Incorporated: 1778
Population: 1,546
County Name: Strafford
(county map)
Town Contact:
Town of Middleton
182 King's Highway
Middleton, NH 03887

Phone: 603-473-2261
Fax: 603-473-2577
Website: Not Available

Origin:
Granted in 1749, the town was named for Sir Charles Middleton, Lord Barham, who was in charge of convoy service between Barbados and the colonies. Middleton was situated on the road between Exeter and Wolfeboro, the location of Governor John Wentworth's summer home, Kingswood. Neglect of the road caused the Governor to bill the proprietors for repairs that he had to make for safe travel to Kingswood.

More about Middleton:
The only state highway to run through Middleton is Route 153. This highway runs along the east side of town to intersect first with Route 125 in Union, then Route 16 in Wakefield.

Sunrise Lake in Middleton is approximately one mile long by one-half a mile across at its widest point. It is a very clean, shallow lake with abundant fish and waterfowl. The public beach, John's Beach, is located off Route 153. There is also a boat launch nearby. Fishing, boating and swimming are popular summertime activities here. In the winter, depending upon conditions, automotive ice races are held on the lake.

Middleton's Old Town Hall, located on Kings Highway, was originally built in 1795 as a meeting house on Ridge Road, then moved to its current location in 1812, jacked up and the Town Hall added beneath. The original stucco paintings by John Avery were painted in 1811 and touched up in 1841. It is a beautiful wrap-around landscape mural of trees and scenery. This is one of Middleton's treasures.