Belknap County New Hampshire

Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda shot an enduring tale of love, loss and aging within its borders. In the summer, cabin cruisers move serenely across impossibly blue lakes and barefoot children fish from bridges. Cottages, some handed down for generations, nestle among towering pine trees. It's New Hampshire's Belknap County, and it's a feeling, a memory, a lifestyle.

Any map of New Hampshire includes a blue splash near the center. It's not an ink stain -- it's the Lakes Region, an area whose culture and commerce is shaped by freshwater lakes. The three largest are Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam and Squam.

Winnisquam, just off Route 93, is the gateway to the area, a quiet lake ringed with year-round homes and heirloom cottages. Squam, to the northwest, gained fame as the setting for Hepburn and Fonda's classic film, "On Golden Pond." The Squam area is anchored by Center Harbor, a picturesque harbor village with just enough shopping for that occasional rainy day.

Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in New Hampshire and, at 79.6 square feet of water and 182 miles of shoreline, the third largest in New England. It's a 63-mile round trip if you're driving and you don't stop to shop, eat or poke around one of its many attractions.

Weirs Beach is the nerve center for night life, with clubs, restaurants, arcades and shopping. Motorcycle enthusiasts from around the country converge on The Weirs for a week in June, leaving behind their Blackberrys and cubicles for a taste of freedom. There are also quiet coves and sandy beaches for a relaxing getaway, and the Meadowbrook Pavilion, in nearby Gilford, hosts nationally-recognized performers.

Laconia, the county seat and only city, has revitalized its downtown but kept several pieces of classic Victorian architecture, with the Belknap Mill complex a model for other mill conversions. In nearby Tilton, Tanger Outlets offers name brands at bargain prices.

But Belknap County isn't just a venue for vacations. Thousands of people call it home, and run the volunteer fire departments, bean suppers and library book sales. The year-round lifestyle offers leaf-peeping in the fall and skiing at Gunstock Mountain in the winter. Route 93 is minutes away from most towns, providing a corridor for business and easy access to the rest of the state or Boston.

In the 2000 census, the median income for a household was $43,605, and the median income for a family was $50,510. Males had a median income of $34,741, and females, $25,445. The per capita income in the county was $22,758, with 4.50 percent of families and 6.10 percent of the population below the poverty line.

Whether it's a lakefront cottage or space for a growing family, Belknap County offers a spectrum of New Hampshire real estate. A Prudential Verani Realtor® is available to help you find the best fit for you, your family or your business.