Dover is one of the fastest growing
communities in the New Hampshire
Seacoast Region. Dover's historic
waterfront downtown area includes the
scenic brick mill houses that line the
Cocheco River. Dover is being
re-discovered, and the new interest is
driving both revitalization and growth
in the form of
new home construction. Dover's
waterfront features are the Cocheco
River, the Bellamy River and Little Bay,
which provides Dover with many
waterfront properties.
Dover City Clerk's
Office
Judy Gaouette
288 Central Avenue
Dover, NH 03820-4169
Telephone:
(603)516-6021
Fax:
(603) 516-6666
E-mail:
j.gaouette@ci.dover.nh.us
Web Site:
www.ci.dover.nh.us
City/Town Office Hours:
Monday through Friday,
8 am - 4 pm, plus Wednesday until 6 pm
County:
Strafford
Labor Market Area:
Portsmouth-Rochester
Planning Commission:
Strafford Regional
Tourism Region:
Seacoast
Demographics, 2000 Census: From 1990 to
2000, population in Dover increased by 7.4
percent to 26,884, adding 1,842 residents. It is
the seventh largest community in the state. The
median age is 35.5, with 20.8 percent of the
population under the age of 18 and 13.7 percent
age 65 and older. The total number of households
is 11,573, with an average size of 2.3 persons.
Of those, 6,496 are family households, with an
average size of 2.9 persons. As of April 1,
2000, there were 11,924 total housing units.
Population density, 2002: 1,026.0 persons
per square mile of land area, the 8th highest
among the cities and towns. Dover contains 26.7
square miles of land area and 2.3 square miles
of inland water area.
Origin: For the first fifty years of New
Hampshire's history, Dover was one of only three
communities established in the state. Settled in
1623 on the banks of the Piscataqua River, Dover
was first called Hilton's Point, named after
Edward Hilton, leader of the company of
Englishmen who landed at Dover Point. It was
also known by the Indian names of Newichwannock
(place of wigwams) and Cocheco. The town was
probably named for Dover, England. In 1855,
Dover was incorporated as a city.
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
City/Town Office Hours:
MTThF 8-4 pm, W 8-6 pm
Type of Government
Manager & Council
Annual Budget 2003
$73,502,779
Planning Board
Appointed
Industrial Plans Reviewed By
Planning Board
Zoning Ordinance
1948/01
Master Plan
2000
Capitol Improvement Plan
Yes
Public Library
Dover Public
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department
Full-time
Fire Department
Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating
3/9
Emergency Medical Service
Municipal
Nearest Hospital(s):
Wentworth-Douglass,
Dover
Distance: Local
Staffed Beds: 115
PROPERTY TAXES
2002 Total Tax Rate
$20.86
2002 Equalization Ratio
91.1
2002 Full Value Tax Rate
$18.90
2002 Property Valuation:
Residential
72.9%
Commercial
25.3%
Other
1.7%
UTILITIES
Electric Supplier
PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier
Northern Utilities
Water Supplier
City of Dover
Sanitation
Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant
Yes
Curbside Trash Pickup
Yes
Mandatory Recycling Program
No
Telephone Company
Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access
Yes
Cable Television Access
Yes
High Speed Cable Internet Service
Business Cable Internet Service
unknown
Residential Cable Internet Service
unknown
HOUSING
2001 Total Housing Units
12,248
2001 Single-Family Units
6,136
Building Permits Issued
135
2001 Multi-Family Units
5,689
Building Permits Issued
12
2001 Manufactured Housing Units
423
2000 Census Housing Costs
Median Value, Owner-Occupied Housing
$132,800
Median Gross Rent (monthly)
$639
DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population
Community
County
2001
27,437
114,624
2000
26,884
114,624
1990
25,042
104,233
1980
22,377
104,233
1970
20,850
70,431
2000 Census Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
12,914
Female
13,970
Population by Age Group
Under age 5
1,527
Age 5 to 19
4,653
Age 20 to 34
7,055
Age 35 to 54
7,880
Age 55 to 64
2,077
Age 65 and over
3,692
Median Age
35.5
Total Households
11,573
Ave. Size
2.3 persons
Total Families
6,496
Ave. Size
2.9 persons
Educational Attainment,
population 25 years and over
Nearest Colleges
or Universities: McIntosh; University of NH;
Southern NH University
LARGEST
EMPLOYERS
PRODUCT/SERVICE
EMPLOYEES
ESTABLISHED
Liberty Mutual
Insurance
1,177
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
Health care
1,048
Heidelberg Harris, Inc.
Web offset presses
900
Moore Business Equipment
Business equipment
& parts
80
1885
Foster's Daily Democrat
Newspaper
220
1873
Cambridge Tool North
Die casting
190
EAD Motors
Electric motors
172
DT Magnetics
High frequency
transformers
105
City of Dover
Municipal services
1,139
1855
LABOR
FORCE
Annual Average
1992
2002
Civilian Labor Force
14,402
15,675
Employed
13,470
15,111
Unemployed
932
564
Unemployment Rate
6.5%
3.6%
COMMUTING TO WORK
(US Census)
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van
82.8%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
10.2%
Public transportation
1.0%
Walked
2.5%
Other Means
0.8%
Worked at home
2.8%
Mean Travel Time to Work
21.4 minutes
EMPLOYMENT & WAGES
2001
2002
Goods Producing
Average Employment
2,858
2,523
Average Weekly Wage
$779
$819
Service Providing
Average Employment
10,425
10,717
Average Weekly Wage
$599
$640
Total Private Industry
Average Employment
13,283
13,240
Average Weekly Wage
$638
$674
Government
Average Employment
1,789
1,837
Average Weekly Wage
$589
$595
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment
15,072
15,077
Average Weekly Wage
$632
$664
n =
indicates that the data does not meet
disclosure standards
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X
Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
X
Boys Club/Girls Club
X
Golf Courses
X
Swimming: Indoor Facility
X
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
X
Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X
Bowling Facilities
X
Museums
X
Cinemas
X
Performing Arts Facilities
X
Tourists Attractions
X
Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts,
4-H)
X
Youth Sports: Baseball
X
Youth Sports: Soccer
X
Youth Sports: Football
X
Youth Sports: Basketball
X
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X
Fishing/Hunting
X
Boating/Marinas
X
Snowmobile Trails
X
Bicycle Trails
X
Cross Country Skiing
Nearest Ski Area(s):
Gunstock
Other: Woodman
Institute; Bellamy River Sanctuary
Copyright 2003 Economic & Labor Market
Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All
Rights Reserved. Updated 09/15/03 All
information regarding the communities is from
sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject
to errors, omissions, modifications, and
withdrawals without notice. No warranty or
representation is made as to the accuracy of the
information contained herein. Specific questions
regarding individual cities and towns should be
directed to the community contact.
