Hampstead is a town located in the Southeastern corner of New Hampshire in the Seacoast region of the state. Situated in Central Rockingham County, the town encompasses a total area of 14 square miles, 13.3 of which is land. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Hampstead was home to 8,523 people.
The Hampstead area was originally settled in 1640. At the time, it was considered a part of nearby Haverhill and Amesbury ? both in Massachusetts. Once the decision was made in 1739 to establish the line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Hampstead came to be. It was officially incorporated in 1740 by Governor Benning Wentworth.
Hampstead is home to .7 square miles of water and includes parts of Island Pond, Wash Pond, Sunset Lake and Angle Pond. The area lies within both the Merrimack River watershed and the Piscataqua River watershed. The town’s highest point is located at Butman Hill, where elevation reaches more than 460 feet. Camp Tel Noar, an overnight summer camp for children, is also a notable fixture of Hampstead.
Hampstead is governed by an elected Board of Selectmen. The town boasts full- and part-time police and fire departments, as well as full-time, part-time and volunteer medical services. The biggest employers in the area include: Hampstead Hospital, a psychiatric care provider; Hannaford Brothers, a local supermarket; Consolidated Plastechs, a plastic injection molding company; East Coast Lumber; and Walgreens pharmacy.
Children in the area attend schools in the Hampstead School District, which includes Hampstead Central School, Hampstead Middle School and Pinkerton Academy – the only secondary education option in the district. Though Pinkerton is a private school, it is not for profit, and the city of Hampstead pays the tuition for local students to attend. Students may also attend the Salem High School Vocational Center. Hampstead Academy is also located in the area, though it is private and only serves grades kindergarten through eight.