History of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 29, 2024

Dixville Notch, located in New Hampshire, is a small unincorporated community with a population of only 4 people. It's nestled in the northern part of the state, close to the Canadian border. The village is situated amidst mountainous terrain at an elevation of 1,800 feet. Dixville Notch is renowned for its unique tradition of being the first place to announce its results during the New Hampshire presidential primary.

1948: Hart's Location Midnight Voting Begins

The nearby town of Hart's Location, Carroll County began its own midnight voting tradition in the 1948 U.S. presidential election.

1954: Neil Tillotson's Arrival

Neil Tillotson moved to Dixville Notch in 1954 and became both the town moderator and the owner of The Balsams resort.

1960: First Midnight Vote

Dixville Notch initiated its tradition of midnight voting in the 1960 U.S. presidential election, allowing registered voters to cast their ballots in The Balsams ballroom as soon as midnight struck.

1964: First Reported Primary Results

Dixville Notch's primary election results in 1964 marked the first time they were the first to be disseminated by UPI and the Associated Press in New Hampshire.

1968: Republican Nominee Prediction Streak

Between the years 1968 and 2012, the candidate who received the plurality of votes in Dixville Notch consistently went on to become the Republican nominee for president.

1976: Tom Tillotson Becomes Moderator

Tom Tillotson assumed the role of town moderator in 1976.

1992: Libertarian Party Strategy

Following Andre Marrou's strong performance in the 1992 general election in Dixville Notch, the Libertarian Party attempted to leverage this outcome, albeit unsuccessfully.

1996: Hart's Location Voting Revival

Hart's Location resumed its midnight voting practice in 1996 after discontinuing it in the 1960s.

2000: Inaccurate Democratic Prediction

In the 2000 Democratic primary, Bill Bradley won the majority of votes in Dixville Notch; however, Al Gore ultimately secured the party's nomination.

October 17, 2001: Neil Tillotson's Death

Neil Tillotson, a prominent figure in Dixville Notch and its midnight voting tradition, passed away from pneumonia on October 17, 2001, at the age of 102.

2002: The West Wing Reference

The U.S. television series "The West Wing" paid homage to the midnight voting tradition in a 2002 episode titled "Hartsfield's Landing," drawing inspiration from either Dixville Notch or Hart's Location.

November 2, 2004: Voter Registration

As of November 2, 2004, Dixville Notch had 26 registered voters, with approximately half affiliated with the Republican party and the remaining half either undeclared or unaffiliated.

2004: Wesley Clark's Visit

Democratic presidential candidate Wesley Clark made a personal appearance in Dixville Notch during the 2004 election, becoming the sole contender to do so. He was present for the casting and counting of votes, ultimately receiving the majority of the Democratic votes.

2008: Obama's Victory

Senator Barack Obama secured a victory in Dixville Notch during the 2008 presidential election, becoming the first Democrat to do so since 1968, with a vote count of 15 to 6.

2012: First Tie in Dixville Notch

The 2012 presidential election resulted in an unprecedented tie in Dixville Notch's voting history, with Barack Obama and Mitt Romney each receiving five votes.

2012: End of Prediction Streak

The streak of Dixville Notch's vote aligning with the eventual Republican presidential nominee ended in 2012.

2016: 2016 Election Results

Hillary Clinton emerged victorious in Dixville Notch during the 2016 presidential election, defeating Donald Trump by a margin of 4 to 2. Gary Johnson received one vote, while Mitt Romney garnered a single write-in vote, resulting in a total of eight votes cast.

2019: Population Decline Threatens Tradition

Dixville Notch faced the potential loss of its independent voting status in 2019 due to a population decline to four residents, falling short of the required number to conduct an election in New Hampshire. The situation was averted when a fifth resident, Les Otten, moved to the community.

2020: 2020 Democratic Primary Results

During the 2020 Democratic primary in Dixville Notch, Michael Bloomberg received three write-in votes, while Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders each received one vote.

2020: Biden Wins Dixville Notch

Joe Biden secured victory in Dixville Notch in the 2020 presidential election, winning the votes of all five participating residents and defeating incumbent Donald Trump.

2020: 2020 Census

The 2020 United States Census determined that the population of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire was 4, all of whom resided within the village itself.

2024: Hart's Location Voting Ends

Hart's Location once again discontinued its midnight voting tradition in 2024.

2024: Haley Wins GOP Primary

Nikki Haley received unanimous support from all six eligible voters in Dixville Notch during the 2024 New Hampshire GOP primary, defeating former president Donald Trump.