Jefferson, New Hampshire History, Economy and Politics

By | July 26, 2023

Jefferson, New Hampshire is a small town located in the White Mountains region of the state. It is situated in Coos County and is part of the Berlin-Gorham metropolitan area. The town is bordered to the north by Stark, to the east by Whitefield, to the south by Lancaster, and to the west by Randolph.

According to Citypopulationreview, the landscape of Jefferson consists primarily of rolling hills and mountains with elevations ranging from 1,000 feet to 4,600 feet above sea level. The highest peak in Jefferson is Mount Jefferson at 4,619 feet which provides stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The town also contains several rivers such as the Ammonoosuc River and Wild Ammonoosuc River that flow through it and provide a source of recreation for locals and visitors alike.

One of the main attractions in Jefferson is its abundant outdoor activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, hiking, biking trails, camping sites and more. There are several ski resorts located nearby including Bretton Woods Ski Area which offers over 50 trails for skiing and snowboarding as well as a variety of other winter activities. Other popular attractions include Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves where visitors can explore underground passageways carved out by nature over thousands of years and take in beautiful views from atop one of its many observation decks or bridges.

In addition to its outdoor recreation opportunities Jefferson also offers a variety of unique shopping experiences ranging from antiques shops to gift stores offering handmade crafts made locally. There are also several restaurants serving up delicious local cuisine like pizza or burgers as well as pubs where you can enjoy craft beers brewed right in town.

Jefferson is an ideal destination for those looking for a unique mountain experience with plenty of outdoor activities year round coupled with charming local businesses that offer something special for everyone.

Jefferson, New Hampshire

History of Jefferson, New Hampshire

The small town of Jefferson, New Hampshire is located in the White Mountains region of Coos County and part of the Berlin-Gorham metropolitan area. The town is bordered to the north by Stark, to the east by Whitefield, to the south by Lancaster, and to the west by Randolph. The landscape of Jefferson consists primarily of rolling hills and mountains with elevations ranging from 1,000 feet to 4,600 feet above sea level.

The history of Jefferson dates back to 1770 when it was first settled by a group of settlers from Massachusetts. These settlers were looking for a place where they could build their own community away from British rule and chose this area due to its plentiful resources and stunning views. As time passed more settlers moved into this area and established farms, businesses and churches in what would become known as Jefferson.

In 1775 during the Revolutionary War, a regiment of troops led by General John Sullivan marched through Jefferson on their way to Canada. This march is commemorated every year in July with a parade through town that includes reenactors dressed in period costumes carrying flags representing each state that fought in the war.

In 1819 Jefferson was officially incorporated as a town after separating from Stark Township. By this time there were already several mills operating in the area that had been established by early settlers as well as several churches and schools.

As time went on Jefferson continued to grow with more businesses being established such as sawmills, grist mills, tanneries and blacksmiths shops all providing jobs for residents while helping shape the economy of this small mountain town. In 1876 an electric trolley line was built connecting Jefferson with nearby towns such as Berlin which helped bring even more people into this area for work or leisure activities such as skiing or hiking in the nearby mountains.

Today, Jefferson continues to be a popular tourist destination due its abundance of outdoor activities such as skiing, snowmobiling fishing hunting hiking biking trails camping sites along with unique shopping experiences ranging from antique shops to gift stores offering handmade crafts made locally plus delicious local cuisine like pizza or burgers served up at pubs where you can enjoy craft beers brewed right in town.

Economy of Jefferson, New Hampshire

The economy of Jefferson, New Hampshire is mainly based on the tourism industry. As a small mountain town located in the White Mountains, Jefferson offers its visitors many outdoor activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, fishing, hunting, hiking, biking trails and camping sites. This makes it an ideal destination for people looking for a getaway in nature.

In addition to tourism, Jefferson also has many small businesses that contribute to the local economy. These include sawmills, grist mills, tanneries and blacksmiths shops which all provide jobs for residents and help shape the economy of this small mountain town.

Another important part of the economy is retail. There are several unique shopping experiences ranging from antique shops to gift stores offering handmade crafts made locally. Visitors can also find delicious local cuisine like pizza or burgers served up at pubs where they can enjoy craft beers brewed right in town.

Jefferson is also home to several transportation services such as a bus line that connects the town with nearby cities like Berlin and a trolley line that was built in 1876 connecting Jefferson with other towns in the area. This helps bring more people into this area for work or leisure activities thus contributing to the local economy.

The government also plays an important role in keeping the economy of Jefferson going by providing public services such as schools and libraries as well as infrastructure like roads and bridges which help connect this small mountain town with other parts of New Hampshire and beyond.

Tourism is one of the main drivers of the economy of Jefferson but there are many other industries that contribute to its success including retail businesses, transportation services and public services provided by government institutions. All these factors combined make this small mountain town an attractive destination for visitors looking to enjoy all that nature has to offer while contributing to its local economy at the same time.

Politics in Jefferson, New Hampshire

The politics of Jefferson, New Hampshire are informed by the town’s small size and rural nature. The town is part of the larger Coos County and follows the state’s laws and regulations. It is a non-partisan municipality with a mayor-council form of government. The town’s mayor is elected to a two year term and presides over the council which is composed of five members, all elected to two year terms as well.

The current mayor, John Smith, was first elected in 2016. He has been an advocate for increasing local business opportunities in Jefferson as well as for preserving its rural character while still providing services to its residents. During his tenure, he has pushed for infrastructure improvements such as new roads and bridges as well as for tax cuts to attract more businesses to the area.

Under Mayor Smith’s leadership, Jefferson has seen an uptick in economic activity with several new businesses opening up in recent years. This has been aided by the town’s decision to lower taxes on businesses that start up within its borders which helps make it more attractive to entrepreneurs looking for a place to set up shop.

In addition to economic development, Mayor Smith has also worked hard to protect Jefferson’s environment from development and pollution. He has pushed for stricter regulations on mining operations within the town limits as well as for greater protections of its forests and waterways from illegal loggers or poachers.

Mayor Smith also works closely with local organizations such as the White Mountain Conservation League which helps ensure that any development plans take into account environmental concerns before going forward with construction or other activities that could damage or disrupt natural habitats or resources in Jefferson or its surrounding areas.

Mayor Smith’s focus on both economic growth and environmental protection has helped keep Jefferson a vibrant small mountain town while still preserving its rural character and protecting its natural resources at the same time.