Capital: Concord

Governor: Jeanne Shaheen, D (to Jan. 2005)

Senators: Judd Gregg, R (to Jan. 2005); Bob Smith, R (to Jan. 2003)

Treasurer: Georgie A. Thomas, R (to Dec. 2002)

Secy. of State: William M. Gardner, D (to Dec. 2002)

Atty. General: Philip T. McLaughlin (to March 2001)

Entered Union (rank): June 21, 1788 (9)

Present constitution adopted: 1784

Motto: Live free or die

State Symbols:

Under an English land grant, Capt. John Smith sent settlers to establish a fishing colony at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, near present-day Rye and Dover, in 1623. Capt. John Mason, who participated in the founding of Portsmouth in 1630, gave New Hampshire its name.

After a 38-year period of union with Massachusetts, New Hampshire was made a separate royal colony in 1679. As leaders in the revolutionary cause, New Hampshire delegates received the honor of being the first to vote for the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. New Hampshire gained a measure of international attention in 1905 when Portsmouth Naval Base played host to the signing of the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War, known as the Treaty of Portsmouth.

Abundant water power early turned New Hampshire into an industrial state, and manufacturing is the principal source of income in the state. The most important industrial products are electrical and other machinery, textiles, pulp and paper products, and stone and clay products.

Dairy and poultry farming and growing fruit, truck vegetables, corn, potatoes, and hay are the major agricultural pursuits.

Tourism, because of New Hampshire's scenic and recreational resources, now brings over $3.5 billion into the state annually.

Vacation attractions include Lake Winnipesaukee, largest of 1,300 lakes and ponds; the 724,000-acre White Mountain National Forest; Daniel Webster's birthplace near Franklin; Strawbery Banke, restored buildings of the original settlement at Portsmouth; and the famous "Old Man of the Mountain" granite head profile, the state's official emblem, at Franconia.

Nickname: Granite State

Origin of name: From the English county of Hampshire

10 largest cities (1999 est.): Manchester, 102,830; Nashua, 82,677; Concord, 38,981; Rochester, 28,241; Dover, 26,586; Portsmouth, 25,798; Keene, 23,003; Laconia, 17,103; Claremont, 13,871; Lebanon, 12,395

Land area: 8,969 sq mi. (23,231 sq km)

Geographic center: In Belknap Co., 3 mi. E of Ashland

Number of counties: 10

Largest county by population and area: Hillsborough, 367,233 (1999 est.); Coos, 1,801 sq mi.

State parks: 42 (50,000+ ac.)

Residents: New Hampshirite

1999 resident population est.: 1,201,134

1990 resident census population (rank): 1,109,252 (41). Male: 543,544; Female: 565,708. White: 1,087,433 (98.0%); Black: 7,198 (0.6%); American Indian: 2,134 (0.2%); Asian: 9,343 (0.8%); Other race: 3,144 (0.3%); Hispanic: 11,333 (1.0%). 1990 percent population under 18: 25.1; 65 and over: 11.3; median age: 32.7.