Home Page                                                      

Stark, NH Community Contact Stark Board of Selectmen Everett R. Frizzell, Selectman 1189 Stark Highway Stark, NH 03582   Telephone (603) 636-2118 Fax (603) 636-6199 E-mail twnstark@ncia.net Web Site not available   Municipal Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 8 am - 4 pm, Wednesday, 8 am - 12 noon, and Friday, 8 am - 12 noon   County Coos Labor Market Area Berlin NH Micro-NECTA Tourism Region Great North Woods Planning Commission North Country Council Regional Development Coos Economic Development Corp.   Election Districts   US Congress District 2 Executive Council District 1 State Senate District 1 State Representative Coos County District 2

Incorporated: 1795

Origin: This town was chartered in 1774 as Percy, the family name of the Duke of Northumberland. At the time of the charter, a member of that family, Thomas Percy, was the king's chaplain. The town was incorporated as Piercy in 1795. In 1832 the name was changed to Stark in honor of General John Stark, hero of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Bennington. New Hampshire owes its motto, Live Free or Die, to General Stark, who was the first to carry the new thirteen-star American flag into battle. He wrote those words in July 1809, in commemoration of the Battle of Bennington. Stark is the location of the Stark Bridge, one of New Hampshire's scenic covered bridges, built in 1862.

Villages and Place Names: Crystal, Percy

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 48 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Population change for Stark totaled 143 over 50 years, from 373 in 1950 to 516 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was an increase of 37 percent between 1970 and 1980; population declined from 1950 to 1960 and from 1990 to 2000. The 2005 Census estimate for Stark was 509 residents, which ranked 214th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2005: 8.6 persons per square mile of land area. Stark contains 59.2 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES Type of Government Selectmen Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2005 $513,685 Budget: School Appropriations, 2005 $1,017,896 Zoning Ordinance No Board Master Plan Pending Capitol Improvement Plan No Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board   Boards and Commissions Elected: Selectmen; Planning Appointed: Library   Public Library Stark Public   EMERGENCY SERVICES Police Department Part-time Fire Department Volunteer Town Fire Insurance Rating 9/10 Emergency Medical Service Milan & Dummer - Volunteer   Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds Weeks Medical Center, Lancaster 19 miles 25   UTILITIES Electric Supplier PSNH Natural Gas Supplier Portland Natural Gas Water Supplier Private wells   Sanitation Private septic Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No Solid Waste Disposal   Curbside Trash Pickup None Pay-As-You-Throw Program No Recycling Mandatory   Telephone Company Verizon Cellular Telephone Access Limited Cable Television Access No Public Access Television Station No High Speed Internet Service:   Business unknown Residential unknown   PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration)  2005 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $18.54 2005 Equalization Ratio 100.0 2005 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $17.71   2005 Percent of Property Valuation by Type Residential Land and Buildings 71.5% Commercial Land and Buildings 2.9% Other Property including Utilities 25.6%   HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning)  2005 Total Housing Units 406     2005 Single-Family Units 308 Building Permits Issued -1 2005 Multi-Family Units 48 Building Permits Issued 2 2005 Manufactured Housing Units 50

DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau)  Total Population Community County 2005 509 33,655 2000 516 33,156 1990 519 34,879 1980 470 35,014 1970 343 34,189   Census 2000 Demographics Population by Gender Male 257 Female 259   Population by Age Group Under age 5 27 Age 5 to 19 123 Age 20 to 34 66 Age 35 to 54 174 Age 55 to 64 59 Age 65 and over 67 Median Age 40.3 years   Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over High school graduate or higher 79.9% Bachelor's degree or higher 9.5%   ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau)  Per capita income $17,168 Median 4-person family income $40,089 Median household income $37,946   Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers Male $35,833 Female $24,750   Families below the poverty level 2.5%   LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI)  Annual Average 1995 2005 Civilian Labor Force 235 223 Employed 230 214 Unemployed 5 9 Unemployment Rate 2.1% 4.0%   EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI)  Annual Average Covered Employment 1995 2005 Goods Producing Industries     Average Employment n n Average Weekly Wage n n       Service Providing Industries     Average Employment n n Average Weekly Wage n n       Total Private Industry     Average Employment n 6 Average Weekly Wage n $374       Government (Federal, State, and Local)     Average Employment 12 7 Average Weekly Wage $91 $124       Total, Private plus Government     Average Employment n 13 Average Weekly Wage n $246 n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

 

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)

Schools students attend: Stark operates grades K-6; grades 7-12 are tuitioned to Northumberland District: SAU 58 Career Technology Center(s): Gallen Regional Voc. Center, Littleton; White Mountain Regional High, Whitefield Region: 03

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial Number of Schools 1       Grade Levels K 1-6       Total Enrollment 37

NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2006: Total Facilities: 0 Total Capacity: 0

Nearest Community/Technical College: Berlin Nearest Colleges or Universities: Granite State College-Berlin

 

LARGEST EMPLOYERS	PRODUCT/SERVICE	EMPLOYEES	ESTABLISHED
Town of Stark	Municipal services	41
Barrett Salt	Rock salt	3	1991

 

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall) Road Access US Routes     State Routes 110 Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 41          Distance 35 miles Railroad St. Lawrence & Atlantic Public Transportation No   Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation Berlin Municipal Runway 5,200 ft. asphalt Lighted? Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service Lebanon Municipal Distance 104 miles Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 1   Driving distance to selected cities: Manchester, NH 134 miles Portland, ME 117 miles Boston, MA 184 miles New York City, NY 364 miles Montreal, Quebec 159 miles   COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census) Workers 16 years and over   Drove alone, car/truck/van 87.0% Carpooled, car/truck/van 6.0% Public transportation 0.0% Walked 0.9% Other Means 1.9% Worked at home 4.2% Mean Travel Time to Work 26.7 minutes     Percent of Working Residents:   Working in community of residence 9% Commuting to another NH community 87% Commuting out-of-state 4%

RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS   Municipal Parks   YMCA/YWCA   Boys Club/Girls Club   Golf Courses   Swimming: Indoor Facility   Swimming: Outdoor Facility   Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity   Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility   Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility   Bowling Facilities   Museums   Cinemas   Performing Arts Facilities X Tourists Attractions X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)   Youth Sports: Baseball   Youth Sports: Soccer   Youth Sports: Football   Youth Sports: Basketball   Youth Sports: Hockey   Campgrounds X Fishing/Hunting X Boating/Marinas X Snowmobile Trails X Bicycle Trails   Cross Country Skiing X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area   Overnight or Day Camps       Nearest Ski Area(s): Balsams Wilderness       Other: Covered Bridge; Nash Stream Forest; Fiddlers Contest, John Stark Statue

 

Copyright 2006 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/28/06 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. For Source Information Click Here