Stratham, New Hampshire

{{redirect|Stratham|the locality in Australia|Stratham, Western Australia}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Stratham, New Hampshire | settlement_type = Town | nickname = | motto = | image_skyline = StrathamNH HistoricalSociety.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = The Stratham Historical Society, housed in the former Wiggin Memorial Library building | image_flag = | image_seal = StrathamNHseal.png | image_map = Rockingham County New Hampshire incorporated and unincorporated areas Stratham highlighted.svg | mapsize = 260px | map_caption = Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire.  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = New Hampshire | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Rockingham | parts_type = Villages | parts = {{ubl|Stratham|Winniconic|Winnicut Mills}}  | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = 1716 | government_type = | leader_title = Select Board | leader_name = | leader_title1 = Town Administrator | leader_name1 =  | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021">{{cite web |title=2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2021_Gazetteer/2021_gaz_cousubs_33.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref> | area_total_km2 = 40.15 | area_land_km2 = 39.23 | area_water_km2 = 0.92 | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = 2.29  | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 7669 | population_footnotes = | population_density_km2 = 195.5 | population_density_sq_mi =  | timezone = Eastern | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = Eastern | utc_offset_DST = -4 | coordinates = {{coord|43|01|27|N|70|54|49|W|region:US-NH|display=it}}<ref>{{Cite GNIS|870223|Stratham Populated Place}}</ref> | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 59  | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 03885 | area_code = 603 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = 33-74340 | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 873728<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|873728}}</ref> | footnotes = | website = {{URL|www.strathamnh.gov}} }} '''Stratham''' is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States. The town had a population of 7,669 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US3301574340 |title=Census - Geography Profile: Stratham town, Rockingham County, New Hampshire |access-date=January 3, 2022}}</ref> It is bounded on the west by the Squamscott River. The town is the home of the only U.S. Lindt & Sprüngli factory and the headquarters of the Timberland Corporation.

== History == thumb|Stratham Hill Park {{circa|1905}} Stratham was settled in 1631 and incorporated in 1716. The area, called ''Winnicutt'' by the Pennacook people, was known as "Squamscott Patent" or "Point of Rocks" because of its location between Great Bay and the Squamscott River. The sixth town in the colony to be incorporated, the town was named for Wriothesley Russell, Baron Howland of Streatham, a friend of New Hampshire Royal Governor Samuel Shute.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OcoMAAAAYAAJ&dq=coolidge%20mansfield%20history%20description%20new%20england%201859&pg=PA657 Austin J. Coolidge & John B. Mansfield, ''A History and Description of New England;'' Boston, Massachusetts 1859]</ref>

The town is unusual among New England settlements of its size in having been comprehensively mapped in 1793 by Phinehas Merrill.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Buehler |first=Michael |title=1793 Phinehas Merrill plan of Stratham, New Hampshire |url=https://bostonraremaps.com/inventory/1793-phinehas-merrill-stratham/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |website=Boston Rare Maps |date=August 8, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> It is therefore possible to identify how many of the extant buildings of the town predate the map.

Beginning in 1967, the town hosted the annual Stratham Fair, held at Stratham Hill Park during the summer. However, the fair was canceled in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has not been held since, reportedly due to net operating losses in its final year, along with outdated equipment and infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LaCasse |first=Alexander |title=Stratham Fair canceled for second year in a row due to COVID |url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2021/05/06/stratham-nh-fair-canceled-covid-second-year-row-due-covid/4960008001/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |website=Seacoastonline.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hisham |first1=Aqeel |title=Stratham Fair canceled again in 2022: Here's why and what is taking its place |url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2022/04/12/stratham-nh-fair-canceled-again-4-h-smmmerfest-2022/7282129001/ |website=Portsmouth Herald |access-date=April 18, 2023}}</ref> Since 2023, the town has held an annual "Summerfest" at the park.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.strathamnh.gov/community-events/pages/summerfest |title=Summerfest |website=strathamnh.gov |accessdate=September 24, 2025 |quote=Summerfest 2026. Join us for our 4th Annual Summerfest Event at Stratham Hill Park.}}</ref> Stratham Hill Park was the site of a wood pavilion collapse during a microburst in 1991, which cause the deaths of three people and left 11 others injured.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/stratham-hill-park-new-hampshire-microburst-1991/37318770 |title=Friday marks 32 years since Stratham microburst killed 3 at family reunion |first=Kevin |last=Skarupa |website=WMUR-TV |date=August 17, 2023 |accessdate=September 24, 2025}}</ref>

The town has multiple properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the John Crockett House, Emery Farm, and original Wiggin Memorial Library building.

{{more|National Register of Historic Places listings in Rockingham County, New Hampshire}}

==Geography== According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of {{convert|40.2|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|39.2|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.9|sqkm|order=flip|1}} are water, comprising 2.29% of the town.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/> Most of Stratham is drained by the Squamscott River, a north-flowing tributary of Great Bay. The east side of the town drains to the Winnicut River, which also flows to Great Bay. The entire town is part of the Piscataqua River watershed. The highest elevation in town is {{convert|290|ft|m}} above sea level, found on the summits of Stratham Hill and neighboring Jewell Hill, both glacial drumlins.

Stratham Hill Park and nearby Gordon Barker Town Forest offer a combined trail system for hikers and mountain bikers.

Stratham is crossed by New Hampshire Routes 33, 108 and 111. Additionally, the New Hampshire Route 101 expressway passes through the southern portion of town.

===Adjacent municipalities=== * Greenland (northeast) * North Hampton (southeast) * Exeter (southwest) * Newfields (west) * Newmarket (northwest)

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1790= 882 |1800= 890 |1810= 874 |1820= 892 |1830= 838 |1840= 875 |1850= 840 |1860= 859 |1870= 769 |1880= 720 |1890= 680 |1900= 718 |1910= 602 |1920= 542 |1930= 552 |1940= 634 |1950= 759 |1960= 1033 |1970= 1512 |1980= 2507 |1990= 4955 |2000= 6355 |2010= 7255 |2020= 7669 |estyear= |estimate= |estref= |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>}} As of the 2020 census, the population of Stratham was 7,669 people and 2,886 households. The 2010 census showed 2,045 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|507.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. As of 2010, there were 2,864 housing units at an average density of {{convert|189.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town as of 2020 was 91.4% White, 0.2% African American, 3.1% Asian, 0.6% some other race, and 4.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population. Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and Native American represented 0% of the population, accord to the 2020 census data.<ref name="US Census 2020">{{cite web |last1=United States Census Bureau |title=P1. Race: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Stratham town, Rockingham County, New Hampshire |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=060XX00US3301574340&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Dept. of Commerce |access-date=April 19, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=United States Census Bureau |title=P2. Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171), Stratham town, Rockingham County, New Hampshire |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=060XX00US3301574340&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2 |website=data.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Dept. of Commerce |access-date=April 19, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Census 2010 DP-1">{{cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3301574340| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (DP-1): Stratham town, Rockingham County, New Hampshire| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=February 6, 2017| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213235820/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/SF1DP1/0600000US3301574340| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 2010 census showed that there were 2,746 households in Stratham, out of which 37.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were headed by married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64, and the average family size was 3.08.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1"/>

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.4% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 34.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1"/>

For the period 2016–2020, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $126,009.<ref name="US Census 2020" /> Male full-time workers had a median income of $102,315 versus $56,750 for females.<ref name="Census 2010 DP-1" /> As of 2020, the per capita income for the town was $62,776, while 2.4% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref name="US Census 2020" />

==Public safety== Stratham has an all-volunteer fire department<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.strathamfire.org/recruitment_join.html| title=S.V.F.D. Recruitment| publisher=Stratham Volunteer Fire Department| access-date=June 29, 2016}}</ref> located in a new building at the intersection of Winnicut Road and Portsmouth Avenue (NH 33) next to the Stratham Historical Society.

The Stratham Police Department is located at 76 Portsmouth Avenue. The department has 12 full-time officers, one part-time officer, one prosecutor and one full-time administrative assistant.<ref name="strathamnh.gov">{{Cite web|title=Employment / Recruitment {{!}} Town of Stratham NH|url=https://www.strathamnh.gov/police-department/pages/employment-recruitment|access-date=October 12, 2021|website=www.strathamnh.gov}}</ref> According to their website, the "Stratham Police are very community oriented and are involved in several events such as National Night Out, Coffee With a Cop, Bike Rodeos, Family Fun Day, and many others."<ref name="strathamnh.gov"/>

==Education== Stratham is home to two schools: the Cooperative Middle School and Stratham Memorial School. Stratham Memorial School, the public elementary school, is located at 39 Gifford Farm Road and teaches from Pre-K to 5th grade. The Cooperative Middle School (CMS) is located at 100 Academic Way and includes grades 6–8. High school students from Stratham (grades 9–12) attend Exeter High School. Stratham Memorial School only serve students from Stratham, while the high school and middle school serve students from all six towns of SAU 16—in which Stratham is the second-largest town, after Exeter.

Stratham was the location of a campus of New Hampshire Technical College starting in the 1980s. The college was later merged into Great Bay Community College, whose campus is in Portsmouth. The Stratham campus was closed and sold.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.greatbay.edu/about/history/| title=College History| publisher=Great Bay Community College| access-date=August 19, 2024}}</ref>

== Notable people ==  * David Barker Jr. (1797–1834), US congressman<ref>{{cite web|title=BARKER, David Jr., (1797 - 1834)|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000143|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref> * Josiah Bartlett Jr. (1768–1838), physician, US congressman<ref>{{cite web|title=BARTLETT, Josiah Jr., (1768 - 1838)|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=B000207|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref> * Daniel Clark (1809–1891), US senator<ref>{{cite web|title=CLARK, Daniel, (1809 - 1891)|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=C000427|work=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date=May 19, 2014}}</ref> * Eric Flaim (b. 1967), Olympic silver-medalist speed skater<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fosters.com/story/business/2011/10/13/ex-olympic-speed-skater-becomes/49870699007/ |title=Ex-Olympic speed skater becomes chartered financial planner }}</ref> * Maurice J. Murphy Jr. (1927–2002), US senator<ref>{{cite web|title=Maurice J. Murphy|url=http://www.nhbar.org/publications/archives/display-news-issue.asp?id=1039|publisher=NH Bar Association|access-date=January 26, 2014}}</ref> * Scott Poteet (b. 1973), crew member of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/state/2024/09/12/nh-new-hampshire-resident-spacex-polaris-dawn-first-private-spacewalk-crew-scott-poteet/75187625007/ |title=NH resident Scott Poteet part of first private spacewalk as SpaceX Polaris Dawn crew }}</ref> * Thomas Wiggin (1601–1666), first governor of the Upper Plantation of New Hampshire<ref>{{cite book|last=Wiggin|first=Thomas|title=Provincial and State Papers, Volume 33|year=1915|publisher=New Hampshire|access-date=January 26, 2014|pages=678|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AloSAAAAYAAJ&q=thomas+wiggin+stratham+new+hampshire&pg=PA678}}</ref> * Paine Wingate (1739–1838), served in the Continental Congress<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=W000633 |title=WINGATE, Paine, (1739 - 1838) |publisher= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= January 16, 2014}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist|30em}} {{portal|New Hampshire}}

==External links==

{{commons category}} * {{Official website|www.strathamnh.gov}} * [https://www.library.strathamnh.gov Wiggin Memorial Library] * [https://www.strathamnh.gov/historical-society/ Stratham Historical Society] – includes Merrill's 1793 Plan * {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19991128093755/http://strathamfair.com/ Stratham Fair]}} * [https://www.nhes.nh.gov/elmi/products/cp/profiles-htm/stratham.htm New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile]

{{Geographic location | Centre = Stratham | North = Newmarket | Northeast = Greenland | East = Greenland | Southeast = North Hampton | South = Hampton | Southwest = Exeter | West = Newfields<br>Exeter | Northwest = Newfields }}

Category:Stratham, New Hampshire Category:Towns in Rockingham County, New Hampshire Category:Towns in New Hampshire Category:1716 establishments in New Hampshire