Historic Raymond , NH Train Depot Cycling Tour

Settled in 1717 as "Freetown" (a rebellious nod to settlers defying the King's mandate to reserve tall pine trees for Royal Navy masts), Raymond, New Hampshire, was officially incorporated in 1764. It evolved from a rural farming and logging community into a thriving residential suburb. The Railroad & Resort Boom: The mid-1800s introduction of the Concord and Portsmouth Railroad connected Raymond to major hubs like Boston and Manchester. The train brought wealthy summer tourists and established Raymond as a booming resort and vacation spot, which lasted until passenger rail service ceased in 1954 Modern Expansion: The closing of the old railway allowed for the transformation of the tracks into a rail trail. Today, the former depot houses the Raymond Historical Society. The town has seen massive residential and commercial growth since the 1970s, shifting it into the modern Granite State community it is today