History of Conway
In 1765, colonial Governor Benning Wentworth chartered sixty-five men to establish “Conway”, named for Henry Seymour Conway, who was later named Commander in Chief of the British Army. To keep his land, a settler had to plant 5 acres for every fifty in his share, and to do it within five years. The first roads were built in 1766. Construction of the first meetinghouse began at Redstone.
Never completed, it could only be used in summer, with services held whenever a minister visited. Eventually, the partly finished meetinghouse was moved to Center Conway. In 1775, the town raised small sums to build two schoolhouses, one in North Conway. By 1849, however, the town had twenty school districts.
By the middle-19th century, artists had discovered the romantic beauties of the White Mountains, and “Artist Falls Brook” became a favorite setting for landscape paintings. King Edward VII of the United Kingdom bought twelve White Mountain paintings to hang in Windsor Castle. Among the artists to work here were Asher B. Durand and Benjamin Champney, the latter known to paint Mount Washington while sitting in the middle of Main Street.
- Conway a town in Carroll County, is the most populous community in the county, with a population of 9,822 at the 2020 census, down from 10,115 at the 2010 census. The town is on the southeastern edge of the White Mountain National Forest. There are five villages in the town: Conway, North Conway, Center Conway, Redstone and Kearsarge. Additionally, it shares a portion of the village of Intervale with the neighboring town of Bartlett.
- Conway serves as the main economic and commercial hub for Carroll County. Tourism remains Conway’s biggest economic engine, with numerous lodging and rental properties serving visitors to the eastern White Mountains and the Mount Washington Valley
- While the technology sector makes up the second largest source of employment.
- Sites of interest in the town include natural sites such as Cathedral Ledge (popular with climbers), Echo Lake and Conway Lake, as well as several nearby ski resorts.
- The Conway Scenic Railroad provides day trips to various locations.
- The village of North Conway features a popular outlet shopping district.
Forms of Government
In New Hampshire, Towns are a part of State government. Consequently, a town gets all of its authority through state statutes (RSAs) enacted by the State Legislature. In order for town government to act, it must have been given the authority to act by the legislature.
Town Meeting – The Legislative Body
- Conway operates under the Selectmen-Open Town Meeting legislative form of government. The legislative authority of the Town is vested in the voters of the Town. All registered voters are all eligible to vote on business (presented in the form of “Articles”) that comes before them during an annual Town Meeting. The business of Town Meeting is to elect officials, to vote on Articles in the posted Warrant, to enact a budget, and to act on any other business that may lawfully come before the meeting. Conway operates under what is called the Official Ballot Referendum System. This means that there are two sessions of Town Meeting. During the first session, or the “deliberative portion”, warrant articles are discussed and can be amended (except certain articles that are required to be placed on the official ballot) but a final vote cannot be taken. During the ‘second session” the voters go to the polls to elect officers and to vote on the warrant articles.\
- This is form of government is sometimes referred to as “pure” democracy since all general town authority resides in the voters themselves at Town Meeting, not in a representative body such as a town council or board of aldermen.
Board of Selectmen- The Governing Body
- The administrative arm of town government is a five member Board of Selectmen. The Board discharges all duties imposed upon it by state law or the Town charter. The Board of Selectmen is the Town governing body; that means it is responsible for actually running the Town’s affairs. Under state law, the Board “manages the prudential affairs of the town.” This means doing what is necessary to carry out the votes enacted at Town Meeting. While state law authorizes the Board to carry out a variety of duties (link to state code sections), the Board is not the general agent of the Town and therefore has no broad authority to act with the full power of the Town. For example, if the town meeting appropriates money, the Board spends it. If the town meeting votes to sell land, the board signs the deed.
- A primary means by which the Board of Selectmen manages the affairs of the Town is through the services of a Town Manager.
Police Commission and Police Department
- Under the Conway town charter, an elected Police Commission oversees the Police Department. Under state law (RSA 105-C4) the three-member Commission appoints and establishes the compensation of police personnel.
Library Board and the Town Library
- The library is overseen by the Library Board of Trustees
Other Committees and Boards
Town officials are assisted in governing the town by a variety of Boards and Committees. These include:
- Conservation Commission
- Budget Committee
- Historic District Commission
- Zoning Board of Adjustment
- Planning Board
Contracted Services
The Town of Conway also provides services through contracts with private businesses and other governmental entities.
Ambulance
Ambulance services are provided through contracts with Action Ambulance Service and the Conway Village Fire Department.
Non-precinct Fire Protection
Fire protection to areas of town that are not within a precinct is provided through a contract between the Town of Conway, Conway Village Fire Protection District and The North Conway Water Precinct. This service is funded through property tax revenues collected only from property that is not located within a precinct—those that actually receive the service.
Fun Facts
- Listed as one of the best small towns in America by Small town USA
- Chosen as one of the Best 100 Getaways for a Vacation or a Lifetime by DAVID VOKAC in his book The Great Towns of America