Bow is a town located in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. Situated directly south of the state capital, Concord, Bow is part of the Manchester-Nashua Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 8,229.
The town was granted by Governor John Wentworth in 1727 to 107 proprietors. Its name is derived from a prominent bend, or "bow," in the Merrimack River, which forms the town’s eastern boundary. For several decades following its establishment, Bow was involved in a significant boundary dispute with the neighboring town of Rumford (now Concord) due to overlapping colonial land grants. The dispute was eventually resolved by the British Privy Council in the 1760s.
Geographically, Bow encompasses a total area of approximately 28.4 square miles, of which 28.0 square miles is land and 0.4 square miles is water. The terrain is characterized by rolling hills and forested areas typical of south-central New Hampshire. The Merrimack River serves as a major geographical feature along its eastern border.
Economically, Bow transitioned from an agrarian community in the 18th and 19th centuries to a residential and industrial town. It is home to the Merrimack Station, a large power-generating facility located on the Merrimack River, which has historically provided a significant portion of the town's property tax revenue. The town is served by several major roadways, including Interstate 89 and Interstate 93, facilitating its role as a suburban community for professionals working in Concord and Manchester.
Bow is the birthplace of Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), the founder of the Church of Christ, Scientist, also known as Christian Science. The town operates under a town meeting form of government, with a five-member Board of Selectmen overseeing municipal affairs. Public education is provided by the Bow School District, which includes an elementary, middle, and high school.
