22 Amazing New Hampshire Facts: From Covered Bridges to Outdoor Adventures

New Hampshire is situated within New England in the northeastern United States. It was mainly one of the original Thirteen Colonies. New Hampshire became the ninth state when 1778 its convention delegates ratified the United States Constitution.

This state, New Hampshire, has a long past, including its first inhabitants settling almost 13000 years ago. In the year 1623, Europeans established their first permanent settlements.

With so much rich history, you may discover different kinds of interesting facts about New Hampshire state. 

So, in this article, we will now discuss some interesting facts about New Hampshire. 

1. The Piscataqua River separates Maine and New Hampshire

Although it runs for just 12 miles, the tidal Piscataqua River separates the two states, New Hampshire and Maine. Also, this river is the watershed for almost 1500 square miles of land. 

At Portsmouth, the mouth of this river feeds into the Atlantic Ocean. This serves as an important hub for commercial lobstering and fishing. 

2. The Merrimack River offers water for over a half-million people

At the starting point of the city of Franklin in central New Hampshire, the famous Merrimack River runs for about 115 miles prior to emptying into the Gulf of Maine at Newburyport, Massachusetts.

The Merrimack River serves as a water source for over 700,000 residents in the region and encountered pollution throughout much of New Hampshire’s past. However, it has seen its water quality improve notably since the 1970s.

3. The nickname of the state of New Hampshire is the Granite State

If you take a drive through the countryside of New Hampshire, you will know why this state’s nickname is the Granite State.

Extensive granite formations dot the landscape, and there are numerous quarries across the state.

While the state of New Hampshire might not be among the largest producers of granite today, its rock has been used to build well-known structures, such as the Jefferson Memorial and the Library of Congress.

4. The reason why New Hampshire’s state flag is blue

The state flag of New Hampshire was adopted in 1909 and featured the emblem of the state on a dark blue background.

There is a wreath circling the emblem, which is intertwined with the nine stars that signify the status of New Hampshire as the ninth state to join the United States. 

As for the dark blue background, many residents believe that it represents the ocean and its important role in the history of New Hampshire.

5. No sales tax on purchases 

In the state of New Hampshire, you don’t have to pay sales tax on any purchases. It is just one of the five states in the United States with no sales tax. Also, New Hampshire doesn’t have a state income tax as well.

Also, New Hampshire is the only state in the United States that doesn’t need a person to wear a seatbelt. However, attempts for the state government to adopt that law has been dismissed. The only exception is for children under 18, who must wear seatbelts.

6. The Kancamagus Highway: One of the most scenic drives

With an area of almost 35 miles, visiting along the Kancamagus Highway offers some of the best views of New Hampshire state, especially in the fall when the tree leaves change colors.

Famous as a National Scenic Byway, the Kancamagus Highway, also locally known as the Kanc, runs from Lincoln in the west and to Conway in the east.

7. In Peterborough, the first modern public library was founded

Another interesting fact about New Hampshire is that in the town of Peterborough, you will get to see the first modern public library in the United States.

In 1833, the Peterborough Town Library started and was the country’s first taxpayer-funded, free-to-use book service. However, until 1893, the library didn’t get its own building, with the books stored at different local businesses until then.

8. The first primary of every presidential election in America is held here

According to state law, New Hampshire holds the first presidential primary election at a minimum of seven days prior to any other state in the entire country. Politicians think the results of New Hampshire are a great indicator of how the rest of the election season will go.

9. Here you will see covered bridges still in use

The state of New Hampshire still has 60 covered bridges that are still in use. New Hampshire is home to the Haverhill-Bath, the oldest covered bridge and the country’s longest one, the 460-foot Cornish-Windsor covered bridge, which spans over the famous Connecticut River.

10. The Cog Railway is powered by biodiesel

In 1869, first put into service, the locomotives making up the trip up the Cog Railway to Mount Washington’s summit have historically been powered by steam. However, since 2008, the railway has been expanding its number of biodiesel-fueled trains.

Recently operating with two steam-powered and seven biodiesel-fueled locomotives, the famous Cog Railway remains one of the most well-known landmarks in New Hampshire.

11. The Purple Finch: New Hampshire’s state bird

Since 1957, the purple finch has been the state bird of New Hampshire. However, if you are waiting eagerly with your eyes peeled for a purple fowl, then you will miss it.

The reason is that the purple finch, seen year-round through New Hampshire, has a pinkish rose color.

Now, you may ask why it is called purple, then. This name originates from the Latin word “ purpureus,” meaning crimson. So, there aren’t any purple-colored birds in New Hampshire.

12. Wolfeboro: The oldest summer resort in America

Located along the bank of Lake Winnipesaukee, the small Wolfeboro town is considered to be The Oldest Summer Resort in the United States.

Incorporated in the year 1770, this town gained popularity after the Colonial Governor at the time and John Wentworth built his summer estate in 1771. Since then, the town of Wolfeboro has been a great vacation destination for presidents, princes, and even regular visitors from across New England. 

13. Freelan Stanley took the First automobile up Mount Washington

The co-founder of the famous Stanley Motor Carriage Company, Freelan Oscar Stanley, took his Stanley Steamer up the Mount Washington Auto Road, which was known as the Mount Washington Carriage Road at that time, in 1899.

With Flora, his wife, in the passenger seat, Stanley’s steam-powered automobile became the first to climb Mount Washington, completing the 7.6-mile road in two hours.

14. Puritan Backroom, Manchester, is the place where chicken tenders originated

The Puritan Backroom, located in Manchester, New Hampshire, has the fame of being the first restaurant to name the dish chicken tenders. In 1974, added to their menu, the chicken tenders were incredibly popular, with the term gaining international usage.

15. In Henniker, competitive paintball got its start

In the 1960s, the first paintball marker was created by the Nelson Paint Company to tag trees to be cleared.

However 1981, in New Hampshire’s Henniker, a dozen friends got together with Nel-Spot 007 paintball markers for the first competitive paintball match. This new sport received widespread attention and followed a Sports Illustrated article later that year.

16. New Hampshire’s Pine Tree Riot probably have been the Boston Tea Party’s inspiration

In April of 1772, over a year prior to the Boston Tea Party, residents and mill owners of Weare, New Hampshire, held a protest in response to being fined.

This fine was for cutting down white pine trees, which were claimed as property of the English Crown. The riot concluded with the deputy and sheriff being run out of town, much to the relief of the local people.

17. The first state to grow potatoes was New Hampshire

Now, potatoes are available almost anywhere in the world; however, they used to be a little harder to come by. The first time a white potato crop grew in the United States was in 1719 in New Hampshire.

Currently, the white potato was made New Hampshire’s official state vegetable in honor of that fact. Hence, potato production is one of the many interesting facts that New Hampshire is known for.

18. A gust of wind of 231 miles per hour was recorded here

Wind speeds reaching the highest speed of around 231 miles per hour were recorded at New Hampshire’s Mount Washington Observatory on April 12, 1934. Mount Washington still holds the record for the fastest wind speed in the northern hemisphere.

The state of New Hampshire held the recorded for the highest gust ever recorded for over 60 years until 1996 when a gust of 253 miles per hour was measured on Barrow Island in Australia.

19. If New Hampshire’s state insect lands on you, then you are lucky

The state insect of New Hampshire is the ladybug. The idea originated from a group of students in Concord, and in 1977, the legislature of New Hampshire voted to make the insect ladybug New Hampshire’s official state insect.

So, it is often considered a sign of good luck if a ladybug, the state insect of New Hampshire lands on you.

20. The largest lake in New Hampshire is the Lake Winnipesaukee 

With an area of 72 square miles, Lake Winnipesaukee is a famous year-round holiday destination in central New Hampshire, and it is located at the foot of the White Mountains.

Tourists and locals flock to this lake in the summer for sunbathing, swimming, and also boating. This lake is famous for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice fishing during the cold winter months.

21. The Connecticut River starts in New Hampshire

Northern New Hampshire is the place where the 410-mile Connecticut River starts. The river, famous as the longest river in New England, starts from the Fourth Connecticut Lake just south of Canada’s border.

Connecticut originated from the native Pequot’s ‘quinetucket,’ which means “long tidal river” in English.

22. It is illegal to operate machinery on Sunday

In New Hampshire, it is illegal to operate machinery on Sundays. Though this is an older law; however, it is still in use so that every individual can enjoy at least one day a week without being disturbed by the noise of machinery.

So, New Hampshire is an important state in the United States with rich history and culture, beautiful scenery, interesting beliefs, famous lakes and rivers, and many more.

At the end of this article, we learned 22 interesting facts that offer us a clear picture of this state, New Hampshire. You can see our website if you want to know some additional facts.