portsmouth New Hampshire Community Profile
Portsmouth, NH
Community Contact Portsmouth Economic Development Commission
Nancy Carmer, Economic Development Program Manager
1 Junkins Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 03801

Telephone (603) 610-7220
Fax (603) 427-1593
E-mail nmcarmer@ch.cityofportsmouth.com
Web Site http://cityofportsmouth.com

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

County Rockingham
Labor Market Area Portsmouth NH-ME Metro-NECTA, NH Portion
Tourism Region Seacoast
Planning Commission Rockingham
Regional Development Coastal Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress
 District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council
 District 3 (All Wards)
State Senate
 District 24 (All Wards)
State Representative
 Rockingham County District 16 (All Wards)
Incorporated: 1631
Origin: This territory was a part of the original land grant to John Mason and Francisco Gorges in 1622. A township grant was issued by the council of Plymouth (MA) in 1631 which covered what is now Portsmouth and the harbor, Greenland, Rye, New Castle, and Newington. First called Piscataqua, the settlement became known as Strawberry Banke because of the wild strawberries that were found there. The name Portsmouth was adopted in 1653 to honor John Mason, Captain of the Port in Portsmouth, England, and because it was a good harbor situated at the river's mouth. Already an important center of trade and shipping, Portsmouth became capitol of the province of New Hampshire in 1679, and was incorporated as a city in 1849.

Villages and Place Names: Atlantic Heights, Christian Shore, Creek Area, Elwyn Park, Meadowbrook, Pannaway Manor, Portsmouth Plains, Haymarket Square, Sagamore Hill, Strawbery Banke, the Woodlands

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 4,720 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Portsmouth totaled 1,992 over 50 years, from 18,830 in 1950 to 20,822 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was a 43 percent increase between 1950 and1960; population declined by 21 percent between 1990 and 2000. The 2007 Census estimate for Portsmouth was 20,495 residents, which ranked 13th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2007: 1,312.7 persons per square mile of land area, the third highest among the cities and towns. Portsmouth contains 15.7 square miles of land area and 1.1 square miles of inland water area.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government City Manager & Council
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2008 $45,532,029
Budget: School Appropriations, 2008 $34,326,773
Zoning Ordinance 1927/05
Master Plan 2005
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Department

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 City Council; School; Police
Appointed:
 Planning; Conservation; Library; Economic Development; Historic District; Zoning

Public Library Portsmouth Athenaeum; Portsmouth Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 4
Emergency Medical Service Municipal

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Portsmouth Regional, Portsmouth Local 209

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier Northern Utilities
Water Supplier Portsmouth Water Department

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

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) $16.34
2007 Equalization Ratio 92.3
2007 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $14.82

2007 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 54.1%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 41.3%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 4.6%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2007 Total Housing Units 10,548
   
2007 Single-Family Units 4,216
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 7
2007 Multi-Family Units 6,053
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 25
2007 Manufactured Housing Units 279
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2007 20,495 296,543
2000 20,822 278,748
1990 26,252 246,744
1980 26,254 190,345
1970 25,717 138,951

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 10,099
Female
 10,685

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 1,009
Age 5 to 19
 2,864
Age 20 to 34
 5,189
Age 35 to 54
 6,476
Age 55 to 64
 1,862
Age 65 and over
 3,384
Median Age
 38.5 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 91.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 41.9%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $27,540
Median 4-person family income $59,630
Median household income $45,195

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $41,966
Female
 $29,024

Families below the poverty level 6.4%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1997 2007
Civilian Labor Force
 12,611 13,421
Employed
 12,339 13,029
Unemployed
 272 392
Unemployment Rate
 2.2% 2.9%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1997 2007
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 2,376 2,782
Average Weekly Wage
 $690 $1,135
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 20,013 24,361
Average Weekly Wage
 $564 $980
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 22,389 27,143
Average Weekly Wage
 $578 $996
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 1,968 1,798
Average Weekly Wage
 $689 $945
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 24,357 28,941
Average Weekly Wage
 $587 $992
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Portsmouth operates grades K-12 District: SAU 52
Career Technology Center(s): Portsmouth High School Region: 19

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 4 1 1 2
Grade Levels
 P K 1-5 6-8 9-12 K 1-8
Total Enrollment
 1,014 533 1,084 157
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2008: Total Facilities: 21 Total Capacity: 1,255
Nearest Community/Technical College: Great Bay
Nearest Colleges or Universities: McIntosh; University of NH

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Columbia HCA Hospital Health care services 1,150 1987
City of Portsmouth Municipal services 937
US Dept of State, National Passport Center Passport services 900
Liberty Mutual Insurance Insurance services 837 1969
Lonza Biologies Biotechnology 650
US Dept of State National Visa Center Visa services 550
Erie Scientific/Sybron Lab Products Laboratory equipment 350 1978
Newmarket International Web services 252
LabCorp Laboratory 225
Bottomline Technologies Technology services 200

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes 1, 4
  State Routes 1A, 1B, 16, 33, 1 Bypass
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-95, Exits 3 - 7
         Distance Local access
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation Yes

Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Pease International
Runway
 11,321 ft. asphalt/concrete
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 47 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 8

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 45 miles
Portland, ME
 51 miles
Boston, MA
 57 miles
New York City, NY
 268 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 294 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 80.5%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 6.4%
Public transportation
 1.5%
Walked
 4.9%
Other Means
 1.3%
Worked at home
 5.4%
Mean Travel Time to Work 21.5 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
 51%
Commuting to another NH community
 33%
Commuting out-of-state
 16%
    
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
X Municipal Parks
X YMCA/YWCA
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
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
Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Strawbery Banke; Harbor & Isles of Shoals Cruises; Historic Homes; Fish Pier; Trolley; Sailing; Kayaking; Music Festival; Shopping

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2008. Community Response Received 10/10/07

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.

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