Hooksett has changed. Fields have become neighborhoods, quiet roads now hum with traffic, and the town that once felt tucked between forest and river now connects seamlessly to the region around it.
We aren’t Chester, and we aren’t Pembroke — but that’s never been the goal. Hooksett has always been a town built on work, generosity, and connection. And even as the storefronts and skylines shift, the soul of this community has stayed steady.
For every new building, there’s a new neighbor who steps forward to give back. For every mile of new pavement, there’s another family reaching out to help someone in need.
That Balance is What Defines Hooksett Today
‘For every new building that goes up, another neighbor steps forward to give back.’
From Two Villages to One Community
The story of Hooksett is, in many ways, a story of connection.Divided by the Merrimack River, locals have long referred to the western side as “the other side of the river.” Historically, two distinct population centers—South Hooksett and Hooksett Village—grew up on either side.
In the early 1900s through the 1960s, each area thrived independently. South Hooksett, anchored by Lincoln Park, was the agricultural center, home to farms, schools, fire stations, markets, and churches. Hooksett Village had its own mills, stores, and civic pride. Each was self-sufficient — and yes, the rivalries were real.
Then came change.The opening of Underhill Elementary, Memorial, and expansions at Hooksett Village School unified local education. Industry grew. The once-rural stretch of Hooksett Road (U.S. Route 3) became a lifeline for travelers heading north — and with it came motor inns, family cabins, diners, and roadside shops.
What began as a pair of villages evolved into a single, growing town.Bridges built in the 1970s — including the one that replaced the historic Robie’s Store crossing — tied the community together, literally and figuratively.
Hooksett had filled in, but it never lost its fabric.
Learning Gratitude in the Heart of Hooksett
Having grown up here, I’ve seen Hooksett’s best up close.Through the Hooksett Kiwanis Club, the Cawley Middle School Builders Club, and the National Junior Honor Society, I found my place — learning what it meant to lead, to serve, and to give back.
Those experiences shaped me. They introduced me to the people whose passion and persistence built this town. Volunteers who spend weekends sorting donations, local leaders organizing cleanups or fundraisers, and everyday residents who show up when others need help.
It’s that spirit — that “benevolent way about them,” as I often think of it — that defines Hooksett more than any development plan ever could. Gratitude here isn’t abstract. It’s lived, modeled, and passed down.
‘Gratitude in Hooksett isn’t just a feeling — it’s a practice.’
Gratitude in the Face of Growth
Sure, Hooksett has more banks, car lots, and storage units than anyone ever imagined. But for every chain sign, there’s a small act of kindness happening quietly behind it.
Neighbors rake leaves for one another. Businesses organize food drives. Churches open their doors to host community meals.The Hooksett Food Pantry fills shelves for Thanksgiving dinners. Local schools run donation campaigns. Residents, new and old alike, lend their time and talent to projects that make Hooksett stronger.
Growth hasn’t erased small-town kindness — if anything, it’s amplified it.
That’s because gratitude doesn’t belong to any one generation or neighborhood. It’s shared across the bridges that connect us — from the Village to South Hooksett, and everywhere in between.
The Voices of Hooksett: Gratitude Shared
Marisa Delhay, Hooksett resident, captured the balance beautifully:
“I’m grateful that we live in a town where so many community members take pride in honoring and preserving our history, while also having a forward-thinking approach to ensuring that Hooksett’s future remains bright.”
Stephanie Whitney, owner of Unbound Dance Academy, added:
“I’m grateful to be part of a community that is solution-oriented—not problem-oriented. Seeing amazing organizations and individuals take it upon themselves to help each other makes me proud to be part of Hooksett.”
And Katrina Kristina, another local resident, shared:
“I’m grateful for Kelly’s Kloset LLC – Online Thrift! They help the community with Thanksgiving drives, Christmas, Easter, the homeless, and the hungry. So many great things come from this business — I’m all for it!”
From civic leaders to small business owners, the message is the same: Hooksett gives back — and gives thanks.
A Bridge Between Past and Future
Hooksett has never been afraid of growth. But our greatest success isn’t what we’ve built — it’s what we’ve kept.
The kindness that shaped this town decades ago hasn’t been lost in the noise of progress. It’s still here — in our classrooms, our food drives, our church halls, our sidewalks.
The bridges that connect our neighborhoods also connect generations. Gratitude has grown right alongside development, ensuring Hooksett’s future is as neighborly as its past.
“Hooksett isn’t just a place that’s grown — it’s a place that’s grown grateful.”
A Call to Kindness
As Thanksgiving approaches, take a moment to look around.Think about the people who make this community feel like home: the volunteer who organizes food drives, the teacher who stays late, the neighbor who shovels an extra driveway.
And if you know someone who might be spending the holiday alone — call them. Invite them over. Offer a seat at your table. It might change their day, and maybe even yours.
Because here in Hooksett, gratitude isn’t just what we feel — it’s what we share.
Happy Thanksgiving, Hooksett. May your tables be full, your hearts be light, and your gratitude grow stronger than ever.
