History

The town was first granted in 1736 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts as "Number 3", third in a line of Connecticut River fort towns. It would be settled as early as 1736, and called "Great Falls" or "Lunenburg". Colonel Benjamin Bellows, for whom Bellows Falls, Vermont is named, built a large fort here for defense against Indian attack. After New Hampshire became a separate province, the town was regranted by Governor Benning Wentworth as "Bellowstown", after its founder. It would be incorporated in 1756. The grant was renewed in 1761, when the town was renamed "Walpole", in honor of Sir Robert Walpole, 1st Earl of Orford, and the first Prime Minister of Great Britain.

The first bridge across the Connecticut River, an engineering feat in its day, was built at Walpole in 1785, and is regarded as one of the most famous early spans in the United States. The town contains many architecturally significant old houses, including several associated with Colonel Bellows and members of his family. Walpole Academy, built in 1831 and attributed to master-builder Aaron Prentiss Howland, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The abundant lilacs in the town inspired Louisa May Alcott to write the 1878 book Under the Lilacs.

Notable inhabitants

• Bronson Alcott, writer, philosopher, Alcott family patriarch
• Louisa May Alcott, writer (summer resident)
• Ken Burns, documentary film-maker
• Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, Walpole's first minister, later dismissed by the town
• Howard Petrie, film and television actor
• Gary Smith (record producer)
• Roger Vose, a United States Representative from New Hampshire
• Horace Wells, pioneered the use of anaesthesia in dentistry, specifically nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas)

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 36.6 square miles (95 km2), of which 35.6 sq mi (92 km2) is land and 1.1 sq mi (2.8 km2) is water, comprising 2.95% of the town. The northern part of Walpole is drained by the Cold River. The highest point in town is the summit of Derry Hill, at 1,663 feet (507 m) above sea level.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,594 people, 1,490 households, and 1,016 families residing in the town. The population density was 101.0 people per square mile (39.0/km²). There were 1,592 housing units at an average density of 44.8/sq mi (17.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.30% White, 0.14% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 1,490 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 26.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $44,673, and the median income for a family was $53,561. Males had a median income of $37,193 versus $24,323 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,295. About 3.9% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.4% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.