Urban and Rural Populations in New Hampshire^ 



The decline in rural-farm population in New Hampshire which has been 

 going on since 1910 is similar to trends in other areas of the United States. 

 The decline in New Hampshire, however, has been accompanied by an in- 

 crease in the rural-nonfarm population. Improved roads, relatively short dis- 

 tances to travel, and higher wages have all fostered the settlement of city 

 workers in rural areas. Many of the^e previously rural areas could now be 

 more accurately described as suburban, particularly where they surround 

 a city. Simultaneously there has been a shift out of farming as industrial 

 opportunities developed and as an economic farm unit required greater 

 capital resources. 



The total rural population of New Hampshire has increased since 1930. 

 But the number living on farms regardless of occupation has declined (Figure 

 3 and Table 6) . 



Table 6. Urban and Rural Population in New Hampshire — 1920 to 1950 



1920 



1930 



1940 



19501 



19502 



URSAH POPULITKW 



RUSAL »»OH-F*R»i POPUUITfOW 



ItUfUU. FAfM PCXM^TiON 



Figure 3. 



Changes in the urban, rural non- 

 farm, and rural farm population of 

 New Hampshire from 1920 to 1950. 



"^ Urban population (1950 definition) comprises aU persons living in (a) places 

 of 2,500 inhabitants or more incorporated as cities, boroughs, villages,, (b) 

 the densely settled urban fringe, including both incorporated and unincorpor- 

 ated areas, around cities of 50,000 or more, and (c) unincorporated places 

 of 2,500 inhabitants or more outside any urban fringe. The remaining popu- 

 lation is classified as rural. 



Rural-nonfarm population includes all persons living outside urban areas who d« 

 not live on farms. 



Rural-farm population includes all persons living on farms without regard to 

 occupation. 



7 



