The tiny town of Nelson in the southwestern part of the state is one of my favorites. Not only because I hike many of its great trails, but also for its picturesque village and quiet rural atmosphere. It’s easy to pass this town by if you’re driving through, but there’s more to Nelson, one of the most quaint small towns in New Hampshire.

Nelson was incorporated in 1774 after first being settled several years earlier.
Public domain/Wikimedia Commons
It was originally known as "Monadnock No. 6".
Nelson's iconic row of mailboxes in its central village have become a well-known landmark.
Magicpiano/Wikimedia Commons
Osgood Hill in Nelson is not only the highest point in town, it's also the second highest point in Cheshire County behind Mt. Monadnock.
Ken MacGray/Google Photos
The Holt family were prominent settlers in Nelson. Remains of their homestead can still be visited on Osgood Hill.
Keene Public Library and the Historical Society of Cheshire County/Wikimedia Commons
Granite Lake is on the northern edge of Nelson and is shared with neighboring Stoddard. Its water level is regulated by Granite Lake Dam.
John Phelan/Wikimedia Commons
Munsonville is a former cloth and chair manufacturing village located at Granite Lake. It is now a community of summer homes.
John Phelan/Wikimedia Commons
Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music calls Nelson home. This venue for chamber music performance and teaching was established here in 1971.
Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music</a> calls Nelson home. This venue for chamber music performance and teaching was established here in 1971." loading="lazy" data-pin-url="https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/new-hampshire/tiny-rural-community-nh/" />
Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music/Facebook
The 48-mile Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway passes directly through the center of Nelson and provides hikers with some of the most tranquil walking of the journey.
Ken MacGray/Google Photos

Even though Nelson is near the much busier city of Keene, it seems worlds away from the hustle and bustle. Next time you are driving down Route 9, hop off the highway and stop in for a visit. For more information, visit the Town of Nelson website.

Looking for more quaint small towns in New Hampshire to visit? Here are 10 of them where you find some peace and quiet. If any of them entice you into an overnight stay, consider booking accommodations through VRBO.

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Nelson, NH 03457, USA