Loudon is a town in Merrimack County, in the Concord metropolitan area. Loudon was originally a part of Canterbury, and was named in honor of John Campbell, fourth Earl of Loudoun. Loudon is home to the New Hampshire International Speedway.
Location
Loudon is 7 miles northeast of Concord, the capital city of New Hampshire.
Gilmanton is 10 miles northeast of Loudon, and Pittsfield is 10 miles east. Manchester is 20 miles south of Loudon, and Boston is 70 miles to the southeast. It is only a 4 hour drive (245 miles) to New York City, from Loudon.
Airports
Manchester Airport is 25 miles from Loudon, and is the primary facility for residents of Merrimack County.
Pease International Tradeport is 48 miles away, in Portsmouth.
Hanscom Field is 58 miles from Loudon, in Bedford Massachusetts.
Terrain
Loudon has a total land area of 47.5 miles, and is at an elevation of 369 feet. The total area is 1.41% water.
The Merrimack River, in Merrimack County, passes through central and southern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts, is a vital natural resource sustaining plants, wildlife, and humans.
Population
In July 2004, the estimated population of Loudon was 4,997 people.
Over 90% of the adult residents have graduated from high school. Twenty-two percent have attained a bachelor’s degree, and 8.2% have earned a graduate or professional degree.
Jobs
Loudon is conveniently located so residents have all the employment opportunities of the Concord and Manchester.
The primary industries providing employment are: educational, health and social services (18.2%), manufacturing (14.5%), and public administration (11.1%). The average travel time to work for Loudon residents is 25 minutes.
Colleges/Universities
New Hampshire College is only 16 miles from Loudon. There are a number of other colleges/universities within an hour’s drive from Loudon, including:
Plymouth College, the University of New Hampshire, Northern Essex Community College, the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Merrimack College, and Fitchburg State College.
Housing
Home prices in Loudon range from $200,000 to $400,000+, and include offerings such as lovely older homes in quiet neighborhoods, single family homes with in-law units, and newly constructed roomy colonials.
Historic Site
Canterbury Shaker Village, a national historic site, is located on the east side of route 106, three miles north of Loudon Village. This community was organized in 1792, establishing high standards of craftsmanship, agricultural efficiency and domestic skill. The attractive buildings of this village were listed on the National Register in 1975.
Parks/Sports/Recreation/Golf
Sportsmen will enjoy the many rivers, ponds and streams located nearby for the great fishing, white water rafting, and kayaking. Outdoor enthusiasts will also enjoy the many state forest area in New Hampshire including the local Soucook River State Forest.
For baseball fans, minor league teams have a long history in New Hampshire, and you can catch the action at Concord's Memorial Field, home to the Concord Quarry Dogs.
Loudon Country Club has an 18-hole public golf course. In Concord, a 10 minute drive, the Concord Country Club has an 18-hole private course, and at Beaver Meadow Golf Club, there is an 18-hole course open to the public. Twenty minutes away, in Manchester, the Derryfield Country Club has an 18-hole public golf course.
Loudon is home to the New Hampshire International Speedway that hosts many important racing events including the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series, the New England 300, the Sylvania 300, the NASCAR Busch Series, the New England 200, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, the New Hampshire 150, and the Loudon Classic, America's Oldest Motorcycle Race.
Special Attractions
The capital city of Concord is minutes away from Loudon, and Manchester, New Hampshire’s largest city is only a 20 minute drive. Proximity to these cities provides a wide-range of attractions, shopping and dining. Boston is just over an hour away; New York City is only a four hour drive, with the best cultural opportunities anywhere in the U.S.!
Interesting Facts
The New Hampshire International Speedway has hosted NASCAR racing since the 1990's. Parts of the raceway are actually physically in Canterbury. In 1990 when it opened, it was the largest speedway in New England.
Nearby Concord is home to the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, named after the Concord teacher who died during the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986.
Many Native American Indian tribes once lived along the river that flows through central and southern New Hampshire. The most well known Indian name is merruasquamack, which means "swift water place," Today, the river is known as the Merrimack. Several U.S. naval ships have been named the USS Merrimack and USS Merrimac in honor of this river.
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