Interesting Facts About New Hampshire

New Hampshire is the ninth state of the United States and one of the first thirteen original colonies that separated from the British rule during the late 18th century. New Hampshire has been having some independent streak — during its years as an English colony, it even established its own government. It is also known for having established the first presidential primary in the country. Its capital is Concord and largest

New Hampshire may be one of the smaller states but its character is larger than life, shaped by history and experience. It is also one of the most attractive states and has been a sought-after destination for sports enthusiasts, especially snowsports and motorcyle sports. More interesting New Hampshire facts await you here in this gallery!

Before the whites arrived and settled in the New World, it was then inhabited by the Native Americans (so-called Indians) like in most of the region, who are made up of different language groups and tribes. In the case of the present-day New Hampshire, it was once called home by the Algonquian (Abenak and Pennacook) tribes before English and French explorers set foot there during the early 17th century.

New Hampshire was the first to declare its independence from Mother England

While still an English colony, New Hampshire nevertheless declared itself autonomous from Mother England, the first state to do so. In January 1776, New Hampshire established its own government which was independent of England’s authority. This occurred twelve years before New Hampshire became one of the “Thirteen Colonies” that gained complete independence from the British rule.

The Constitution of New Hampshire, adopted in 1784, replaced its original constitution in 1776. It remains the supreme law of the state, and is the second oldest constitution in the country that is still in effect (the oldest is the state constitution of Massachusetts).

Apart from being the smallest town in New Hampshire, it is also the easternmost in the entire state, facing the Atlantic Ocean. Incorporated in 1693, this tiny town features some historic spots such as the Fort Constitution Historic Site and the Fort Stark Historic Site. As of 2010 figures, the population is numbered at 968.

Peterborough, a town in New Hampshire, has been a popular tourist destination. The Peterborough Town Library is the oldest tax-funded, free library in the country. It was founded on April 9, 1833 by Abiel Abbot, a minister serving for the Unitarianist Christian denomination.

The Cornish-Windsor Bridge, whose construction ended in 1866, remains the longest-covered bridge in the United States, with the longest span 204 feet or 62 meters. It links the two towns of the two states (Cornish, New Hampshire and Windsor, Vermont) and spans over the Connecticut River.

Mount Washington, the highest peak in New Hampshire and in the entire northeastern US, still owns the world record for the speediest gust wind ever at surface level: 231 miles per hour. The winds were three times as fast as those in many hurricanes.

Although Idaho is famous for its potatoes, it’s New Hampshire which grew the first patches of potatoes in the United States. They were grown in Derry (Londonderry), New Hampshire by Scots-Irish immigrants, in 1719.

Maple sugaring is a serious business in New Hampshire; it produces about 90,000 gallons of maple syrup annually.

Incorporated in 1638, Exeter (population: 14,306) is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Named after the historic English city, Exeter was named the first capital of New Hampshire for 14 years during the 18th century.

USS Albacore

The USS Albacore became a prototype for today’s modern submarines. It was built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard located in the town of Kittery, Maine, close to the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. First launched and commissioned in 1953, it was decommissioned in 1972. It now serves as a museum and memorial, now located at 600 Market Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

The Cannon Aerial Tramway is located at the Cannon Mountain Ski Area, on Cannon Mountain (White Mountains range) in the town of Franconia, New Hampshire. North America’s first-ever aboveground tramway was first constructed in 1938 and served for several decades until its closure in 1980. The Cannon Aerial Tramway, throughout its service, carried over six million passengers on the 2.1-mile route all the way up to the near-summit of the Cannon Mountains.

Compared to the milder and tamer official mottos of the other states in the US, New Hampshire’s motto “Life Free or Die” is rather a shocking one. The phrase was derived from a toast written by revolutionary war leader John Stark on July 31, 1809. Too ill to attend to an anniversary reunion for the Battle of Bennington where he was invited, he wrote and sent this toast to the gathering instead.

The motto “Live Free or Die” truly speaks of New Hampshire’s uncompromisingly independent, assertive character.

New Hampshire has 10 counties, 13 municipalities, 221 towns and 22 unincorporated places. There’s a lot of places considering New Hampshire is one of the smallest states in the US. It has a total land area of 9,304 square miles (24,217 square kilometers), and is ranked 46th in size.

Belknap-Sulloway Mill

Also referred to as the Belknap-Sulloway Mill, it is a historic former textile mill in the city of Laconia, New Hampshire. It was built somewhere from 1823 to 1828. Actually, after its disuse in 1969, the mill underwent very minor alterations. It now functions as a museum where events such as music, exhibits and town meetings are sometimes held.

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