Dover, NH

Dover, NH

real estate
Community Contact Dover City Clerk's Office
Judy Gaouette
288 Central Avenue
Dover, NH 03820-4169
Telephone 516-6021
Fax (603) 516-6666
E-mail j.gaouette@ci.dover.nh.us
Web Site www.ci.dover.nh.us/
Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4 pm, plus Wednesday until 6 pm
County Strafford
Tourism Region Seacoast
Planning Commission Strafford Regional
Regional Development Strafford Economic Development Corp.
Election Districts
US Congress
 District 1 (All Wards)
Executive Council
 District 3 (All Wards)
State Senate
 District 21 (All Wards)
State Representative
 District 69 (Wards 5 & 6), 70 (Wards 1 & 2), and 71 (Wards 3 & 4)
Incorporated: 1623
Origin: For the first fifty years of New Hampshire's history, Dover was one of only three communities established in the state. Settled in 1623 on the banks of the Piscataqua River, Dover was first called Hilton's Point, named after Edward Hilton, leader of the company of Englishmen who landed at Dover Point. It was also known by the Indian names of Newichwannock (place of wigwams) and Cocheco. The town was probably named for Dover, England. In 1855, Dover was incorporated as a city.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,998 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Over the last five decades, Dover grew by a substantial number of residents, but decennial growth rates have been well below average. Growth rates ranged from a seven percent increase between 1970-1980 and 1990-2000 to a 21 percent increase between 1950-1960. Dover's population increased by 11,010 residents, going from 15,874 in 1950 to 26,884 residents in 2000. The 2003 Census estimate for Dover was 28,216 residents, which ranked seventh among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2003: 1,026.0 persons per square mile of land area, the eighth highest among the cities and towns. Dover contains 26.7 square miles of land area and 2.3 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: Bellamy, Cocheco, Gates Corner, Sawyers, Wentworth Terrace

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Manager & Council
2003 Annual Budget $73,502,779
Zoning Ordinance 1948/04
Master Plan 2000
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Town Council
Appointed:
 Planning Board; Zoning Board; Conservation Commission; Library Trustees; Cemetery Trustees

Public Library Dover Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 3/9
Emergency Medical Service Municipal

Nearest Hospital(s):
Wentworth-Douglass, Dover
Distance: Local Staffed Beds: 115

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier Northern Utilities
Water Supplier City of Dover

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant Yes
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Municipal
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 Yes
Mandatory Recycling Program
 None

Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
High Speed Cable Internet Service:  
Business
 unknown
Residential
 unknown

PROPERTY TAXES
2003 Total Tax Rate (per $1000) $19.88
2003 Equalization Ratio 90.7
2003 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000) $17.85

2003 Percent of Property Valuation by Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 75.3%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 23.1%
Other Property including Utilities
 1.5%

HOUSING
2002 Total Housing Units 12,248
   
2002 Single-Family Units 6,136
Building Permits Issued
 135
2002 Multi-Family Units 5,689
Building Permits Issued
 12
2002 Manufactured Housing Units 423
   
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2003 28,216 117,740
2000 26,884 112,233
1990 25,042 104,233
1980 22,377 85,324
1970 20,850 70,431

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 12,914 Female 13,970

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 1,527
Age 5 to 19
 4,653
Age 20 to 34
 7,055
Age 35 to 54
 7,880
Age 55 to 64
 2,077
Age 65 and over
 3,692
Median Age
 35.5 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 88.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 32.4%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income $23,459
Median 4-person family income $57,050
Median household income $43,873

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $37,876
Female
 $27,329

Families below the poverty level 4.8%

LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 1993 2003
Civilian Labor Force
 14,563 16,310
Employed
 13,746 15,746
Unemployed
 817 564
Unemployment Rate
 5.6% 3.5%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES 1993 2003
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 3,514 2,760
Average Weekly Wage
 $616 $825
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 8,797 10,906
Average Weekly Wage
 $392 $656
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 12,312 13,665
Average Weekly Wage
 $456 $690
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 2,106 1,838
Average Weekly Wage
 $464 $629
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 14,418 15,503
Average Weekly Wage
 $457 $683
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Dover operates grades K-12 District: SAU 11
Career Technology Center(s): Dover HS; Somersworth HS; Creteau Reg. Voc. Ctr. Region: 12

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 3 1 1 4
Grade Levels
 P K 1-4 5-8 9-12 K-12
Total Enrollment
 1,292 1,137 1,541
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003: Total Facilities: 24 Total Capacity: 1,018
Nearest Community/Technical College: Stratham; Concord
Nearest Colleges or Universities: McIntosh; University of NH; Southern NH University

LARGEST EMPLOYERS PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Liberty Mutual Insurance 1,177
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital Health care 1,048
Heidelberg Harris, Inc. Web offset presses 900
Moore Business Equipment Business equipment & parts 80 1885
Foster's Daily Democrat Newspaper 220 1873
Cambridge Tool North Die casting 190
EAD Motors Electric motors 172
DT Magnetics High frequency transformers 105
City of Dover Municipal services 1,139 1855

TRANSPORTATION
Road Access Federal Routes 4
  State Routes 9, 16, Spaulding Tpk.
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-95, Exit 4
         Distance 10 miles
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation Yes
Nearest Airport Rochester
Runway
     4,001 feet
Lighted?
 Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport Pease
Distance
 10 miles

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 38 miles
Portland, ME
 63 miles
Boston, MA
 66 miles
New York City, NY
 274 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 290 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 82.8%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 10.2%
Public transportation
 1.0%
Walked
 2.5%
Other Means
 0.8%
Worked at home
 2.8%
Mean Travel Time to Work 21.4 minutes

Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
 33%
Commuting to another NH community
 57%
Commuting out-of-state
 10%
   
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
X Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
X Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Woodman Institute; Bellamy River Sanctuary

Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/21/04

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.


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