The American Cyclopædia (1879)/Dover (New Hampshire)

DOVER, a city and the capital of Strafford co., New Hampshire, situated on both sides of the Cocheco river, about 2 m. from its confluence with the Piscataqua, and 12 m. from the ocean, 35 m. E. of Concord, and about 60 m. N. of Boston; pop. in 1870, 9,294. Small craft ascend at high tide to the falls of the Cocheco within the city limits, and improvements in the channel are in progress which will enable large vessels to reach the city. It is connected with Boston and Portland by the Boston and Maine railroad, and with Lake Winnepiseogee by the Dover and Winnepiseogee railroad. A railroad to Portsmouth is in process of construction. The city is regularly laid out, and contains many elegant residences. The city hall is a commodious and substantial brick edifice. The high school building is one of the finest in the state. The Cocheco furnishes great motive power, the principal fall being 32½ ft. The supply of water is maintained through the dry season by draining Bow pond in the town of Strafford, about 15 m. W. N. W., which has been converted into an immense reservoir. Black river, in the S. part of the city, also furnishes water power. It has four large mills for the manufacture of print cloths, and extensive print works, which produce 31,000,000 yards annually, valued at $3,410,000. The value of cotton goods manufactured annually is $1,125,000; of woollen goods, $380,000; of boots and shoes (1,200,000 pairs), $1,800,000; of carriages, $75,000; of lumber, $28,000. There are also tanneries, brass and iron founderies, machine shops, manufactories of hats and caps, of sandpaper, of glue, and of oil cloth. In 1870 the capital invested in manufactures was $2,031,000; males employed, 1,384; females, 972; value of products, $7,130,000. There are three national banks, with an aggregate capital of $320,000. The value of property is about $6,000,000. The city is divided into four wards. There is a high school, and 3 grammar and 31 primary schools, employing 36 teachers, and having an average attendance of 1,270 pupils. The city library contains 4,500 volumes. There are three weekly newspapers, and eight churches.—Dover was settled in 1623, and is the oldest town in the state. It was attacked by Indians on the night of June 27, 1689, when 23 of the inhabitants were killed and 29 carried into captivity. A city charter was granted in 1855.