Community Contact Town of Merrimack
Walter Warren, Community Development Director
PO Box 940, Town Office
Merrimack, NH 03054

Telephone 424-3531
Fax (603) 424-1408
E-mail cddir@ci.merrimack.nh.us
Web Site www.ci.merrimack.nh.us

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

County Hillsborough
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Nashua Regional
Regional Development Gateway Industrial Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress
District 1
Executive Council
District 5
State Senate
District 9
State Representative
District 58
Incorporated: 1746

Origin: Although first occupied in 1665, settlement did not begin until 1722, when the establishment of Brenton's Farm (Litchfield) presented the need of a ferry across the river to reach new settlements. The ferry concession was owned by Edward Lutwyche. When the town was separated from Nashua (then Dunstable) in 1746, it was given the name of the river, Merrimack. In 1774, Lutwyche's Ferry was sold to Revolutionary War patriot Matthew Thornton, giving it the current name of Thornton's Ferry.

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 819 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Merrimack ranked fifth in both numeric and percent of population increase over fifty years, growing more than 13 times larger. Decennial growth rates ranged from a 13 percent increase between 1990-2000 to a 188 percent increase between 1960-1970. Merrimack's population increased by a total of 23,211 residents, going from 1,908 in 1950 to 25,119 residents in 2000. The 2003 Census estimate for Merrimack was 26,394 residents, which ranked eighth among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2003: 791.7 persons per square mile of land area. Merrimack contains 32.6 square miles of land area and 0.8 square miles of inland water area.

Villages and Place Names: Reeds Ferry, Souhegan Village, South Merrimack, Thorntons Ferry

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen/Town Manager
2005 Annual Budget $24,793,327
Zoning Ordinance 1953/03
Master Plan 2002
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
Board of Selectmen
Appointed:
Planning Board; Zoning Board; Library Trustees; Conservation Commission

Public Library Merrimack Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 5/9
Emergency Medical Service Municipal & commercial

Nearest Hospital(s):
Southern NH Regional or St. Joseph, Nashua
Distance: 11 miles Staffed Beds: 178; 135

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier KeySpan
Water Supplier Pennichuck Water Works, Merrimack Village District

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
None
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
No
Mandatory Recycling Program
Yes

Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
High Speed Cable Internet Service:
Business
Yes
Residential
Yes

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000) $20.24
2003 Equalization Ratio 95.1
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000) $19.07

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
79.7%
Commercial Land and Buildings
19.4%
Other Property including Utilities
0.9%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units 9,398

2002 Single-Family Units 7,920
Building Permits Issued
83
2002 Multi-Family Units 1,270
Building Permits Issued
156
2002 Manufactured Housing Units 208

DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2003 26,394 394,663
2000 25,119 380,841
1990 22,156 336,073
1980 15,406 276,608
1970 8,595 223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
12,514 Female 12,605

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
1,731
Age 5 to 19
6,110
Age 20 to 34
4,219
Age 35 to 54
9,183
Age 55 to 64
2,275
Age 65 and over
1,601
Median Age
36 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
92.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
35.0%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $27,748
Median 4-person family income $72,011
Median household income $68,817

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
$51,725
Female
$31,528

Families below the poverty level 1.2%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1993 2003
Civilian Labor Force
13,874 15,598
Employed
12,945 14,839
Unemployed
929 759
Unemployment Rate
6.7% 4.9%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1993 2003
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment
6,056 3,293
Average Weekly Wage
$911 $1,240

Service Providing Industries
Average Employment
3,878 9,710
Average Weekly Wage
$410 $1,135

Total Private Industry
Average Employment
9,934 13,004
Average Weekly Wage
$715 $1,162

Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment
785 1,073
Average Weekly Wage
$556 $687

Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment
10,719 14,077
Average Weekly Wage
$704 $1,125
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Merrimack operates grades 1-12 District: SAU 26
Career Technology Center(s): Nashua, Alvirne & Milford High Schools Region: 16

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
3 1 1 3
Grade Levels
P R 1-5 6-8 9-12 K-12
Total Enrollment
1,922 1,254 1,597
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003: Total Facilities: 18 Total Capacity: 1,164
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Thomas More; Rivier; St. Anselm; Daniel Webster; Hesser

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Fidelity Financial services 3,500 1996
Sanders Associates, Inc. Defense systems 816 1988
PC Connections, Inc. Computer resale 700 1998
Kollsman Instrument Company Electra optics 500 1991
Anheuser-Busch, Inc. Malt beverages 531 1991
Nashua Corporation Makes office papers & computer disks 450 1973
Merrimack School District Education 800
St. Gobain PTFE coated fabrics 253 1984
Amherst Technologies Technology product & services provider 238 1999
Town of Merrimack Municipal services 215 1746

TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes 3
State Routes Everett Turnpike, 101A
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-293, Exit 3
Distance 11 miles
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation No
Nearest Airport Nashua
Runway
5,501 feet
Lighted?
Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport Manchester
Distance
11 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
14 miles
Portland, ME
108 miles
Boston, MA
51 miles
New York City, NY
236 miles
Montreal, Quebec
272 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van
87.5%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
7.8%
Public transportation
0.2%
Walked
0.5%
Other Means
0.5%
Worked at home
3.5%
Mean Travel Time to Work 25.6 minutes


Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
24%
Commuting to another NH community
61%
Commuting out-of-state
16%

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X Municipal Parks
X YMCA/YWCA
O Boys Club/Girls Club
O Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities
O Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
O Youth Sports: Hockey
O Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
O Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area

Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre

Other: Anheuser-Busch Tours

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 08/10/04

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.MAIN TEXT