On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Henniker is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns, #36 of 126 in New Hampshire. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its National Register listings lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Henniker’s overall grade.
New Hampshire towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical New Hampshire town has 9.5 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Henniker’s 11.3 sits near the middle of its state (51% of New Hampshire towns have fewer) while its 7 historic buildings outnumber those of 73% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1768.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A− to A+. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±9.0 points).
Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Henniker’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
The area was first known as "Number Six" in a line of settlements running between the Merrimack and Connecticut rivers. In 1752, the Masonian Proprietors granted the land to Andrew Todd, who called it "Todd's Town". Settled in 1761 by James Peter, it was dubbed "New Marlborough" by others from Marlboro, Massachusetts. Incorporated in 1768 by Governor John Wentworth, the town was named for Sir John Henniker, a London merchant of leather and fur, with shipping interests in Boston and Portsmouth.
In the 19th century Henniker had a high rate of congenital deafness, and its own sign language, which may have played a significant role in the emergence of American Sign Language.
Passages that mention Henniker, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 18801880 · page 249Read the page →
Read the text
At a meeting of the town, held October 27, 1834, the selectmen and committee made the following report : Resolved and voted, that it is expedient, and in our opinion, would be for the best interest of the Town of Henniker, to erect, or construct, a good, and permanent Stone Bridge across Contoocook River near where the old bridge now stands, Provided said Bridge can be safely constructed for a reasonable sum.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of the town of Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, from the date of the Canada grant by the province of Massachusetts, in 1735, to 18801880 · page 159Read the page →
Read the text
D. C. Gould. A committee of three was chosen to procure an act of incorporation, consisting of Hon. Joshua Darling, Rev. Jacob Scales, and Samuel Smith, Esq. It was voted to incorporate in the name of the town of Henniker, and that the names of the subscribers to the shares be in the act of incorporation. Col. Imri Woods was representative that year, who was requested to present the petition, and to take the matter in charge.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
By decade
Henniker, decade by decade
3 decades in the archive, from the 1880s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
In 1768, according to Wikidata. the first U.S. census counted 1,127 people here in 1790.
How does Henniker rank for history?
Henniker is more historic than 92% of U.S. towns, #36 of 126 in New Hampshire. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Henniker?
Two places: the Henniker Town Hall (listed 1981) and the Bennett Farm (2002).
How old are the homes in Henniker?
26% of Henniker’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±9.0 points), against a typical 17% for a New Hampshire town; the median home was built in 1974.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (17), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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