Derry, New Hampshire

Attractive for its proximity to Manchester, Salem, and Nashua; easy access to Route 93; and a growing variety of community activities, Derry has become a large and prosperous southern New Hampshire town. With a population just over 34,000, Derry is currently New Hampshire's fourth largest city or town, yet it still offers residents a wide array of neighborhood settings and housing opportunities. Derry experienced the second largest numeric population change in the state since 1950, but in the past decade the town services and school system have greatly expanded to accommodate such rapid change.

Recently featured in the Boston Globe Travel section in December 2006, Derry provides residents with a good number of cultural and recreational opportunities. Derry is home to several historical sites, including the Robert Frost Farm, where the poet lived with his family from 1900-1911. The farm is open for tours and a series of family events and nature walks. Also in Derry is the Taylor Mill, the oldest up-and-down running sawmill in the United States, where tours and demonstrations are held every summer. Many independent restaurants and eclectic shops have found a home downtown, and several new shopping centers and a movie theater lie just past the old town center. For children and families, Derry Parks and Recreation cares for several beaches, playgrounds, and a skate park. Active Boys and Girls Clubs programs and youth sports teams are also available year-round, and a children's museum offers hands-on exhibits and programs for young children.

Derry's historical legacy includes being the birthplace of Revolutionary War General John Stark and astronaut Alan Shepard, the first American in space. Originally settled in 1719, Derry was not incorporated until 1827 when it split from nearby Londonderry. The town was named for the Isle of Derry, Ireland by Irish settlers who also grew the first white potato in America on a farm in town. Derry remained a small agricultural community until the 1970s, when its proximity to Route 93 and the Massachusetts border made it a popular choice for commuters. At one time, Derry was the first home of the Hood Dairy, one of the largest dairy producers in the region. Part of the dairy pastureland is now the Hoodkroft golf course, open to the public. Active farms and orchards in the area still provide fresh produce and pick-your-own strawberries, apples, and pumpkins in season.

Derry has a strong school system that has expanded to fit the needs of the recent population growth. Five elementary schools (K-5) serve about 2,500 students and two junior high schools (6-8) serve about 1,700 students. Pinkerton Academy, one of the oldest private schools in America was founded in Derry in 1814 and currently serves as the high school for Derry and nearby Hampstead and Chester. About 3,400 students in grades 9-12 now attend Pinkerton's campus, which includes a beautiful arts complex with a 900-seat theater, a well-equipped field house, and a new state-of-the-art science building.

Sources:

Derry Chamber of Commerce

http://www.nhes.state.nh.us/elmi/htmlprofiles/derry.html