Just over the Massachusetts border, west of Hollis, is the small community of Brookline. Quiet country roads and homes tucked away on wooded lots define Brookline. It is this small-town appeal that has brought many new residents to the town in recent years; this town of nearly 3,000 is now the fastest-growing town in the state.

Brookline was established in 1769, carved out of several surrounding pieces of land. One tract was called The Mile Slip because it was one mile wide, and it slipped by other charter grants given to Hollis and Mason. It sat alone - part of no township - until 1769.

That year, a group of residents in southwest Hollis, feeling that their distance from the center of the town precluded any real town participation, asked the legislature to remove them from the Hollis charter and joined the group from The Mile Slip to form a township.

The two tracts were incorporated under the name of Raby, the name of a town in England where many of the residents' ancestors came from. The name was changed to Brookline in 1789. Considered a poor place at the time, the town was not served by the railroad and had many marginal farms. Early industries included potash, shingles, barrels, furniture making, and a large tannery. With the coming of the railroad to other places, industry languished. It was a four-day trip to Boston by ox cart.

The railroad finally arrived in the late 19th century, mainly due to the needs of the Fresh Pond Ice Company, which was one of the town's major industries before the advent of refrigeration. In 1914 the company maintained 13 large ice houses that could hold up to 80 tons of ice. A number of historical homes and buildings are located in and around the town center, including the Florence Barnaby house, which is now the headquarters of the Brookline Historical Society. The former Brookline Railroad Station, now a private home, is another historical landmark.

The town's most significant asset today is its land: about 8,000 of Brookline's 13,000 acres remain undeveloped. Recent growth prompted the Planning Board to create an ordinance to limit the number of building permits given out each year. In place since 1994, the ordinance will likely remain as a way to help Brookline preserve its rural character.

Lake Potanipo, the headwaters of the Nissitissit River, is a scenic and popular spot for swimming, boating, and fishing in season, Both the Beaver Brook Association and the Nissitissit Land Trust own and manage lands within Brookline. The Conservation Commission manages the 70-acre Palmer Wildlife Preserve and the Taylor-Talbot Wildlife Sanctuary, which include hiking trails, wetlands, and active beaver colonies.

Brookline is home to several one-person and small family businesses. The town's major employers are Grant Plastics, Bingham Lumber, and Hall Manufacturing, which manufactures and sells canvas tote bags.

A doubling of Brookline's population since 1980 shows the word is out on the town's unique combination of rural ambiance, affordable housing, and proximity to both Nashua and Massachusetts.

Incorporated:	1769

Community Contact:	Town of Brookline
	Board of Selectmen
	PO Box 360
	Brookline, NH 03033-0360

Telephone:	(603) 673-8855
Fax:	(603) 673-8136
E-mail:	town@brookline.nh.us
Web Site:	www.brookline.nh.us

City/Town Office Hours:	Monday through Friday, 8 am - 2 pm

County:	Hillsborough
Labor Market Area:	Nashua
Planning Commission:	Nashua Regional
Tourism Region:	Merrimack Valley

Demographics, 2000 Census: From 1990 to 2000, population in Brookline grew by 73.5 percent, the 4th highest percent increase among the cities and towns, adding 1,771 residents for a total of 4,181. The median age is 35.7, with 33.6 percent of the population under the age of 18, the 3rd highest, and 5.0 percent age 65 and older, the 4th lowest percent of residents in that age group. The total number of households is 1,343, with an average size of 3.11 persons. Of those, 1,147 are family households, with an average size of 3.36 persons. As of April 1, 2000, there were 1,384 total housing units.

Population Density, 2000: 210.0 persons per square mile of land area. Brookline contains 19.9 square miles of land area and 0.3 square miles of inland water area.

Origin: First a part of Dunstable, then settled as West Hollis, the town was granted in 1769 as Raby. Governor John Wentworth named the town in honor of his cousin, fourth Earl of Strafford and Baron of Raby Castle, in County Durham, England. The town was renamed in 1798 at the suggestion of one of the town's leading citizens, who hailed from Brookline, Massachusetts.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES

City/Town Office Hours:	M-F 8-2 pm

Type of Government	Selectmen
Annual Budget (2000)	$2,273,977
Planning Board	Appointed
Industrial Plans Reviewed By	Planning Board
Zoning	1968/97
Master Plan	1997
Capital Improvement Plan	Yes
Public Library	Brookline Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Police Department		Full-time
Fire Department		On Call
Town Fire Insurance Rating		9/9
Emergency Medical Service		Municipal & Volunteer

Nearest Hospital(s):	Southern NH Regional; St. Joseph's		In: Nashua
	Distance: 14 miles		Beds: 173; 135

TAXES

2001 Total Tax Rate			$26.61
2001 Equalization Ratio			0.82
2001 Full Value Tax Rate			$21.76

2001 Property Valuation:	Residential	94.8%
	Commercial	4.1%
	Other	1.1%

UTILITIES

Electric Supplier	PSNH
Natural Gas Supplier	None
Water Supplier	Private wells

Sanitation	Private septic
Municipal Treatment Plant	No
Curbside Trash Pickup	No
Mandatory Recycling Program	No

Telephone Company	Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access	Yes
Cable Television Access	Yes

HOUSING, 2000

Total Housing Units		1,384

Single-Family Units		1,267
	Building Permits Issued	35
Multi-Family Units		96
	Building Permits Issued	0
Manufactured Housing Units		21

Median Value, Owner-Occupied Housing		$171,900
Median Gross Rent (monthly)		$1,047

DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census)

Total Population		Community			County
2000		4,181			380,841
1990		2,410			336,073
1980		1,766			276,608
1970		1,167			223,941

Population by Gender, 2000
	Male: 2,119		Female: 2,062

Population by Age Group, 2000
	Under age 5		385
	Age 5 to 19		1,103
	Age 20 to 34		530
	Age 35 to 54		1,652
	Age 55 to 64		302
	Age 65 and over		209

Median Age			35.7 years

Total Households: 1,346				Average Size: 3.11 persons
Total Families: 1,147				Average Size: 3.36 persons

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
	High school graduate or higher					94.3%
	Bachelor's degree or higher					41.8%

ANNUAL INCOME, 2000 (US Census)

Per capita income			$29,272
Median 4-person family income			$80,214
Median household income			$77,075

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
	Male	$55,417
	Female	$32,750

Families below the poverty level			0.9%

TRANSPORTATION

Road Access		Federal Routes
		State Routes		13, 130

Nearest Interstate, Exit			Everett Tpk., Exit 6
	Distance		12 miles

Railroad			No
Public Transportation			No

Nearest Airport			Nashua
	Runway		5,501 feet
	Lighted?		Yes
	Navigational Aids?		Yes

Nearest Commercial Airport			Manchester
	Distance		28 miles

DISTANCE TO

Manchester, NH	27 miles
Portland, ME	120 miles
Boston, MA	55 miles
New York City, NY	216 miles
Montreal, Quebec	284 miles

LARGEST EMPLOYERS	PRODUCT/SERVICE	EMPLOYEES	ESTABLISHED
Grant Plastics, Inc.	Plastic products	43	1981
Bingham Lumber Inc.	Lumber	38	1969
Donovan Engineering	Construction of process mechanical systems	35	1934
Superior Steel Fabricators	Steel pre-fabrication	12	1992
Tapply Lumber Company	Lumber	10	1958

LABOR FORCE

Annual Average	1990	2001
Civilian labor force	1,476	2,019
Employed	1,394	1,931
Unemployed	82	88
Unemployment rate	5.6%	4.4%

COMMUTING TO WORK, 2000

Workers 16 years and over	(US Census)
Drove alone, car/truck/van	84.7%
Carpooled, car/truck/van	7.1%
Public transportation	0.0%
Walked	1.0%
Other means	0.6%
Worked at home	6.6%

Mean Travel Time to Work	32.9 minutes

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES

		1991	2000
Manufacturing Industries
	Average Employment	94	152
	Average Weekly Wage	$449	$828

Non-Manufacturing Industries
	Average Employment	212	415
	Average Weekly Wage	$446	$616

Total Private Industry
	Average Employment	306	567
	Average Weekly Wage	$447	$673

Government
	Average Employment	24	146
	Average Weekly Wage	$310	$349

Total, Private plus Government
	Average Employment	330	713
	Average Weekly Wage	$437	$607

n = indicates that data does not meet disclosure standards

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES

	Municipal Parks
	YMCA/YWCA
	Boys Club/Girls Club
	Golf Courses
	Swimming: Indoor Facility
	Swimming: Outdoor Facility
	Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
	Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
	Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
	Bowling Facilities
	Museums
	Cinemas
	Performing Arts Facilities
	Tourist Attractions
	Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
	Youth Sports: Baseball
	Youth Sports: Soccer
	Youth Sports: Football
	Youth Sports: Basketball
	Youth Sports: Hockey
X	Campgrounds
	Fishing/Hunting
	Boating/Marinas
	Snowmobile Trails
	Bicycle Trails
	Cross Country Skiing

	Nearest Ski Area(s): Pat's Peak

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.