Incorporated: 1772 |
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Origin: Incorporated in 1772, Francestown was named for Frances Deering Wentworth, wife of Governor John Wentworth. She was the source of some scandal, marrying John just ten days after the death of her first husband, Theodore Atkinson. Three years after Francestown was incorporated, the Wentworths fled to exile. Situated on the Second New Hampshire Turnpike, the only through route between Boston and Vermont, the town collected a toll of one cent per mile from travelling coaches and wagons. Francestown was also the site of a high-quality soapstone quarry, which was mined until the 1890s. |
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Villages and Place Names: unknown |
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Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 982 residents in 1790 |
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Population Trends: Population change for Francestown totaled 1,087 over 50 years, from 525 in 1970 to 1,612 in 2020. The largest decennial percent change was a 58 percent increase from 1970 to 1980; followed by a 47 percent increase from 1980 to 1990. The town's population increased by three percent from 2010 to 2020. |
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Population Density and Land Area: 2023 (US Census Bureau): 54.9 persons per square mile of land area. Francestown contains 29.9 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area. |
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