Day 277: Lao Community, Newmarket, New Hampshire
📌APIA Every Day (277) - Newmarket, New Hampshire, a small town with a population of about 9,500 people, has historically been a predominantly white community. Located in southern New Hampshire near Portsmouth, Newmarket was founded in 1727 and has remained largely homogenous, with around 90% of the population identifying as white. Smaller percentages of the population identify as Black, Asian, Latinx, or two or more races. In the late 20th century, however, the town became home to a growing Lao refugee community, marking a shift in its demographic makeup.
In 1979, Lao refugees became Newmarket’s newest community members as part of larger resettlement programs that churches across New Hampshire sponsored. Aided by a funded Mutual Aid Assistance program, refugees were provided support to help ease their transition into the predominantly white town. Attracted by Newmarket’s quiet atmosphere, low crime rates, and proximity to Lowell, Massachusetts, which was becoming a hub for Southeast Asian refugees, many Lao families found a new home in the area. Once resettled, Lao refugees worked in the factories that moved from Boston. These industries, primarily in high-tech and light manufacturing, offered demanding but relatively safe jobs. However, housing costs and the cold winters became drawbacks to resettling in Newmarket. Despite this, they persisted and built a growing community of Lao culture and heritage, diversifying the town’s pre-existing social fabrics.
Organizations like the Lao Association of New Hampshire played a crucial role in providing employment assistance, translation services, and other resettlement support. Today, Newmarket has the largest Lao population in New Hampshire. Many refugees who grew up in the town have become community leaders, organizing cultural events and developing institutions that serve the local Lao population.
Although it is unclear if Newmarket's local government or community members are engaged in active efforts to preserve Newmarket’s Lao community history, more informal strategies of preservation such as social media posts and newspaper articles must be archived to preserve coverage of this particular migration history. Additionally, the presence of Lao small businesses also speaks to the existence of the community and their integration into American society. We reflect on how historic preservation practices can recognize these dynamic neighborhoods as afterlives caused by major events in American history, such as the War on Southeast Asia, and explore ways to advocate for their inclusion in broader American history.
Written by Billy Zeng
LEARN MORE:
Online Archive of California: Profiles of some good places for the Lao to live in the United States
Sea Coast Online: Basil Leaf Thai Cuisine owners' emotional trip home to Laos
Sea Coast Online: Laotian New Year celebrated in Newmarket
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