Sullivan County, New Hampshire
County
Lempster Mountain Wind Power Project overlooking cemetery in East Lempster, NH
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of New Hampshire
Coordinates: 43°20′39″N 72°14′50″W / 43.3442°N 72.2472°W / 43.3442; -72.2472
Country	United States
State	New Hampshire
Founded	1827
Named after	John Sullivan
Seat	Newport
Largest city	Claremont
Area
• Total	552.1 sq mi (1,430 km2)
• Land	537.5 sq mi (1,392 km2)
• Water	14.6 sq mi (38 km2)  2.6%
Population  (2020)
• Total	43,063
• Estimate  (2024)[1]	44,012
• Density	80.1/sq mi (30.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	2nd
Website	sullivancountynh.gov

Sullivan County is a county in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. As of the 2020 census, the population was 43,063,^[2] making it the second-least populous county in New Hampshire. Its county seat is Newport.^[3]

Sullivan County is included in the Claremont-Lebanon, NH-VT Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Sullivan County was organized at Newport in 1827 from the northern portion of Cheshire County. It is named for John Sullivan (1740–1795), the Revolutionary War hero and a former governor.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 552 square miles (1,430 km²), of which 537 square miles (1,390 km²) is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) (2.7%) is water.^[4] It is the third-smallest county in New Hampshire by area.

• Grafton County (north)
• Merrimack County (east)
• Hillsborough County (southeast)
• Cheshire County (south)
• Windham County, Vermont (southwest)
• Windsor County, Vermont (west)

• Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 43,063. The median age was 47.2 years. 18.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.1 males age 18 and over.^[11]

The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.7% from some other race, and 6.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.^[12]

21.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 78.1% lived in rural areas.^[13]

There were 18,164 households in the county, of which 24.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 23.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[11]

There were 21,797 housing units, of which 16.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 72.8% were owner-occupied and 27.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 5.5%.^[11]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 43,742 people, 18,126 households, and 12,025 families living in the county.^[18] The population density was 81.4 inhabitants per square mile (31.4/km²). There were 22,341 housing units at an average density of 41.6 per square mile (16.1/km²).^[19] The racial makeup of the county was 97.0% white, 0.6% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population.^[18] In terms of ancestry, 23.9% were English, 16.3% were Irish, 9.2% were German, 7.1% were Italian, 6.0% were French Canadian, 5.2% were Scottish, 5.1% were Polish, and 4.4% were American.^[20]

Of the 18,126 households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 43.9 years.^[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $50,689 and the median income for a family was $61,959. Males had a median income of $44,408 versus $34,233 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,322. About 7.5% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.^[21]

At the 2000 census,^[22] there were 40,458 people, 16,530 households and 11,174 families living in the county. The population density was 29/; (75/sq mi). There were 20,158 housing units at an average density of 38 units per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.99% White, 0.24% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 16.9% were of English, 14.7% French, 11.7% French Canadian, 10.7% American, 10.0% Irish, 6.2% German and 5.1% Italian ancestry. 96.1% spoke English and 1.6% French as their first language.

There were 16,530 households, of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.

23.90% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.50 males.

The median household income was $40,938 and the median family income was $48,516. Males had a median income of $32,185 versus $24,615 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,319. About 5.20% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.50% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Sullivan County is a bellwether county, having voted for the winner of nearly every presidential election winner since 1964, except in 1976 and 2004.

The executive power of Sullivan County's government is held by three county commissioners, each representing one of the three commissioner districts within the county.

^[24]

In addition to the County Commission, there are five directly elected officials: they include County Attorney, Register of Deeds, County Sheriff, Register of Probate, and County Treasurer.^[25]

The general court delegation from Sullivan County is made up of all of the members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from the county. In total there are 13 members from 11 different districts. The party distribution of representatives after the 2022 elections is as follows.^[26]

• Claremont

• Charlestown
• Newport
• Plainfield

• Balloch
• Cornish Flat
• East Lempster
• Georges Mills
• Guild
• Meriden
• South Acworth

• Lovewell Mountain
• Mount Sunapee

The Sullivan County Department of Corrections operates the county prison in the town of Unity.

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Sullivan County, New Hampshire

• Sullivan County official website
• Sullivan County, NH, Court Records, 1819-1859 at Dartmouth College Library

43°22′N 72°13′W / 43.36°N 72.22°W / 43.36; -72.22