Strafford County

It was named after William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford in the mistaken belief that he was the ancestor of governor John Wentworth – although they were distantly related, William had no descendants. The county was organized at Dover in 1771. In 1840, the size of the original county was reduced with the creation of Belknap County. County constitutes a portion of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area. It is estimated to be New Hampshire's county with the highest percentage growth over the 2010–2019 period.

• County — Strafford County • State — New Hampshire • Image Seal — Strafford County, New Hampshire seal.png • Founded — 1771 • Seat Wl — Dover • Largest City Wl — Dover • Area Total Sq Mi — 382.6 • Area Land Sq Mi — 367.6 • Area Water Sq Mi — 15.0 • Area Water Percent — 3.9 • Population As Of — 2020 • Population Total — 130889 • Pop Est As Of — 2025 • Population Est — 135043 • Population Density Sq Mi — 356.1 • Website — https: straffordcounty.gov/ • District — 1st • Time Zone — Eastern • Named For — William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford • Seal Size — 110px Strafford County is a county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2020 census, the population was 130,889. Its county seat is Dover. Strafford County was one of the five original counties identified for New Hampshire in 1769. It was named after William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford in the mistaken belief that he was the ancestor of governor John Wentworth – although they were distantly related, William had no descendants. The county was organized at Dover in 1771. In 1840, the size of the original county was reduced with the creation of Belknap County. Strafford County constitutes a portion of the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as of the greater Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT Combined Statistical Area. It is estimated to be New Hampshire's county with the highest percentage growth over the 2010–2019 period.

Strafford County is in southeastern New Hampshire, separated from York County in the state of Maine by the Salmon Falls River. The southern part of the Salmon Falls, from Rollinsford to Dover, is a tidal river that flows into the Piscataqua River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 sqmi, of which 369 sqmi is land and 15 sqmi (3.9%) is water. It is the smallest county in New Hampshire by area.

• Carroll County (north) • York County, Maine (east) • Rockingham County (south) • Merrimack County (west) • Belknap County (northwest)

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 130,889 and a median age of 38.9 years. Residents under the age of 18 made up 17.9% of the population while 16.5% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.0 males. In terms of race and ethnicity, 88.5% of residents identified as White, 1.2% as Black or African American, 0.2% as American Indian and Alaska Native, 3.4% as Asian, 0.0% as Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% as some other race, and 5.5% as two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 3.0% of the population. Sixty-three point three percent of residents lived in urban areas, while 36.7% lived in rural areas. There were 51,454 households in the county; 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 55,706 housing units, of which 7.6% were vacant, and among occupied units 65.4% were owner-occupied while 34.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.9%. Strafford County, New Hampshire – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. • Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) — Pop 2000 — Pop 2010 — % 2000 — % 2010 • White alone (NH) — 107,364 — 114,210 — 114,599 — 95.66% — 92.74% — 87.55% • Black or African American alone (NH) — 658 — 1,144 — 1,434 — 0.58% — 0.92% — 1.09% • Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) — 207 — 234 — 251 — 0.18% — 0.19% — 0.19% • Asian alone (NH) — 1,535 — 3,171 — 4,473 — 1.36% — 2.57% — 3.41% • Pacific Islander alone (NH) — 39 — 41 — 42 — 0.03% — 0.03% — 0.03% • Other race alone (NH) — 113 — 108 — 403 — 0.10% — 0.08% — 0.30% • Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) — 1,162 — 2,034 — 5,773 — 1.03% — 1.65% — 4.41% • Hispanic or Latino (any race) — 1,155 — 2,201 — 3,914 — 1.02% — 1.78% — 2.99% • Total — 112,233 — 123,143 — 130,889 — 100.00% — 100.00% — 100.00%

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 123,143 people, 47,100 households, and 29,862 families living in the county. The population density was 333.7 PD/sqmi. There were 51,697 housing units at an average density of 140.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% white, 2.6% Asian, 1.0% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 24.4% were French or French Canadian, 19.7% were Irish, 17.4% were English, 9.5% were Italian, 8.7% were German, 5.2% were American, and 5.0% were Scottish. Of the 47,100 households, 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.6% were non-families, and 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 36.9 years. The median income for a household in the county was $57,809 and the median income for a family was $72,286. Males had a median income of $50,489 versus $37,178 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,059. About 6.7% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

As of the census of 2000, there were 112,233 people, 42,581 households, and 27,762 families living in the county. The population density was 304 PD/sqmi. There were 45,539 housing units at an average density of 124 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 96.29% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. 1.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.8% were of English, 14.9% Irish, 14.0% French, 10.5% French Canadian, 7.6% American, 6.3% Italian and 6.2% German ancestry. 93.7% spoke English and 3.2% French as their first language. There were 42,581 households, out of which 32.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.10% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.80% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.98. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.70% under the age of 18, 13.60% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 20.90% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.10 males. The median income for a household in the county was $44,803, and the median income for a family was $53,075. Males had a median income of $36,661 versus $26,208 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,479. About 5.00% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.10% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over. The largest cities in Strafford County are Dover (population) and Rochester (land area).

The executive power of Strafford County's government is held by three county commissioners. • Name — Hometown — Party • | George Maglaras — Dover — |Democratic • | Robert Watson — Rochester — |Democratic • | Deanna Rollo — Rollinsford — |Democratic In addition to the County Commission, there are five directly elected officials: they include County Attorney, Register of Deeds, County Sheriff, Register of Probate, and County Treasurer. • Office — Name • County Attorney — | Thomas Velardi (D) • Register of Deeds — | Catherine Berube (D) • County Sheriff — | Joseph McGivern (D) • Register of Probate — | Jan Nedelka (D) • County Treasurer — | Pamela Arnold (D)

The general court delegation of Strafford County is made up of all of the members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the county. There are 37 members from 25 different districts. After the 2020 elections, the party distribution of representatives for the county was as follows. • Affiliation — Members — Voting share • Democratic Party (United States) — Democratic Party — 24 — 64.9% • Republican Party (United States) — Republican Party — 13 — 35.1% • Total — 37 — 100%

• Illustration — Order naming Daniel Waldron justice of the peace, Strafford County, 1815

• Dover (county seat) • Rochester • Somersworth

• Barrington • Durham • Farmington • Lee • Madbury • Middleton • Milton • New Durham • Rollinsford • Strafford

• Durham • Farmington • Milton • Milton Mills

• Bow Lake Village • Center Strafford • East Rochester • Gonic • North Rochester • Place