Tuftonboro is a town in Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,148 at the 2000 census. Bounded on the southwest by Lake Winnipesaukee, Tuftonboro includes the villages of Tuftonboro Corner, Center Tuftonboro, Melvin Corner, Melvin Village and Mirror Lake.

History

Tuftonboro was the only incorporated place in New Hampshire owned by just one man, John Tufton Mason, for whom the town was named. Following the 1741 separation of New Hampshire from Massachusetts, Mason was heir to the Masonian Claim, the undivided lands of northern New Hampshire. He sold them in 1746 to a group of Portsmouth merchants, thereafter known as the Masonian Proprietors. They disposed of the land via grants to prospective settlers prior to the Revolution.

The town was granted as Tuftonborough in 1750 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth, and first settled about 1780. It was incorporated by the legislature on December 17, 1795. By 1859, when the population was 1,305, the principal occupation was raising cattle and sheep across the hilly terrain. Other industries included 2 sawmills, one sash, blind and door factory, one carriage factory, and 2 gristmills.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 50.1 square miles (130 km2), of which 41.1 sq mi (106 km2) is land and 8.9 sq mi (23 km2) is water, comprising 17.85% of the town. Tuftonboro is drained by the Melvin River and Beech River. Mirror Lake is in the south, and Dan Hole Pond is in the north. The highest point in Tuftonboro is the south peak of Mount Shaw, elevation 2,930 feet (890 m) above sea level, on the town's northwest boundary.

Tuftonboro has miles of winding back roads, rolling fields, old homesteads and beautiful scenic views of the Ossipee Mountains to the northeast. New Hampshire routes 171, 109, and 109A cross the town, all generally in a northwest to southeast direction.

Melvin Village, a village of Tuftonboro, is a summer vacation spot on Melvin Bay of Lake Winnipesaukee. It has a marina and many lakeside homes and cottages that are for rent. It is also a popular spot for antique shopping. Melvin Village is in the western part of Tuftonboro, near the town of Moultonborough.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,148 people, 926 households, and 665 families residing in the town. The population density was 52.2 people per square mile (20.2/km²). There were 2,019 housing units at an average density of 49.1/sq mi (19.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.32% White, 0.23% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 1.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 926 households out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 22.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.68.

In the town the population was spread out with 19.8% under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $45,729, and the median income for a family was $51,875. Males had a median income of $36,181 versus $27,109 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,070. About 4.4% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Emergency services

Tuftonboro Police Department (24 hour Full Time)
PO Box 98
Center Tuftonboro, NH 03816
(603)569-8695 - Dispatched by Carroll County Sheriff's Office

Tuftonboro Fire/Rescue Department (24 hour Full Time/Volunteer)
Tuftonboro, NH 03816
(603)539-2261 - Dispatched by Carroll County Sheriff's Office

Site of interest

• Tuftonboro Historical Society & Museum

Notable residents

• Charles D. Griffin, admiral
• Edward H. Brooks, lieutenant general

External links

• Town website
• Tuftonboro Free Library
• Lake Winnipesaukee Historical Society
• New Hampshire Economic and Labor Market Information Bureau Profile

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Every foot of the antique wide pumpkin pine flooring, the hand carved crown moldings and railings have been meticulously restored with integrity to better than original beauty. ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $1,495,000.00 A Classic Fenton Varney Lake House. Built in 1986 on Sawyer Point and Twenty Mile Bay. This is a beautiful home with three floors of living. Kitchen & living room with a large fireplace looking out to the lake with a sunroom on the west side and deck in the middle & screen porch off the kitchen. The ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $1,495,000.00 Beautiful Lake Home! Brand new, finely crafted 3508 square foot contemporary situated in most desirable Winter Harbor on Lake Winnipesaukee. Set on .46 acres with 80’ of shoreline, the property offers a nice sandy walk-in beach and dock. Spacious interior has lots of windows and bright light, first ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $1,195,000.00 Spectacular property in a private gated community boasting magnificent views of the lake and golf course! Wonderful custom home with all the amenities you could want including hand painted kitchen cabinets, hardwood floors, fireplaced living room, great family room and office space. Plenty of mature ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  COM $1,100,000.00 Rare opportunity,high traffic location.Huge expansion possibilities for this convenience store/deli w/take out windows & gas pumps on Winnipesaukee at 19 Mile Bay.Building measures approximately 60 ft x 134 ft offering 8,000 plus square feet of space in building,paved parking w/35 parking spaces ded ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $999,000.00 Winter Harbor Waterfront. See the water and feel the sun from every room. The shoreline has a "Grandfathered" over sized L shaped dock and a sandy bottom swim area. There are two waterside decks, one that you walk out to from the kitchen & living room. Winter Harbor is protected from the winds and b ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $998,000.00 Located in quaint Melvin Village, a short ride to downtown Wolfeboro. Lot exposure is south/southwest......wide views, incredible sunsets. Year round home is freshly painted inside and out, with new flooring,new roof, updated kitchen featuring stainless steel appliances and granite counters. 2 Fir ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  LAND $995,000.00 One of the last large tracts of land available in Tuftonboro; subdivision laid out ~ would need to update approvals. Survey and perc tests have been done. ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $895,000.00 Waterfront on Lake Winnipesaukee priced at an incredible $895,000 (65% of town tax assessment). Expansive southwest facing lake views, incredible 131 shoreline with full sandy beach, 6.0 acres, level lawn areas, 2 heated garages for 4 cars/boats/toys, state approved septic, 50 foot dock and a full h ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $859,000.00 Pack your bags and enjoy one level living today. This lovely ranch sits on nearly an acre level lot in low tax Tuftonboro. Enjoy new perched beach and new granite walls and patios, new deck, wood floors, new appliances, fireplace, south western exposure, sunsets, oversized 2 bay barn w/boat storag ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $699,000.00 Two adjacent lots for sale. First lot has a 1960s cottage with a fireplace, screened porch, 3+ bedrooms, abd 2 car garage. Adjacent lot could be built upon or use to offer more privacy. Total combined waterfront on Mirror Lake is 298 feet, with sunny, southern exposure and great water views. Both ho ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  LAND $689,000.00 Approved in 1990 by the Town of Tuftonboro as a Cluster subdivision, this 78 acres consists of 26 building lots and 32 acres of Common Open Space. Subdivision access provided from Dame Road and Ledge Hill Road. Great opportunity for a forward thinking individual who wants to be prepared for the chan ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $650,000.00 Wonderful home on Lower Beech Pond. Everything has been thought of to make your living relaxed and comfortable. Both baths have been recently updated with radiant heat in master bath. 3 lots of record afford you ample privacy. Western exposure provides fantastic sunsets. Close to Wolfeboro and s ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $640,000.00 This beautiful waterfront home faces south with sun all day.The entire property has recently been landscaped with hundreds of new plantings and scrubs, plus the use of a LawnBelt and in ground sprinkler system. A wonderful neighborhood minutes from Wolfeboro with remarkable views across the widest p ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $630,000.00 Talk about privacy - It does not get much better: Come view this owner built waterfront home on crystal clear Lower Beach Pond in low tax Tuftonboro, NH. The home is situated on 15.4 acres of land with an impressive 324 feet of water frontage, not to mention the great views, western exposure and sp ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $629,000.00 Your "Lakehouse" condo style. Get exactly what you want on Lake Winnipesaukee at an affordable price. Completely renovated in 2010...adirondack style. Not your typical condo feel....all custom and well thought out. 2 Fireplaces, granite counters, stainless appliances, central air, and details th ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  MULTI $600,000.00 ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $600,000.00 This property offers the best of both worlds. You can live in your own beautiful home which comes with a deeded 27 boatslip and fabulous beach at Red Gate Cottage Colony a few hundred yards away and let the income from the five rentals pay much of the mortgage payments and all the expenses. For addi ... Read More! Tuftonboro NH  Home $599,000.00 This immaculate waterfront cape is waiting for you... Fabulous views looking out over 283 feet of private shoreline of Mirror Lake and Mt. Shaw. New hardwood floors on the main level, attractive built in book shelves that flank a brick wood burning fireplace in the Living Room. Large lake side deck ... Read More!