Bean's Purchase, New Hampshire

Bean's Purchase is a township in Coös County, New Hampshire, United States. The purchase lies entirely within the White Mountain National Forest. The population was zero as of the 2020 census.[2]

Bean's Purchase, New Hampshire
Carter Dome seen from Mt. Hight
Carter Dome seen from Mt. Hight
Location in Coös County, New Hampshire
Coordinates: 44°17′27″N 71°6′31″W / 44.29083°N 71.10861°W / 44.29083; -71.10861
CountryUnited States
StateNew Hampshire
CountyCoös
Area
 • Total
65.30 sq mi (169.12 km2)
 • Land65.19 sq mi (168.85 km2)
 • Water0.10 sq mi (0.27 km2)  0.16%
Elevation
1,960 ft (600 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total
0
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
Area code603
FIPS code33-007-04260

In New Hampshire, locations, grants, townships (which are different from towns), and purchases are unincorporated portions of a county which are not part of any town and have limited self-government (if any, as many are uninhabited).

History

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In 1851 the New Hampshire state legislature authorized the governor and council to appoint a land commissioner to sell the public lands, and James Willey of Conway was appointed to that office. Bean's Purchase was made by Commissioner Willey to Alpheus Bean of Bartlett in 1812 for $1,025 and contained about 59,000 acres (240 km2).[citation needed]

In 1927, Beth McKenzie (née Richardson) was born in Bean's Purchase, making her the first white child born under the realm of the White Mountain National Forest, which was established in 1918. Betty Brook in the nearby town of Berlin is named in her honor.[3]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the purchase has a total area of 65.3 square miles (169.1 km2), of which 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.16%, are water. The center of the purchase is within the valley of the Wild River, with a large portion of it within the Wild River Wilderness. The western side of the purchase is dominated by the ridgeline of Wildcat Mountain, the Carter mountains, and Mount Moriah. The highest point in Bean's Purchase is the summit of Carter Dome, at 4,832 feet (1,473 m) above sea level. The Appalachian Trail crosses the purchase, following the crest of the Wildcat-Carter-Moriah ridge. The west side of the ridgeline drains to the Peabody River. The Peabody and Wild rivers are both northeast-flowing tributaries of the Androscoggin River. The summits of North Baldface, Mount Meader, and West Royce form a line along the eastern edge of Bean's Purchase, and the eastern slopes of those mountains are part of the Saco River watershed.

Adjacent municipalities

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
193025
19400−100.0%
19500
19600
19700
19800
19900
20004
20100−100.0%
20200
U.S. Decennial Census[2][4]

As of the 2020 census, the population of the township was zero.[2] Bean's Purchase is part of the Berlin, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "2021 U.S. Gazetteer Files – New Hampshire". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Beans purchase, Coos County, New Hampshire: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  3. ^ "Obituary: Beth McKenzie". The Berlin Sun. Published October 31, 2018. Accessed August 2, 2023.
  4. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.