Alton, New Hampshire
According to ezinesports, Alton is a small town located in the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Located in Belknap County, it is situated on the eastern shore of Lake Winnipesaukee and is home to just over 6,000 people. Alton is a popular tourist destination for those looking for a peaceful getaway with plenty of outdoor activities to keep them busy.
The town was first established in 1766 and was originally named “New Durham” after the nearby town of Durham. In 1820, the name was changed to “Alton” after an early settler, John Alton. The town has since grown into what it is today – a bustling community filled with friendly people and plenty of things to do.
The most popular spot in Alton is undoubtedly its lakefront area. Here, visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, fishing, or just enjoying the views from one of many nearby beaches or dockside restaurants. There are also several marinas located along the lakefront where visitors can rent boats or jet skis for their own personal use. For those who like more low-key activities, there are plenty of hiking trails and scenic nature walks throughout Alton’s wooded areas.
In addition to its outdoor activities, Alton also offers a variety of cultural attractions for visitors to explore as well. Each year during the summer months, Alton hosts an annual Arts & Crafts Festival at which local artisans showcase their work and offer demonstrations on various crafts such as woodworking and jewelry making. There are also a number of art galleries located throughout town that feature rotating exhibitions from local artists as well as traveling exhibits from other parts of New England and beyond.
For those looking for something more active than arts and crafts festivals or nature walks, Alton has several sporting facilities available including golf courses and tennis courts as well as ice skating rinks during winter months. There are also several parks located throughout town including Ellacoya State Park which offers camping along with swimming beaches and boat launches onto Lake Winnipesaukee itself!
No matter what you’re looking for – whether it’s an outdoor adventure or a cultural experience – there’s something available in Alton that will fit your needs perfectly! With its beautiful lakefront scenery, myriad outdoor activities and cultural attractions galore – there truly is something here for everyone.
History of Alton, New Hampshire
Alton, New Hampshire is a small town located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. It is situated on the western shore of Lake Winnipesaukee and has a population of just over 5,400 people. Alton was first settled in 1761, when the first settler, William Palmer, arrived from Massachusetts. Palmer purchased land from local Native Americans and built a sawmill and gristmill on the banks of the Oyster River, which runs through the town.
The town was originally called “New Durham”, after its first colonial proprietors, who had bought it from local Native Americans as part of a larger tract called “Durham”. In 1774, however, the name was changed to Alton after Alton Bay located nearby on Lake Winnipesaukee. The name Alton was chosen as an homage to Lord Dartmouth’s estate in England.
By 1790, there were about 300 people living in Alton and by 1830 that number had grown to 1,200 people. During this time period many mills were built along the Oyster River to take advantage of its power for manufacturing purposes. These included gristmills for grinding grain into flour and lumber mills for cutting timber into boards for buildings and furniture.
In 1818, a bridge was constructed over the Oyster River connecting Alton with neighboring Gilford and allowing easier access between them. This bridge still stands today as one of only three covered bridges left in New Hampshire (the other two being found in North Conway).
During the 19th century, Alton began to prosper due to its location on Lake Winnipesaukee which attracted wealthy tourists looking to escape city life during summer months. This led to development of many resort hotels around lake such as The Wolfeboro House (now known as The Wolfeboro Inn) which opened in 1875.
Today, Alton is still a popular tourist destination due to its proximity to Lake Winnipesaukee and other attractions such as skiing at Gunstock Mountain Resort or visiting Castle in The Clouds – an estate built by millionaire Thomas Gustave Plant that offers stunning views of Lake Winnipesaukee from its mountaintop location. There are also several state parks located near Alton including Mount Major State Park which provides numerous hiking trails with spectacular views overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee or Squam Lakes Natural Science Center where visitors can learn about local ecology through hands-on exhibits and activities.
In addition to tourism, Alton has also become home to several businesses such as Profile Bank or Plymouth Rubber Company both located near downtown area providing employment opportunities for residents living within town limits or nearby towns such as Gilford or Laconia.
Overall, despite being small in size with only 5400 residents Alton is an important part of New Hampshire’s history; providing visitors with beautiful natural scenery while providing its citizens with modern amenities necessary for comfortable.
