Campton

Located in the southern region of the White Mountains, Campton was granted its charter in 1767 by Gov. John Wentworth, who was in office between 1767 and 1775. Early settlers from Connecticut and Massachusetts were lured by the beauty of the rivers and mountains and beckoned by the fertile fields and virgin forests. Generations that followed the Abenaki Indians transitioned from an agrarian society to one now dominated by the hospitality industry, providing today's inhabitants with jobs in tourism and recreation. Although local ski resorts and neighboring Plymouth State University remain the largest employers in the area, an increase in small businesses and self-employment opportunities began in the mid-20th century. However, it was the completion of I-93 through Campton in the late 1960s that changed many lives, providing an easy commute to jobs outside the immediate area. Without abandoning the values of its founders and what it means to be a community, Campton has fully embraced change over the centuries.