Pelham, NH
Origin: Chartered in 1746, this town takes its name from Henry Pelham, Prime Minister of England, a relation of Governor Benning Wentworth, and younger brother of Thomas Pelham Holles. The town was originally a part of Old Dunstable, which was split when the New Hampshire-Massachusetts boundary line was changed in 1741.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 791 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Pelham's population increased very rapidly over the last five decades, growing more than eight times larger. Decennial growth rates ranged from a 16 percent increase between both 1980-1990 and 1990-2000 to a 108 percent increase between 1960-1970. Pelham's population grew by a total of 9,597 residents, going from 1,317 in 1950 to 10,914 residents in 2000. The 2004 Census estimate for Pelham was 12,310 residents, which ranked 24th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2004: 468.4 persons per square mile of land area. Pelham contains 26.3 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: North Pelham
