New Hampshire is know for small town charm, but some towns in the Granite State take that concept to a whole new level. These 12 super tiny towns have populations that are smaller than most high schools. Yet, despite their size, each of these tiny towns in New Hampshire have a unique history and interesting features.
1. Easton
With 254 residents, it’s easy to overlook Easton, but this Grafton County town is full of natural beauty. Kinsman Mountain overlooks the town, and streams and rivers, including the Wild Ammonoosuc and Gale rivers, give the town an untouched feel.
2. Randolph
Randolph, which is just north of the Presidential Range, is home to 310 people. The tiny, mountainous town is named for John Randolph, a Virginia senator who was a descendant of Pocahontas.
3. Windsor
With just 224 people living in 8.3 square miles, Windsor is tiny. However, the town in Hillsborough County still attracts visitors, including hundreds of children who come each year to go to camp at Windsor Mountain International Summer Camp or Wediko Children’s Services Summer Camp. On a given summer day there are likely to be more campers than residents in Windsor!
4. Chatham
All but a tiny section of this town is part of the White Mountain National Forest, which makes Chatham a perfect spot for climbing, water sports, and other adventures. Although many people visit, there are only 337 permanent residents.
5. Clarksville
Clarksville is one of the northernmost towns in New Hampshire. With just 265 residents spread of 60 square miles, it is also one of the most sparsely populated. The town was originally part of a tract of land that was granted to Dartmouth College, but over time the land was sold off to raise funds for the school.
6. Union
With a population of 204, this town is smaller than many high school classes. Located on route 125 near the Maine border in south-eastern New Hampshire, Union is tiny not just in population, but in area too. Although the U.S. census considers it a town, Union is just 0.3 square miles, and many people consider it part of the town of Wakefield.
7. Orange
This town of 331 is in Grafton County. Orange, which was originally named Cardigan, is home to Mount Cardigan (3,155 feet) and Cardigan State Park. It is said that the town got its current name due to the large amounts of Ochre, an orange mineral, found in the surrounding area.
8. West Stewartstown
This town just one mile south of the Canadian Border, is also home to the 45th Parallel, the point where one is half way between the equator and the north pole. Only 386 people call West Stewartstown home.
9. Roxbury
Roxbury, which is tucked right next to Keene – one of the biggest cities in the state – has always been tiny. The town was incorporated in 1812 and soon after much of the area was abandoned when a high percentage of the town’s men were killed during the Civil War. Today, Roxbury is home to the Otter Brook Dam, which was built in 1958 to control flooding on the Connecticut River, and protect Keene.
10. Melvin Village
This tiny village where the Melvin River enters Lake Winnipesaukee is home to just 241 people. Located between Moultonborough and Tufftonboro, Melvin Village is home to the only mail-boat stop on the northeast corner of the lake, at Merrymount Landing.
11. Pittsburg
Pittsburg is the northernmost town in New Hampshire, capping the state like a crown and bordering New Hampshire. Pittsburg is the largest town in all of New England in area. In fact, at 291 square miles, it is more the double the size of the next largest town. However, with just 869 residents spread throughout that massive area, it is extremely isolated.
12. Benton
Benton has just 364 residents, but each year many more people than that cross through this tiny town hiking the Appalachian Trail. Benton’s small size can be traced to the fact that the town is completely surrounded by the White Mountains, and was therefore incompatible with farming, making settling the area tough.
What is your favorite small town in New Hampshire?
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