Hooksett was incorporated in 1822. First known as "Chester Woods" and "Rowe's Corner", the community was called "Hooksett" for nearly fifty years before being incorporated. The name may have come from a hook-shaped island in the Merrimack or from early fishermen, who called the area "Hookline Falls". Rocky ledges flank the Merrimack River, and there were several cross-river ferries located here, as well as lumber mills and a brick-making establishment powered by the falls. The first census, taken in 1830, reported 880 residents. The first settlement in the area was Martins Ferry near the Merrimack River and what is today's Southern New Hampshire University. The name comes from the Martin family who owned the ferry and the land around the area for decades. Today, Martin's Corner to the east bears the name. In 1794, the lottery-funded Hooksett Canal became part of the transportation facilities of the Amoskeag cotton mills in Manchester.
Geography
Hooksett is situated on the Merrimack River in south-central New Hampshire. Interstate 93 connects Hooksett to the White Mountains and Boston. Hooksett lies fully within the Merrimack River watershed. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and is water, comprising 2.76% of the town. The highest point in Hooksett is Quimby Mountain, at above sea level, near the town's western border. On the town's eastern border, a ridge ascending towards Hall Mountain in neighboring Candia reaches above sea level.
As of the census of 2010, there were 13,451 people, 4,926 households, and 3,533 families residing in the town. The population density was 369 people per square mile. There were 5,184 housing units at an average density of 54.9 units/km2. The racial makeup of the town was 94.6% White, 1.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.7% some other race, and 1.5% from two or more races. 2.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 4,926 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.0% were headed by married couplesliving together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 20.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59, and the average family size was 3.01. In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males. For the period 2009 through 2013, the estimated median annual income for a household in the town was $81,792, and the median income for a family was $96,469. Male full-time workers had a median income of $57,228 versus $45,116 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,355. For demographic data on Hooksett village and its surroundings, see Hooksett, New Hampshire. For data on the South Hooksett CDP in the southern part of the town, see South Hooksett, New Hampshire.
Education
Hooksett is part of School Administrative Unit 15, along with the neighboring towns of Auburn and Candia. SAU-15 administers five schools, three within Hooksett:
Fred C. Underhill School
Hooksett Memorial School
David R. Cawley Middle School
SAU-15 has no high school; students from Hooksett attend high school in neighboring school districts. As of 2014, Hooksett has contracted with Pinkerton Academy for the majority of its high school students, while a smaller number of students attend either Bow High School, Pembroke Academy or Londonderry High School. Prior to 2014, Hooksett students attended high school at one of the three high schools in the city of Manchester. Some students still chose to attend Manchester schools after 2014. One four-year university, Southern New Hampshire University, lies partially within Hooksett and partially in neighboring Manchester.
