NEW HAMPSHIRE FROM A TO Z

C IS FOR CAPITAL, COMMUNICATIONS, & COUNTIES

• Concord is the CAPITAL of New Hampshire. The New Hampshire State House is the oldest state Capitol where legislators still meet in their original chambers.

• All forms of COMMUNICATIONS are available throughout New Hampshire including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, telephone, and Internet. The state area code is 603. There are many Web Cams , and Internet service is available throughout the state.

• New Hampshire has 10 COUNTIES. The largest county in area is Coos & Strafford is the smallest. Hillsborough has the largest population & Coos has the smallest. The term county is the level of local government below the state itself.

• New Hampshire has several DAMS built by the Army Corps of Engineers and 3 hydroelectric plants. The United States Society on Dams provides information about dams. Other forms of energey are used and wind power is being investigated.

• No evidence of DINOSAURS has been found in New Hampshire. The state has an interesting paleontology history

• EARTHQUAKES have occurred in New Hampshire. The first recorded quake was in 1663, the largest quake was in 1940, and the most recent quake in 2008. FEMA provides information for kids about EARTHQUAKES. Information about

• The Department of EDUCATION oversees public education in New Hampshire. It is provided free and is compulsory for any child between 6 and 16. The State also has private schools that are required to comply with state standards and regulations. Information about schools is available from SchoolBug.

• A variety of EVENTS are held throughout New Hampshire during the year. There are Arts & Craft Shows and many Art Galleries. The first Crafts Fair in the country was held at Crawford Notch. It is now held in Newbury. The first Thanksgiving Day was inspired by Sarah Hale of Newport. The state observes State & Federal Holidays.

• Many species of FISH are found in New Hampshire in ocean, in lakes,and in rivers. fishing is a popular activity. The State Fish saltwater fish is the Striped Bass. The State Freshwater fish is the Brook Trout New Hampshire has several Fish Hatcheries. The New Hampton Fish Hatchery is the oldest in the state.
• The New Hampshire State FLAG is blue with the State Seal in the center surrounded by a wreath of laurel leaves interspersed with 9 stars. It is the only state flag that depicts another state on its flag. It is represented by a star and stripe on the 13 star U.S. flag. The municipalities of Concord, Hampton, Manchester, Milford, and Stratham have a flag. The largest American flag in the country was manufactured in 1914 in Manchester. The State Motto is "Live free or Die".

• New Hampshire has FOOD Festivals, Shows, and Events. The Food Timeline of the state dates back to colonial time. The New Hampshire Food Bank is the only food bank in the state.

• New Hampshire has several state Forests. Part of the White Mountain National FOREST is in New Hampshire. The State Tree is the White Birch. The state has many Big Trees registered.

• The GEOLOGY of New Hampshire goes from the ocean up to mountains. The US Geological Survey has programs in New Hampshire and provides information about geology in the state. Crushed stone is the major mineral. Ruggles Mine has over 150 minerals and is the oldest and most spectacular mica, feldspar, beryl, and uranium mine in the country. The State gem is the Smoky Quartz and the state mineral is Beryl. The State Rock is Granite. Several places have Mineral Springs.

• New Hampshire has many places that are called GHOST TOWNS. Monson has a restored colonial house and a small graveyard. Hill has some cellar holes and open fields. Roxbury has RR grades, quarries, roads, cellar holes, and stonework. Livermore has a population of 3. Ghost Quest is A paranormal research society and offers tours of haunted sites.

• The GLOBAL POSITION of New Hampshire is approximately 42 degrees north and 70 degrees west. Mt. Washington is the highest point and the Atlantic Ocean the lowest. The geographic center of the state is in the eastern part of New Hampton. NOAA provides information about the topography of the state. Geocaching is a popular game using a global positioning finder, and there are many geocaches in New Hampshire.

• Many HISTORIC SITES in New Hampshire are on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Trust helps protect historic places in the state.

• The HISTORY of New Hampshire dates back 10,000 years. Recorded history began in the 1600s. The state participates in National History Day.

• New Hampshire has a variety of INDUSTRIES including dairy farming, machinery, rubber & plastic products, and tourism. The Maple Industry produces 90,000 gallons of Maple Syrup each year. Trade Shows are held throughout the year.

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  A wide variety of INSECTS are found in New Hampshire including many species of butterflies & moths. The State Butterfly is the Karner Blue The official State Insect is the Ladybug.

• New Hampshire has ISLANDS in lakes & rivers. Lake Winnipesaukee has over 200 islands. About 10 miles offshore are the Isles of Shoals, 9 small islands known as the site of a 19th century art colony founded by poet Celia Thaxter, as well as the alleged location of one of the buried treasures of the pirate Blackbeard.

• JAZZ Festivals are held in several places throughout New Hampshire. White Mountain has a Jazz Festival. WatervilleValley showcases contemporary and jazz musicians over Labor Day weekend. Pemi Valley has a Bluegrass Festival. Jazz Clubs are located throughout the state. Many other musical and performing arts events are held each year. There are several Opera Companies including North Opera Granite State Opera, Lyric Opera Company of Concord, and Opera New Hampshire . There are also Choirs, Bands & Orchestras. New Hampshire has one official State Song, "Old New Hampshire", and 8 honorary Songs.

New Hampshire has KARST. Lost River and Polar Caves are Show Caves. Lost River is a series of caves in the White Mountains. Polar Caves Park has glacial caves, a rock garden, nature trails, a sugar house, and petting zoo. The National Park Service has a Cave and Karst Program.
• Many aspects of life in New Hampshire focus on KIDS, and the state has a Kids Page. The Department of Fish & Wildlife has a Kids Page about New Hampshire wildlife. NOAA has a Kids Page about the weather. AG in the Classroom has a Kids Page about agriculture in the state. The National Agriculture Statistic Service has a Kids Page about agriculture.

• New Hampshire has many LAKES, ponds, and reservoirs. The Lakes Region has 273 lakes and ponds including the largest lake - Winnipesaukee. The New Hampshire Lakes Association is the only statewide organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of lakes and ponds in the state.

• Public, Academic, & Special LIBRARIES are located throughout New Hampshire. Most of them have internet access & special programs, and some have bookmobiles. The State Library is in Concord and is considered to be the oldest such institution in the country.The Dublin Juvenile Library was the 1st free library in the country.

• New Hampshire has 5 LIGHTHOUSES. Three are on Lake Sunapee, and 1 is on an island. The Portsmouth Light house on the Atlantic coast was established in 1771 - before the American Revolution! The most important aspect of a lighthouse is the light that comes from the tower.

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  New Hampshire has several MILITARY installations. The state has had a National Guard since 1879 but traces its orgins back to the 17th century. New Hampshire has 3 forts - Fort at Number 4, Fort Wentworth, and Fort William and Mary.

• New Hampshire has many MOUNTAINS and Mountain Ranges. Many mountains are over 4,000 feet and Peak Bagging is a popular sport. It is an activity in which hillwalkers and mountaineers attempt to reach the summit of some collection of peaks.

• Many MUSEUMS are located throughout New Hampshire including Art Museums and Historical Museums. The Castle in the Clouds is a historic house with trails and science programs for children. Clark's Trading Post has a trained bear show, train rides, a fire station, and museum. The Muster Field Farm Museum is a working farm.

New Hampshire was named for the Hampshire County in England. The people are called New Hampshirites. It is nicknamed the Granite State. It was one of the 13 original states. The mouth of a New Hampshire stream , Quokquinapessakessanannagnog, is possibly the longest place name in the state.
• Prehistoric hunters may have roamed what is now New Hampshire as early as 6,000 B.C. NATIVE AMERICANS were living there when the Europeans arrived - the Abenaki and Pennacook. Although no longer a distinct tribe, many bands of Abenaki in New Hampshire have Pennacook blood in their veins.

• New Hampshire has several OBSERVATORIES. The Mount Washington Observatory monitors the elements at one of the most extreme places in the country. The Shattuck Observatory is primarily used for instructional purposes but is open for public observation of the stars on Friday and Sunday evenings. The University of New Hampshire has public sessions. The state also has planetariums. Most offer classes as well as programs for the general public. New Hampshire also has astronomical societies. Many places observe Astronomy Day.

• The Atlantic Ocean is off the east coast of New Hampshire. The USGS provides information about why the ocean is Salty. The Intertidal Zone along the coast is home to a wide variety of organisims. The Seacoast Science Center offers a opportunity to learn about the coastal environment. It has an indoor tide pool touch tank. NOAA provides Information about coastal tides.

• New Hampshire has a wide variety of PARKS including State Parks and Federal Parks. The state also has Theme Parks and Amusement Parks.

• New Hampshire has a POPULATION of over 1 million people. Several famous people have called New Hampshire their home including Alan Shepard, Jr., the 1st American to go into space, and Earl Tupper inventor of Tupperware.

• The New Hampshire PORT Authority plans the maintenance, development and use of Portsmouth, New Hampshire harbors, and navigable rivers, while aiming to stimulate commerce and the shipment of freight through the port.

• A QUARTER was issued by the U.S. Mint for each state according to its admission date. New Hampshire was admitted to the union in 1788 and a quarter was issued in its honor in 2000. The U.S. Mint has a special Kids Page

• QUILTING is popular in New Hampshire and Quilting Guilds are located throughout the state. There are also Weaving & Spinning Guilds.
• Take a QUIZ about New Hampshire
  1. Trivia quiz
  2. State Quiz

• New Hampshire is home to many species of REPTILES and amphibians. The State amphibian is the Spotted Newt.

• New Hampshire has hundreds of RIVERS and many tributaries. The major rivers are the Androscoggin, Connecticut, and Merrimack. There is Whitewater Rafting and parts of the Lamprey and Wild Brook Rivers are National Wild and Scenic Rivers. American Rivers is an organization that protects and restores river systems in the country.

• A wide variety of SEA LIFE is found off the coast of New Hampshire including whales and seals.

• New Hampshire offers a wide variety of SPORTS and has many sports teams including college, high school, league, & professional. Golfing is a popular sport. Snow sports include Snowmobiling and Snowshoeing. The 1st Ski Club in the country was formed in Berlin, and the State Sport is Skiing. The state has Greyhound Parks, Horse Tracks, and Auto Racing. Many great sports figures have come from the state.

• New Hampshire has a State TARTAN and participates in National Tartan Day. The state has Highland Games.
• New Hampshire has many types of TRAILS including Hiking and Walking Trails and Horse & Mule Trails. Over 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail goes thru New Hampshire. The state celebrates National Trails Day. The state has Scenic Byways and Drives. It also has Roadside Attractions.

• New Hampshire has many forms of TRANSPORTATION. The New Hampshire Department of Transportation maintains highways, bridges, tunnels, and has an Adopt-A-Highway Program. The Federal Highway Administration provides information on traffic and road closures in New Hampshire. Special license plates are available and there is a License Plates Museum. To celebrates its 50th birthday, Matchbox cars issued a car for each state in the order in which it was admitted into the union. The car for New Hampshire was the Ford Crown Victoria. The Wildlife Protection Program helps wildlife in or near roads, waterways, & bridges.

• New Hampshire has both public and private UNIVERSITIES and Colleges. It also has Technical schools

• Three ships have born the name USS New Hampshire. The first USS New Hampshire has an interesting history. The 2nd USS New Hampshire was a Connecticut-Class battleship commissioned in 1908 and sold for scrap in 1923. The 3rd USS New Hampshire was to be a Montana-class battleship but was cancelled. The 4th USS New Hampshire is a Virginia-Class nuclear attack submarine launched in 2008.

• New Hampshire has a variety of VEGETATION The State Flower is the Purple Lilac and the State Wildflower is the Pink Lady's Slipper. The Nature Conservancy helps preserve the land in New Hampshire.

• New Hampshire does not have any VOLCANOES, but there is evidence that at one time there was volcanic activity The Federal Emergency Management Agency has information about volcanoes.

• New Hampshire has many WATERFALLS. The Jackson Falls are created by the rushing waters of the Wildcat River, the 1st Federally designated Wild & Scenic River in the state. The Arethusa Falls is the single longest drop in the state.

• New Hampshire experiences a wide variety of WEATHER. The state Climatologist provides information about the weather. Summers are warm and humid and winters are cold and snowy. Sometimes there are hurricanes and tropical storms. The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about Climate Change.

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  New Hampshire has a great diversity of WILDLIFE. There are Wildlife Sancturaries. There are also Wildlife Refuges and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers. The State Animal is the Whitetail Deer. Some species of wildlife are endangered. The Nature Conservancy protects lands & water needed for plants & animals to survive. The state has Wildlife Viewing Areas. New Hampshire participates in the Wildlife Protection Program.

• XMAS is the common abbreviation for Christmas and it is celebrated in New Hampshire much like the rest of the country and around the world. New Hampshire has many Christmas Tree Farms.

• YMCA organizations are located throughout New Hampshire.

• There are several YOUTH HOSTELS in New Hampshire. The state also has Elder Hostels.