Your Guide to Buying a Home in Litchfield, NH

Buying a Home in Litchfield, New Hampshire

Rachel C McMeen is a Homes101 preferred real estate agent who knows the Litchfield area and is waiting to assist you immediately! Find a Home in Litchfield Litchfield Relocation Guide

Litchfield is located in Hillsborough County

Litchfield, once an agricultural area, but is know considered a quiet, bedroom community; however, images of its history still remain even on the main street, with farm animals grazing in the fields at the side of the road, old farmhouses, apple orchards, and blueberries and pumpkin patches.

The town located near Route 293 and is minutes away from the Manchester Airport, making it for commuters. One-acre lot restrictions are intended to preserve the town's country atmosphere for future generations.

Although mostly a residential area, there are restaurants and small businesses in town as well. Much of the town remains agricultural, but with its neighbors: Manchester, Derry, Hudson, and Nashua, Litchfield is becoming part of the network of communities that is the Gateways region.

Litchfield History
Litchfield was named in honor of George Henry Lee, Earl of Litchfield. Litchfield was the opposite landing-site of Thornton's Ferry, originating across the Merrimack River in the town of Merrimack.

The land that now comprises the town originally belonged to the Naticook, one of the many Native American Tribes under the rule of the great chief, Passaconaway.The following year, the residents agreed to sell the approximately 8,000 acres to William Bretton, and explorer and fur trader, for the sum of 200 pounds. This land was then known as “Breton’s Farm.” Settlement of the area was encouraged by Massachusetts to strengthen its hand in a boundary dispute with New Hampshire. On June 15, 1749, the town received its charter and officially became a New Hampshire town.

During the 1800’s, the major industries in Litchfiled were timber, brick making and farming. Nearly every brook in town was used for making bricks; the largest brickyard was located off Pinecrest Road. In colonial times, there were 2 gristmills, a gunpowder mill, a carding mill and 2 sawmills, as well as a tavern and several stores for general merchandise and supplies. Later, there were 3 additional sawmills in operations. The center of trade developed along the bank of the Merrimack River. Two major ferries operated on the river: Thornton’s Ferry at the town center and Reed’s Ferry at the northern end of town. Thornton’s Ferry, although officially closed in 1899, continued to operate until 1911. Litchfield’s development as a commercial center was greatly reduced with the building of the Concord Railroad through Merrimack in 1842.

See other communities near Litchfield