community/Technical College: Manchester
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Hesser; St. Anselm; Southern NH University; UNH-Manchester

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Elliott Hospital Health care services 2,821
Catholic Medical Center Health care services 1,700
Fairpoint Utility 1,650
PSNH Utility 1,250
Citizens Bank Banking services 1,225
TD Banknorth Banking services 1,150
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of NH Health insurance services 753
Southern NH University Education 700
Osram Sylvania Electronics 650
Freudenberg-NOK Elastomeric seals and custom molded products 560

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes 3
  State Routes 3A, 28, 28A 101, 114, 114A
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exits 6 - 8; I-293, Exits 1 - 7
         Distance Local access
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation Yes

Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Manchester-Boston Regional
Runway
 9,250 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance Local
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 8

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 0 miles
Portland, ME
 95 miles
Boston, MA
 53 miles
New York City, NY
 252 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 259 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 81.0%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 11.9%
Public transportation
 1.4%
Walked
 2.9%
Other Means
 0.7%
Worked at home
 2.2%
Mean Travel Time to Work 21.3 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
 52%
Commuting to another NH community
 41%
Commuting out-of-state
 7%
    
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
X YMCA/YWCA
X Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
X 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
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
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): McIntyre
   
Other: Gill Stadium; Currier Gallery of Art; Amoskeag Fishways Learning Center; Verizon Wireless Arena; Palace Theatre; NH Fishercats Baseball; Manchester Monarchs Hockey; Manchester Wolves Stadium Football

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2008. Community Response Received 07/31/08

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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