Raymond is a town located in Southeastern New Hampshire in the Merrimack Valley region of the state. It is situated in the central part of Rockingham County and encompasses a total area of 29.6 square miles, .8 of which is water. As of the 2010 United States Census, Raymond was home to 10,138 people.
The land that comprises Raymond was first considered a parish of Chester, going by the name of Freetown. Most early settlers hailed from the nearby town of Exeter. In 1764, the area was officially incorporated as a town by Governor Benning Wentworth, taking on the name Raymond, as it means “lustrous, luminous or shining world.”
Less than 3 percent of Raymond’s total area is made up of water. The town is home to the Lamprey River, and its highest point lies at Dumplingtown Hill, where elevation reaches 625 feet above sea level. Raymond is served by New Hampshire Routes 27, 101, 102 and 107, as well as Interstate 93. Neighboring towns include Epping, Freemont, Deerfield, Nottingham, Chester and Candia.
Raymond is governed by an elected Board of Selectmen. The town boasts a full-time police department, full-time fire department and volunteer emergency medical services. Top employers in the area include Wal-Mart, Hannaford Brothers, Ben Franklin/Ace Hardware, Gemini Valve, J.C.R. Construction, Rehrig Pacific, I.C.R. Construction, Aggregate Industries, Fisher Auto Parts and Jackson Lumber & Millwork.
Children in the area attend schools in the Raymond School District, which includes one elementary school, one middle school and one high school. For recreation and entertainment, Raymond residents can take advantage of the town’s municipal parks, tennis courts, youth organizations, bowling facilities, sports leagues, campgrounds, fishing and hunting areas, boating marinas, snowmobile and bicycle trails, cross country skiing and local beaches and waterfront areas. The town also boasts its own recreation department which offers programs for all ages.