New Hampshire is known as the "Granite State" because of its history in granite mining. The state's granite was supplied for building structures mainly in Boston and Washington D.C., and many other cities and towns.[1] The state’s motto is “Live Free or Die.” The state declared its independence from England in Exeter on January 5, 1776. It was the ninth state to ratify the constitution.[2] The state is the 46th most extensive of the 50 states of the United States. It has an area of 9,351 square miles.[3]
As of 2023, the population of New Hampshire was estimated to be around 1,402,054.[4] The economy of New Hampshire is diverse and resilient, influenced by the state’s location and its people. It consists of the activities of 1.4 million residents who work, consume, save, and invest in the state. The state’s economy ranks 40th in size among states and Washington, DC. The unemployment rate in New Hampshire was 2.3% in November 2023.[5] New Hampshire is known for its beautiful ocean and lake beaches, miles of kayaking waters, above-timberline hiking on the Appalachian Trail, sailing on mountain-ringed lakes, fun-filled theme and water parks for kids, exciting rides to mountaintops, and tours of historic houses. Some of the top attractions include the Mount Washington Cog Railway, Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves, and Gunstock Mountain Resort.
History of New Hampshire
The first European explorer known to have visited New Hampshire was Sebastian Cabot, who sailed along the New England coastline in 1507 or 1508.[1] The first permanent European settlement was established by a group of fishermen from England, under David Thompson, at Odiorne’s Point in Rye in 1623.[6] The establishment of the New Hampshire Colony started in 1622 when the Council for New England gave a grant to Captain John Mason and Sir Ferdinando Gorges for the territory between the Merrimack River and Kennebec River.[7] These grants were intended to allow the company to establish fishing operations on their property. After Mason’s death, his heirs and those who purchased the patent assigned many town grants and many individual grants. These years are commonly known as the Masonian Proprietary Period. The lack of involvement from Mason’s heirs and a series of confusing land grants saw New Hampshire fall under the control of Massachusetts and, for a short time, the Dominion of New England.[7]
Before the traditional beginning date for the Revolutionary War, in December 1774, New Hampshire patriots seized Fort William and Mary in Portsmouth Harbor from the British.[8] New Hampshire provided the Continental Army with three regiments who were called in to fight at the Battle of Bunker Hill, the Battle of Bennington, the Saratoga Campaign, and the Battle of Rhode Island.[9]
New Hampshire was a member of the Union during the American Civil War and provided soldiers, money, and supplies to the Union Army. New Hampshire provided eighteen volunteer infantry regiments, three rifle regiments, one cavalry battalion, and two artillery units, as well as 3000 men for the Navy and Marine Corps. Among the most celebrated of New Hampshire’s units was the 5th New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel Edward Ephraim Cross. This regiment had the highest number of battle-related deaths of any Union regiment.[10]
New Hampshire was one of the earliest states in which large-scale manufacturing developed, in part because of the prevalence of waterways. The state’s many rivers, most of which had mighty waterfalls, powered the machines that fueled the Industrial Revolution.[11] During the first decade of the 20th century, New Hampshire’s railroads, tourist trade, manufacturing, and logging operations seemed to be prospering. By the end of the 20th century, the state had become known for its presidential primary, outdoor recreation, its educational boarding schools, and being part of the biotech industry.[12]
Demographics of New Hampshire
The state of New Hampshire has the following demographic distribution:[13]
- White: 91.03%
- Two or more races: 3.71%
- Asian: 2.67%
- Black or African American: 1.59%
- Other race: 0.82%
- Native American: 0.14%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.04%
Most common surnames in New Hampshire
According to the Forebears.io website, the ten most common names in Pennsylvania are:
| Surname | Incidence | Frequency | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith | 9,737 | 1:141 | |||
| Brown | 5,777 | 1:237 | |||
| Johnson | 4,892 | 1:280 | |||
| Davis | 3,598 | 1:381 | |||
| Clark | 3,383 | 1:405 | |||
| White | 3,378 | 1:406 | |||
| Martin | 3,290 | 1:416 | |||
| Sullivan | 3,191 | 1:429 | |||
| Miller | 3,036 | 1:451 | |||
| Anderson | 2,945 | 1:465 |
Researching Family History in New Hampshire
The National Archives at Boston and the New England Historic Genealogical Society have records from the New England states, including New Hampshire. The New Hampshire State Archives and Records Management Division has Probate records, Land title deeds, Military records, Census records, Photographs, portraits, and prints, Naturalization records, Voter checklists, Prisoner indices, Marriage records, Paupers indices, and Court records. The New Hampshire Historical Society Library has the best genealogical collection in the state including town, county, and state histories, church records, deeds 1640-1770, maps, unpublished genealogies, newspapers, and a 30,000 card index of New Hampshire notables. The New Hampshire State Library has published histories and genealogies for New Hampshire. There are also local historical societies and libraries.
New Hampshire County list
| Belknap | Carroll | Cheshire | Coos |
| Grafton | Hillsborough | Merrimack | Rockingham |
| Strafford | Sullivan |
See also
Explore more about New Hampshire
MyHeritage.com has 103 collections of New Hampshire records. The largest collections include New Hampshire Marriages, New Hampshire Newspapers, 1869-2008, US Naturalization Records, New England, 1791-1906. There are many more valuable records that appear in the New Hampshire Collection Catalog search.
References
- ↑ 37 Important Facts About New Hampshire
- ↑ New Hampshire - Portsmouth, White Mountains & Shakers
- ↑ New Hampshire: Facts, Map and State Symbols - EnchantedLearning.com
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: New Hampshire
- ↑ Economy of New Hampshire Statistics and Data Trends: GDP ranking, unemployment rate, and economic growth | USAFacts
- ↑ The Contact Era
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 New Hampshire Colony Facts, Details, Timeline
- ↑ Unit 5 Plan: New Hampshire and the American Revolution | Moose on the Loose
- ↑ New Hampshire's role in the Revolutionary War
- ↑ New Hampshire Civil War History Battles Army Union Soldiers
- ↑ Unit 11 Plan: Big Factories and New Industries | Moose on the Loose
- ↑ New Hampshire - Progressive, Old Industries, Decline | Britannica
- ↑ New Hampshire Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)