The town was first part of a township chartered as "Salem-Canada" in 1735 by Colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher of Massachusetts, which then claimed this area. It was granted to soldiers from Salem, Massachusetts, who had served in 1690 under Sir William Phips in the war againstCanada. "Salem-Canada" was one of the towns on the state's borders intended to provide protection against Indian attack. It would be regranted in 1749 by New Hampshire colonial Governor Benning Wentworth as "Number Two", before being incorporated in 1762 as "Wilton". It was either named for Wilton, England, or for Sir Joseph Wilton, a famous Englishsculptor. Sir Wilton's coach design for King George III'scoronation was later used as a model for the Concord coach. The town of Wilton, Maine, would later be named for Wilton, New Hampshire. The Souhegan River originally provided water power for mills. Today, Wilton is a rural town with orchards, farms and woodlands.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 0.37%, is water. Wilton is drained by the Souhegan River, and Stony and Blood brooks. The town's highest point is above sea level, where the east slope of Fisk Hill touches the town's western border. The town center, defined as a census-designated place, has a total area of.
As of the census of 2010, there were 3,677 people, 1,418 households, and 1,015 families residing in the town. There were 1,530 housing units, of which 112, or 7.3%, were vacant. The racial makeup of the town was 97.1% white, 0.5% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 0.2% some other race, and 1.5% from two or more races. 1.4% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Of the 1,418 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were headed by married couplesliving together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 22.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59, and the average family size was 3.02. In the town, 23.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.6% were from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.2 males. For the period 2011–2015, the estimated median annual income for a household was $71,066, and the median income for a family was $90,134. The per capita income for the town was $33,824. 4.3% of the population and 1.0% of families were below the poverty line. 7.1% of the population under the age of 18 and 4.8% of those 65 or older were living in poverty.
Sites of interest
Wilton is home to part of the Russell-Abbott State Forest, named for two of Wilton's earliest families.
Andy's Summer Playhouse is a children's theatre that attracts visitors throughout the region.
Frye's Measure Mill, a historic 150-year-old mill, is three miles west of downtown Wilton, at the junction of Davisville Road and Burton Highway, with tours available.
The is a private art-house movie theater which screens films in the Town Hall's auditorium and in a former dressing room for vaudeville troupes which once played the auditorium.
The are an iconic part of the Wilton town center landscape, and have been used alternatively as an apple packing plant, a dressing mill, and an ammunition box factory during World War II. Souhegan Mills is currently the home of Souhegan Wood Products, a manufacturer and distributor of a variety of recycled wood products.
