What town in New Hampshire most closely represents or reminds you of small town America? (Manchester: gated)

[CometVoyager]

Originally Posted by buck naked

I can tell you which towns are NOT the same! Derry, Salem and Londonderry! once upon a time, they fit the description in the OP. I remember when Derry had a population of around 8,000. Now they are classed as a city.


Almost any town north of Concord with a population of 5,000 or less will fit the bill. Everyone knows everyone else and the new people in town are the last to know anything. LOL

Actually as a child I grew up in a very small town with a population of about 1,000. During summer months tourists would come up from Boston and NYC. My first grade class had 8 kids and we had only one local policeman who would not let us ride our bicycles during the summer months and in the winter he would take the elementary school kids on his horse and sleigh when the bus was not working. Very Norman Rockwell, however nothing lasts forever, as change is the only constant.

[UrbanQuest]

I heard Milford fits the bill. I'd agree with Exeter as well, although that super upscale private school is in town, which I imagine is a blessing and a curse.
Another great one, would be Hopkinton.

[GregW]

Littleton, NH has expanded into a small city. Lisbon, 10 miles south is still a small town. Landaff, a couple of miles up the hill, is a miniscule town.

[lisa g]

Buck, that suprises me -that Derry, Salem & Londonderry are classed as "city". Wow,
I wouldn't have thought it, but have only driven through in recent months.

[buck naked]

ayuh - years ago we had 'town meeting' in Derry, but over the years, we couldn't fit enough people into the town hall - eventually it gave way to a city council with a mayor, etc.

just as well, the town meeting was run by people with a vested interest in the town - for example, one of the selectman was a property developer - but that was years ago....I have no idea what they do now.


Currently I live in a small town of approx. 5000 with a small government where everyone can speak at town meeting if they desire...it's all good.

[CindyBQuilts]

I remember Lebanon, before the fire downtown (rebuilt into a pedestrian mall). Wow - did that bring back memories!

[CometVoyager]

Originally Posted by buck naked

ayuh - years ago we had 'town meeting' in Derry, but over the years, we couldn't fit enough people into the town hall - eventually it gave way to a city council with a mayor, etc.

just as well, the town meeting was run by people with a vested interest in the town - for example, one of the selectman was a property developer - but that was years ago....I have no idea what they do now.


Currently I live in a small town of approx. 5000 with a small government where everyone can speak at town meeting if they desire...it's all good.

Bucknaked, Sounds like the town you live in is quaint and peaceful. It is sad when property developers are able to infest a small community for their own personal gain and profit. Historically it has severely impacted the local environment and messed up local services as well. Of course there may be a few success stories but overall from what I have observed and studied most of these developers are very deft with regards to manipulating planning commissions and also changing existing zoning ordinances.

[countrylv22]

THANK YOU COMET, FOR STARTING THIS

THREAD!

I have enjoyed every single post! I wish I could create a town with a little

bit from every one of these posts! It would be paradise, at least to

me! LOL!

Thank you everyone!

Take care,

Countrylv22

Originally Posted by CometVoyager

For those of us who grew up in a small town during the 50’s & 60’s we can still remember that special small town atmosphere. So much American literature has been written about small town USA, like “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder, “Winesburg Ohio” by Sherwood Anderson and of course, “Bedford Falls” that was portrayed in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” A town with its own High school, local drug store, dairy, hardware store, railroad, cruising on Friday & Saturday nights and so on. A town where you would not worry about leaving your kids run around all day. Even a town that did not throw a fit if dogs were unleashed, as everyone would know the dogs on a first name basis!

Would like to hear from you about which town in New Hampshire most represents this ideal?

[CometVoyager]

Originally Posted by countrylv22

THANK YOU COMET, FOR STARTING THIS

THREAD!

I have enjoyed every single post! I wish I could create a town with a little

bit from every one of these posts! It would be paradise, at least to

me! LOL!

Thank you everyone!

Take care,

Countrylv22

Countrylv22 you are a wonderful soul! Thanks for the kind words! By the way, maybe I could open my diner in a small town like everyone has described. Maybe a few of us will want to go in on it together!

[chanisco]

Exeter for a larger town. Kingston for a small town. Both are really cute. I grew up in Exeter and I now live in Kingston. We are moving to NC soon, so if anyone is looking for a cute house in Kingston under $300k... :-D