Incorporated: 1727
Population: 2,748
County Name: Belknap
(county map)
Town Contact:
Town of Gilmanton
P.O. Box 550
Gilmanton, NH 03237

Phone: 603-267-6700
Fax: 603-267-6701
Website: www.gilmantonnh.org

Origin:
First known as Gilmantown, the town was home to the Gilman family, of which there were 24 members receiving land grants. At one time it was the second-largest town in the state, following Portsmouth. The original town was larger than it is now, with villages and parishes including Belmont, Gunstock Parish (Gilford), Hurricane, Tioga, Factory Village, and Lakeport. A parish first called Averytown, the site of an unprofitable iron-mining enterprise, is still known as Gilmanton Iron Works.

More about Gilmanton:
Mainly a farming community, Gilmanton developed a thriving small industrial economy in the mid-19th century and is now inhabited by commuters, retirees and proprietors of small home-based businesses.

In the 1950's, Gilmanton was made reluctantly famous, or infamous, thanks to the late Grace Metalious, author of the notorious book "Peyton Place", who touched off the largest scandal in the quiet community's history.