Milan, New Hampshire

History

Originally named "Paulsburg" in 1771 after Paul Wentworth, the town was incorporated on December 16, 1824. In that year, Governor Levi Woodbury authorized a name change to "Milan".

Prior to 1820, there were but few inhabitants. In 1819, the population was approximately fourteen; ten years passed and the number had increased four-fold.

The following needs editing as it is much too detailed with non-notable information and is unsourced.

Circa 1822, several families emigrated from Maine and settled on Milan hills. Among those who first penetrated this wilderness to make permanent homes for themselves and their posterity was John Ellingwood. He came in 1822 and first settled on Milan hill. His wife was Rachel Barrows, of Bethel, Maine. Of their family of six children were Hester Ann, Isaac H., John W. and Freeman. Mr. Ellingwood died in about 1830. His son Isaac was the first white child born on Barrows Mountain (Milan Hill). Isaac Harris came from Bethel in 1822. He was a school-teacher in Sutton, Massachusetts. Thomas Lake lived below the Ellingwood place; he came to Milan at the same time, but remained only a few years. He made a small clearing. Benjamin Hibbard came from Newry, Me. a little later than 1822, located and lived several years on the east side of the river. He died in Milan. The Hutchinsons were settlers on Milan Hill sometimes in 1823 to 1824. The first mill on the Ammonoosuc was built as early as 1835, on lot 7 range 3, first division by a company consisting of Henry Snow of Effingham, Dr. Loren Hildreth and one Roberts of Parsonsfield, Me. This was first conducted by Mr. Snow, afterwards by Anthony Nay, and, during 1838 or 1839 the property was sold to Amos Green of Berlin, New Hampshire, who rebuilt the mill on a larger scale. He carried it on until the California gold fever broke out, when, leaving it in the charge of his son, George A. (who, it is said made more money out of it than his father) in 1850 he went to California. The first regular store was opened at West Milan by Ezra Horn about the year 1850, when the Grand Trunk railway was being built. In 1857 Simon Cole commenced trade in the store opposite the railroad station, and continued until 1860, when he sold out to his son, Lewis H. Cole, who built the store now occupied by Roberts and Forbush, and in 1865 disposed of his business to Edwin W. Wilkinson who closed out in 1869 and moved to Groveton. In 1870, Hutchinson & Morin (Freeland Hutchinson and Theodore Morin) occupied the same store. They continued three years; in 1874, Mr. Morin sold out to Mr. Hutchinson. In 1874 or 1875, Mr. Hutchinson sold out to Blanchard Bros. (George W., Charles N. and Fred H.) and the next year Charles N. sold to his partners and the firm name became "G.W. & F. H. Blanchard" until 1879 when the partnership dissolved. In 1880, Fred H. Blanchard occupied the store formerly owned by O.H. Nay, and with the exception of a few months, has occupied it ever since. The village of West Milan gives the name to one station, while another is Milan Water-Station (Coppersville).--- Like the other towns around it, Milan's first industries were lumbering operations, and agriculture was for some time subordinate to this. The first farms were developed on Milan Hill. The soil was warmer, more free from frost, and, for some years, produced quite liberally in response to the labors of the pioneers. But they were not permanently as productive as they gave promise, and many of those settlers who remained sought the most valuable lands along the river. Some of the names of the early pioneers of Milan include Ellingwood, Hodgdon, Fogg, Hinds, Roberts, Hagar, Sargent, Nay, Twitchell, and Newell.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 166.9 sqkm, of which 165.0 sqkm are land and 2.0 sqkm, or 1.18%, are water. The highest point is the summit of Deer Ridge, at 2808 ft above sea level.

Adjacent municipalities

• Dummer (north)
• Cambridge (northeast)
• Success (east)
• Berlin (south)
• Kilkenny (west)
• Stark (northwest)

Climate

Berlin Municipal Airport is an airport in Milan. The town has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb).

|access-date = October 26, 2023

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,331 people, 532 households, and 388 families residing in the town. The population density was 21.6 PD/sqmi. There were 756 housing units at an average density of 12.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.95% White, 0.08% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races.

There were 532 households, out of which 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.9% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% 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 2.92.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,966, and the median income for a family was $47,361. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $20,670 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,818. About 3.0% of families and 5.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Sites of interest

• Milan Hill State Park
• New Hampshire historical marker no. 227: The Nansen Ski Jump
• New Hampshire historical marker no. 284: Betty Brook

References

References

1. "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Milan town, Coos County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau.
3. Anderson, Renee. (December 23, 2014). "''Official site''". WMUR-TV.
4. "Town of Milan".
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.
6. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].