Grafton County is located in the northern part of New Hampshire and is the second-largest county in the state. It covers an area of 1,750 square miles and has a population of over 89,000 people. The landscape is mostly rural with rolling hills, forests, and mountains. The White Mountains form part of the western border while the Merrimack River forms part of its eastern border.
The geography of Grafton County is defined by its two mountain ranges: the White Mountains and Franconia Range. These two ranges are separated by Franconia Notch State Park, which is known for its spectacular views and hiking trails. The highest peak in Grafton County is Mount Moosilauke at 4,802 feet above sea level. There are also several other smaller mountains such as Cardigan Mountain, Kinsman Mountain, and Mount Sunapee that offer visitors plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities such as hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, fishing, hunting and more.
In addition to its mountainous terrain Grafton County also has several rivers including the Ammonoosuc River which flows through some of the most beautiful scenery in New Hampshire; the Connecticut River which marks part of Grafton County’s western border; and numerous smaller streams that provide excellent fishing opportunities for anglers looking to catch bass or trout. There are also several lakes located throughout Grafton County such as Lake Winnipesaukee which offers excellent fishing as well as boating activities like sailing or jet skiing.
Grafton County has a diverse landscape that provides visitors with plenty to do year-round whether it be enjoying nature through hiking or skiing on its mountains or simply taking in all its beauty from one of many scenic overlooks throughout the county. With so much natural beauty to explore it’s no wonder why so many people choose to visit this stunning region every year.
Country seat and other main cities of Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County is the second-largest county in New Hampshire and is home to a variety of cities and towns. The county seat is located in North Haverhill, which was first incorporated in 1763 and has since grown into a thriving community. North Haverhill boasts a variety of amenities such as a hospital, community college, parks, restaurants, and shopping centers. Other cities located in Grafton County include Lebanon, which is home to Dartmouth College; Littleton, which is known for its picturesque downtown area; and Plymouth, which serves as the gateway to the White Mountains.
According to COUNTRYAAH, the city of Bristol lies at the southern end of Grafton County and can be found near the Connecticut River. It was first established as an agricultural town but has since grown into an important commercial center for the area. Bristol has some great attractions such as The Rocks Estate which features trails for hiking or snowshoeing as well as an outdoor theater that hosts performances throughout the summer months.
The city of Plymouth lies at the northern end of Grafton County and lies close to both Mount Moosilauke and Franconia Notch State Park. It was first settled by settlers from Massachusetts in 1763 but has since developed into a bustling tourist destination due to its proximity to some of New Hampshire’s most popular attractions including Franconia Notch State Park where visitors can enjoy skiing or hiking during winter months or take part in other outdoor activities such as kayaking or fishing during summer months.
Grafton County also includes several smaller towns throughout its borders including Ashland, Campton, Dorchester, Ellsworth, Groton, Hebron, Hill, Holderness and Livermore Falls among others. Each town offers something unique with plenty of activities available depending on what visitors are looking for be it outdoor recreation such as skiing or snowshoeing or simply taking in all the natural beauty that New Hampshire has to offer from one of many scenic overlooks throughout Grafton County’s landscape.
History of Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County is located in the northern part of New Hampshire and is the fifth most populous county in the state. It was established in 1769 and is named after Charles FitzRoy, 2nd Duke of Grafton who was a British nobleman and politician. The county covers an area of 1,750 square miles and has a population of around 89,000 people.
The first settlers in Grafton County were English colonists from Massachusetts who arrived in the late 1760s. They came to the area to take advantage of its rich soil and abundant timber resources for farming and logging. The county experienced rapid growth throughout the 18th century as more settlers moved into the region looking for land to farm or build homes on. By 1800, Grafton County had become one of New Hampshire’s most populous counties with a population of over 28,000 people.
During this time period, Grafton County was home to many small towns such as Lebanon, Littleton, Bristol, Plymouth, Ashland, Campton, Dorchester, Ellsworth, Groton and Hebron among others. These towns provided essential services such as churches and schools for local residents as well as transportation services that allowed goods to be shipped throughout the region. Many of these towns are still thriving today with some even being designated as National Historic Landmarks due to their historic significance.
Throughout its history Grafton County has been an important agricultural center producing grains such as wheat and corn as well as dairy products such as milk and butter which were shipped throughout New England during the 19th century. In addition to agriculture Grafton County also experienced industrial growth during this period with several mills being built along rivers such as Franconia Brook which provided jobs for many local residents.
Today, Grafton County continues to be an important economic hub with several major industries operating within its borders including tourism due to its proximity to many popular attractions such as Franconia Notch State Park; manufacturing; healthcare; education; government; retail; banking; insurance; transportation; construction; agriculture; forestry among others providing employment opportunities for many locals throughout the region.
Economy of Grafton County, New Hampshire
Grafton County, New Hampshire is an important economic hub in the northeast corner of the state. It is home to a population of around 89,000 people and has a rich history and diverse economy.
The county’s economy was historically driven by agriculture, with grains such as wheat and corn being grown in abundance, as well as dairy products such as milk and butter being produced. Later in the 19th century, industrial growth began to take root with several mills being built along rivers such as Franconia Brook providing jobs for many local residents.
Today, Grafton County’s economy is highly diversified across a variety of sectors including tourism, manufacturing, healthcare, education, government, retail banking insurance transportation construction agriculture forestry and more.
Tourism is one of the most important industries in Grafton County due to its proximity to popular attractions such as Franconia Notch State Park. The park draws thousands of visitors each year who come to enjoy its hiking trails skiing opportunities fishing spots and scenic views. Additionally, there are numerous other tourist attractions throughout the county including historic sites museums outdoor recreation areas golf courses ski resorts art galleries wineries and more which attract both local and out-of-state visitors throughout the year.
Manufacturing is another important sector in Grafton County with several major companies having plants or offices within its borders including BAE Systems Inc., International Paper Co., Autoliv Inc., Osram Sylvania Inc., Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Co., North American Power Technologies Inc., among others providing employment opportunities for many locals throughout the region.
In addition to manufacturing there are also numerous other businesses operating within Grafton County that provide goods or services locally or beyond its borders such as healthcare providers educational institutions retailers banks insurance companies transportation companies construction firms agricultural operations forestry operations and more which all contribute significantly to its economic growth.
Overall, Grafton County has a strong economy that provides employment opportunities for many locals throughout the region across a wide range of industries from tourism to manufacturing healthcare education government retail banking insurance transportation construction agriculture forestry and more making it an important economic hub in New Hampshire.