Manchester: Recreation

Sightseeing

The remnants of the Amoskeag Millyards along the Merrimack River still attract visitors. Many of the 139 red brick buildings, which once lined the river banks for more than a mile, have been remodeled into office, retail, and manufacturing space, as well as residential townhouses. Manchester's west side still echoes with the French spoken in this predominantly French-Canadian neighborhood. On Elm Street, the home of General John Stark—hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill in the Revolutionary War—has been preserved. The Amoskeag Fishways Learning and Visitors Center, located on the Merrimack River, is an environmental education center.

Arts and Culture

As the cultural hub of the state, Manchester offers an artistic calendar that incorporates everything from performances and exhibits by famous artists to student shows at coffee houses.

The jewel in Manchester's performing arts crown is the New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra, which performs a series of classical concerts yearly and features international guest artists. Opera New Hampshire, based in Manchester, stages grand opera throughout the year. The New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra, Opera New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Philharmonic, and the Granite State Orchestra perform at the Palace Theatre, a refurbished 1915 vaudeville and opera house. The Manchester Community Music School sponsors the Greater Manchester Youth Symphony Orchestra and offers classes and programs for all ages taught by some of New Hampshire's finest music educators. The Dana Center at Saint Anselm College offers classical theatre performances, contemporary dance concerts, and film showings. Stage One Productions stages dinner theater performances at the Chateau Restaurant. The New Thalian Players, produce professional community theatre productions.

Among New England's finest museums is the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester. Its permanent and revolving collections include paintings, glassware, silver, and pewter items dating from the thirteenth through the twentieth centuries. The Currier owns and offers public tours of the Zimmerman House, designed in 1950 by Frank Lloyd Wright. The Franco-American Centre terms itself the leading source of information about French culture, heritage, and history in North America. The Centre boasts a library and a museum, and offers classes, films, and Bastille Day activities. Science Enrichment Encounters (SEE) Science Center, an interactive learning center, provides hands-on exhibits to help children explore all areas of science. The Manchester Historic Association maintains displays of Native American artifacts, furniture from colonial times, and other local memorabilia. Galleries are clustered downtown and in other areas.

Festivals and Holidays

Manchester hosts a variety of ethnic and cultural festivals throughout the year, especially during the summer months. In June, the Talarico Dealerships Jazz and Blues Festival is held at the Palace Theatre, and the Strawberry Shortcake Festival is held in Valley Cemetery. Both the African-Caribbean Celebration and the Latino Festival are held in Veterans Park during the month of August. Also in August is Greekfest, a two-day festival hosted by the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church. The Mill City Festival, held in September, celebrates the local ethnicity of Manchester with live music, local food, kayak demonstrations, and a general store featuring items made in New Hampshire. Glendi, an annual celebration of Greek culture and heritage, is held at St. George Orthodox Cathedral in September. Other annual events include the Greater Manchester Horse Show at the Deerfield Fairgrounds in May, and the New Year's Eve First Night Celebration.

Sports for the Spectator

Three professional sports teams call Manchester home. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats are the AA baseball affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play their home games at the new Riverfront Stadium, located along the banks of the Merrimack River. The Manchester Wolves, an arena football team, play at the Verizon Wireless Arena. The Manchester Monarchs play professional ice hockey in the Eastern Conference of the American Hockey League. Saint Anselm College fields 10 men's and 10 women's teams in 13 different sports, including basketball, lacrosse, and football.

Sports for the Participant

Manchester's two noteworthy recreational attractions are its in-town ski area and its boat launches. The 53-acre McIntyre Ski Area, located within the city limits and operated by the city, provides snow skiing, snowboarding, and a tubing park. The facility is equipped with snow-making equipment, two double chairlifts, a tow rope, and lighting. Within the city, boats can be launched onto the Piscatoquog River on the west side and onto the Merrimack River from ramps at three eastside sites. The city's 55 parks, encompassing 900 acres, feature swimming pools, baseball diamonds, ice rinks, tracks, tennis courts, and a beach. Skateboarders gather at the Adam D. Curtis Skateboard Park. The Derryfield Country Club is an 18-hole municipal golf course. Within an hour's drive of Manchester are some of the state's best skiing, rock climbing, hiking, camping, boating, swimming, and fishing.

Shopping and Dining

Manchester's tax-free shopping draws shoppers from throughout the region. Downtown Manchester boasts more than 60 locally owned stores that feature clothing, furniture, books, antiques, and locally made products. The Mall of New Hampshire is anchored by Filene's, Best Buy, JCPenney, and Sears. The mall's offerings include more than 120 retail stores and a food court. The Tanger Outlet Center, in nearby Tilton, has more than 50 brand name and designer outlet stores.

Cuisine in Manchester reflects the city's ethnic diversity. Brazilian, French-Canadian, Irish, Spanish, Korean, Mexican, and Vietnamese cuisine are among the ethnic flavors found in Manchester's restaurants. They coexist with local favorites such as New England-style seafood, steak, and home-style cooking.

Visitor Information: Manchester Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 889 Elm Street, 3rd Floor, Manchester, NH 03101; telephone (603)666-6600

Manchester: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

The Manchester School District is the state of New Hampshire's oldest and largest public school system. The district's special services include a comprehensive special education program for students from pre-school through high school, as well as programs for the gifted, handicapped, and adults. An English as a Second Language program serves students with limited English proficiency. Music and arts programs, athletics, and community service opportunities are available at the middle and high school levels. Manchester also benefits from a $7 million state-funded vocational center that trains high school students from Manchester and two neighboring towns. The Manchester School of Technology provides vocational training to high school students.

The following is a summary of data regarding the city of Manchester School District as of the 2003–2004 school year.

Total enrollment: 17,655

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 15

junior high/middle schools: 4

senior high schools: 3

other: 1

Student/teacher ratio: 14.9:1

Teacher salaries average: $44,814

Funding per pupil: $6,943

The city's private schools include the Derryfield School, a private co-educational school that enrolls more than 350 students in grades 6 through 12. Schools with a religious affiliation include the Manchester Jewish Community School, Trinity High School, and schools affiliated with the Diocese of Manchester.

Public Schools Information: City of Manchester School District, 196 Bridge Street, Manchester, NH 03104-4985; telephone (603)624-6300

Colleges and Universities

Manchester's institutions of higher learning offer a mix of liberal arts education and technical training. Four-year liberal arts schools include Saint Anselm College and the University of New Hampshire at Manchester, which opened its downtown campus in a renovated mill building in 1986. Hesser College is a two-year technical college that offers more than 25 certificate, diploma, associate, or bachelor degree options. The New Hampshire Technical College provides associate degree programs as well as diploma and certificate programs. The New Hampshire Institute of Art offers a four-year bachelor of fine arts program.

Libraries and Research Centers

Manchester's public library numbers more than 350,000 volumes among its holdings of books, periodicals, recordings, prints, software, and state and U.S. government publications. The main library on Pine Street is supplemented by a branch on North Main Street. Attractions include a children's room, books for hearing- and sight-impaired patrons, and computers and fax machines for public use. The library's comprehensive website allows patrons access to the library's catalog, online articles and research databases, and a calendar of library events.

The Shapiro Library at New Hampshire College maintains a business and finance collection while St. Anselm's Geisel Library focuses on religious and philosophical holdings. The Manchester Historic Association Library preserves and promotes the history of the city and houses several textile design files. The Max I. Silber Scouting Library presents a wide selection of Boy Scout memorabilia, including original paintings of Boy's Life covers and the full collection of "Scouts on Stamps." Other genealogical, college, law, and medical libraries are located throughout the city.

Public Library Information: Manchester City Library, 405 Pine Street, Manchester, NH 03104; telephone (603)624-6550

Manchester: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents (PMSA)

1990: 173,783

2000: 198,378

Percent change, 1990–2000: 14.2%

U.S. rank in 1990: 5th (CMSA)

U.S. rank in 2000: 7th (CMSA)

City Residents

1980: 90,936

1990: 99,567

2000: 107,006

2003 estimate: 108,871

Percent change, 1990–2000: 7.5%

U.S. rank in 1980: 192nd

U.S. rank in 1990: 199th (State rank: 1st)

U.S. rank in 2000: 239th (State rank: 1st)

Density: 3,270.3 people per square mile (2000)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 98,178

Black or African American: 2,246

American Indian and Alaska Native: 326

Asian: 2,487

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 38

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 4,944

Other: 1,880

Percent of residents born in state: 56.5% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 7,162

Population 5 to 9 years old: 7,171

Population 10 to 14 years old: 7,064

Population 15 to 19 years old: 6,693

Population 20 to 24 years old: 7,419

Population 25 to 34 years old: 18,106

Population 35 to 44 years old: 17,636

Population 45 to 54 years old: 13,832

Population 55 to 59 years old: 4,506

Population 60 to 64 years old: 3,588

Population 65 to 74 years old: 6,564

Population 75 to 84 years old: 5,415

Population 85 years and over: 1,850

Median age: 34.9 years

Births (2003) Total number: 1,559

Deaths (2001) Total number: 991

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $21,244

Median household income: $40,774

Total households: 44,254

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 3,996

$10,000 to $14,999: 2,649

$15,000 to $24,999: 5,961

$25,000 to $34,999: 5,998

$35,000 to $49,999: 8,288

$50,000 to $74,999: 9,672

$75,000 to $99,999: 4,329

$100,000 to $149,999: 2,225

$150,000 to $199,999: 521

$200,000 or more: 615

Percent of families below poverty level: 7.7% (51.3% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 3,545

Manchester

The City in Brief

Founded: 1722 (incorporated, 1846)

Head Official: Mayor Robert A. Baines (since 2000)

City Population

1980: 90,936

1990: 99,567

2000: 107,006

2003 estimate: 108,871

Percent change, 1990–2000: 7.5%

U.S. rank in 1980: 192nd

U.S. rank in 1990: 199th (State rank: 1st)

U.S. rank in 2000: 239th (State rank: 1st)

Metropolitan Area Population (PMSA)

1990: 173,783

2000: 198,378

Percent change, 1990–2000: 14.2%

U.S. rank in 1990: 5th (CMSA)

U.S. rank in 2000: 7th (CMSA)

Area: 33 square miles (2000)

Elevation: 346 feet above sea level

Average Annual Temperature: 45.5° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 39.87 inches of rain; 64 inches of snow

Major Economic Sectors: Manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, services

Unemployment Rate: 4.2% (February 2005)

Per Capita Income: $21,244 (1999)

2004 ACCRA Average House Price: Not reported

2004 ACCRA Cost of Living Index: Not reported

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 3,545

Major Colleges and Universities: St. Anselm College; University of New Hampshire at Manchester

Daily Newspaper: New Hampshire Union Leader

Manchester, UK, USA 1. UK (England): founded c.80 as a Roman fort called Mamucium or Mamucio. This probably came from the Celtic mamm ‘breast’ because of the rounded hill on which the fort was built. To an abbreviated form of this name was added ‘‐chester’ from ceaster. Thus the meaning is ‘(Roman) Town on the Breast‐shaped Hill’. The name appeared in the 1086 Domesday Book as Mamecestre. The centre of the cotton industry, it was popularly known as ‘Cottonopolis’.2. USA (Connecticut): settled in 1672 as Five‐Mile Tract and renamed in 1772 Orford Parish. In 1823 it was incorporated as a town and renamed again after the Manchester in England.3. USA (New Hampshire): settled in 1722 as Old Harry's Town, it was renamed in 1735 as Tyngstown when it was awarded to Captain William Tyng by the Massachusetts Bay Colony. On incorporation as a town in 1751 it was renamed once more as Derryfield. Finally, in 1810, it was named after the English Manchester, a name proposed by Samuel Blodget, who had been impressed by the barge canals in that city and who had built the first canal around the Amoskeag Falls, along which the American town lies.4. USA (Ohio): there are two cities with this name, one believed to have come from ‘Chesterman’, the original owner.

Manchester: Health Care

Catholic Medical Center and Elliot Health System are the main health care providers serving the Manchester area. The 330-bed Catholic Medical Center offers a full range of medical and surgical care in 25 subspecialties, a 24-hour emergency department, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, psychiatric services, and diagnostic imaging. It is home to the New England Heart Institute, which, in addition to its full range of cardiac services, is a pioneer in innovative surgical procedures and a national center for advanced clinical trials. Elliot Health System is Southern New Hampshire's largest provider of comprehensive healthcare services. The 296-bed Elliot Hospital, the city's only Level II trauma center, is the designated trauma center for the greater Manchester area. The hospital also houses the Elliot Regional Cancer Center, the Max K. Willscher Urology Center, and one of three Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Units in the state. The Elliot Physician Network operates offices throughout the area.

Health Care Information: Elliot Hospital, One Elliot Way, Manchester, NH 03103; telephone (603)669-5300; Catholic Medical Center, 100 McGregor Street, Manchester, NH 03102; telephone (603)668-3545 or (800)437-9666

Manchester1 Town (1990 pop. 51,618), Hartford co., central Conn.; settled c.1672, inc. 1823. Its sawmills and paper mills date from before the Revolutionary War. The city was also known for its production of grandfather clocks. Contemporary manufactures include automobile parts, tools, and dairy and paper products. Hartford's Bradley International Airport is located nearby.

2 City (1990 pop. 99,567), Hillsboro co., S N.H., on both sides of the Merrimack River; settled 1722, inc. as a city 1846. It is the largest city in New Hampshire. Among its various manufactures are computer and electronic equipment, machinery, lobster holding systems, foods and beverages, clothing, hats, industrial brushes, and medical supplies. In 1838 textile interests founded the city and established a huge textile-manufacturing company; Amoskeag Falls on the Merrimack provided power for the first textile mills. Until the depression of the 1930s and the moving of much of the textile industry to the south, Manchester was heavily dependent on the industry. St. Anselm College, a branch of the Univ. of New Hampshire, and the Currier Gallery of Art are there. John Stark lived and is buried in Manchester. A number of ski areas are in the vicinity.

Manchester: Convention Facilities

Manchester's largest convention facility is suitable for mid-sized meetings: The Center of New Hampshire Radisson features more than 65,000 square feet of function and exhibit space. Its meeting and banquet facilities accommodate up to 2,000 people. The Center's Expo Center has 5 private meeting rooms and room for up to 210 booths. The adjoining ballroom is one of the largest in the state. Other sites that offer meeting facilities are the Comfort Inn and Conference Center, the Sheraton Four Points, and the Tara Wayfarer Inn.

Convention Information: Center of New Hampshire Radisson, 700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101; telephone (603)625-1000

Manchester: Municipal Government

The City of Manchester is governed by a Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Each alder represents one ward, with two at-large. In non-partisan contests, the mayor is elected to a two-year term; the alders are elected to simultaneous two-year terms.

Head Official: Mayor Robert A. Baines (since 2000; current term expires 2006)

Total Number of City Employees: 1,280 (2000)

City Information: Mayor's Office, City of Manchester, One City Hall Plaza, Manchester, NH 03101; telephone (603)624-6500

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