New Hampshire
Granite State · Capital: Concord · Northeast (New England)
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Bordering states: Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine.
About New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a New England state bordered by Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont, with a short frontier with Quebec at its northern tip. Its Atlantic coast runs only about 18 miles, from Portsmouth to Seabrook, the shortest ocean coastline of any coastal state, while to the west it owns the whole Connecticut River up to the low-water mark on the Vermont bank. Mount Washington, 6,288 feet, is the highest peak in the northeastern United States; its summit climate is effectively subarctic, and on 12 April 1934 observers there measured a 231 mph gust. Ice age glaciers carved notches such as Crawford and Franconia, and forest now covers roughly 84 percent of the state.
Western Abenaki speakers, among them the Pennacook of the Merrimack valley, lived here before English settlement began at Odiorne's Point and Dover in 1623. Captain John Mason named the colony after the English county of Hampshire, and it became a separate royal province in 1679. In December 1774 local men seized gunpowder from Fort William and Mary, and on 5 January 1776 the province adopted its own constitution. Its vote on 21 June 1788 was the ninth ratification of the US Constitution, the one that put it into force. In the 1910s the Amoskeag mills at Manchester formed the largest cotton textile operation on earth.
The 2020 census counted 1,377,529 residents, up 4.6 percent from 1,316,470 in 2010, giving the state two House seats. Concord is the capital and Manchester the largest city. New Hampshire has held the first presidential primary since 1920, and it levies neither a general sales tax nor a tax on wages. Its 400-member House makes its legislature the largest of any state. The motto Live free or die comes from a toast written by General John Stark in 1809. Alan Shepard of Derry became the first American in space in 1961.
4 fun facts about New Hampshire
- State law requires New Hampshire's presidential primary to be held first in the nation.
- New Hampshire has no general sales tax and no broad income tax.
- The state motto "Live Free or Die" appears on every license plate.
- Mount Washington recorded a wind gust of 231 mph in 1934, held the world record until 1996.
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Frequently asked questions about New Hampshire
Is New Hampshire a US state?
Yes, New Hampshire is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1788, making it the 9th state. Its capital is Concord and its largest city is Manchester.
What is the capital of New Hampshire?
The capital of New Hampshire is Concord. Note that the largest city in New Hampshire is Manchester, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did New Hampshire become a state?
New Hampshire became a US state in 1788. It is the 9th state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for New Hampshire?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for New Hampshire is NH.
How big is New Hampshire?
New Hampshire ranks #46 of 50 US states by area. With 153.8 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 21st most densely populated state.
What is the population of New Hampshire?
New Hampshire had 1,377,529 residents at the 2020 census, the 41st largest population of the 50 states, up 4.6% since 2010. That count gives it 2 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is New Hampshire in?
New Hampshire is in the Northeast region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is New Hampshire in?
New Hampshire observes Eastern Time.
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How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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