DESCRIPTION

Goffstown is a scenic town with twin mountains, forested hills, winding rivers, and an attractive New England village center. Recreational opportunities, including hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, skating, abound. In 1998 the town added a privately constructed championship public golf course to its assets.

The Town of Goffstown is located in Hillsborough County in the southern section of the State of New Hampshire. Goffstown is bordered by the following towns: Bedford, Dunbarton, Hooksett, Manchester, New Boston and Weare. Goffstown is only an hour from Boston, Massachusetts, and an hour from New Hampshire's White Mountains or seacoast. Its proximity to major north-south and east-west routes, the state's largest airport, and to southern New Hampshire's major municipalities and business centers makes it an attractive business location. Goffstown is a pleasant community in a convenient location; an enviable place to live or work.

Goffstown is also home to Saint Anselm College, a well respected, private college offering a liberal arts education in the Benedictine tradition. The college's Dana Center, open to the public, offers cultural events from September through May.

TOWN HISTORY

The Town of Goffstown was incorporated on June 17, 1761 and is named for Colonel John Goffe, an early settler, soldier and civic leader. Goffstown was originally a farming community. The first settlers in the 1700s found the area magnificently forested with hardwood on the hill and unexcelled stands of white pine on the "pine plains", which extended along Mast Road. This area was so named for the many pine trees suitable for ship masts which were cut and hauled to the Merrimack River for use by the Royal British Navy.

The first settlement was on the north bank of the Piscataquog River in what is now Grasmere Village, the seat of the town government for more than 100 years. Goffstown Village grew up around the falls on the Piscataquog River where local industry developed because of the availability of water power. Pinardville developed rapidly in the era of the electric trolley car as a residential suburb for employees of the mills in the City of Manchester. The steam railroad also played a part in creating the Town's nodular pattern of development with stations at Grasmere, Shirley Station, Goffstown Village and Parker Station. To date, Grasmere, the Village, and Pinardville exist as three distinct areas of town.

MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

Goffstown is governed by a five member Board of Selectmen who are elected at large for three-year terms. The Selectmen set policy for the Town of Goffstown and designate oversight of daily town operations to the Town Administrator and Department Heads. During September/October of each year the Department Heads present their annual budgets to the Selectmen. During November the Selectmen finalize their budget and submit their budget to the Budget Committee. The Budget Committee reviews the budget, finalizes and presents their budget at public hearings during the month of January. There are two sessions for the Town Meeting - the Ballot Determination Meeting also called the Deliberative Session is held in February and the Official Ballot Session is held in March. During the first session the legislative body, the registered voters of the town, meet to debate and determine the content of the Official Ballot. During the second session the voters elect candidates for offices, and vote on proposed zoning changes, budget, and special articles. Local elected positions include the Board of Selectmen, Town Moderator, Town Treasurer, Town Clerk, Budget Committee, Cemetery Trustees, Library Trustees, Planning Board, Sewer Commission, Supervisors of the Checklist, and Trustees of the Trust Funds. ZBA changed from appointed to elected by passage of a petitioned article at the 2005 Town Meeting.

Following the second session, the Board of Selectmen reviews vacancies in appointed positions, solicits candidates to fill those vacancies, and appoints new members. Appointed positions include ADA Compliance Committee, Building Board of Appeals, Cable Television Community Access Committee, Computer Committee, Conservation Commission, Economic Development Council, Goffstown Common Oversight Committee, Highway Safety Committee, Historic District Commission, Paper Roads Committee, Parks and Recreation Commission, and Solid Waste Commission.

The Town of Goffstown adheres to the Right-to-Know Law and information is available to the public with the exception of confidential information protected by state and federal law. Copies are available for a fee. Residents are encouraged to participate in town affairs and to keep informed about issues in which the Town is involved.

If you need any further information regarding Goffstown's form of government, then please feel free to contact the Administration Office at Town Hall, 16 Main Street, Goffstown, NH 03045.
(by Sue Desruisseaux, Town Administrator)

STATISTICS/ QUICK FACTS

Population

15.8% increase in past decade

2006 - 18,040

2000 - 16,929

1990 - 14,621

Land Area

36.9 square miles

Elevation

1321 feet above sea level at top of Mt. Uncanoonuc

Government

Governing Body - 5 member Board of Selectmen (elected at large)

Legislative Body - Annual Town Meeting; Official Ballot

Income

1990 Per Capita Income - $15,039

1990 Median Household Income - $42,160

2000 Per Capita Income - $21,907

2000 Median Household Income - $61,718

Major Employers

St. Anselm College, Cote Electric, Northeast Sheet Metal, NH Steel Fabricators, Benchmark Inc., Shaws Supermarket, Hanaford Supermarket

Major Highways

Rt. 114 (through Goffstown), I-93, Rt. 3 and Rt. 101 are within 5 miles of Goffstown

Parks and Natural Resources

Roy Park, Barnard Park, Uncanoonuc Mountains, Glen Lake and the Piscataquog River

LINKS

• Goffstown Main Street Program
• Goffstown Historical Society
• Pinardville Business Association
• Southern NH Planning Commission
• Piscataquog Watershed Association