Windham, New Hampshire

The Town of Windham is a shining example of how managed growth can allow a community to retain its rural appeal when faced with increasing population. Like all the other towns in the I-93 corridor close to the Massachusetts border, Windham grew from a small community of less than 1000 in 1950 to almost 11,000 by the year 2000 (the current population is estimated at just under 15,000), yet most of the town still has the atmosphere of a quiet New England village. As a result, Windham is one of the most highly desirable locations in southern New Hampshire.

Windham was originally settled in 1719 as a part of “Nutfield,” the settlement that also included what are now the towns of Derry and Londonderry. In 1741, a small group of settlers petitioned the colonial government for a separate charter. A year later, Governor Benning Wentworth granted the charter, naming the town after his friend Sir Charles Wyndham.

Primarily an executive bedroom community today, Windham is decidedly “upscale,” with average home prices and average household income substantially above the state average. As would be expected, there is strong community spirit and civic-mindedness. The Friends of Library of Windham (FLOW), for example, hosts a popular Strawberry Festival every year. The town also boasts a very successful community band program, which includes a concert band, a flute ensemble, and the Windham

Much of the area is quite picturesque, with preserved antique buildings in the traditional town center, one of which houses the Windham Museum. Cobbett’s Pond, actually a small lake, is also located within the town’s borders. Another major point of interest is Searles Castle, a twenty-room English Tudor mansion built in 1915 by a wealthy interior designer and now a exquisite function facility owned by the Sisters of Mercy.

Windham is part of the Pelham-Windham School District. Secondary school students are currently educated in nearby Salem, although Windham voters recently approved the building of a local high school.

Sources:

http://windhamnewhampshire.com

http://nhes.state.nh.us.com/htmlprofiles/windham.html

http://www.windhamcommunityband.com

http://www.newhampshire.com/nh-towns/windham.aspx