Concord, New Hampshire
The capitol of the state, and shire town of the county of Merrimack. It lies on both sides of the Merrimack river, in N. lat. 43° 12' 29", and W. lon. 71° 29'; and is 146 miles S.W. from Augusta, Me.; 97 S.E. from Montpelier, Vt.; 153 N.E. from Albany, N.Y.; 65 N.N.W. from Boston, Mass.; 103 N. from Providence, R.I.; 139 N.N.E. from Hartford, Conn., and 474 N.E. by E. from Washington. There are five ponds in Concord, the largest of which are Turkey, in the S.W., and Long pond in the N.W. parts of the town, on the streams passing from which are some valuable mills and privileges. The Contoocook river enters the W. corner of the town, and uniting with the Merrimack on the N.W. line, forms at its junction the celebrated Duston's Island. On the borders of the Merrimack, which is the principal river of this region, are rich intervale lands, highly valued by the inhabitants, and well cultivated. Soon after entering Concord, the river passes over Sewall's falls, or rapids, below which is Sewall's island. From thence the river has no natural obstruction until it reaches the falls at the S.W. extremity of the town, where is a water power, now owned by the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, almost sufficient to move the machinery of another Lowell.—Locks are here constructed, and navigation by boats has been open since 1815 during the boating season, adding much to the business and importance of the place. The river is about 100 years wide opposite the town; but during the great freshets which sometimes occur here, the river rises 20 feet above the ordinary level, presenting to the eye a body of water a mile in width. There are two handsome bridges thrown across the river.
Population in 1775, 1,052; in 1790, 1,747; in 1800, 2,052; in 1810, 2,393; in 1820, 2,838; and in 1830, 3,727. The present population is between 4 and 5 thousand.
