Keene, New Hampshire

19th century to 20th century

Railroad development in Keene began with unsuccessful proposals in 1829 and 1835, before the Cheshire Railroad was chartered in 1844.^[10] A depot was constructed near lower Marlboro Street in 1847, along with laying of the track and the building of the Stone Arch Bridge at West Keene.^[11] The railroad formally opened to Keene on May 16, 1848, when a decorated train from Boston arrived before a crowd reported to number more than 5,000 people.^[10] Regular passenger and freight service between Keene and Bellows Falls, Vermont, began in January 1849. The Ashuelot Railroad ran its first trains in December 1850, while the Manchester and Keene Railroad reached the city in 1878. The resulting connections to Massachusetts, Vermont and New York contributed to industrial growth, and by 1890 Keene had become a regional railroad center.^[10]

Keene's railroads were subsequently incorporated into larger regional railways.^[10] The Cheshire Railroad consolidated with the Fitchburg Railroad in 1890, while the Ashuelot Railroad consolidated with the Connecticut River Railroad that year and was taken over by the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1893.^[10]

The city's own electric street railway began regular service in 1900, and eventually operated lines connecting central Keene with West Keene, Marlborough and Swanzey Factory.^[10] The Keene Electric Railway was authorized to replace its rail lines with motor buses in 1926 and continued operating until 1929.^[10] Passenger rail service declined during the mid-20th century, with the last passenger train departing Keene for Bellows Falls on May 31, 1958, ending 110 years of passenger service in the city.^[10]

In 1920, Keene's population stood at 11,210 and increased as the city's industrial economy and economy grew, with the town becoming a regional institutional center of southwestern New Hampshire.^[12] During the Great Depression, Keene's banks closed temporarily and federal assistance subsequently supported highway, water, sewer and park-improvement projects in the town.^[13] In 1936, there was serious flooding and the 1938 New England hurricane affected the city, damaged homes and factories and destroyed nearly 1,000 elm trees; the resulting flood-control program included Surry Dam, which was completed in 1942.^[14]

In the postwar period, Keene's educational and service functions expanded with Keene Teachers College, which became Keene State College in 1963.^[15] In 1987, the city spent approximately $2 million USD improving Main Street and Central Square to create a more pedestrian-oriented downtown.^[16]

21st century to present

Beginning in 2000, Keene inventoried nearly 200 historic properties and then set up a municipal heritage and downtown historic-district body to support the restoration and reuse of prominent historic buildings.^[17]

In ther 2020 United States census the city's population was 23,047.^[18]

In 2011, Massachusetts man Thomas Ball immolated himself on the steps of a courthouse in Keene to protest what he considered the court system's abuse of divorced fathers' rights.^[19]

Climate

Keene is located in a humid continental climate zone.^[24] It experiences all four seasons quite distinctly. The average high temperature in July is 82 °F (28 °C), and the record high for Keene is 102 °F (39 °C). Extended periods of high humidity can raise heat indices to near 110 °F (43 °C). During the summer, Keene gets hit by thunderstorms coming from the west or northwest. Severe storms are not uncommon. Large hail occurs to the east and northeast of Keene. Tornadoes are also not uncommon. Long-tracked tornadoes touched down on the east side of Keene in 2023 and 2024.

The winters in Keene can be harsh. The most recent such winter was 2002–2003, when Keene received 112.5 inches (2,860 mm) of snow. The majority of the snowfall in Keene comes from nor'easters, areas of low pressure that move up the Atlantic Coast and strengthen. Many times, these storms can produce blizzard conditions across southern New England. Recent examples are the blizzards of 2005 and 2006. Keene is situated in an area where cold air meets the moisture from the south, so often Keene gets the jackpot with winter storms. Aside from snow, winters can be very cold. Even in the warmest of winters, Keene typically experiences at least one night below 0 °F (−18 °C). During January 2004, Keene saw highs below freezing 25 of the days, including five days in the single digits and one day with a high of zero. Overnight lows dropped below zero 12 times, including seven nights below −10 °F (−23 °C). The record low in Keene is −31 °F (−35 °C). In addition to the cold temperatures, Keene can receive biting winds that drive the wind chill down below −30 °F (−34 °C).^[24]

The last significant snowfall typically occurs in early March. At the same time, 80 °F (27 °C) days can begin in late March. Autumn weather is similar. Keene's first snowfall usually occurs in mid-November, though the city can also have 60 °F (16 °C) through November. Significant rain events can occur in the spring and fall. For example, record rainfall and flooding with the axis of heaviest rain (around 12 inches (300 mm)) near Keene occurred in October 2005. Another significant flood event occurred in May of the following year.^[24]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Keene had a population of 23,047. The median age was 37.8 years. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over.^[29][30]

89.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 10.3% lived in rural areas.^[31]

There were 9,433 households in Keene, of which 22.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.0% were married-couple households, 21.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[29]

There were 10,297 housing units, of which 8.4% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.^[29]

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, 23,409 people, 9,052 households, and 4,843 families were residing in the city. The population density was 627.6 inhabitants per square mile (242.3/km²). The 9,719 housing units had an average density of 260.6 per square mile (100.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.3% White, 0.6% African American, 0.2% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.5% some other race, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.6% of the population.^[32]

Of the 9,052 households, 23.0% had children under 18 living with them, 39.1% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.5% were not families. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% were individuals who were 65 or older. The average household size was 2.26, and the average family size was 2.83.^[32]

In the city, the age distribution was 16.6% under 18, 24.1% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.7% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.^[32]

2010–2014 American Community Survey

For the period of 2010 through 2014, the estimated median income for a household in the city was $52,327 and for a family was $75,057. Male full-time workers had a median income of $50,025 versus $39,818 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,366. About 6.7% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under 18 and 11.5% of those 65 or over.^[33]

Print

• The Keene Sentinel
• The Monadnock Shopper News
• The Equinox, student newspaper of Keene State College

Radio

The city has several radio stations licensed by the FCC to Keene:

AM

• WZBK 1220 (Classic Hits, Simulcast of WKVT-FM)
• WKBK 1290 (News/Talk), formerly WKNE. Simulcast on W231DV, 94.1 FM.^[39]

FM

• WEVN 90.7, operated by New Hampshire Public Radio^[40]
• WKNH 91.3, operated by Keene State College^[41]
• WSNI 97.7 (Adult Contemporary, Sunny 97). WSNI changed its city of license from Swanzey to Keene in September 2009.^[42]
• W256BJ 99.1, (Adult Album Alternative, "The River", // WSNI-HD2)^[39][43]
• W272DZ 102.3, (Classic Hits, Rewind 92.7 & 102.3, WKVT-FM Simulcast)^[44]
• W276CB 103.1, (Oldies, "WINK Country Classics 103.1", //WINQ-HD2)^[39][45]
• WKNE 103.7 (Hot Adult Contemporary, 103.7 KNE FM)
• W281AU 104.1 (Oldies, Pure Oldies 104.1, WKNE-HD3)^[46]
• W288BN 105.5 (Country, Translator of WYRY)
• W293AB 106.5 (Adult Hits, "The Penguin", Translator of WFYX)
• W298BT 107.5 (Soft Adult Contemporary, 107.5 & 100.3 EZ FM / WKNE-HD2)

Syndicated programming

• Free Talk Live, a nationally syndicated radio talk show, is based in Keene.

Television

• Cheshire TV, local cable programming^[47]
• WEKW-TV (Digital 18/Virtual 11), New Hampshire Public Television affiliate (PBS)^[48][49]
• When Elderly Attack (season 8)

Keene is part of the Boston television market.^[50] Time Warner Cable is the major supplier of cable television programming for Keene. Local stations offered on Time Warner include most major Boston-area and New Hampshire stations (including WEKW), as well as WVTA, the Vermont PBS outlet in Windsor, Vermont.

Religion

Keene has more than 20 churches, mostly Protestant, and one synagogue, Congregation Ahavas Achim. A significant landmark in downtown Keene is the United Church of Christ at Central Square, colloquially known in town as the "White Church" or the "Church at the Head of the Square". A second church on the square was Grace United Methodist Church, also known as the "Brick Church", but it is now privately owned and operated for secular purposes. The Grace United Methodist congregation moved to another site.

Keene is the seat of the Roman Catholic Parish of the Holy Spirit, whose pastor is the Dean of the Monadnock Deanery, a division under the see of the Diocese of Manchester. The parish has two churches in the City of Keene, Saint Bernard and Saint Margaret Mary. Keene has one Episcopal church, Saint James, which is within the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire. Keene also has one Greek Orthodox church, Saint George, which is under the see of the Metropolis of Boston.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building is home to the Keene Ward and is part of the Nashua, New Hampshire Stake.

Festivals

Pumpkin

Main article: New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival

Every October from 1991 to 2014, Keene hosted an annual pumpkin festival called the Keene Pumpkin Festival, locally known as Pumpkin Fest. The event set world records several times for the largest simultaneous number of jack-o'-lanterns on display. The first time was in 1993, when Keene set the record with nearly 5,000 carved and lit pumpkins.^[53] The tally from the 2003 festival stood as the record until Boston took the lead in 2006, but Keene reclaimed the world record in 2013, with a total of 30,581 pumpkins, according to Guinness World Records.^[54] Besides the pumpkins stacked on massive towers set in the streets, thousands of additional pumpkins were installed along the streets of the city. Face painting, fireworks, music, and other entertainments were also provided.

After riots from college students nearby the event in 2014, the Keene Pumpkin Festival^[55] was moved to Laconia the following year and renamed the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival.^[56] From 2017 onward (except for 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), the organizers of the 2011 through 2014 Keene Pumpkin Festivals, along with the 2015 New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in Laconia, have run a new smaller, child-focused Keene Pumpkin Festival with a number of restrictions in place, promoting it as the "official" continuation of the Keene Pumpkin Festival.^[57][58]

In popular culture

• The 1949 movie Lost Boundaries, starring Mel Ferrer, tells the true story of a black Keene physician who passed as white for many years. The film won the 1949 Cannes Film Festival award for best screenplay.
• Much of the 1995 movie Jumanji, starring Robin Williams, was filmed in Keene in November 1994, as the movie's fictional town of Brantford. Frank's Barber Shop is a featured setting as well as the Parrish Shoe sign, which was painted for the film. The sign served as a focal point for a temporary Robin Williams memorial in the days following the actor's death on August 11, 2014.

Music and theatre

In 1979, First Lady Rosalynn Carter dedicated the bandstand in Central Square as the E. E. Bagley Bandstand, after the noted composer of the National Emblem March, who made Keene his home until his death in 1922.^[59]

Many community groups perform on a regular basis, including the Keene Chamber Orchestra, the Keene Chamber Singers, the Keene Chorale, the Greater Keene Pops Choir, and the Keene Jazz Orchestra. The Monadnock Pathway Singers are an all-volunteer hospice group based in Keene whose members come from many different towns within Cheshire County.

The Keene branch of the Lions Clubs International performs a Broadway musical at the Colonial Theatre (a restored theatre dating back to 1924), to raise money for the community. Other theatres and auditoriums include the new Keene High School Auditorium and the county's largest auditorium, the Larracey Auditorium at Keene Middle School, and The Putnam Arts Lecture Hall on the campus of Keene State. Keene Cinemas is the local movie theater located off of Key Road.

Sports

Keene is home to the Keene Swamp Bats baseball team of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL). The Swamp Bats play at Alumni Field in Keene during June and July of each summer. The Swamp Bats are five-time league champions (2000, 2003, 2011, 2013, and 2019). They are consistently at the top of the NECBL in attendance, having led the league in 2002, 2004, and 2005.

The Elm City Derby Damez roller derby league, members of USA Roller Sports (USARS), call Keene home while playing their officially sanctioned bouts in nearby Brattleboro, Vermont. They compete against many other women's flat track leagues around the northeastern United States.

The Monadnock Wolfpack Rugby Football Club now calls Keene its home. They play in NERFU (New England Rugby Football Union) division IV at Carpenter Field, on Carpenter Street. They will defend their undefeated championship 2018 season in the Fall of 2019.

Images

• 
  Stone Arch Bridge c. 1906
• 
  Griffin Estate c. 1908
• 
  Central Square in 1907
• 
  West Street in 1910
• 
  Central Square looking south down Main Street towards Swanzey, NH

Free Keene activism

The city has become home to an active voluntaryist protest group known as Free Keene, which is associated with the Free State Project.^[60][61] Some Free Keene activists have been arrested for video recording in courtrooms as an act of civil disobedience, in violation of the state's wiretapping law. In 2009, Keene's Central Square Park had become the center of daily 4:20 pm smoke-ins which advocated the legalization of marijuana.^[62][63][64]

Free Keene has encountered opposition from other Keene residents.^[60][65] While some of the activists' techniques can be relatively confrontational, and the WMUR report mentioned a tongue-in-cheek drinking party at a government building to protest open-container laws, others are significantly less so. For example, a common act by some Free Keene activists involves paying money into expired parking meters to help other citizens avoid parking tickets, which has created conflict between the meter pluggers and the parking enforcement officers. The close encounters with the "Robin Hooders" resulted in one PEO resigning his position and a lawsuit filed by the City of Keene citing harassment of their employees.^[66] In December 2013, the judge overseeing the case dismissed the city's arguments against the "Robin Hooders" on first amendment grounds, citing the public sidewalks' role as a traditional public forum.^[67]

International outreach

Einbeck, in Germany, is a partner city.^[68]

Sites of interest

• Dillant–Hopkins Airport

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Dr. Daniel Adams House Beaver Mills Cheshire County Courthouse Colony House Colony's Block Noah Cooke House Dinsmoor–Hale House Elliot Mansion

Faulkner & Colony Woolen Mill Catherine Fiske Seminary For Young Ladies Grace United Methodist Church Keene Unitarian Universalist Church Sawyer Tavern Stone Arch Bridge United Church of Christ in Keene Wyman Tavern