A history of Somersworth,
since 1700

Prior to European settlement, the area that is now Somersworth was central-south Abenaki land. These Algonquian speaking peoples of the Wabanaki Confederacy lived along what they called Newichwanook, now the Salmon Falls River. Colonists from Britain arriving before 1700 named the area "Sligo", after Sligo in Ireland and settled there as a part of Dover. The community was organized in 1729 as the parish of "Summersworth", meaning "summer town", because during that season the ministers preached there. It was set off and incorporated in 1754 by colonial governor Benning Wentworth, and until 1849 included Rollinsford. A clerical error at incorporation contracted the name to "Somersworth". It was incorporated as a city in 1893, before which it was also known as "Great Falls".

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