Randolph, New Hampshire

Randolph is a heavily forested town in Coos County, New Hampshire, U.S., extending from the northern slopes of the White Mountains of the Presidential Range (to the south) to the Crescent Range and Berlin (to the north), with U.S. Route 2 cutting through the middle. The northern and southern parts of Randolph are within the White Mountain National Forest and the Ice Gulch Town Forest, while the central part is the settled portion of town. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 310.[1]

Randolph, New Hampshire
Town
Location in Coos County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 44°22′31″N 71°16′47″W
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyCoos
Incorporated1824
VillagesRandolph
Randolph Hill
Bowman
Government
 • Board of SelectmenMichele Cormier, Chair
John Turner
Lauren Bradley
Area
 • Total47.2 sq mi (122.1 km2)
 • Land47.1 sq mi (122.0 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)  0.08%
Elevation
1,280 ft (390 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total310
 • Density6.6/sq mi (2.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
03593
Area code(s)603
FIPS code33-63860
GNIS feature ID0873704
Websiterandolph.nh.gov

Randolph is part of the Berlin, NH–VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Randolph was incorporated in 1824, after being originally granted as "Durand" in 1772. The town was named after John Randolph, a Virginia congressman and senator, and a descendant of Pocahontas.[2]

Geography and climate
The northern peaks of the Presidential Range as seen looking south from Mt. Crescent. Route 2 runs through the valley at the foot of Mounts Madison and Adams. Howker Ridge is to the far left.
The Town of Randolph as seen looking north from Dome Rock showing part of the Crescent Range behind.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 47.2 square miles (122 km2), of which 47.1 sq mi (122 km2) is land and 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) is water, comprising 0.08% of the town.

Randolph's geography is mountainous. The south side of the town includes the northern slopes of the Presidentials. The north side of the town includes four main mountains: Mount Crescent, Black Crescent Mountain, Mount Randolph and Pond Hill. Dividing the northerly slopes from the southerly slopes is US Route 2. There are no trails maintained to the top of Black Crescent Mountain or Pond Hill. The highest point in Randolph is on the town's southern border, atop a 3,950-foot (1,200 m) knob on Howker Ridge, a spur of Mount Madison.

The settled part of Randolph is divided into two main areas: Randolph "valley", where town hall is, and Randolph Hill, which has several roads all connected to a main road called Randolph Hill Road. Randolph Hill has the site of the Mt. Crescent House (hotel), which opened in 1883 as the "Randolph Hill House" and was torn down in 1971. Randolph also had "Ravine House" on Durand Road, straight north of the Appalachia trailhead. Other sections of town include the area west of Durand Road, which includes Valley Road and a number of houses along Route 2, towards Jefferson. The main Randolph train station was at Appalachia. Other, secondary stations included "Randolph East" on the Dolly Copp (or "Pinkham B") Road, and Bowman, at the height of land to the west. The only general store in Randolph is the Lowe's Store, on U.S. Route 2. There are two motels and one bed and breakfast within the town.

Temperatures in the summer can reach nearly 100 °F (38 °C), though that is exceedingly rare, with summer days seldom getting above the 80s (°F) and summer nights frequently being in the 50s or even the 40s. Temperatures in the winter can be below −40 °F (−40 °C).

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1830143—
1840115−19.6%
1850113−1.7%
18601184.4%
187013816.9%
188020347.1%
1890137−32.5%
19001370.0%
19101370.0%
192067−51.1%
19308222.4%
194011439.0%
195015838.6%
1960140−11.4%
197016920.7%
198027462.1%
199037135.4%
2000339−8.6%
2010310−8.6%
Est. 2017286[3]−7.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 339 people, 146 households, and 104 families residing in the town. The population density was 7.2 people per square mile (2.8/km²). There were 298 housing units at an average density of 6.3 per square mile (2.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.46% White, 0.88% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population.

There were 146 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.2% were married couples living together, 1.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.74.

In the town, the population was spread out with 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $50,139, and the median income for a family was $52,083. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $35,208 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,092. About 2.0% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen or sixty-five or over.

Many houses in Randolph are summer/vacation homes. Historically, vacationers tended to visit the hotels, reachable by horse-drawn carriage from the Randolph train station; but as the automobile became more popular, the hotels declined and private vacation homes became more prevalent. Vacationing in the far north was particularly advantageous before the air conditioner became common, as Randolph summers are rarely very hot—and never hot at all in the higher mountain areas. The town has a strong group of people who spent entire summers there during the Depression and World War II era. These people all know each other well, and many have retired there. As they age and die off, though, the younger generation of vacationers, who can no longer afford six-week vacations, are less tightly knit.

Recreation
Randolph sign, seen when entering Randolph on U.S. Route 2 from the east or west.

Randolph is located in a mountainous region that attracts hikers. Because of this, the RMC (Randolph Mountain Club) was formed (see subsection below). The Randolph town sign (when entering and leaving Randolph through U.S. Route 2) is a picture of a person hiking. In some ways, this is the logo of Randolph. Trails in Randolph include the Mt. Crescent trail (leading to the top of Mt. Crescent), the Pasture Path, Grassy Lane, the Carlton Notch Trail, and many others. In 2003 a large section of the forest was turned into the Randolph Community Forest, which extends into the town of Jefferson. Wildlife in Randolph includes moose, deer, foxes, porcupines, snakes, and bears.

Randolph Mountain Club

The Randolph Mountain Club (or RMC) is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1910 and incorporated in 1915 by John H. Boothman. As of 2017, there were over 750 members. The mission of the RMC is "to promote the enjoyment of the Randolph area through hiking, trail development and maintenance, upkeep of camps and shelters, and the sharing of the collective knowledge of its members." The club maintains a network of trails in the town, including on the northern slopes of the Presidential Range of the White Mountains, within the inhabited sections of Randolph, and also on Mts. Randolph and Crescent. Many of the trails lie within the White Mountain National Forest or the Randolph Community Forest.

In 2011, the RMC became a member of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and responsible for maintenance of a 2.2 mile long section of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, along the route of the Gulfside Trail between Edmands Col and Madison Spring Hut.

The RMC finished work on the Four Soldiers Path in 2003, a path that connects with the Pasture Path and ends at the Pond of Safety, a pond where fugitive soldiers stayed during the American Revolution. (See RMC website).

There are four "camps" or shelters maintained by the RMC, all located on the north slopes of Mt. Adams in the White Mountain National Forest: Gray Knob, Crag Camp, the Perch and the Log Cabin. Accommodations at the camps are first-come, first-served; the on-site caretaker collects fees from overnight guests.

The Randolph Mountain Club also organizes social events. For instance, there is an annual tea on the Fourth of July, held in the Town of Randolph. There is also the Annual Picnic the third Saturday in August, held in Mossy Glen, accessed from Durand Road. The annual picnic is characterized by "The Charades." These so-called "charades" are actually skits where words are acted out. The town is divided into 3 teams: Hill, Midlands, and Valley for these skits. Often there is also a "Mountain" team, consisting of RMC trail crew members and caretakers. Members of the teams prepare for a couple of weeks for the skits, choosing words, writing scripts, going to rehearsals. The picnic includes traditional round-singing.

The Randolph Mountain Club typically organizes two hikes per week in July and August, one difficult and one easier. Some volunteer trail work trips are also organized. Many community members have helped to maintain the trails.

The RMC is led by a volunteer board of directors and many other regular volunteers drawn from the year-round and seasonal residents of Randolph, and from among other members. Employment opportunities with the club include summer jobs on the trail crew, and camp caretaker positions year-round.

On the occasion of its centennial in 2010, the RMC published "Peaks and Paths: A Century of the Randolph Mountain Club" by Judith Maddock Hudson, a longtime member of the Club and currently its historian.

Swimming

There are two artificial lakes (or ponds) in Randolph; one is called Durand Lake and is present year round, while the other is known as the Ravine House Pool. The latter exists only in summer when it is created by damming up a mountain stream. The Ravine House Pool was previously used by the Ravine House, a defunct hotel, for swimming. There is still a small sandy beach at the pool, a dressing house, a water fountain, a raft, and a lifeguard station. There is also a playground area with swing set, slide, and small climbing structure nearby.

Tennis

There are tennis courts near the Ravine House Pool, and also a table top tennis club on Randolph Hill Road.

Notable people

References
  1. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Census website, 2010 Census figures. Retrieved March 23, 2011.
  2. "Profile for Randolph, New Hampshire". ePodunk. Retrieved 2010-04-17.
  3. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2017 (PEPANNRES): Minor Civil Divisions – New Hampshire". Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  4. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
  5. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. Berlin Daily Sun obit for Savage
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