Acworth, New Hampshire

The town of Acworth, New Hampshire is located in Sullivan County and is just east of the Connecticut River, New Hampshire’s shared border with Vermont. Acworth is centrally located between the other small New Hampshire towns of Langdon, Alstead, Lempster, and Charlestown. With a population of just under 900, Acworth is a small and fairly quiet community located in the gorgeous rural setting of the Connecticut River Valley.

Like many other towns in the area, Acworth has had quite a long history, as it was originally chartered in 1752. That sense of history is still noticeably present, as landmarks have remained such as the beautiful old Acworth Congregational Church, an impressive white clapboard building built in 1821 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

At about 1,500 feet, Acworth is at a somewhat higher elevation than other towns along the Connecticut River, and it is certainly known for its picturesquely hilly landscape. Just to the south and east of the town are the Honey Brook State Forest, Rasmussen Forest, Long Pond Town Forest, and Pillsbury State Park. These protected lands offer access to year-round outdoor activity, with miles of hiking trails and numerous ponds, lakes, and streams for fishing and swimming. Acworth is also relatively close to several ski resorts in New Hampshire as well as those across the river in Vermont, so alpine enthusiasts of all levels can have their pick of numerous resorts.

When venturing around Acworth, the classic and small town feel of the community is very noticeable. A trip into town can lead you to such places as the incredibly charming Acworth Village Store, a small market housed in a building from 1865 that offers great local products from vendors in Vermont and New Hampshire. Just as charming is the Acworth Silsby Library, a small red brick building from the 1890s that has not changed much during its nearly 130-year history.

Given the town’s small size, there isn’t what one might think of as an established downtown area in Acworth. However, the advantage to being in Acworth is its proximity to many other great towns that have a bit more variety in shops and restaurants due to their somewhat larger size. The towns of Charlestown and Walpole, for instance, are just 15 and 30 minutes from Acworth, respectively, and both are lovely small New Hampshire towns abutting the Connecticut River. Of course, returning to the uniquely charming feel of Acworth after any stint away is always a great feeling, so it’s not surprising that so many of the families in Acworth have stayed there for years.