Granted in 1727, the town was established to deal with rapidly expanding population in the seacoast area. A majority of new settlers came from either Barnstable on Cape Cod or Hampstead on Long Island, and the town's name is a conjunction of the two. The town includes four villages, South Barnstead, Center Barnstead, North Barnstead, and Barnstead; and is home to at least nine lakes and ponds.
Fishing is a big recreational pursuit in the town because of its many lakes and ponds. Whether reeling in horned pout, pickerel, bass or rainbow trout, the variety is here.
