Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,769 at the 2000 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake. The town center village is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Amherst Village Historic District.
Like many New England towns, Amherst was the result of a land grant given to soldiers - in ...
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Amherst is a town in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,769 at the 2000 census. Amherst is home to Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary, Hodgman State Forest, the Joe English Reservation and Baboosic Lake. The town center village is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Amherst Village Historic District.
Like many New England towns, Amherst was the result of a land grant given to soldiers - in this case, to soldiers in 1728 who had participated in King Philip's War. Settled about 1733, it was first called "Narragansett Number 3," and then later "Souhegan Number 3." In 1741, settlers formed the Congregational church and hired the first minister. Chartered in 1760 by Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth, the town was named for Lord General Jeffrey Amherst, who commanded British forces in North America during the French and Indian War. Lord Jeffrey Amherst is also infamous for initiating the practice of giving smallpox blankets to...
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