Keene, New Hampshire
Keene is a city of 22,939 people in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, founded in 1736.
Why visit Keene
Townapedia lists 35 museums and landmarks, 45 parks and trails, 92 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 28 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Keene Cinema, Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge, Cheshire County Courthouse and Beaver Mills.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 10°F, and about 60 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Keene
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Keene
Keene is a city in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. Its population was 23,047 at the 2020 census, down from 23,409 at the 2010 census, and an estimated 23,072 in 2025. It is the county seat and the only city in Cheshire County.
From the Wikipedia article Keene, New Hampshire (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do28
Gilsum Stone Arch Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 6.2 mi
Bridge in New Hampshire, United States of America
Sawyers Crossing Covered Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places · 4.8 mi
Antioch University New England
School · 1.7 mi
Campus of Antioch University in New Hampshire
Cohen Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies
School · 2.4 mi
Holocaust resource center in New Hampshire, US
16 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks35
Cheshire County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
County courthouse in New Hampshire, United States of America
Beaver Mills
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic mill complex in New Hampshire, United States
Buckminster-Kingsbury Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.1 mi
Historic house in New Hampshire, United States
Colony House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic house in Keene, New Hampshire
Dinsmoor-Hale House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.3 mi
Historic house in New Hampshire, United States
Dr. Daniel Adams House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
United States historic place
Elliot Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Historic house in New Hampshire, United States
Golden Rod Grange No. 114
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.8 mi
Building in New Hampshire, United States of America
Mason-Watkins House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
In Surry, New Hampshire, NRHP-listed
Noah Cooke House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Keene, NH, listed on the NRHP in New Hampshire
President's House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Building on campus of Keene State College
Sawyer Tavern
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic tavern in New Hampshire, United States
23 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds45
Chesterfield Gorge Natural Area
Park · 5.6 mi
State park in New Hampshire, US
33 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes92
China Wok
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.9 mi
7 Court Street, Keene
Mo,We,Th 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 12:00-21:30
Guerrilla Grill
Restaurant · Barbecue · 2.2 mi
176 Main Street, Keene
Tu-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 10:00-20:00
Little Zoe's Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 1.9 mi
149 Emerald Street, Keene
Tu-Th 13:00-20:00; Fr, Sa 13:00-21:00; Su, Mo off
80 more on the map.
History
In 1735, colonial Governor Jonathan Belcher granted lots in the township of "Upper Ashuelot" to 63 settlers who paid £5 each (equivalent to US$1,282.19 in 2025). It was settled after 1736 on Equivalent Lands.
In 1747, during King George's War, the village was attacked and burned by Natives. Colonists fled to safety, but would return to rebuild in 1749. It was regranted to its inhabitants in 1753 by Governor Benning Wentworth, who renamed it "Keene" after Sir Benjamin Keene, a principal of the South Sea Trading Company, whose primary business was slave trading.
From the History section of Keene, New Hampshire on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay9
Churches and places of worship22
Keene Unitarian Universalist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
69 Washington Street, Keene
Grace United Methodist Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
United Church of Christ
Church · United Church Of Christ · National Register of Historic Places · 2.0 mi
23 Central Square, Keene
Shopping25
Gas and EV charging11
Schools, colleges and libraries34
Gathering Waters Charter School (E)
School · 2.5 mi
98 South Lincoln Street, Keene
Healthcare7
Map of Keene
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30°F | 10°F | 3.1 in | 15.2 in |
| Feb | 34°F | 11°F | 2.8 in | 14.4 in |
| Mar | 43°F | 20°F | 3.4 in | 11.0 in |
| Apr | 57°F | 30°F | 3.4 in | 2.2 in |
| May | 69°F | 41°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 77°F | 51°F | 4.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 56°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 54°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 73°F | 47°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 60°F | 36°F | 4.9 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 47°F | 27°F | 3.5 in | 2.4 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 18°F | 3.9 in | 14.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Keene Hcn (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Cheshire County has had 24 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2023-09-14: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-10-04: Severe Storm And Flooding (Flood)
- 2021-09-30: Severe Storm And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2020-04-03: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2016-04-21: Stoddard Fire (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Dillant-Hopkins Airport (EEN) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 4 miles away.
- Greenfield 28 mi southwest, about 45 min by car
- Gardner 30 mi southeast, about 49 min by car
- Claremont 30 mi north, about 48 min by car
- Fitchburg 35 mi southeast, about 56 min by car
- Leominster 40 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Concord 42 mi northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Amherst Town 42 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Manchester 44 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- North Adams 45 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Northampton 47 mi southwest, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Downtown Keene 5, Jon Platek, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Sawyer Tavern, Keene NH, John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Goose Pond, Keene NH, John Phelan, CC BY 4.0
- Burger King 444 West Street Keene NH July 2025 03, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Burger King 444 West Street Keene NH July 2025 02, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Burger King 444 West Street Keene NH July 2025 01, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Burger King 444 West Street Keene NH July 2025 05, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Burger King 444 West Street Keene NH June 2025 02, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Burger King 444 West Street Keene NH June 2025 01, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air Main Street downtown Keene NH August 2025 01, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Biden Harris lawn signs Keene NH July 2024 01, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Biden Harris lawn signs Keene NH July 2024 02, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Biden Harris lawn signs Keene NH July 2024 03, Artaxerxes, CC BY 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 18, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 17, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 16, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 24, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 26, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 30, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 29, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 27, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 28, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 23, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 21, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 20, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 19, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 25, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 22, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 15, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 14, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 09, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 10, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 11, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 05, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 13, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Nikki Haley event Keene Country Club Keene NH January 2024 08, Artaxerxes, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Unitarian Church, Washington Street, Keene NH (2588216826), Keene Public Library and the Historical Society of Cheshire County from USA, No restrictions
- United Church of Christ in Keene NH, John Phelan, CC BY 3.0
- Cheshire County Courthouse, Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Former Grace United Methodist Church, Keene, New Hampshire, Kenneth C. Zirkel, CC BY-SA 4.0
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