

Strafford County is a county in the State of New Hampshire. As of the 2020 census, the population was 130,889.[1] Its county seat is Dover.[2] Strafford County was one of the five original counties identified for New Hampshire in 1769. It was named after William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford in the mistaken belief that he was the ancestor of Governor John Wentworth – although they were distantly related, William had no descendants. The county was organized at Dover in 1771. In 1840, the size of the original county was reduced with the creation of Belknap County. It is estimated to be New Hampshire’s county with the highest percentage growth over the 2010-2019 period
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Founded | 1771 |
Named for | William Wentworth, 2nd Earl of Strafford |
Seat | Dover |
Largest city | Dover |
Area | |
• Total | 382.6 sq mi (991 km2) |
• Land | 367.6 sq mi (952 km2) |
• Water | 15.0 sq mi (39 km2) 3.9% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 130,889 |
• Density | 356.1/sq mi (137.5/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 1st |
Website | www.co.strafford.nh.us |
1773-1800 Theophilus Dame Dover
1800-1810 James Carr Somersworth
1810-1820 Daniel Barker Rochester
1820-1830 William Badger Gilmanton
1830-1835 Jhon Chadwick Dover
1835-1840 Benjamin Wentwoth Jen Strafford
1840-1845 Ezekiel Hurd Dover
1845-1850 Gorham W. Hoitt Lee
1850-1855 George McDaniel Barrington
1855-1856 George W. Brashridge Barrington
1856-1866 Nathaniel Wiggin Dover
1866-1871 Luther Hayes Milton
1871-1875 Joeph Jones
1875-1876 John W. Iwell Strafford
1876-1879 Stephen S. Chick
1879-1887 John Greefield
1887-1889 John G. Johnson
1889-1891 John H. Pingree Rochester
1891-1892 William S Hayes Madbury
1892-1891 Bard B. Plummer Milton
1894-1900 James E. Hayes
1900-1906 George W. Parker
1906-1912 Frank I. Smith Rochester
1912-1918 Edward S. Young Dover
1918-1823 Fred E. Goodwin Dover
1923-1925 Stephen W. Scruton Dover
1925-1930 William S. Davis Barrington
1930-1932 Andrew H. McDaniel Dover
1932 Willis L. Reynolds Milton
1932-1933 Andrew H. McDaniel Dover
1933-1939 Stephen W. Scruton Dover
1939-1941 Clyde R. Cotton
1941-1942 Stephen W. Scruton Dover
1942-1947
1947-1950 Stephen W. Scruton Dover
1950-1968 Wilfred J. Pare
1968-1968 William “Nick” Shaheen
1969-1977 Harold Knight Durham
1977-1978 Edmund Flanagan Dover
1978-1979 William “Nick” Shaheen
1979-1983 Frank Redden Dover
1983-1997 Richard T. Cavanaugh Rochester
1997-2003 Martin R. Heon, Jr. Middleton
2003-2013 Wayne M. Estes Milton
2013-2020 David G. Dubois Rochester
2020- Present Mark A. Brave Dover