Towns – Laconia

Laconia, New Hampshire 03246

Laconia, NH Lodging, Real Estate, Travel & Visitor Information

Welcome to Laconia, NH – The City by the Lake. Laconia is a gateway to the scenic New Hampshire Lakes Region and is surrounded by deep lakes and rolling hills.

The NH Lakes Region city of Laconia, NH was first explored in the 1620s. Laconia was, for many years, a part of Meredith and Gilford known as Meredith Bridge. Early explorers had hoped to follow the Piscataqua River north to Lake Champlain, in search of the great lakes and rivers of Canada told of in Indian lore. These explorers were known as the Laconia Adventurers, Laconia is also a region of ancient Greece.

Laconia, New Hampshire was Incorporated as a city in 1893. Laconia includes the villages of Lakeport and Weirs Beach. Weirs is the name of primitive fishing devices discovered at the outlet of Lake Winnipesaukee just before the lake empties into Paugus Bay.

Native Americans captured fish swimming out of Lake Winnipesaukee and into Paugus Bay with netting, called Weirs.

Today Weirs Beach is a popular summer destination and hosts a portion of New Hampshire’s Motorcycle Week celebrations.

Laconia was established as a city in 1893, and its population was 16,871 at the 2020 census. The city is the county seat of Belknap County and Laconia was incorporated as a town in 1855 from lands at Meredith Bridge, Lakeport, Weirs, and from a part of Gilmanton.

The town’s name was likely taken from the name of the original company formed by Captain John Mason and the Masonian proprietors in order to sell parcels to the original colonists during the colonial era: the Laconia Company.

The native inhabitants had long established one of the region’s largest settlements at the Acquadocton Village located at the point now known as the Weirs, named after the wooden fishing weirs of woven branches set in the waterway at that point by the native peoples. The Weirs location had been visited by Europeans as early as 1652 by the Endicott surveying party, a point now marked by Endicott Rock.

The Europeans did not return to permanently settle the area for quite some time owing to the series of colonial wars being waged across northeastern America during this period between the English (along with their Indian allies) and the French (along with their Indian allies). The last of these wars, the one Americans commonly call the French and Indian War, was ended by the Treaty of Paris in 1763.

The township of Gilmanton was granted east of the Winnipesaukee River in 1727, and a colonial fort was built in the location now Laconia in 1746. European colonists, however, did not finally settle in the Laconia area until 1761, that settlement being called Meredith Bridge and situated in what is now downtown Laconia.

Laconia has several local attractions, including the Laconia Historical Society Museum, which offers a glimpse into the local history and culture of the area. The Belknap Mill Museum showcases the history of the textile industry in the area. The Laconia Art Museum offers a variety of rotating exhibits, as well as classes and workshops for all ages.

Lakeport and Weirs are two villages in Laconia. Lakeport is located on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee and is home to several restaurants and shops. Weirs is located at the point where Lake Winnipesaukee flows into the Winnipesaukee River and is known for its boardwalk, arcades, and other attractions.

Laconia is situated between Lake Winnipesaukee and Winnisquam Lake, and there are several other lakes and rivers in the area. Some of the popular lakes include Opechee Bay, Paugus Bay, and Lake Waukewan.

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Incorporated: 1855
County: Belknap
Laconia, NH Population:
2010: 15,951

GPS Coordinates:
Latitude: 43.3139
Longitude: -71.2813

Laconia, NH Local Information
Laconia Police Dispatch: 911

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