New Hampshire ( The Granite State ) One of the original 13 states (it entered the Union in 1788), New Hampshire was named after the English county of Hampshire. New Hampshire is called the "Granite State" because of its numerous granite quarries; the nickname may also reflect the state's attachment to tradition and its history of a frugal government. There are no general sales or individual income taxes, which fits with the state motto of "Live free or die". A relatively small state, New Hampshire plays a major role every four years in the presidential election, as it holds the first primary election. New Hampshire was first settled in 1623, just three years after the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts. New Hampshire's history is the story of the transformation of a wilderness to farmland and then to a thriving industrial society. Visitors to New Hampshire enjoy a great variety of recreational activities in six major vacation areas: the White Mountains region, the Lakes area, the Seacoast region, the Merrimack Valley area, the Monadnock region, and the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee area. The state offers rugged mountains, blue lakes, sandy beaches and quiet villages. Some of the famous celebrities that were born in New Hampshire include: Mandy Moore, The Flag of New Hampshire Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the ninth state; flag adopted in 1909, modified in 1932. The importance in New Hampshire of shipbuilding during the Revolutionary War is suggested by the State seal. The nine stars correspond to New Hampshire's rank among the States.   Largest Cities in the State (2000) Manchester, 107,006; Nashua, 86,605; Concord, 40,687; Derry town, 34,021; Rochester, 28,461; Salem town, 28,112; Dover, 26,884; Merrimack town, 25,119; Londonderry town, 23,236; Hudson town, 22,928   Business and Trade in New Hampshire Agriculture: Dairy products, nursery stock, cattle, apples, eggs. Industries: Machinery, electric equipment, rubber and plastic products, tourism. State Symbols and Emblems Bird: Purple Finch Flower: Purple Lilac (syringa vulgaris) Tree: White Birch (betula papyrifera) Song(s): Old New Hampshire Motto: Live Free or Die New Hampshire Travel - Vacation Destinations & Recreation National parks and historic locations suitable for family vacations or day trips. • White Mountains Trail - North Woodstock • Nashua National Fish Hatchery - Nashua • John Hay National Wildlife Refuge - Newbury • Edward MacDowell Lake - Peterborough • Otter Brook Lake - Keene

Capital: Concord     Local Weather  Statehood: 1788-06-21  Population: 1,235,786 (137.8 mi2)   Geographic Area (mi2)     Total 9,349.94     Water 381.84     Land 8,968.10     Rank 44th Largest   State Education:     Pub & Prv Schools     College & University     Libraries   Border States: Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont   Health Information:     Illicit Drug Use     Youth Risk Survey   Housing: In New Hampshire, there are 547,024 housing units, averaging to 61 per sq mile.   Related Magazines:   Posters and Artwork Mt. Ascutney, Claremont, New Hampshire Pre-Matted Print 11" x 14" • Canoeing on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire Art Print 11" x 17" • Fall Colors in the White Mountains, New Hampshire, USA Photographic Print 18" x 24" • Ferns in the Understory of a Lowland Spruce-Fir Forest, White Mountains, New Hampshire, USA Photographic Print 18" x 24" • Mt. Washington, White Mountains, New Hampshire Art Print 17" x 11" • Deciduous Trees Along the Chocorua Lake, White Mountains National Forest, New Hampshire, USA Photographic Print 60" x 20"