Portsmouth

Downtown Portsmouth is a bustling neighborhood on the banks of the Piscataqua River, with a history that dates to the 1600s. While the community’s history is prevalent on every corner, with historic buildings such as the North Church Steeple in Market Square, built in 1854, and the Strawberry Banke Museum, there is also clear evidence of growth. “Portsmouth has changed a lot over the last 40 years,” says Tom Hardiman, keeper and executive director of the Portsmouth Athenaeum and longtime resident. This change is partly because of the ever-expanding restaurant scene, with businesses such as the Black Trumpet Bistro and Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream breathing new life into old buildings. The past several decades have also seen more events find a home in the city, including Market Square Day, which was first celebrated in 1978. Downtown Portsmouth has no shortage of eateries to try. “There’s more restaurant seats and bar seats than people,” says Realtor Joe Leddy, owner of Duston Leddy Real Estate who has worked in the area for almost 20 years. Options range from the vegetarian Green Elephant to the historic Library Restaurant, a steakhouse that opened as The Rockingham Hotel in 1833. Ceres Bakery, which Hardiman says “is a go-to spot for people who work downtown,” serves fresh breakfast and lunch. Of course, downtown is more than just restaurants. Local boutiques include Nahcotta, which sells artwork and home goods, and Wear House, a consignment shop. A couple of independent grocery stores, including Richardson’s Market, are in the neighborhood, and Hannaford is less than 1 mile away. Target, Walmart and Home Depot are within 5 miles of Downtown Portland. Pro Portsmouth is a nonprofit dedicated to celebrating the city’s arts, culture and history through events. The first one that the group organized was Market Square Day, which started in 1978. Now, the festival attracts over 50,000 people a year, who explore more than 150 vendors and listen to live music. The day begins with a 10K Road Race. Another popular time for gathering is Summer in the Street, a free concert series on Saturday nights in June and July. With wide brick sidewalks and bike lanes through most of downtown, it is easy for commuters to get around on foot or bike. There are also several options for public transit, with Wildcat Transit offering a route between Portsmouth and Newington and COAST servicing buses from Portsmouth to Farmington. For anyone who prefers to drive themselves, nearby major roads include Interstate 95, U.S. Route 4 and the bypass for U.S. Route 1. Portsmouth International Airport is about 5 miles away, and planes can often be heard overhead. The closest emergency room is at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, about 2 miles away. The Piscataqua River separates Portsmouth from Maine, with strong currents that are best for boating and fishing. “We only have 18 miles of coastline, but it’s all beautiful,” Leddy says. Both locals and tourists can dock their boats at the Marina at Harbour Place. Prescott Park sits on the riverbank, with about 10 acres of gardens that people can walk through. Families can visit the South Mill Pond for a round of tennis or pickleball or to run around the playground. The Strawberry Banke Museum is one of the many places where people can learn about the city, with actors leading traditional craft demonstrations and tours of historic properties dating back 350 years. At the Portsmouth Public Library, patrons can check out books, join a book club and attend lecture series. A walk along downtown Portsmouth’s streets reveals several brick buildings. In fact, Hardiman says that “any building built in the downtown area that is more than one story has to be brick.” This is because of the Brick Act, which was passed in 1814 after three fires destroyed hundreds of wooden buildings. The hope was that brick buildings would prevent another fire from spreading as quickly. Colonial, Colonial Revival, and Victorian-era homes are common housing styles, especially those farther from the harbor. Most properties were built between the 18th century and early 20th century, with prices typically ranging from $850,000 to $1.3 million. Many people live in condos, with units built in the late 20th century costing between $325,000 and $350,000 and renovated 19th-century and early 20th-century properties costing anywhere from $450,000 to $750,000. Over half of the residents downtown are renters, who can expect to pay between $2,500 and $4,000 every month. The Portsmouth School Department serves the community. Little Harbour School and Portsmouth Middle School, as well as the school district, earn an A from Niche. Portsmouth High School receives an A-minus and partners with Green Bay Community College (GBCC) to offer the Early College program, where students can enroll in GBCC courses for both high school and college credit.