A small, mountainous, heavily forested state of the northeastern United States, New Hampshire is rich in the history and traditions that formed the nation. So firmly is independence rooted here that the state constitution asserts the right of revolution. New Hampshire was the first of the 13 colonies to declare independence from England, and four months before Massachusetts patriots fired the shot heard round the world on the green at Lexington, New Hampshirites captured a British fort. Although it was not thereafter a battleground of the American Revolution, New Hampshire was an important source of men, money, and materiel for the war. From Portsmouth, the state's only seaport--where today nuclear submarines are refitted--came many of the first vessels of the United States Navy. Among them was the sloop Ranger, sailed to fame by John Paul Jones in 1777-78.
Among New Hampshire's assets are its rugged land and varied climate. The state is a year-round playground, and tourism contributes heavily to its economy. Some 1,300 lakes and ponds, fed by myriad mountain streams, beckon fishermen, swimmers, and boaters. Game abounds in the woods and meadows; mountains challenge climbers and skiers; and scenic roads and lanes attract cyclists and hikers. An appealing flavor of the past is preserved in the state's neat towns and villages.
One of the 13 original states, New Hampshire was first settled in 1623, only three years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, Mass. It was one of the first states to frame its own constitution. On June 21, 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the United States Constitution, thus ensuring its adoption.
New Hampshire is one of the smallest states, with a ranking of 44th in area and 41st in population. It was named by Capt. John Mason for the county of Hampshire in southern England. Its nickname is the Granite State, from its many granite quarries.
New Hampshire is one of the New England states. It is bounded on the north by the Canadian province of Quebec. To the west is Vermont, separated by the Connecticut River for almost the entire length of the state. To the south is Massachusetts. In the southeast is a 13-mile (21-kilometer) stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, the shortest coastline of all the Atlantic states. To the east is Maine, separated in part by the Salmon Falls and Piscataqua rivers. The Granite State is shaped roughly like a slender triangle pointing north. At its northern end it is only 15 miles (24 kilometers) wide. Its greatest width is 93 miles (150 kilometers). From north to south its greatest length is 180 miles (290 kilometers). New Hampshire's total area is 9,304 square miles (24,097 square kilometers), including 277 square miles (717 square kilometers) of inland water surface.
