History

Laconia was established as a city in 1893. In 1855, Laconia had been incorporated as a town 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 the Captain John Mason and the Masonian proprietors in order to sell parcels to the original colonists during the colonial era: the Laconia Company. Laconia is the county seat for New Hampshire's Belknap County which was established by the legislature in 1840 (and named in honor of one of the most notable historians of the state, Dr. Jeremy Belknap). Prior to the establishment of Belknap County, the area now Laconia was in Strafford County (1773 -1841) and prior to that, the area was originally in Rockingham County (1771-1773). Belknap County originally was made up of eight former Strafford County towns: Alton, Barnstead, Centre Harbor, Gilford, Gilmanton, Meredith, New Hampton and Sanbornton. Currently, Belknap County includes Laconia (from Meredith in 1855) and ten towns.