Durham is a town located in Strafford County, New Hampshire. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 12,664. Durham is home to the University of New Hampshire.
This article describes the town of Durham as a whole. Additional demographic detail is available that describes only the more densely populated central settlement. Those details are included in the aggregate values presented here. See: Durham (CDP), New Hampshire.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 64.1 km2 (24.8 mi2). 58.0 km2 (22.4 mi2) of it is land and 6.1 km2 (2.4 mi2) of it is water. The total area is 9.57% water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 12,664 people, 2,882 households, and 1,582 families residing in the town. The population density is 218.4/km2 (565.5/mi2). There are 2,923 housing units at an average density of 50.4 persons/km2 (130.5 persons/mi2). The racial makeup of the town is 94.55% White, 0.77% African American, 0.21% Native American, 3.10% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,882 households out of which 28.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% are married couples living together, 4.8% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 45.1% are non-families. 20.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 6.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.79 and the average family size is 3.03.
The age distribution, heavily influenced by the presence of UNH, is: 12.0% under the age of 18, 56.5% from 18 to 24, 13.3% from 25 to 44, 12.1% from 45 to 64, and 6.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 21 years, which is also typical for a college town. For every 100 females there are 82.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 79.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $51,697, and the median income for a family is $83,609. Males have a median income of $54,519 versus $31,548 for females. The per capita income for the town is $17,210. 27.7% of the population and 2.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 5.5% are under the age of 18 and 1.1% are 65 or older.
Situated beside Great Bay where the Oyster River meets the Piscataqua River, Durham was originally called "Oyster River Plantation." It was settled in 1635 as a part of Dover.
During King William's War, on July 18, 1694 "Oyster River" was attacked in the Oyster River Massacre by French career soldier Sebastien de Villieu with about 250 Abenaki Indians under command of their sagamore, Bomazeen. In all, 45 inhabitants were killed and 49 taken captive, with half the dwellings, including 5 garrisons, burned to the ground. Crops were destroyed and livestock killed, causing famine and destitution for survivors.
By 1716, Durham was a separate parish, named after Durham, England. Incorporated in 1735, Durham once included portions of the present-day towns of Madbury, Lee and Newmarket.
A descendent of an early settler, Benjamin Thompson bequeathed his assests and family estate, Warner Farm, to the state for the establishment of an agricultural college. Originally founded in 1866, at Hanover, the New Hampshire College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts moved to Durham in 1893, and became University of New Hampshire in 1923. "Thompson Hall," built in 1893 with an iconic clocktower, is named in his honor.
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DurhamNewHampshire.com
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