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Orford is a rural community on the Connecticut River in western New Hampshire. Home to approximately 1200 people, Orford is known for its historic “ridge” homes, as well as family farms and small businesses. Much of Orford is forested, providing for a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, boating, snowshoeing and hunting. Chartered in 1761, Orford has a history of close ties with its neighboring towns on the Vermont side of the river. In 1998, Orford and the Vermont towns of Fairlee, West Fairlee and Vershire formed the preK-12 Rivendell Interstate School District. Mount Cube, Sunday Mountain and Cottonstone Mountain, Indian Pond and Upper and Lower Baker ponds are distinctive features of the Orford landscape. The Appalachian Trail passes over the summit of Mt. Cube, and the cross-Rivendell trail connects Orford to neighboring Vermont towns.

Orford is about 18 miles north of Hanover and Dartmouth College, along the scenic Connecticut River Valley. It’s an easy drive to the White Mountains, Franconia Notch State Park, the Kancamagus Highway, and Lake Winnipesaukee.

Idyllic Orford on the Connecticut

Click here to read the article in the New Hampshire magazine about Orford, a “textbook example of a New England small town”

Changes to the Archertown Road Bridge over Jacobs Brook

The bridge on Archertown road over Jacobs brook which is between Dublin and Town Shed roads is scheduled to be rebuilt during the 2025 construction season. Unfortunately it has developed some conditions that now require more engineering study to determine its actual condition. Until those results are known the Selectboard, after discussions with the Road Agent and Police Chief, have instituted some changes to weight limit and traffic patterns for the bridge.

• The weight limit of the bridge will be lowered to 3 tons. Passenger vehicles only
• Jersey barriers and wooden rails or partitions will be used to narrow the driving lane to the center 11 feet of the existing width. The bridge  will continue to be posted as a one lane bridge
• To reduce speed over the bridge Eastbound and Westbound traffic will be required to stop at the bridge
• New stop signs will be added on the west end of the bridge and just east of the bridge on Archertown road at the Dublin Road intersection. New signs will be installed that indicate: ” Stop ahead”