Orford, New Hampshire, Grafton County
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”
CDC Vaccine Information
Lyme, NH Emergency Management Covid Information https://www.lymenh.gov/
NH Fuel Assistance Program
If you or someone you know is having trouble paying for heat during the winter season, the Fuel Assistance Program (FAP) may be able to provide some relief. Please refer to our Services Page for additional information, or click here to connect to the NH Department of Energy page
Notices and Upcoming Events
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 2023 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”
Upcoming Events
June 4, 2022 – October 1, 2022 – Household Hazardous Waste Collections – For a list of What to Bring/What NOT to Bring, dates and locations, please click on the Services Tab
June 29, 2022 – Orford 2022 Concert Series begins – click here for the schedule
September 27, 2022 – The Historical Society will hold its Annual Meeting at the Congregational Church at 7:00 pm. Please click here for more information
September 28, 2022 – NOTIE OF PUBLIC HEARING to accept unanticipated revenue received from the FEMA, Selectboard Office at 5:30 pm – click here for more information
Please refer to the Calendar for regularly scheduled meetings