NEW HAMPSHIRE, one of the United States of North America, is bounded on the N. by Canada, E. and S.E. by Maine and the Atlantic Ocean, S. by Massachusetts, and W. by Vermont. It lies between 42. 41. and 45. 25. N. Lat., and between 70. 40. and 72. 35. W. Long.; extending in length about 185 miles, whilst its average breadth is about 50 miles, and its area is computed at 9280 miles. On the map its shape nearly resembles a wedge inserted between the states of Maine and Vermont, and having Massachusetts for its base. The line of coast is indented with small inlets of the sea, and skirted by a narrow sandy plain. At no great distance the country swells into a mountainous region, and New Hampshire has justly been called the "State of Hills," and also the "Granite State." Mount Washington, the highest peak of the White Mountain range, has a height of 6226 feet; and is thus, with the exception of Mount Mitchell, in North Carolina, the highest mountain in the Union E. of the Mississippi. Between the Merrimack and the Connecticut are situated many considerable mountains; the names of the principal heights being Monadnock, 3718 feet high; Kearsarge, 3067 feet; Car's Mountain, 1381 feet; and Moosehilllock, 4636 feet. As a whole, the physiognomy of New Hampshire is bold and prominent, and, although rugged, often sublime in the highest degree. The mountains of the state are in the centre, with a zone of finely-diversified hill and dale country around, the hills consisting generally of stony and moist land, and affording excellent pasturage. The geological structure of the mountains of New Hampshire consists principally of granite and mica slate; the former predominating among the White Mountains, and the latter among the elevations farther to the S. The mineral resources of the state are considerable. Iron has been found in great abundance in many parts of the country; and there are also mines of copper, tin, lead, and zinc. Granite is more abundant here than in any of the other states; and fine marble has been found in considerable quantities. The general slope of the state is from N. to S., and in
that direction the most of the rivers flow. Of these the principal are—the Connecticut, which forms the boundary between this state and that of Vermont; the Merrimack, flowing through the middle of the state; the Piscataqua, in the S.E.; and the Androscoggin, which flows for the greater part of its course in the state of Maine. The principal lake in New Hampshire is Lake Winnipiseoogee, which is of an irregular shape, about 25 miles in length, and varying from 1 to 10 in breadth. Its depth is great, and the scenery is very picturesque and beautiful. There are also many smaller lakes, of which Umbagog, on the confines of Maine, Connecticut Lake, and Squam Lake, are the chief. The whole surface of the water in this state is estimated to amount to 110,000 acres. The climate of New Hampshire is severe, but less variable than that of Maine and of the other northern states. The winters are long, and the snow lies from November till April, and sometimes till May; while the mountains are covered with snow for the greater part of the year. The spring is generally wet and foggy, but great heat is often experienced in the summer, when the thermometer sometimes stands above 100°. The soil is in general not very fertile; but the labour and industry of the people have succeeded in rendering it productive of many valuable crops. The richest portions are those along the banks of the rivers, especially the Connecticut. The uplands afford good pasture ground; and the whole country, notwithstanding its few natural advantages, has a rich and flourishing appearance. The lower slopes of the mountains are thickly covered with forests of oak, pine, beech, maple, walnut, &c.; while on the lower regions elm, ash, birch, poplar, and other trees abound. The amount of cultivated land in the state in 1850 was 2,251,488 acres; and during the year ending June 1, 1850, the produce was 185,658 bushels wheat; 183,117 rye; 1,573,670 maize; 973,381 oats; 70,856 peas and beans; 65,265 buckwheat; 70,256 barley; 4,304,919 potatoes; 1,108,476 lb. wool; 6,977,056 butter; 3,196,563 cheese; 257,174 hops; 7652 flax; 1,298,863 maple sugar; 117,140 bees' wax and honey; 598,854 tons hay; L.51,781 orchard produce; and L.11,833 market-garden produce. The number of horses in the same year was 34,233; milch cows, 94,277; working oxen, 59,027; other cattle, 114,606; sheep, 384,756; and swine, 63,487; while the total value of live stock in the state was L.1,848,310. The state of New Hampshire is actively engaged in manufactures; for which great conveniences are afforded by the water power which is furnished by the different rivers and streams. There were in 1850, 3301 manufactories in the state, of which 44 were cotton factories, employing 2911 male, and 9211 female hands, having a capital of L.2,280,000, consuming L.1,008,210 of raw material, and producing 113,106,247 yards of cotton and 140,700 lb. of yarn, valued at L.1,839,708; 61 woollen factories, employing 926 male, and 1201 female hands, having a capital of L.507,850, consuming L.264,023 of raw material, and producing 9,712,840 yards of cloth and 165,200 lb. of yarn, valued at L.443,277; 29 iron-foundries, furnaces, &c., employing 390 hands, having a capital of L.49,700, consuming L.39,073 of raw material, and producing 6074 tons of iron, valued at L.80,850; and 163 tanneries, having a capital of L.92,076, consuming L.112,867 of raw material, and producing leather valued at L.187,686. Ship-building is carried on to a considerable extent in New Hampshire; and the number of vessels built in 1852 was 14, with an aggregate tonnage of 9515. The whole of the vessels owned in the state in the same year had a tonnage of 24,891, of which 2283 tons were engaged in the cod and mackerel fishing. The trade of the state is very inconsiderable, as there is only one port of entry in the state, viz., Portsmouth; while there are few rivers capable of affording facilities for inland navigation. The tonnage of the vessels that entered in 1850 was 11,044; of those that
New Hampshire. cleared £213. The number of vessels built in the state in the year ending June 30, 1856 was 10, and their tonnage 10,395. The total value of exports for the same year was £1,1097, and of imports £5068.
The government of the state is in the hands of a governor, who is appointed annually by the people, and has a salary of £208. He is assisted by an executive council of 5 members; and there is also a senate of 12, and a house of representatives of 286 members, popularly elected. The judicial establishment consists of a supreme court, composed of a chief justice and four associates, and of a court of common pleas, having one chief justice and two associates. The supreme court has exclusive jurisdiction in criminal cases; and there is a right of appeal to it from the court of common pleas in civil cases where the matter in dispute exceeds £20 in value. For legal purposes, the state is divided into five districts, in each of which the supreme court holds two annual terms. The amount of the public income for the year ending June 2, 1857, was £43,636, and the expenditure for the same year was £40,187. The total value of the taxable property in New Hampshire in 1856 was £25,239,460; and in June 1857 the total number of banks in the state was 52, their aggregate capital £1,048,185, and their circulation £741,302. There were also at that time 20 savings-banks, of which the deposits were £802,115, and the total means £843,332. There are numerous railways in the state, crossing it in various directions, and communicating with the principal towns of New England. The total length of all the lines in operation in January 1857 was 480 miles. There are also several canals in New Hampshire; and telegraphs have been established between the principal towns. The number of churches in the state in 1850 was 602, being one for every 528 inhabitants; and of these the Baptists owned 180; the Christians 23; the Congregationalists 172; the Episcopalians 11; the Quakers 15; the Methodists 99; the Presbyterians 13; the Union Church 32; the Unitarians 13; the Universalists 36, &c. The total value of church property was £291,995. The interests of education in the state are committed to the care of a board of commissioners from the several counties. The number of scholars in 1856 during the winter was 67,103; and in summer 58,203. The number of teachers was 1077 male, and 3042 female. The amount of money raised by taxation for schools was £44,230; and the whole amount expended for district schools during the year 1856 was £53,908. There were, in the same year, 89 academies and private schools in the state; and also a college at Hanover, with 16 professors, 251 students, and a library of 31,900 volumes; three theological schools belonging to Methodists, Congregationalists, and Baptists, having in all 99 students; and one medical school, having 5 professors, and 50 students. The principal charitable institution of the state is the lunatic asylum at Concord, which was opened in 1843, and has at present 170 inmates. It is supported by the public funds; and the receipts in 1857 amounted to £5638, and the expenditure to £5502. There is also a house of reformation for female and juvenile offenders, and a state prison at Concord. The earliest settlements in this part of the country were made by Mason and Gorges, who obtained in 1622, from James I., a grant of the land between the Merrimack and the Kennebec; and, in the following year, colonies were planted at Portsmouth and Dover. In 1641, the colonists placed themselves under the protection of Massachusetts, of which colony they continued to form a part until 1679, when their country became a royal province. It was, however, afterwards united with Massachusetts; and was finally, in 1749, made an independent colony. New Hampshire suffered very much at one period from the invasions of the Indians; but having escaped this danger, the colony rapidly increased in wealth and population.
Although this state took an active part in the war of the American revolution, no important battles were fought within its territory, either at that time, or during the war of 1812. The capital of the state is Concord. Pop. (1850) 317,976.