Merrimack is a town located in Southern New Hampshire in the Merrimack Valley region of the state. It is situated in the Western part of Hillsborough County and encompasses a total area of 33.4 square miles, only .8 of which is water. As of the 2010 United States Census, Merrimack was home to 24,494 residents.
The area that comprises Merrimack was first a part of the 1673 Dunstable land charter. When the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border was established in 1741, the land was cut in half. In 1746, Merrimack was separated from Dunstable, now known as Nashua, and incorporated as its own town. Over the years, the town has been called by many notable people, including Declaration of Independence signee Matthew Thornton.
Less than 3 percent of Merrimack’s total area is made up of water. The town includes parts of the Merrimack River and boasts four different communities: Thornton’s Ferry, Reed’s Ferry, South Merrimack and Merrimack Village. Its highest point lies at a hill in the Northwestern part of town, where elevation reaches 512 feet above sea level.
Merrimack is governed by an elected town manager and council. The town boasts a full-time police department, a municipal fire department and municipal emergency medical services. Top employers in the area include Fidelity Investments, BAE Systems, PC Connections, Kollsman/Elbit Systems of America, Anheuser-Busch, Brookstone, Merrimack School District and Merrimack Premium Outlets.
Children in the area attend schools in the Merrimack School District, which includes four elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. For recreation and entertainment, residents of Merrimack can enjoy the town’s parks, gold courses, swimming pools, tennis courts, bowling lanes, skating rinks, movie theatres, performing arts facilities, youth sports leagues, fishing and hunting areas, boating marinas and local beaches and waterfront areas. The town is also home to the Rock’n Ribfest festival every year.