Cocheco River Watershed

Sunrise Lake is located in southern Middleton along Wolfeboro Road. The lake is 247 acres in size and most of its shoreline is developed, with the highest density of houses at its western end. A small stream drains the lake near several homes along Nicola Road. It flows south for a mile and a half, passing through forest and few small marshes and ponds. The stream crosses Silver Road, past several houses, and then joins the Cocheco River. The Cocheco River briefly passes through Middleton in the southern most point of town. It enters from New Durham, runs for about a quarter mile, and then enters Farmington.

Salmon Falls River Watershed

Jones Brook originates in Jones Brook Wildlife Management Area, east of Perkins Mountain. The brook runs east through two miles of forest, encountering little development except for a dirt road, and then joins Horn Brook. This brook flows out of a forested area east of Perkins Mountain. It runs southeast, through two miles of forest, and then passes through a culvert under Ridge Road. After crossing the road, Horn Brook runs through a series of forested wetlands and then passes several homes along Middleton Hill Road. The brook crosses this road into a partially cut forest area and then passes into Milton on its way to join the Salmon Falls River.

Branch River flows out of the mountains in northern Middleton and runs along New Portsmouth Road. As it flows east, the river passes through several small marshes. The river then passes several homes along Middleton Hill Road, and flows into Wakefield on its way to join the Salmon Falls River.

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Middleton is a small rural community in the headwaters of the Salmon Falls and Cocheco Rivers. The town is heavily forested with most development concentrated in the south along the major roads and around Sunrise Lake. Population density is approximately 97 persons per square mile of land area. Between 1970 and 2000 the population grew at an average rate of 51% decade from 430 to 1445. The 2006 Census estimate for Middleton was 1,760 residents. While the rate of growth has begun to slow down, future growth will put pressure on the town’s rural areas.

The Jones Brook Wildlife Management Area provides significant hunting and hiking in the northern part of town. Several other parcels of conserved land are dispersed throughout Middleton including the town forest.

Middleton is largely a bedroom community. According to the 2000 census only 10% of Middleton’s working population is employed in town.

The area which includes Middleton was first settled shortly before the Revolutionary War by settlers from Lee, Somersworth and Rochester. Middleton was incorporated on March 4, 1778, and originally included Brookfield, which was split off in December of 1794.