stark New Hampshire Community Profile
Stark, NH
Community Contact Stark Board of Selectmen
James Eich, Selectman
1189 Stark Highway
Stark, NH 03582

Telephone (603) 636-2118
Fax (603) 636-6199
E-mail starktownof@nhecwb.com
Web Site not available

Municipal Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 8 am - 4 pm, Wednesday and Friday, 8 am - 12 noon

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
Executive Council
 District 1
State Senate
 District 1
State Representative
 Coos County District 2
Incorporated: 1795
Origin: This town was chartered in 1774 as Percy, the family name of the Duke of Northumberland. At the time of the charter, a member of that family, Thomas Percy, was the king's chaplain. The town was incorporated as Piercy in 1795. In 1832 the name was changed to Stark in honor of General John Stark, hero of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Bennington. New Hampshire owes its motto, Live Free or Die, to General Stark, who was the first to carry the new thirteen-star American flag into battle. He wrote those words in July 1809, in commemoration of the Battle of Bennington. Stark is the location of the Stark Bridge, one of New Hampshire's scenic covered bridges, built in 1862.
Villages and Place Names: Crystal, Percy

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 48 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Stark totaled 143 over 50 years, from 373 in 1950 to 516 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was an increase of 37 percent between 1970 and 1980; population declined from 1950 to 1960 and from 1990 to 2000. The 2007 Census estimate for Stark was 486 residents, which ranked 216th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2007: 8.8 persons per square mile of land area. Stark contains 59.2 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2005 $513,685
Budget: School Appropriations, 2005 $1,017,896
Zoning Ordinance No Board
Master Plan Update in progress
Capitol Improvement Plan No
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Selectmen; Planning
Appointed:
 Library

Public Library Stark Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Part-time
Fire Department Volunteer
Town Fire Insurance Rating 9/10
Emergency Medical Service Milan & Dummer - Volunteer

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster 19 miles 25

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier Portland Natural Gas
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 Limited
Cable Television Access No
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
 Yes
Residential
 No

PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2007 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $15.52
2007 Equalization Ratio 91.2
2007 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $13.64

2007 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 73.1%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 3.2%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 23.6%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2007 Total Housing Units 407
   
2007 Single-Family Units 310
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 0
2007 Multi-Family Units 48
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 0
2007 Manufactured Housing Units 49
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2007 486 32,772
2000 516 33,156
1990 519 34,879
1980 470 35,014
1970 343 34,189

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 257
Female
 259

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 27
Age 5 to 19
 123
Age 20 to 34
 66
Age 35 to 54
 174
Age 55 to 64
 59
Age 65 and over
 67
Median Age
 40.3 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 79.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 9.5%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $17,168
Median 4-person family income $40,089
Median household income $37,946

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $35,833
Female
 $24,750

Families below the poverty level 2.5%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1997 2007
Civilian Labor Force
 245 228
Employed
 237 214
Unemployed
 8 14
Unemployment Rate
 3.3% 6.1%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1997 2007
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 n n
Average Weekly Wage
 n n
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 n n
Average Weekly Wage
 n n
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 n n
Average Weekly Wage
 n n
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 12 11
Average Weekly Wage
 $99 $85
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 n n
Average Weekly Wage
 n n
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Stark operates grades K-6; grades 7-12 are tuitioned to Northumberland District: SAU 58
Career Technology Center(s): Gallen Regional Voc. Center, Littleton; White Mountain Regional High, Whitefield Region: 03

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 1
Grade Levels
 K 1-6
Total Enrollment
 29
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2008: Total Facilities: 0 Total Capacity: 0
Nearest Community/Technical College: White Mountains
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Granite State College-Berlin

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Town of Stark Municipal services 41
Barrett Salt Rock salt 3 1991

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
Road Access US Routes
  State Routes 110
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 41
         Distance 35 miles
Railroad St. Lawrence & Atlantic
Public Transportation No

Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Berlin Municipal
Runway
 5,200 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Lebanon Municipal Distance 104 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 1

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 134 miles
Portland, ME
 117 miles
Boston, MA
 184 miles
New York City, NY
 364 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 159 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 87.0%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 6.0%
Public transportation
 0.0%
Walked
 0.9%
Other Means
 1.9%
Worked at home
 4.2%
Mean Travel Time to Work 26.7 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
 9%
Commuting to another NH community
 87%
Commuting out-of-state
 4%
    
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)
Youth Sports: Baseball
Youth Sports: Soccer
Youth Sports: Football
Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Balsams Wilderness
   
Other: Covered Bridge; Nash Stream Forest; John Stark Statue; Heritage Center

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2008. Community Response Received 08/19/08

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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