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Hampshire's Lakes Region is made up of over forty towns, most of
which are of the friendly and very small variety. Rochester and
Laconia are the biggest cities, with populations of 17,131 and
27,800. When you visit the Lakes Region, be sure to visit as
many of these towns as you can. Their individual personalities and
histories are a big part of what makes this area so special.
This page will briefly several towns that we have
selected. We will be adding more in the future.
Lakes
Region Towns
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- Plymouth
- Rochester
- Rumney
- Sanborton
- Sandwich
- Tamworth
- Tilton
- Tuftonboro
- Wakefield
- Wolfeboro
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Laconia
is the largest city on Lake Winnipesaukee, over 17,000 people call
this city on the lakes home. Laconia is also probably the most
well known city, due to it's annual hosting of the motorcycle
rally which occurs each June. The city on the lakes boasts a
rich and fascinating history. From it's first Indian ancestors
nearly 10,000 years ago, to it's early exploration by the
Massachusetts Bay Colony, to it's explosion as a textile and
manufacturing hotspot, to it's final development as a popular
vacation destination. Part of Laconia is Weirs Beach, which
is located in the northern corner of the city on the lakes. All
though it's not a separate town, it looks, acts, and sure feels
like one. At Weirs Beach, you'll be treated to stunning views
across the clear blue waters of Lake Winnipesaukee to the Ossipee
mountains in the distance, Weirs Beach is the center of activity
on the Lake and the entire Lakes Region. The name Laconia was
first used in documents granting the land between the Merrimack
and Sagadahock Rivers to Captain John Mason and Sir Ferdinando
Gorges. Some documents call the grant the Province of Maine,
others call it the Province of Laconia, named after a region of
Greece. In the 1620s explorers had hoped to follow the Piscataqua
River north to Lake Champlain, in search of the great lakes and
rivers of Canada told of in Indian lore. These explorers were
known as the Laconia Adventurers. The town was originally a
portion of Meredith and Gilford named Meredith Bridge, and was
incorporated as Laconia in 1855. Incorporated as a city in 1893,
Laconia includes Weirs Beach, which bears the name of primitive
fishing devices discovered at the outlet of Lake Winnipesaukee.
Wolfeboro
is located on the northeastern shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, and
it is the exact opposite of Laconia and Weirs beach. Wolfeboro is
the spot for peace and quiet, relaxing, and enjoying that quaint
small town atmosphere. You've probably heard Wolfeboro referred
to as "The oldest summer resort in America," and this
claim to fame is true. People have been coming to Wolfeboro
for about 200 years. What possessed them? They were following the
actions of colonial governor John Wentworth, who built a summer
home on what is now Lake Wentworth. He came to his summer home
each summer, and was soon followed by others who enjoyed what
Wolfeboro had to offer.
Alton Bay,
with a population of about 3,500 year round residents, sits at
the southernmost tip of Lake Winnipesaukee in the far eastern side
of the Lakes Region. The M/V Mount Washington makes several
cruises all the way down the bay, providing a convenient and
scenic way for visitors to pass from Alton Bay to Weirs Beach to
Meredith to Wolfeboro or all the way back up to Center
Harbor. Alton Bay's scenery and lengthy list of things for
visitors to do has made it a popular stop for those visiting the
Lakes Region. Originally called New Durham Gore, the town
was settled by a group from Roxbury, Massachusetts. There were
already two towns named Roxbury in New England, so the town was
incorporated as Alton in honor of a prominent family from Roxbury.
The town’s boundary envelopes the five-mile long Alton Bay,
southeastern point of Lake Winnipesaukee, and includes the
southern side of Wolfeboro Harbor and all of the largest islands
in the southeast end of the lake. Alton’s 19.3 square miles of
inland water area is the highest among the cities and towns in New
Hampshire.
Center
Harbor has a meager population of just slightly over 1000,
making it one of the smallest Lakes Region towns. Located at Lake
Winnipesaukee's northwestern tip, Center, or "Centre"
Harbor became an independent town in 1823. Prior to 1823, it had
been part of Moultonborough. Visitors to the present day Center
Harbor during the winter get a chance to see the M/V Mount
Washington cruise ship at it's winter docking spot. If you visit
during the summer, you can board the Mount Washington from Center
Harbor for a scenic cruise. Center Harbor gets its name from
two sources: from its location, centered between Meredith and
Moultonborough Harbors, and also for the Senter family, who were
owners of a large amount of property in the area. The town was
incorporated in 1797 after being separated from New Hampton.
Center Harbor was a landing place for lake steamers and
stagecoaches, making it a popular summer resort. Center Harbor was
a favorite spot of John Greenleaf Whittier, and the home of Dudley
Leavitt, author and publisher of the first Farmers Almanac in
1797.
Meredith
puts just about every other town in the state to shame in the
categories of landscaping and quaintness. Home to the Mill
Falls Marketplace, Meredith boasts numerous shops filled with both
gifts and foods and everything in between. For the
non-shopping money-saving type, a casual stroll along Meredith Bay
in Hesky Park is as relaxing as a deep massage and when you add in
the scenery, it just doesn't get much better. You'll find
some of the Lakes Regions most upscale lodging accommodations here
in Meredith, and many of the rooms feature a view of the lake.
Meredith is most definitely a place you must visit during your
visit to the Lakes Region. Meredith was first granted in 1748 to a
group of settlers led by Samuel Palmer, a teacher of surveying and
navigation, who had laid out much of the land surrounding Lake
Winnipesaukee. It was known as Palmerstown, or Second Township,
since it was the second town granted by the Masonian Proprietors
that lay at the lake. Many settlers were from Salem,
Massachusetts, and the town was later called New Salem. In 1768,
the town was incorporated by Governor John Wentworth as Meredith,
for Sir William Meredith, who allied with William Pitt in
opposition to taxation on the colonies.
Holderness is
best known for Squam Lake, but chances are, "Golden
Pond" is probably the name you are more familiar with. Squam
Lake is one of the Lakes Region's most beautiful and pristine
lakes, as such, real estate values for Squam lakefront properties
are clear off the charts. If you have less than a million to burn,
better look elsewhere. For those with money, there is
currently a two bedroom cottage on the market with a price tag
of $1,500,000. High real estate costs are not the only thing
Holderness is known for, there is the Squam Lake Natural Science
Center. If you've never had a chance to see a bear, bobcat,
deer, fox, otter, eagles and several others, this place is a must.
Holderness was named in 1751 for Robert Darcy, fourth Earl of
Holderness, ambassador to Venice and minister at The Hague under
King George III. He opposed the king's policy toward the colonies,
and became a friend of Governor Wentworth in efforts to promote
friendly trade relations abroad. In 1761, the land was regranted
to a group of New England families and named New Holderness.
Grantees included Samuel Livermore, who wanted to create a
pretentious estate similar to that of the English countryside. In
1816, residents voted to change the name back to Holderness.
Tilton
is the undisputed shopping capital of the Lakes Region. Once
just a town that people passed through to get someplace else,Tilton has become a destination that attracts people from hundreds
of miles away. With well over fifty of the most popular department
stores at the Tanger Outles, there is enough shopping in Tilton to keep you busy for
months. From a historical standpoint, this territory was
settled long before it became a town, the southern part of
Sanbornton known as Sanbornton Bridge or Bridge Village. It was
incorporated as a separate town in 1869 and named Tilton, in honor
of Nathaniel Tilton, one of the first settlers. Nathaniel Tilton
established an iron foundry and the area's first hotel, the Dexter
House. His grandson Charles was a prominent citizen of the town
when it was incorporated, prompting the choice of name. Charles
Tilton made a considerable fortune in the 1849 California Gold
Rush. He donated many statues to the town, including the Tilton
Arch, and his estate is now part of the Tilton School.
Gilford
is gaining nation-wide name recognition due to the explosive
growth of Meadowbrook.
While the Lakes Region may not seem like the most likely place
you'd expect to find music's biggest stars, Medowbrook Farm has consistently
netted a summer concert series that is laced with big
names. Past performers have included Blues Traveler, 98
Degrees, N' SYNC, and other performers like Bill Cosby. Once
a part of Gilmanton called Gunstock Parish, this town was named
for a key battle at the end of the revolution, the Battle of
Guilford Court House, North Carolina. The American forces managed
to deplete Cornwallis's army so they were forced to retreat,
leading to the surrender at Yorktown. Sargent Lemuel B. Mason, who
had fought in that battle, had retired to Gunstock Parish. As the
town's oldest citizen when it was incorporated in 1812, Sargent
Mason had the honor of selecting a name, and he chose Gilford.
North Carolina's Guilford Court House has long since been renamed
Martinsville.
Belmont,
with a population of just over 6,000, sits in the southern half of
the Lakes Region and consists of about 32 square miles of land. For the modern day visitor,
Belmont is home to several fine restaurants as well as the ever
popular Lakes Region Greyhound Park, now renamed the Lodge at
Belmont. The town was first chartered in 1727 as a parish of Gilmanton
known as Upper Gilmanton, and incorporated as such in 1859. In 1869, the voters
of the town, who felt the many locations named Gilmanton was confusing,
petitioned to rename the town Belmont, to honor Mr. August Belmont, a New York
financier, in hopes that he might make a financial contribution to the town. Mr.
Belmont never acknowledged the act, having passed away that same year. Belmont
was the residence of Governor William Badger, first elected in 1834.
Moultonborough,
with it's population of just over 3,000, is best known for
it's quiet and seldom acknowledged presence on the northwestern
corner of Lake Winnipesaukee. Moultonborough's biggest draw
is the extraordinary Lucknow estate, better known as Castle in the
Clouds. A trip to Castle in the Clouds
will take you high into the Ossipee Mountains, where you can
explore the magnificent Castle and it's stunning views of Lake
Winnipesaukee. The castle is not the only thing to do on the
estate, you can feed the giant trout in Shannon Pond, grab some
food, do some horseback riding, and view Angel Falls. The
territory Moultonborough now sits on was first chartered in 1763,
to a group of settlers from Hampton who in 1748 had petitioned the
Masonian Proprietors for part of the ungranted lands in the
province. The charter describes the boundaries as running along
the northerly shore of Winnepisseoky Pond, and including a neck
and point of land running into the pond. Among them were members
of the Moulton family, led by Colonel Jonathan Moulton, who was
considered to be one of the richest men in the province at the
start of the American Revolution. The town was named in honor of
Colonel Moulton. In 1765, territory known as Moultonborough Gore
was annexed to the town.
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