Stories of the Year: Merrimack Named Among Top Towns in America

It's the end of the year and that means it's time to count down some of the top stories to hit Merrimack Patch this year. It's been a newsy year around the country as Sandy Hook students returned to school in a new location following the tragic shooting at the end of 2012. In April, two bomb blast created chaos and terror at the finish line of the Boston Marathon killing three and injuring hundreds who lost limbs, suffered serious burns and shrapnel wounds and a plethora of other injuries. Days later, an MIT police officer was killed and his friend was critically injured late that night in a shootout with the bombing suspects. We saw a country unite behind the city whose baseball team, months later earned its third World Series win in nine years. 

Over the days leading up to the end of the year, we'll choose a story or topic a day that has generated a lot of buzz here in Merrimack. Check back each morning as we bring you back through 2013.

In August, Merrimack was named one of Money Magazine's Best Places to Live in America. After coming in number 87 on the Top 100 small towns list in 2011. It was listed in this year's Top 50 at number 23. It had previously been listed in the Top 50 in 2005 and 2009 coming in at 47th and 49th, respectively.

After coming in number 87 on the Top 100 small towns list in 2011. It was listed in this year's Top 50 at number 23. It had previously been listed in the Top 50 in 2005 and 2009 coming in at 47th and 49th, respectively. 

This year's top ranked small town in America was Sharon, Mass.

The only other New Hampshire community to rank in this year's Top 50 list was Windham, which came in at No. 30.

Read more here.