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State in the USA, one of the
New England states, one of the original
Thirteen Colonies, and one of the smallest US states; bordered to the north by the Canadian province of
Québec, to the east by
Maine and the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by
Massachusetts, and to the west by
Vermont; area 23,227 sq km/8,968 sq mi; population (2000) 1,235,800; capital Concord. New Hampshire is known as the Granite State owing to its high concentration of granite deposits. Other nicknames include Mother of Rivers, after the many New England rivers that originate in New Hampshire's mountains; the White Mountain State, after the White Mountain range; and the Switzerland of America, after the state's mountain scenery. The state is named after the county of Hampshire in England. The White Mountains in the north of the state are rugged and heavily forested, with picturesque gorges and ravines. The central rolling uplands are characterized by a large number of lakes and streams, and there is a short, rocky length of Atlantic coastline in the southeast. The economy is based on service industries and tourism, with the manufacture of industrial machinery and computer equipment also providing significant income. Agricultural produce includes greenhouse products, hay, and apples. Manchester is the largest city, and other major cities include Nashua, Derry, Rochester, Salem, Dover, Merrimack, Londonderry, and Hudson. New Hampshire was admitted to the Union in 1788 as the ninth US state.
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