Lisbon

History

Lisbon was first granted in 1763 by colonial Governor Benning Wentworth as "Concord". In 1764 the town was renamed "Chiswick", after the Duke of Devonshire's castle, while Rumford in central New Hampshire took the name "Concord" in 1765. In 1768, the town was settled and renamed again, this time to "Gunthwaite", after a relation of colonial Governor John Wentworth. The name "Lisbon" was selected by Governor Levi Woodbury when it was incorporated in 1824. His friend, Colonel William Jarvis, had been consul at Lisbon, Portugal. The town once included land that is now part of Littleton and Sugar Hill. Charcoal-making was an early industry. Iron, gold and other minerals were mined here. The narrow, steep falls of the Ammonoosuc River provided water power for numerous watermills and factories, and the Parker Young Company was at one time the largest manufacturer of piano sounding boards in the world. Lisbon was the site of the first rope ski tow in New Hampshire. The Lisbon Area Historical Society promotes the public's interest in and appreciation for the towns of Lisbon, Landaff and Lyman, and maintains the collection, preservation and cataloging of materials which establish or illustrate the history of the three towns, their indigenous history and heritage, their exploration, settlement and development, as well as their cultural and artistic heritage. Image:Lisbon NH town hall.JPG|Old Lisbon Town Hall Image:Main Street in Lisbon, NH.jpg|Main Street Image:Lisbon Station, Lisbon, NH.jpg|Lisbon Station in 1912 Image:Charming Falls, Lisbon, NH.jpg|Falls in 1906

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which are land and are water, comprising 1.60% of the town. The town is drained by the Ammonoosuc River and its tributary, the Gale River. The highest point in town is an unnamed hill east of Pearl Lake which reaches above sea level.

Most-observed species

• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  3,725
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  3,662
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,888
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  2,409
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  2,225
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  1,881
• Red-eyed Vireo

  Vireo olivaceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  1,731
• Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta canadensis Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  1,682

Most recent

• M 2.6 — 2024-06-18
  3 km SE of Haverhill, New Hampshire
• M 2.9 — 2023-04-25
  4 km SW of Center Sandwich, New Hampshire
• M 2.9 — 2022-02-04
  0 km SSW of Gorham, New Hampshire
• M 2.51 — 2011-07-08
  4 km NE of Newbury, Vermont
• M 2.5 — 2011-01-03
  6 km NNE of Holderness, New Hampshire
• M 2.64 — 2007-03-21
  3 km NNE of Holderness, New Hampshire