new hampshire : One of the original 13 states (it entered the Union in 1788), New Hampshire was named after the English county of Hampshire. New Hampshire is called the "Granite State" because of its numerous granite quarries; the nickname may also reflect the state's attachment to tradition and its history of a frugal government. There are no general sales or individual income taxes, which fits with the state motto of "Live free or die". A relatively small state, New Hampshire plays a major role every four years in the presidential election, as it holds the first primary election. New Hampshire was first settled in 1623, just three years after the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts. New Hampshire's history is the story of the transformation of a wilderness to farmland and then to a thriving industrial society. Visitors to New Hampshire enjoy a great variety of recreational activities in six major vacation areas: the White Mountains region, the Lakes area, the Seacoast region, the Merrimack Valley area, the Monadnock region, and the Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee area. The state offers rugged mountains, blue lakes, sandy beaches and quiet villages.
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