Incorporated: 1746

Origin: Originally part of a grant to Edward Tyng of Dunstable, England, the 200 square mile area, called Dunstable, included Nashua, Tyngsboro MA, and other border towns. In 1741 the town was cut in half when the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border was established. The northern half kept the name Dunstable. In 1836 the town took the Nashua River? s name, a Nashaway Indian word for ? beautiful river with a pebbly bottom.? Nashua became a manufacturing center, powered by the Middlesex Canal which connected the Merrimack River to Boston. It was incorporated as a city in 1853.

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 632 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Although Nashua ranked first in numeric population increase over fifty years, the rates of growth were at or below the statewide average. Decennial growth rates ranged from a nine percent increase between 1990-2000 to a 43 percent increase between 1960-1970. Nashua's population grew by 51,936 residents between the 1950 count of 34,669 and the 2000 count of 86,605. The 2003 Census estimate for Nashua was 87,285 residents, which ranked second among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2003: 2,843.5 persons per square mile of land area, the second highest density. Nashua contains 30.8 square miles of land area and 1.0 square miles of inland water area.

Villages and Place Names: Broad Acres, Lincoln Park, Dunstable, Crown Hill

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Mayor & Council
2004 Annual Budget $200,614,253
Zoning Ordinance 1930/03
Master Plan 2002
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
Board of Aldermen
Appointed:
Planning Board; Conservation Commission; Library Trustees; Cemetery Trustees

Public Library Nashua Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 2
Emergency Medical Service Municipal, other & commercial

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

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier KeySpan
Water Supplier Pennichuck Water Works

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
Municipal
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
No
Mandatory Recycling Program
Voluntary

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

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000) $24.37
2003 Equalization Ratio 68.9
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000) $16.63

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
62.3%
Commercial Land and Buildings
35.1%
Other Property including Utilities
2.6%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units 35,737

2002 Single-Family Units 18,569
Building Permits Issued
115
2002 Multi-Family Units 16,287
Building Permits Issued
40
2002 Manufactured Housing Units 881

DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2003 87,285 394,663
2000 86,605 380,841
1990 79,662 336,073
1980 67,865 276,608
1970 55,820 223,941

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
42,775 Female 43,830

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
5,644
Age 5 to 19
17,735
Age 20 to 34
18,734
Age 35 to 54
27,055
Age 55 to 64
7,395
Age 65 and over
10,042
Median Age
35.8 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
86.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher
31.5%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $25,209
Median 4-person family income $61,102
Median household income $51,969

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
$43,893
Female
$29,171

Families below the poverty level 5.0%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1993 2003
Civilian Labor Force
45,166 49,802
Employed
41,581 46,918
Unemployed
3,585 2,884
Unemployment Rate
7.9% 5.8%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1993 2003
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment
12,227 11,398
Average Weekly Wage
$809 $1,274

Service Providing Industries
Average Employment
28,402 35,345
Average Weekly Wage
$439 $683

Total Private Industry
Average Employment
40,629 46,743
Average Weekly Wage
$550 $827

Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment
3,311 4,659
Average Weekly Wage
$712 $922

Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment
43,940 51,402
Average Weekly Wage
$562 $836
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Nashua operates grades K-12 District: SAU 42
Career Technology Center(s): Nashua, Alvirne & Milford High Schools Region: 16

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
12 3 2 8
Grade Levels
P K 1-6 7-9 10-12 K-12
Total Enrollment
7,227 3,156 2,997
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003: Total Facilities: 62 Total Capacity: 4,051
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Daniel Webster; Rivier; Thomas More

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
BAE Systems North America Optics Manufacturing 1,000+
Southern NH Medical Center Health care 1,000+
St. Joseph Hospital & Trauma Center Health care 1,000+
Teradyne Connection Systems Inc. Connectors 1,000+
City of Nashua Municipal services 1,000+
Compaq Computer Corp. Computer software 500+/-
Nashua Corporation Label Papers/carbonless papers/ toner & developer 500+/-
GL & V Pulp Group Inc. Machinery Pulp Equipment 250+/-
G N Netcom/Unex Inc. Telephone Headsets and headset amplifiers 250+/-


TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes 3
State Routes 3A, 101A, 102, 130
Nearest Interstate, Exit Everett Tpk., Exit 1-10
Distance Local access
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation Yes
Nearest Airport Nashua
Runway
5,501 feet
Lighted?
Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport Manchester
Distance
18 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
18 miles
Portland, ME
112 miles
Boston, MA
45 miles
New York City, NY
231 miles
Montreal, Quebec
276 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van
83.5%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
9.2%
Public transportation
1.5%
Walked
2.5%
Other Means
0.7%
Worked at home
2.7%
Mean Travel Time to Work 24.7 minutes


Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
47%
Commuting to another NH community
26%
Commuting out-of-state
26%

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X Municipal Parks
X YMCA/YWCA
X Boys Club/Girls Club
X 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
X Youth Sports: Hockey
O Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
O Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
O Cross Country Skiing
O Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area

Nearest Ski Area(s): Pat's Peak

Other: Indoor rock climbing

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 08/20/04

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.