Laconia is a city located in Central New Hampshire in the Lakes region of the state. It is situated in Central Belknap County and encompasses a total area of 26.6 square miles, 6.5 of which is water. As of the 2010 United States Census, Laconia was home to 15,951 residents.
The first known inhabitants of the Laconia area were Abenaki Indians, who established a settlement where Weirs is now located. Settlers who hoped to follow the Piscataqua River up to Lake Champlain also passed through the area. In 1746, a fort was built in the area, but because of hostilities between the French, English and local Native Americans, the area wasn?t truly settled until 1761. For a time, the area was considered a part of Meredith and Gilford, called Meredith Bridge. In 1855, the city was officially incorporated on its own; it includes parts of Meredith Bridge, Lakeport, Weirs and Gilmanton.
Nearly 26 percent of Laconia’s total area is made up of water. The city is home to a variety of bodies of water, including the Winnipesaukee River, Opechee Bay, Winnisquam Lake, Paugus Bay and Lake Winnipesaukee. The city is also home to Weirs Beach, Lakeport village, and a branch of the New Hampshire Community Technical Colleges.
The city is governed by an elected mayor, city manager and city council. It boasts a full-time police department, a municipal fire department and municipal emergency medical services. Children in the area attend school in the Laconia School District. For entertainment, residents of the area can enjoy municipal parks, golf courses, swimming, tennis courts, an ice skating rink, bowling, movie theatres, youth organizations and sports leagues, campgrounds, fishing and hunting areas, boating marinas, snowmobile and bicycle trails, cross country skiing, local beaches and more. The city also boasts a variety of community events, including Laconia Motorcycle Week and the Laconia World Championship Sled Dog Derby.