Meredith is a town located in Central New Hampshire in the Lakes region of the state. It is situated in the Northern part of Belknap County and encompasses a total area of 54.2 square miles, 14.3 of which is water. As of the 2010 United States Census, Meredith was home to 6,241 residents.
In its early years, Meredith was first called Palmer’s Town, named for Samuel Palmer, a well-known local surveyor. In 1748, the area received its charter from the Masonian Proprietors. As many of the town’s grantees were from Salem, Massachusetts, they renamed it New Salem. In 1768, it was regranted by Governor John Wentworth, then taking on the name Meredith, after Sir William Meredith, a member of Parliament.
More than 26 percent of Meredith’s area is a made up of water. It includes Lake Winnipesaukee, and is home to notable sites like the Stonedam Island Natural Area, the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad and the Great Rotary Fishing Derby. The town’s highest point is located at Leavitt Mountain, where elevation reaches 1,414 feet above sea level.
The town of Meredith is governed by an elected Board of Selectmen. It boasts a full-time police department, a full-time fire chief and commercial emergency medical services. Top employers in the area include Vutek, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Golden View, Hampshire Hospitality Holdings, Meredith Harley Davidson, Remcom/North Corporation, Annalee Mobilite Dolls, Inc., Ippolito’s Furniture, Interlakes School System and the Town of Meredith.
Children in the area attend schools in the Inter-Lakes School District, which also serves the nearby towns of Center Harbor and Sandwich. For recreation and entertainment, residents can take advantage of the town’s municipal parks, golf courses, tennis courts, museums, movie theatres, performing arts facilities, youth organizations and sports leagues, campgrounds, fishing and hunting areas, boating marinas, snowmobile trails, bicycle trails, cross country skiing and local beaches.