Sanbornton dates to 1770, and 13% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 91% of U.S. towns · #38 of 126 in New Hampshire. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 31 buildings. Below: 3 old photos and papers, maps from 1927 on, and the census since 1790.
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1805.The full story ↓
History grade
What drives Sanbornton’s History grade
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Sanbornton is more historic than 91% of U.S. towns, #38 of 126 in New Hampshire. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.
A
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Sanbornton’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 Sanbornton’s 108 sits above most of its state (85% of New Hampshire towns have fewer) while its 33 historic buildings outnumber those of 82% of U.S. towns.
NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1770.
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 (±5.2 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 Sanbornton’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Located in the fork of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers, the town was first called "Crotchtown". It was granted by colonial Governor Benning Wentworth in 1748 to his friend John Sanborn of Hampton, along with 59 others from Hampton, Exeter and Stratham. Twelve of the grantees were named Sanborn, therefore the community was named "Sanborntown". Among the other settlers were members of the Leavitt family, related to the Sanborns. But ongoing hostilities during the French and Indian War delayed permanent settlement until 1764. It would be incorporated by Governor John Wentworth in 1770.
Passages that mention Sanbornton, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire- Vol. II- Genealogies1881 · page 763Read the page →
Read the text
157. CuHase, b. Jan. 2, 1830, in Sanbornton; was a railroad engineer, Vermont Central and Cheshire railroads; went to Rochester, N. Y., about 1857; last heard of, in 1865, on a railroad near Alexandria, Va. He m. Mary J. Miles, in Manchester. Two children (one son):—1. Ira.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire- Vol. II- Genealogies1881 · page 219Read the page →
Read the text
chiefly on Davis’s Island, as a farmer, till March, 1857, when he removed to Sanbornton Bridge, and has since occupied the original Darling-Morrison stand, above the old mill site on the Tin Corner Road. He was selectman of Gilford, 1849-50; also of Sanbornton, 1866-68, and of the new town of Tilton, 1869-70, contributing much by his good judgment and conciliatory spirit towards a satisfactory settlement of the affairs of the two towns. Before coming to this town he was county commissioner (Belknap County), 1848-50, and county
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire1882 · page 219Read the page →
Read the text
chiefly on Davis's Island, as a farmer, till March, 1857, when he removed to Sanbornton Bridge, and has since occupied the original Darling-Morrison stand, above the old mill site on the Tin Corner Road. He was selectman of Gilford, 1849-50 ; also of Sanbornton, 1866-68, and of the new town of Tilton, 1869-70, contributing much bv his good judgment and conciliator}' spirit towards a satisfactory settlement of the affairs of the two towns. Before coming to this town he was county commissioner (Belknap County), 1818-50, and county
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Sanbornton, New Hampshire [microform]1881 · page 219Read the page →
Read the text
chiefly on Davis's Island, as a farmer, till March, 1857, when h't removed to Sanbornton Bridge, and has since occupied the original Darling-Morrison stand, above the old mill site on the Tin Corner Itoad. lie was selectman of Gilford, 1849-50; also of Sanbornton, 186G-(>8, and of tlie new town of Tilton, 1869-70, contributing much by his good Judgment and conciliator}' spirit towards a satisfactory settlement of the affairs of the two towns. Before coming to this town he was county commissioner (Belknap County), 1848-50, and county
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.
Timeline
Sanbornton, 1770 to 1927
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
In 1770, according to Wikidata. Sanbornton’s post office opened in 1805, and the first U.S. census counted 1,587 people here in 1790.
How does Sanbornton rank for history?
Sanbornton is more historic than 91% of U.S. towns, #38 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 Sanbornton?
Two places: the Sanbornton Square Historic District (listed 1980) and the Bay Meeting House and Vestry (1984).
How old are the homes in Sanbornton?
13% of Sanbornton’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±5.2 points), against a typical 17% for a New Hampshire town; the median home was built in 1986.
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 (7), Wikidata (2), 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 US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System 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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