Once known as Great Meadow, this town was first granted in 1735 by Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts as Number 2, second in a line of Connecticut River fort towns designed to protect the colonies from Indian attack. This part of the river was a favorite Indian campsite, and the settlers who came beginning in 1741 were several times victims of attack. When the border between Massachusetts and the Province of New Hampshire was fixed, the town was regranted in 1752 by Governor Benning Wentworth as Westmoreland, named for John Fane, 7th Earl of Westmorland. The Park Hill Meetinghouse, built in 1762, has a Paul Revere bell. Considered one of the most beautiful churches in New England, it was moved to its present site by oxen in 1779, and renovated in 1826.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 2.71%, is water. Westmoreland is bounded on the west by the Connecticut River. Hyland Hill, elevation above sea level and the highest point in town, is on the eastern border and although it is now private land, it is a local hiking and hunting destination. Westmoreland is served by state routes 12 and 63.
At the 2000 census there were 1,747 people, 576 households, and 445 families living in the town. The population density was 48.7 people per square mile. There were 618 housing units at an average density of 17.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 97.82% White, 0.34% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.80% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.92%. Of the 576 households 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.6% were married couplesliving together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 17.4% of households were one person and 7.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.92. The age distribution was 19.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.6 males. The median household income was $55,875 and the median family income was $62,857. Males had a median income of $40,515 versus $28,456 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,488. About 0.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
