Incorporated: 1829 |
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Origin: Waterville was incorporated in 1829 from the Gillis and Foss Grant, and the John Raymond Grant. For many years the town was a popular summer resort. In 1911, the Weeks Act was passed, authorizing the federal government to purchase lands for stream-flow protection, and to maintain those lands as national forests. The first land purchases for the White Mountain National Forest were in 1914, and as a result, the town of Waterville lost a substantial amount of acreage. Major development of Waterville as a winter recreation area began about 1965. In 1967, by an act of the General Court, the town officially adopted the name Waterville Valley. |
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Villages and Place Names: unknown |
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Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 16 residents in 1820 |
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Population Trends: Population change for Waterville Valley totaled 402 over 50 years, from 109 in 1970 to 511 in 2020. The largest decennial percent change was an increase of 107 percent from 2010 to 2020, a gain of 264 residents, and the largest 2010 to 2020 percent increase among the cities and towns. |
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Population Density and Land Area: 2023 (US Census Bureau): 8.0 persons per square mile of land area. Waterville Valley contains 64.4 square miles of land area and 0 square miles of inland water area. |
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