Portsmouth, New Hampshire |
Portsmouth, New Hampshire was settled in 1623 and first given the name "Strawbery Banke" because of plentiful wild strawberries growing beside the deep so-called Piscataqua River (actually an estuary). Located between industries upstream (particularly logging) and commercial interests abroad, Strawbery Banke was well situated for fishing, trade, shipbuilding, and growth. In time it would not only acquire a new name (in 1653), but also the role of colonial capital, formerly belonging to the harbor island of New Castle. Portsmouth's vuln blity during the American Revolution to British warships, which on October 18, 1775 burned Falmouth (now Portland, Maine), helped justify moving the capital inland to Exeter.
Portsmouth's mercantile wealth would be expressed in fine architecture; it contains significant examples of Colonial, Georgian, and Fed l style houses, some of which are now museums. Portsmouth's heart contains stately brick Fed list stores and townhouses, built all of a piece after devastating early 19th century fires. The city is also noted for boldly veneered Fed list furniture, particularly that crafted by Langley Boardman.
The Industrial Revolution , however, would leave Portsmouth in the shadow of New Hampshire mill towns like Dover, Keene, Laconia, Manchester and Nashua. The effect of this shift was to preserve old Portsmouth. Now, with the protection of an Historic District Commission, much of the city's architectural legacy survives -- to the delight of tourists.
John Paul Jones' ship Ranger was built in Portsmouth, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, located across the river in Kittery, Maine, was established in 1800 -- the nation's first. Portsmouth is also known as the site where President Theodore Roosevelt arranged the Treaty of Portsmouth, signed at 3:47 p.m. on September 5, 1905 at the shipyard by diplomats of both Russia and Japan, ending the Russo-Japanese War. The occasion was marked by an honor guard, the firing of a 19-gun salute and the ringing of area church bells. In 2005, there was a re-enactment of the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty.
Strawbery Banke Museum
Located in the "South End," one Portsmouth's oldest neighborhoods, Strawbery Banke Museum [sic] features an extensive collection of restored Colonial, Georgian, and Fed l style architecture, saved from 1950s urban renewal by the efforts of Dorothy M. Vaughan and others. Guests learn local history from guides dressed in costume. Across the street from the museum are the riverside gardens and entertainments of Prescott Park.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 20,784 people, 9,875 households, and 4,858 families residing in the city. The population density is 514.1/km2 (1,331.3/mi2). There are 10,186 housing units at an av ge density of 251.9/km2 (652.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 93.55% White, 2.13% African American, 0.21% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 1.35% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 9,875 households out of which 20.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% are married couples living together, 8.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 50.8% are non-families. 38.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The av ge household size is 2.04 and the av ge family size is 2.75.
In the city the population is spread out with 17.2% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 36.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $45,195, and the median income for a family is $59,630. Males have a median income of $41,966 versus $29,024 for females. The per capita income for the city is $27,540. 9.3% of the population and 6.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.3% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
