Laconia

Laconia is a city in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 16,871 at the 2020 census, up from 15,951 at the 2010 census. The city is named after the Greek region of Laconia (Greek:, Lakonía, Greek pronunciation: [lakoni.a]) The city lies between Lake Winnipesaukee and Lake Winnisquam, and includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach. Each June, the city hosts Laconsia Motorcycle Week, also more simply known as "Bike Week", one of the country's largest rallies. It is located at the center of New Hampshire's Lakes Region, and all or part of four major bodies of water lie within its limits. The largest employer in the city is the Laconian Car Company, builder of rail, trolley and subway cars. The town was incorporated as a town in 1855, and became the county seat in 1840. It was named after a large Abenaki Indian settlement called Aquadoctan, named by colonists for fishing weirs discovered at the outlet of the Winnipesauce River. The Great Fire of 1860 destroyed most of Main Street from Mill to Water streets, followed by the Great Lakeport Fire of 1903. The name was probably derived from the old Laconie Company, formed by Captain John Mason and the Masonian Proprietors to sell parcels of land during the colonial era. The railroad entered the city in 1849, carrying both freight and an increasing number of summer tourists to popular Weirs beach.

Name

Laconia is named after the Greek region of Laconia (Greek:, Lakonía, Greek pronunciation: [lakoni.a]) in the southeastern part of the Peloponnese peninsula. It is one of the largest cities in Greece, with a population of more than 100,000. The capital city is Athens, the second largest city in Greece after Crete. It also has the second-largest economy in the country, after Athens, and the third-largest in the world, after Venice. The city is home to the National Gallery of Greece, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Archaeological Museum of Greece. It was founded in 1788 and is the oldest city in the Greek peninsula. The town is also known as Laconos, which means "laconic" in Greek, and means the region in which the city is located. It has been the site of several major battles, including the Battle of Laconsia, which took place in 1783. The Laconian peninsula is the largest in Greece. Its name is derived from the Greek word "Laconos" which means 'laconia' or 'lack of a landmass' and means 'land' in the ancient Greek language. The region is known for its beautiful scenery, particularly in the south and east. The name Laconis means 'leaves' in Greek and 'lakon' means 'to leave' or  "to go'.

History

A large Abenaki Indian settlement called Aquadoctan once existed at the point now known as The Weirs. Early explorers had hoped to follow the Piscataqua River north to Lake Champlain in search of the great lakes and rivers of Canada mentioned in Indian folklore. A fort would be built at Laconia in 1746, but ongoing hostilities between the English, French, and their respective Native American allies prevented settlement until 1761. The Great Fire of 1860 destroyed most of Main Street from Mill to Water streets. The railroad entered town in 1849, carrying both freight and an increasing number of summer tourists to popular Weirs Beach. In 1855, Laconian was incorporated as a town from land in Meredith Bridge, Lakeport, Weirs and part of Gilmanton. The name was probably derived from the old Laconsia Company, formed by Captain John Mason and the Masonian Proprietors to sell parcels of land during the colonial era. The city's largest employer would be the LaconIA Car Company, builder of rail, trolley and subway cars. Laconians were first admitted to the U.S. citizenship in 1820. Laconshire was incorporated in 1893 and became a city in 1926. It was named for the Winnipesaukee River, which runs through the town. It is the oldest unaltered brick textile mill in the country and is today a museum listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is in operation by 1828.

Geography

Laconia is located northwest of the geographic center of Belknap County. The city lies at the center of New Hampshire's Lakes Region. All or part of four major bodies of water lie within its limits: Lake Winnipesaukee, Lake Winnisquam, Opechee Bay and Paugus Bay. U.S. Route 3 passes through parts of the city, bypassing downtown but passing through Weirs Beach. The former Boston and Maine Railroad White Mountain Branch enters Laconia at the Belmont town line and runs north through the city. The tracks are actively used for freight purposes by the New England Southern Railroad and for tourist train service by the Plymouth & Lincoln Railroad between Meredith and Lakeport. A recreational trail called the W.O.W. Trail (WinnipesaukeeOpecheesquam) links several parts of city, skirting the downtown area, and running to Lakeport, near the city's geographic center. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.1 square miles (67.6 km²), of which 19.8 sq miles (51.4 km²) are land and 6.3sq miles (16.2km²) is water. The highest point in Laconian is a 960-foot (290 m) hill in the northern part of theCity, west of PaugUS Bay's Pickerel Cove and just east of Route 106. Laconsia lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,411 people, 6,724 households, and 4,168 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city was 96.79% White, 0.55% African American,0.41% Native American, 1.22% from two or more races, and 0.27% from other races. The city's population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, There were 94.4 males. There were 8,554 housing units at an average density of 421.8 per square mile (162.9/km²) The city had a median income of $37,796, and the median income for a family was $45,307. About 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9 percent of those under age 18 and 5.3 per cent of those age 65 or over. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was2.87. The per capita income for the city is $19,540. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the city has a population of 16,000 people, with 7,000 of whom are under the ages of 18.

Government

Laconia is governed by a mayor-council and city manager system. The Mayor and council are elected in a citywide vote, while the city manager is hired by the council. The council consists of six members who are elected from the six single-member wards. Laconia leans Republican, but occasionally has votes for Democratic candidates. It is in the New Hampshire Senate, represented by Republican Harold F. French. In the United States House of Representatives, Laconian is in New Hampshire's 1st congressional district, representedby Democrat Chris Pappas. It has a population of 2,000. Laconsia is in a county that is part of the state of New Hampshire. It also has a city council that is made up of members from the town's six single member wards, as well as a city manager who is elected by the city's council. Lonsdale, New Hampshire, is the state's largest city, with a population in excess of 1,000 people. The city is home to the University of Southern New Hampshire and the Landon School of Law. It was the site of the U.S. Civil War Battle of Landon, which took place in 1875. It's also home to a college that was founded in 1881. Lanners are known as "Laconians" for their love of the town and its history. The town is in an area known as the Laconie River, which runs through the center of town.

Education

Laconia's public school system is run by the Laconia School District, School Administrative Unit 30.There are two parochial schools within the city limits of Laconian.There is one area institution of higher education with a total enrollment of approximately 1,000 students: Lakes Region Community College (LRCC) The city has one public high school, one middle school, and three elementary schools. LACONIA has one post-secondary institution: Holy Trinity Catholic School, serving grades K8 to K12. The city also has one private high school and one private elementary school. It has one state university: LAConia State University, with an enrollment of about 1,200 students. LCCC has one community college: LARCONIA State College, with enrollment of around 1,100 students. The town has one high school: LACCONIA High School (formerly Memorial Middle School), serving grades 9-12. It also has two elementary schools: Elm Street Elementary School and Pleasant Street Elementary School. Laconic Christian Academy, a private school, serves grades K12 to K8. The Laconians also have one private school: Woodland Heights Elementary School, with grades K-8. It is the only public school in the city to offer pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. The school also has an after-school program for high school students, offering classes from 9-11 years old.

Culture

Laconia is home to the Winnipesaukee Muskrats of the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The Laconia Multicultural Festival highlights the music, arts, crafts and cuisine of cultural artists. The city hosts the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival, which was held for the city's first time in 2015. Each winter, the city holds the Laconian World Championship Sled Dog Derby, which is one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the world. It is also home to three theaters: the Colonial Theatre, the CAKE Theatre, and the Opera House. The New Hampshire Motorcycle Week takes place during nine days in June, ending on Father's Day. It was founded in 1923 and attendance was 375,000 in 2004 and 188,000 in 2010. It has been held annually since 2000, with fewer than ten thousand jack-o'-lanterns lit in 2014 and 2015. The town is also the home of the American Football League's Lumberjack Series. It also hosts the Lumberjacks Sled Dogs Derby, a sled dog race that takes place in the winter. It holds the world's largest dog sledding competition, with more than 1,000 dogs competing each year. It's also the host of the Laconsia World Championships in Sledding, which took place in 2010 and 2011. It hosts the World Championship Sled Dog Derby, which takes place each winter in the city. The Laconian Pumpkin Festival was held on October 24, 2015, with less than 10,000 pumpkins lit.

Sites of interest

The city has multiple sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places: Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society Museum, Robbie Mills Field, and Weirs Beach. The city is home to the New England Collegiate Baseball League Muskrats of the N.E.C.L.A. New England Intercollegiate Football League. The town also has the "Largest Arcade in the World" by Guinness World Records, named by Guinness as the largest in the world. It is also home to a number of historical sites listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Sites, including the Winnipesaukee Historical Society Museum and the Winnipes Museums of New England. It also has several beaches, including Weirs Beach and Lake Winnie Wintrap Meadow, which was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. It has a large amusement park, Funspot Family Fun Center, home of the International Classic Video & Pinball Tournament and the Lake Winn Winthrop Historical Societies museum. The City of Winnipeaukee is the site of the New England Cleveland Cavaliers ice hockey team, which won the 2007 New England Ice Hockey League championship. The City also has a baseball team, the Winnipe Moonshiners, who play in the New England Collegiate Baseball League. The team is a member of the National Collegiate baseball League.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire = 92.6. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 47. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 80. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Laconia = 3.1 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 16,871 individuals with a median age of 40.4 age the population grows by 3.15% in Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 850.44 residents per square mile of area (328.35/km²). There are average 2.25 people per household in the 7,185 households with an average household income of $46,534 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 8.00% of the available work force and has dropped -0.81% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 30.38%. The number of physicians in Laconia per 100,000 population = 193.7.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Laconia = 38.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 67.4 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 124. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 199. 82 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 11 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 58, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire which are owned by the occupant = 44.78%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 45 years with median home cost = $142,260 and home appreciation of -12.69%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $21.53 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $7,298 per student. There are 11.2 students for each teacher in the school, 331 students for each Librarian and 178 students for each Counselor. 6.48% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 13.41% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 6.34% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).