Towns in our Neighborhood
Milford
FOUNDED: 1794
CURRENT POPULATION: 14862
POPULATION AT FOUNDING: 939 residents in 1800
TOWN ZIP CODES: 03055
DESCRIPTION: With a population of a little more than 14,500, Milford is an important commercial and employment center for the smaller surrounding communities. It is known as a Republican stronghold, and hosted a rally for the stateâs GOP hierarchy two days before the 1996 election.
News coverage over the last year has focused on the improvements to the townâs pride and joy, the downtown Oval, where the major roads through town come together in a large traffic circle. Much of the renovations done on the Oval are due to a civic group called DO-IT.
Despite the townâs strong economic base, it manages to keep a small-town New England flavor.
The small park in the center of the Oval is the heart of Milford. The park features the Bicentennial Walkway - lined with memorial bricks purchased to mark the townâs 200th birthday in 1994 - and a bandstand.
The Milford Town Hall, located on the Oval, was built in 1870. It was recently renovated and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The town also boasts many houses built in the late 1700s.
HISTORY: This town is one of the largest in area, and one of the youngest. It was not incorporated until 1794. Much of the town was originally part of Amherst, though it also includes smaller pieces of Hollis and Lyndeborough.
Milford, because of its position on the Souhegan River, was always a manufacturing town. Both cotton and wool cloth were being produced in the early 19th century by the Souhegan Manufacturing Company. By 1850 the town had a steam sawmill. Healdâs furniture company was founded in 1853 and lasted for more than 100 years. Hillsborough Mills manufactured yarn and thread until after World War II. The present industry is diversified, including Hitchiner Manufacturing, makers of industrial castings, and Hendrix Wire and Cable, a pioneer in that industry.
Milford is known as Granite Town for the many fine quarries that dot its hills. Some of them are still operating.
Much of Milford was originally agricultural, including large dairy farms and apple orchards. Many of the orchards still exist.
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