Town of Rye Earl A. Rinker, III, Town Administrator 10 Central Road Rye, NH 03870
Telephone
964-5523
Fax
(603) 964-1516
E-mail
earlr@town.rye.nh.us
Web Site
www.town.rye.nh.us/
Municipal Office Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 am - 4:30 pm; Selectmen, Town Administrator, and Assessing: Monday through Thursday, 8 am - 4:30 pm, and Friday 8 am - 12 noon; Building, Planning, and Zoning: Monday through Friday, 8 am - 12 noon; Rye Recreation: Monday through Thursday, 8 am - 4:30 pm
County
Rockingham
Tourism Region
Seacoast
Planning Commission
Rockingham
Regional Development
Seacoast Business Alliance Corp.
Election Districts
US Congress
District 1
Executive Council
District 3
State Senate
District 4
State Representative
District 88
Incorporated: 1726
Origin: The first settlement in New Hampshire, established by David Thompson in 1623 at Odiorne's Point, and named Pannaway. Originally part of Portsmouth, it was incorporated as a parish of New Castle in 1726. The town is named for the borough of Rye, a flourishing English Channel town. Rye's eight-mile length of coastline is dotted with old names such as Wallis Sands, Jenness Beach, Locke's Neck, Ragged Neck, Rye Harbor, and Odiorne Point. In 1876, four of the Isles of Shoals were annexed to the town, the only New Hampshire town with Atlantic islands. The remaining five islands belong to Maine.
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 958 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Rye's population grew very quickly to start the last fifty years, but growth then slowed dramatically, with decennial growth going from a 64 percent increase between 1950-1960 to a two percent increase between 1980-1990. Rye's population increased by a total of 3,200 residents between the 1950 Census count of 1,982 and the 2000 count of 5,182 residents. The 2003 Census estimate for Rye was 5,271 residents, which ranked 60th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density, 2003: 417.6 persons per square mile of land area. Rye contains 12.6 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area.
Villages and Place Names: Jenness Beach, Odiorne Point, Foyes Corner, Langs Corner, Rye Beach, Rye Harbor, Rye North Beach, Wallis Sands, West Rye, Foss Beach
MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government
Selectmen
2003 Annual Budget
$5,642,520
Zoning Ordinance
1953/04
Master Plan
1998
Capitol Improvement Plan
Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By
Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:
Board of Selectmen; Planning Board; Budget Committee
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
94.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
53.3%
ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (Census 2000)
Per capita income
$36,746
Median 4-person family income
$74,956
Median household income
$63,152
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
$51,131
Female
$34,327
Families below the poverty level
1.6%
LABOR FORCE
Annual Average
1993
2003
Civilian Labor Force
2,579
3,085
Employed
2,497
3,003
Unemployed
82
82
Unemployment Rate
3.2%
2.7%
EMPLOYMENT & WAGES
1993
2003
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment
35
46
Average Weekly Wage
$385
$622
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment
581
924
Average Weekly Wage
$371
$547
Total Private Industry
Average Employment
616
970
Average Weekly Wage
$372
$551
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment
175
253
Average Weekly Wage
$433
$484
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment
791
1,223
Average Weekly Wage
$385
$537
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards
EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend:
Rye operates grades K-8; grades 9-12 are tuitioned to Portsmouth
District: SAU 50
Career Technology Center(s):
Portsmouth High School
Region: 19
Educational Facilities
Elementary
Middle/Junior High
High School
Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
1
1
1
Grade Levels
P K 1-5
6-8
4-12
Total Enrollment
358
215
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2003:
Total Facilities:5
Total Capacity:222
Nearest Community/Technical College:Stratham
Nearest Colleges or Universities:McIntosh; University of NH
LARGEST EMPLOYERS
PRODUCT/SERVICE
EMPLOYEES
ESTABLISHED
Rye Municipal Government
Municipal services
56
1726
Petey's Restaurant (seasonal)
Restaurant
Rye Airfield
Skate park & BMX bikes
Wentworth by the Sea Country Club
Golf Course
Ice House (seasonal)
Restaurant
Bank of New Hampshire (branch)
Banking
Rye Public Schools
Education
Sagamore Veterinary Clinic
Animal health care
Saunders
Restaurant
Lagos (Loneoak)
Ice cream
TRANSPORTATION
Road Access
Federal Routes
1
State Routes
1A
Nearest Interstate, Exit
I-95, Exit 3
Distance
6 miles
Railroad
No
Public Transportation
No
Nearest Airport
Pease
Runway
11,321 feet
Lighted?
Yes
Navigational Aids?
Yes
Nearest Commercial Airport
Pease
Distance
8 miles
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
40 miles
Portland, ME
57 miles
Boston, MA
58 miles
New York City, NY
265 miles
Montreal, Quebec
296 miles
COMMUTING TO WORK
(US Census)
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van
81.6%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
3.7%
Public transportation
0.4%
Walked
2.2%
Other Means
1.8%
Worked at home
10.3%
Mean Travel Time to Work
30.2 minutes
Percent of Working Residents
Working in community of residence
25%
Commuting to another NH community
55%
Commuting out-of-state
20%
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
X
Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X
Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
X
Museums
Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
X
Tourists Attractions
X
Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X
Youth Sports: Baseball
X
Youth Sports: Soccer
Youth Sports: Football
X
Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X
Fishing/Hunting
X
Boating/Marinas
Snowmobile Trails
X
Bicycle Trails
X
Cross Country Skiing
X
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre, Gunstock
Other: Whale watches, Odiorne Point, Wallis Sands, Jenness & Rye State Parks; State Harbor
Copyright 2004 Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security. All Rights Reserved. Updated 06/23/04
All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.
