Londonderry, New Hampshire

L ondonderry, a town in western Rockingham County, New Hampshire, dates from 1719, when a group of Irish immigrants visited the area, then called Nutfield, and decided it would be a good site for a community. Three years later, in June 1722, the Nutfield area was incorporated as a township and renamed Londonderry after the city in Ireland from which most of the settlers had come. Apple trees were brought to Londonderry by those first settlers, and by the early 1800s, apples became the major crop of many local farms. In addition, the use of flax for making cloth, which had started in Ireland, also came to America, and eventually, linen making became the basic industry of the town. In fact, Londonderry linen is claimed to have been worn by both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as the product made there was considered to be the best in New England. Today, the population of Londonderry is a little over 26,000, and even though the town still retains much of its rural character, with four working apple orchards within its borders, it is a fast-growing community that is quickly adding commercial, retail, residential, and industrial development to its outer rim. Town Manager, Kevin Smith talks about some of the town’s ongoing, development projects. “The AT A GLANCE LONDONDERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE WHAT: A town of 26,000 WHERE: In western Rockingham County WEBSITE: www.londonderrynh.org