Strafford County

Strafford County’s UNH Cooperative Extension office is part of a network of county, state and regional outreach education offices that bring the University of New Hampshire resources directly to the people who live and work in Strafford County. Strafford County’s Extension staff, along with more than 30 campus-based Extension specialists, provides county residents with research-based education and information, enhancing their ability to make informed decisions that improve their lives. (more information)

County Commissioners George Maglaras and Bob Watson with Registrar of Deeds Leo Lessard judged Strafford County 4-H Overall Club Exhibits this past week at the Rochester Fair.  Top recognition was awarded to the Lebanon Clovers 4-H Club of Lebabnon, Me.  Other clubs participating in the 4-H building this year are Lee Hill 4-H Club, Madbury Sugar Maples 4-H Club, Friends for a Green Country, Projectiles-Shooting Sports, Seymour Osmond Community Center

4-H after school club, Farmyard Friends, Kids Can Grow, Yankee Teamsteers & This-N-That 4-H Club.

At a ceremony recently held on the sunny banks of the Cocheco River, Governor John Lynch signed House Bill 58 protecting the Cocheco River as the 16th designated river in the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program. He also signed six other bills of importance in the conservation of water resources in New Hampshire. The gathering was hosted by Strafford County Commissioners, Strafford County UNH Cooperative Extension, and the Cocheco River Watershed Coalition. County Commission Chair George Maglaras welcomed the group Legislators and senators who were key in the legislative process spoke to the gathering of the importance of resource conservation in the region and the necessity of local volunteer participation.

The Cocheco River corridor runs from New Durham southeasterly through Middleton, Farmington, Rochester, and Dover to the tidal limit at Cocheco Falls, a distance of almost 35 miles. In the next few weeks, towns will select representatives to the Cocheco River Local Advisory Committee to carry out the NH Rivers Management and Protection Program (RMPP). Click here for the NH Department of Environmental Services Environmental Fact Sheet for the Cocheco River. Click here for more information about the RMPP and the Cocheco River nomination. For an article and editorial in The Rochester Times July 16, 2009 Edition click here.

The Cocheco River Watershed Coalition nominated the Cocheco River to the RMPP. After twelve years of educational activity in the watershed, the CRWC submitted the nomination package to NH DES. Strafford County UNH Cooperative Extension staff have from the beginning provided educational support to the Coalition. We look forward to continued collaboration with the new CRLAC.

Photo caption: Credit Deborah Goard. Governor Lynch signs HB 58 designating the Cocheco River for protection in the NH RMPP. July 15, 2009

Left to right: Senator Amanda Merrill, Senator Martha Fuller Clark, in rear State Extension Council Chair Anna Boudreau, CRWC River Coordinator Lorie Chase, in rear Representative Judith Spang, HB 58 Sponsor L. Mike Kappler, Governor Lynch, in rear CRWC Chair Tom Fargo, Strafford County Commission Chair George Maglaras, and HB 58 Sponsor Peter Schmidt.

Greenhouse and nursery growers listening to a discussion about increasing sales in a slowing economy at the Cooperative Extension summer twilight meeting hosted by Wentworth Greenhouses in Rollinsford. The discussion was led by Frank Zaunscherb, President of ZMI a marketing consulting firm with Extensive marketing experience in green industry. The focus of the discussion was on how to enhance summer sales and boost profits. Other topics discussed at the twilight meeting included risk management for greenhouse and nursery growers, disease and pest management for greenhouse crops and an update on the Asian long horn beetle. Geoffrey Njue, Extension Agriculture resources Strafford County coordinated the program, and UNH Cooperative Extension Specialists, Stan Sweir, Cheryl Smith, Mike Sciabarrasi and Brian Krug helped to lead with the discussion on different topics. 41growers attended the twilight meeting.

The second picture show small fruit and vegetable growers listening to a discussion about blue berry diseases and pests at the Cooperative Extension twilight meeting hosted by Emery Farm in Durham. Other topics discussed include crop management and disease and management issues of different small fruit and vegetable crops. Geoffrey Njue, Extension Educator Agriculture Resources, Strafford County Coordinated the program and UNH Specialists, Alan Eaton, Cheryl Smith and Becky Grube helped to lead the discussion on different topics. 32 growers attended this twilight meeting.

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Kids Can Grow is one of the many programs offered at Strafford County UNH Cooperative Extension. Please call 603-749-4445 for more information.

Strafford County, named in honor of Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, was organized in 1773 as one of the five original counties. The county was originally called Hilton's Point, Cocheco, Dover Point and Dover Neck (depending on the locality). Strafford's river and ocean access made it an ideal location for sawmills and shipbuilding, two of the strong industries in the 1600s.

The Gonic Woolen Mill was formed in 1811 in Rochester and, in 1827, the Cocheco Manufacturing Company helped establish Dover as a leading producer of cotton goods. Brickmaking and shoemaking were also prominent industries in the latter 1800s. Rochester's combination opera house and city hall was built in 1908, one of only four such structures built in New England (another was in Dover). Only the Rochester building is still standing. The floor of the building can be raised in the back for viewing the stage or lowered flat for dances or other events.

Strafford is the smallest county in New Hampshire with a total land area of 370 square miles. It is bordered by Maine to the east, separated by the Salmon Falls and the Piscataqua Rivers. Strafford Counties two largest cities are Rochester, pop. 27,254, and Dover, pop. 25,718. The county's total population is 106,506. Prominent employment sectors are construction, printing and publishing, communication, retail trade, life insurance, computer networking and services.

Strafford County is comprised of three cities - Dover, Rochester and Somersworth; and 10 towns - Barrington, Durham, Farmington, Lee, Madbury, Middleton, Milton, New Durham, Rollinsford, and Strafford.

The University to New Hampshire is located in Durham. Also found in Strafford County is the Granite State College in Rochester. The New Hampshire Farm Museum in Milton offers a glimpse at this important aspect of the state's history and economy, as does a drive along Dover Point Road which takes you by the Tuttle Farm, established in 1632, the country's oldest family farm. On Route 4 in Durham, another one of the country's oldest family farms, the Emery Farm was established in 1655.