Pelham is town located in Southern New Hampshire in the Merrimack Valley region of the state. It is situated in the Eastern part of Hillsborough County and encompasses a total area of 27 square miles, .5 of which is water. As of the 2010 United States Census, Pelham was home to 12,897 people.
The land that comprises Pelham was originally a part of Old Dunstable. It was split and incorporated as its own town in 1741, when the official border between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was established. The town gleans its name from the Duke of Newcastle, Thomas-Pelham Holles. Over the years, the town has been called home by a number of notable people, including U.S. Congressman Josiah Butler, astronaut Richard M. Linnehan and stock car driver Sean Caisse.
Just under 2 percent of Pelham’s total area is made up of water, and its highest point lies at Jeremy Hill, where elevation reaches 577 feet above sea level. The town is served by New Hampshire Routes 38 and 128, as well as Interstate 93. Surrounding towns include Nashua, Winham, Litchfield, Merrimack and several Massachusetts towns.
Pelham is governed by an elected Board of Selectmen. The town boasts a full-time police department, a full-time fire department and full-time emergency medical services. Top employers in the area include Wakefield Engineering, Pelham School District, Hannaford Brothers, Quality Assured Cable, Chunky’s Cinema Pub, Yarde Metals and JT Manufacturing.
Children in the area attend schools in the Pelham School District, which includes one elementary school, one middle school and one high school. For entertainment and recreation, residents of Pelham can take advantage of the town’s municipal parks, golf courses, tennis courts, museums, movie theaters, performing arts facilities, youth organizations, sports leagues, fishing and hunting areas, snowmobile and bicycle trails, cross country skiing and beaches and waterfront areas.