New Durham is a town in Strafford County, New Hampshire.  I t is drained by the Merrymeeting and Ela rivers, and is known for Merrymeeting Lake.  New Durham is home to the Powder Mill Fish Hatchery.  Also located here is the Lions Club's  Camp Pride, a camp for children and adults with special needs.

HISTORY

Granted in 1749 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth as Cocheco Township, New Durham was first settled almost entirely by colonists from Durham, New Hampshire. Colonel Thomas Tash, who had fought in England's Seven Years War against France and granted land in reward for his service, was appointed proprietor's clerk and called the first town meeting. The town was incorporated as New Durham in 1762. An early minister in the town, Reverend Benjamin Randall, founded a new religious denomination in 1780 called the Free-Will Baptists, later known as Free Baptists.  The church has two buildings in the community, the older built in 1819 on New Durham Ridge.

GEOGRAPHY

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 44.2 square miles.  41.7 square miles of it is land and 2.5 square miles of it is water, comprising 5.57% of the town. New Durham's highest point is 1,700 feet above sea level, on the western slope of Copple Crown Mountain, along the town's eastern border. The mountain's 1,868-foot summit is in the neighboring town of Brookfield.