Last updated on June 23rd, 2024
61. A New Hampshire resident, Sarah Josepha Hale, is responsible for Thanksgiving being a holiday. She spent years advocating it until her message finally reached President Lincoln.
62. The revolutionary war hero John Stark wrote the words, “Live Free or Die” in a letter to the veterans of the Battle of Bennington when he was invited to a reunion. He could not attend the reunion and instead wrote a letter with the famous slogan which was later adopted as the state’s motto in 1945.
63. Portsmouth, New Hampshire, played an essential role in the peace treaty between Russia and Japan. President Roosevelt invited them there, and the Portsmouth treaty was signed on September 5, 1905.
64. New Hampshire is the only state in the U.S. that does not require adults to wear seat belts while operating a motor vehicle. Nor does it requires motorcycle riders to wear a helmet while riding.
65. Traffic related deaths in 2019 dropped by a staggering 30% compared to the previous year – all thanks to the Granite Staters for being alert while behind the steering wheels.
66. The Plymouth State University of New Hampshire launched a campaign to address the issue with French-speaking visitors from Canada. It will help to improve French among workers in the service industry.
67. At 94.2 percent, New Hampshire has the highest literacy rate in the United States. It is way above the average national literacy rate of 79 percent.
68. Dartmouth College was established in 1769 to help teach Native Americans the English way of life. It is still one of the most prestigious in the US.
69. A mural known as The Epic of the American Civilisation can be found in the Baker-Berry Library of Dartmouth College. Famous Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco painted it.
70. Did you know that the traveling Budweiser Clydesdale was initially stationed in Merrimack, New Hampshire? It is also one of the three places visitors can view them year-round.
71. Visit the USS Albacore museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to learn more about this research ship. The submarine was found after 80 years off the Japanese coast.
72. The oldest district for antiques in the US can be found in the Merrimack Valley, New Hampshire. More than 500 shops can be explored in this area.
73. Building a fence between you and a neighboring property higher than five feet is illegal in New Hampshire. That is to prevent people from building high fences to spite their neighbors.
New Hampshire – Food facts
74. Did you know that the people of New Hampshire officially adopted the pumpkin as their state fruit in 2006? Third and fourth-grade students from Wells Memorial persuaded the agricultural committee.
75. From the New Hampshire seafood shack is the Lobster Pound. The primary choice is lobster pulled from a tank and dunked into steaming salt water.
76. French toast may not be a local dish, but it is done differently in New Hampshire. Some use cinnamon buns while others use croissants as their toast.
77. A favorite sweet dish in New Hampshire is maple nut ice cream and 25 more flavors. It brings tribute to maple syrup production in this state.
78. One outstanding beverage in New Hampshire is apple cider soft drinks and apple cider cocktails. Raw apples and cider are popular because of the many apple orchards in the state.
79. The iconic cheesy French fry combination, known as Poutine, is one of the more popular dishes in New Hampshire. It is slathered with gravy, and a Rosemary and Parmesan dusting is added.
80. High priority is added to maple syrup pancakes, another sweet dish from New Hampshire. It is a dish served all around New Hampshire.
81. Eggs Benedict is a favorite in New Hampshire. Finding a good egg benedict is not easy, but there are a few places where you can get it in New Hampshire.
82. Another favorite dish for those residing in New Hampshire is the Lobster Roll. You can find them at many locations where it is served both cold and hot.
83. The North Woods area of New Hampshire is a wild game meat lover’s paradise. You can order it in some places if you don’t feel like bagging it yourself.
About the Flag of New Hampshire
1. Design and Symbolism
The flag of New Hampshire provides a glimpse of its maritime history and contributions to the revolution. It also offers insight into the land and the people.
It features the Great Seal of New Hampshire with a golden ornamental border and a blue field. The border alternates between stars and leaves, with nine stars as a nod to the 9th state of the Union.
The seal depicts the USS Raleigh surrounded by a laurel wreath – a symbol of honor and victory. The 32-gun, 40-meter frigate is one of the first warships of the US navy.
At the harbor is a granite boulder. This igneous rock represents the strong character of New Hampshire residents. It also reflects the state’s rugged landscape.
Along the edge are the words “SEAL OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.” At the bottom is the date of construction of the Raleigh in Portsmouth, “1776.”
2. Adoption
New Hampshire adopted the current flag in 1931 after enacting a revised state seal law.
3. Technical Details
The flag uses a proportion of 2:3. Dots are present between words around the seal.
4. History
The First Independent Seal
In 1774, the First Provincial Congress of New Hampshire discarded every Royal Seal from the British. They designed a new one depicting a bundle of five arrows in the middle, with an upright fish on the left and a pine tree on the right. They represented the five counties, the fishing sector, and the lumber industry.
The First Official State Seal
In 1776, New Hampshire achieved statehood. They approved a state seal two days later with the fish, tree, arrows, and a Latin inscription highlighting strength in unity.
The Second Seal
In 1784, New Hampshire passed its current state constitution. The legislature also approved a seal featuring a ship on stocks with a rising sun. It highlights the shipbuilding industry that boomed during the American Revolutionary War. The Latin motto Sigillum Reipublicae Neo Hantoniensis wraps around the edge. Some placed this seal on their flags, but official adoption did not come until 1909.
Seal Reproduction Issues
In 1919, the governor ordered Otis Hammond of the New Hampshire Historical Society to write about the history of the state flag and seal. His research led to surprising findings. According to Hammond, the vague law describing the seal made it hard to create faithful copies. Artists had their interpretations and injected new details, such as people and rum barrels on the dock. In 1931, Gov. John Winant created a committee to eliminate the confusion.
The 1931 State Seal Law
The new law specified the USS Raleigh as the centerpiece ship. It removed the old Latin motto and replaced it with the English translation. It also declared that there should be nothing in the foreground except a granite boulder.
5. Flag Facts
The USS Raleigh honors the famous explorer, Sir Walter Raleigh, who was a leading figure in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
Timothy Josephson, the state representative of Canaan, pushed for a flag redesign to break away from the common practice of putting the state seal on a blue background. He suggested using the Old Man of the Mountain or the motto “Live Free or Die.” However, the House leadership did not act on it.
New Hampshire – Quick facts and state symbols
| State Abbreviation | NH |
|---|---|
| State Capital | Concord |
| Largest City | Manchester |
| State Size | Total (Land + Water): 9,350 sq miles; Land Only: 8,968 sq miles |
| Population | 1,402,054 (Estimate July 1, 2023 from United States Census Bureau) |
| Statehood | June 21, 1788 |
| State rank by population | 41st |
| State rank by date of formation | 9th |
| State rank by area | 46th |
| Number of Counties | 10 |
| Demonym | Granite Stater, New Hampshirite |
| Bordering States | Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont |
| Official Language | English |
| Highest Point | Mount Washington 6,288 ft (1916.66 m) |
| Lowest point | Atlantic Ocean Sea level |
| Length | 190 miles (305 km) |
| Width | 68 miles (110 km) |
| Governor | Chris Sununu (R) |
| Electoral Votes | 4 |
| State Motto | Live Free or Die |
| State Nickname | Granite State |
| % Water | 4.2 |
| Noble prize Winners | George H. Whipple (Physiology or Medicine, 1934) |
| Famous people | Wilson Bethel (Actor) Ray LaMontagne (Singer) |
| U.S. President Born in New Hampshire | 1. Franklin Pierce. |
| State Flag |
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| State seal |
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| State coat of arms |
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| State Amphibian | Red-spotted Newt |
| State Animal | White-tailed Deer |
| State Bird | Purple finch |
| State Butterfly | Karner Blue Butterfly |
| State Dog | Chinook |
| State Fish | Brook Trout |
| State Flower | Purple Lilac |
| State Fruit | Pumpkin |
| State Gem | Smokey quartz |
| State Insect | Ladybug |
| State Mineral | Beryl |
| State Tree | White Birch |
| State Wildcat | Bobcat |
| State Wildflower | Pink lady's slipper |
| Longitude | 70° 36′ W to 72° 33′ W |
| Latitude | 42° 42′ N to 45° 18′ N |
| Time Zone | Eastern Time Zone |
| Website | www.nh.gov |
| Area Codes | 603 |
| Table last updated | June 27, 2024 |
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