Derry is a town located in the Southeastern part of New Hampshire in the Merrimack Valley region of the state. It is situated in Western Rockingham County and encompasses a total area of 36.5 square miles, .9 of which is water. As of the 2010 United States Census, Derry had a total population of 33,109 people. It is the fourth most populated community in all of New Hampshire.
Settlement of the land that comprises Derry began in 1719, although the town was not officially incorporated until more than century later, in 1827. In its early years, it was considered a part of Londonberry. When incorporated, it took on the name Derry, after the city in Ireland of the same name. In 1814, Derry became home to Pinkerton Academy, a private secondary school. The academy is now one of the oldest private institutions in America and is still in operation today.
Only a little more than 2 percent of Derry’s total area is comprised of water. The town includes Beaver Brook and is considered a part of both the Merrimack River watershed and the Piscataqua Watershed. Its highest point lies at Warner Hill, where elevation reaches 605 feet above sea level. The town’s main thoroughfares include Interstate 93, New Hampshire Route 28 and New Hampshire Route 102. Over the years, Derry has been called home by a number of notable people, including Travel Channel host Samantha Brown, former New Hampshire Governor Charles Miller Floyd, Declaration of Independence signee Matthew Thorrnton, poet Robert Frost and astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr.
Derry is governed by an elected town council. The town boasts a full-time police department, full-time fire department and full-time emergency medical services. Top employers in the area include Derry Cooperative School System, HCA Health Services of New Hampshire, Shaw?s Supermarket and more. Children in the area attend schools in the Derry Cooperative School System for grades kindergarten through eight. For grades nine through 12, town tax dollars pay for their tuition to attend Pinkerton Academy.