Why You Should Be Living in Danville, NH

Ask a Danville resident why they chose to make the town their home, and they will likely tell you the same thing. “There’s nothing there.”

While that is not entirely true, the point isn’t lost that Danville’s community enjoys the solitude of the sleepy New Hampshire town. Though major cities like Manchester, Portsmouth, and Boston can still be traveled to in under an hour, Danville, at the center of it all, is tucked away in the serenity of the Southern New Hampshire woods. It’s just far enough away from major highways for those looking to disengage when they return home after a long day.

With that in mind, here are some of the reasons why you should be living in Danville.

1. Danville is quiet

The town of Danville is home to about 4,400 people, according to a 2010 census. Simply put, there are far more trees than there are human beings. If you look at a satellite image, you can see t he town of Danville as a patch of solid green between the busy city centers of Manchester, Portsmouth, and Hampton. However, with its close proximity to I-93, I-95, and state route 101, you can be sure that if you would like to access these towns, you can be timely.

With the number of trees and forests in town, most Danville properties also offer a sense of privacy. In Caleb Commons, for example, residents have two to four acres of land on their property as well as a wealth of beautiful New Hampshire trees surrounding their homes. This helps contribute to the privacy that could be attractive to home owners looking to avoid the hustle-and-bustle of a major city.

2. Danville has a great school system

If you desire a great school district in your town, look no further than Danville. The Timberlane Regional School District has one of the best ranking schools in the state.

Danville Elementary School, Timberlane Middle School, and Timberlane High School have all ranked extremely high on various statistics showcased by GreatSchools.org, a non-profit organization that determines the value of schools based on statistics in testing, equity, and equal opportunity. Danville Elementary School in particular w as ranked as one of the best elementary schools in the state, scoring 9/10 on their grade scale.

3. Danville has a deep, rich history

Before it acquired the name ‘Danville’, the town has been through a few transformations to get to where it is today. Prior to 1760, Danville was part of Kingston. However, travel was difficult for the townspeople who wanted to worship where Kingston’s meeting houses were located. In the interest of creating their own community, the town of Hawke was created. The town would settle on the name Hawke until 1836 when the town switched its name to Danville.

Danville currently has four properties that have been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places: the Danville Meetinghouse, Elm Farm, John Elkins Farmstead, and the Danville Town House. These buildings have been part of the neighborhoods of Danville since the 19 th century, the only exception being the Danville Meetinghouse which was finished in 1760.

4. Arts and Recreation

Timberlane Regional School District hosts the Timberlane Regional Performing Arts Center, which hosts numerous performances ranging from jazz concerts, choral festival s , musicals, plays, and much more. TPAC is a beautiful 938 seat auditorium completed in November 2002. In addition to the auditorium, the PAC also features a smaller recital hall for more intimate performances like meetings, presentations, and small-scale gathering s.

Recreation is also a major player in Danville’s community. The Danville Community Center offers a place for residents to host anniversaries, bridal showers, yard sales, banquets, birthday parties, and more. Clubs that regularly meet at the community center include the 4-H club, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, the American Legion, the annual Tree Lighting Party, and hosts numerous other events like the Red Cross blood drives, Elections and Town meetings, Destination Imagination, and Neighborhood Association meetings. The Clyde Goldthwaite Recreational Facility is also a great place for kids and adults alike to have some fun under the sun!

Several ball fields and parks are located around Danville. Kenneth Day Memorial Field is located right along Main Street. Also, in the Colby Pond neighborhood, right down the road from our Caleb Commons development, is an open field available for public use, perfect for soccer games, pick-up football, or a nice place to picnic. The town’s recreation committee is active, strong, and does a tremendous j ob making sure that the residents of Danville have a clean and safe place to play.

5. Danville is for nature lovers

Danville has been the subject of studies and articles about its nature. One of the more famous things about the environment here is Danville's blue heron rookery. It's been reported [link to Eagle Tribune article] that the blue herons have built more than 100 nests in Danville’s wildlife acreage.

Danville also has a wealth of hiking trails around town. The Town Forest is a popular place for residents to go trek through the great green trees that encompass Danville. The Rock Rimmon in South Danville is another popular hiking trail, and at the end it features a beautiful lookout that’s incredibly picturesque.