New Hampshire, the 'Granite State,' the most northerly of the thirteen original United States of North America, lies between 42° 40' and 45° 18' N. Copyright 1891 in U.S. by J. B. Lippincott lat., and is bounded N. by the Company. The province of Quebec, E. by Maine and (for 18 miles) the Atlantic Ocean, S. by Massachusetts, and W. by the right bank of the Connecticut River. Area, 9305 sq. m.—a fourth larger than Wales. The average elevation of the state is about 1200 feet, the general slope being towards the south. The highest point is Mount Washington (6293 feet), in the White Mountains, which include more than a hundred peaks of note, mainly in the northernmost county; among the peaks over 5000 feet high are those bearing the names of the successive presidents, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. Geologically they consist of early metamorphic rocks; immense masses of granite and gneiss constitute the bare peaks that make the name of the range as appropriate in summer as in winter. The largest lake is Winnipiseoogee (72 sq. m.); the principal rivers are the Connecticut, Merrimac, and Piscataqua. From Dover Point to its mouth the Piscataqua is about half a mile wide; and the volume and swiftness of its current at ebb-tide prevent the freezing of the water in Portsmouth harbour during the coldest winters. The Merrimac is said to turn more spindles and propel more shuttles than any other river in the world. The state is noted for its salubrious climate and grandly picturesque natural scenery. The mean annual temperature at Concord is 46° F.
The principal agricultural products are hay, potatoes, maize, and oats. There are still over a million acres of forest in the state, which have an average value per acre of about double that of the cleared land. Agricultural interests had steadily declined for a number of years, but of late New Hampshire has become very popular as a summer-resort, and the farmers, who owing to the rough and sterile soil could not compete in the great markets with those of the West, now find a new and important market brought to their very doors. But the manufacturing is the leading industry in New Hampshire, the chief centres being Manchester (the largest city), Nashua, and Dover. The total value of property in the state is about $350,000,000.
New Hampshire embraces ten counties, and returns two members to congress. The governor is elected biennially, and by him the judiciary are appointed until seventy years of age. The public schools are efficient, and the state possesses one college—Dartmouth, founded at Hanover in 1769 as a school for the instruction of Indians; it has well-appointed academic, scientific, medical, and agricultural departments, with libraries aggregating 87,000 volumes. There is also a state normal school at Plymouth.
History.—The earliest settlements were made in 1623 near Dover and Portsmouth. In 1641-79, 1689-92, and 1699-1741 New Hampshire was joined to the Massachusetts colony, but during the intervening dates and until 1775 it was under royal governors of its own. The people took an active part in the revolution. A provisional government was formed in 1776, a state constitution adopted in 1784; and New Hampshire was the ninth state (June 21, 1788) to ratify the national constitution. Among the eminent men born here have been—besides one president, Franklin Pierce—Daniel Webster, Lewis Cass, Salmon P. Chase, and Horace Greeley. Pop. (1790) 141,899; (1840) 284,574; (1880) 346,991; (1890) 376,530.