Some Facts About Dunbarton

The town of Dunbarton was first granted in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher as Gorhamtown. It was regranted by Governor Bennington Wentworth in 1748 as Starktown after the father of General John Stark. The charter of Dunbarton, named after Dumbarton in Scotland, was signed by Governor Bennington Wentworth on August 10, 1765.

Dunbarton is located in Merrimack County, bounded by Goffstown to the south, Weare to the west, Hopkinton to the north, and Bow and Hooksett to the east. From 1765 until 1822 when the town of Hooksett was incorporated, the bounds of Dunbarton went to the Merrimack River.

Dunbarton has five ponds, all with public access:

• Gorham Pond (102.6 acres),
• Kimball Pond (37.2 acres),
• Long Pond (32.1 acres),
• Purgatory Pond (18.6 acres), and
• Stark Pond (10.8 acres).

Dunbarton has three town cemeteries: Center, Pages Corner, and East; and one private cemetery: Stark.

Dunbarton has 67 miles of road.

Dunbarton has 19,560 acres (31.4 square miles) of land, which include:

• 100 acres of conservation property,
• 198 acres of conservation easement,
• 925 acres of Kuncanowet properties,
• approximately 474 acres of town forest, and
• 1187+ aces of federal land.

The 2000 population of Dunbarton is approximately 2226 people. See the census data page for more information.

The elevation above sea level for the Town Hall is 830 feet, the top of Mills Hill (the highest point in town) is 925 feet, and the Bow-Dunbarton line or Route 13 (the lowest point in town) is 350 feet.

Historical Points of Interest

• Molly Stark House
• Blacksmith's House
• Town Pound