STRAFFORD, county of New Hampshire, bound ed, by Rockingham, S.; Merrimack SW.; Grafton W. and NW; White Mountains separating it from Coos N.; Oxford county, Maine, NE.; and York county, Maine, E. and SE. Length from Great Bay to the White Mountains 70 miles; mean width 21, and area, 1470 square miles. Extending in lat. from 04' to 03', and in long. from 5° 13' to 06' E. from Washington City. The northern part, along and near the base of White Mountains, gives source to Saco river, which flows eastward into Oxford, Maine; southward of Saco rises Great Ossipea river, also a branch of Saco, and flowing eastward into Maine, separates Oxford and York comities. The northwestern and western border is drained into Mer rimac river. The central section is occupied by Winepisseogee lake and its confluents. This curious and irregular sheet of water is about 22 miles long, with a breadth varying from one to eight miles. It is
discharged into Merrimac river by 11'inepisseogee river. The southeastern angle toward Great Bay is drained by some creeks of Piscataqua.
The general declivity of this county is southward. The surface hilly, and rocky, and in part mountain ous. Soil productive in grain and pasturage. The courts are held alternately at Dover and Guilford. Dover is situated on Conchecho river, by post road 40 miles E. from Concord, the seat of government of the state. Guilford is on the left bank of the Win episseogee river, 30 miles a little E. of N. from Con cord. Besides the two county towns there are 50 other places, each having a post office. This large county in 1820, contained 54,617, or something above 34 to the square mile. DARBY.