The New Hampshire state abbreviation is NH, it is located in the New England region of the United States. More specifically, it is situated in the northeastern tip of the continental states. Massachusetts is to the south, Vermont is to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean is to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec is to the north.
Among the 50 U.S. States, this is the 5th smallest in terms of land area, and the 9th least populated. Today we’ll look at the geography, climate, and history of this state. Before this though, let’s take a look at some of the main pieces of information you should know:
In January of 1776, NH became the first of the North American colonies to create a government that was separate and independent from the authority of Great Britain. It was also the first to establish a state constitution. Just six months later, it was one of the original 13 states that founded the United States of America. In June of 1788, it became the ninth state after ratifying the U.S. Constitution.
The largest city is Manchester, but the capital is Concord. There is no sales tax here, nor is there a tax on personal income at the state or local level. My kind of place. The presidential primaries begin here each time the election cycle starts anew.
The license plates in the state have the motto on them: “Live Free or Die.” The official nickname “The Granite State” comes from the immense amounts of granite formations and quarries in the area. There are a number of notable people who came from this state:
Nicholas Gilman - one of the founding fathers
Daniel Webster - notable senator
John Stark - revolutionary war hero
Horace Greeley - well-known editor
Mary Baker Eddy - founder of the Christian Science religion
Robert Frost - famous poet
Alan Shepard - notable astronaut
Ronnie James Dio - famous rock musician
Dan Brown - well-known author
Adam Sandler - comedy actor
Franklin Pierce - a previous President of the United States
NH Is known for having some of the largest skiing mountains on the East Coast. This brings many people in for winter sports like skiing, snowmobiling, hiking, and mountaineering. The New Hampshire Motor Speedway hosts motorsports as well. The Mount Washington Auto Road allows tourists to drive to the top of the highest point in the state at 6,288 feet.
Geography and Climate Features
As part of the New England region, New Hampshire is bordered by Quebec, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and the Atlantic Ocean in total. The state’s major regions are as follows:
Great North Woods
White Mountains
Lakes Region
Seacoast
Merrimack Valley
Monadnock
Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee
NH only has 18 miles of coastline, making it the shortest of its kind on any U.S. coastal state. Up until 2003, the state was also known for a rock formation called the Old Man of the Mountain which appeared as a face-like shape in Franconia Notch.
Unfortunately, it disintegrated in May of 2003. The White Mountains region is located in the north-central portion of the state and it contains Mount Washington, the highest point in the northeastern region of the United States.
Here there are hurricane force winds every three days or so, and there have been over 100 recorded deaths. The weather observatory located in the region has dubbed it as the region with the “World’s Worst Weather.”
Major rivers in the state include the Merrimack River which is 110 miles long and flows through the lower half of the state in a north-south fashion. The largest lake is Lake Winnipesaukee which is 71 square miles.
A good portion of the state is covered in conifers and northern hardwoods. It has the highest percentage of timberland in the nation. The southeast portion of the state near the Connecticut River is filled with mixed oaks.
The climate is classified as a humid continental climate which includes warm, humid summers and cold, wet winters. Rainfall is fairly consistent throughout the year. The southeast is moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, while the north and interior have colder winters and lower humidity. The average daytime temperatures range from mid 70s to low 80s. Winters range from 34 degrees Fahrenheit, to temperatures below zero.
A Brief Historical Overview
The original inhabitants of the area were various members of the Algonquian tribes. English and French settlers first appeared in the area between 1600 and 1605. In 1623, English settlers settled at Odiorne’s Point.
During the American Revolution, NH was one of the thirteen colonies that rebelled against Britain’s rule. During this time, the area was divided in a sense.
The economy of the time was focused on sawmills, shipyards, merchant warehouses, villages, and town centers. The only major battle that was fought on this state’s soils was the raid on Fort William and Mary in December of 1774. The raid was important because it earned the colonists stores of gunpowder, small arms, and cannons.
Industrialization came to the area in the form of textile mills, which in turn brought a large amount of immigrants from Quebec to the north, and from Ireland. The northern parts of the state produced the lumber and the mountains acted as tourist attractions.
The state rebounded after the collapse of the textile industry in 1960 by becoming a center of technology and service providers.
In 1952, NH became well-known for having a presidential primary held very early in the presidential election year. This resulted in the state becoming a major testing ground for candidates in both the Republican and Democrat parties.
Final Thoughts
If you’re hungry for more information, be sure to check out our New Hampshire state facts page next!
