New Hampshire Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.state.nh.us/

Income

The population of New Hampshire in 2002 was 1,274,405. Its rank was 41st in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 New Hampshire had a per capita personal income of $33,985. This per capita personal income ranked 7th in the United States and was 110 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected an increase of 0.6 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of New Hampshire was $22,002 and ranked 13th in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.4 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 New Hampshire had a total personal income of $43,310,317. This total personal income ranked 38th in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of New Hampshire was $24,593,864 and ranked 40th in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 1.9 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 5.8 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of New Hampshire. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 72.0 percent of total personal income (compared with 69.8 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 16.4 percent (compared with 17.8 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 11.6 percent (compared with 12.4 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings increased 0.8 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.8 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 10.4 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 6.2 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 5.0 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 5.1 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in New Hampshire increased from $30,232,218 in 2001 to $30,803,986 in 2002, an increase of 1.9 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $16,757,547 to the 2002 estimate was 6.3 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - New Hampshire is the seventh smallest state in the nation, with an area of 24,043 sq km (9283 sq mi), including 813 sq km (314 sq mi) of inland waters. The state is roughly triangular in shape. Its greatest distance from north to south is 291 km (181 mi) and its largest extent east to west is 151 km (94 mi). New Hampshire's mean elevation is about 300 m (about 1000 ft). New Hampshire was once covered by glaciers, the last of which receded about 10,000 years ago. These glaciers greatly affected the landscape by rounding the mountains and creating hundreds of streams and lakes. In addition, much of New Hampshire is covered with rocks, boulders, and clays that were deposited by the glaciers. Although all of the state was covered by the glaciers, there are great differences among its natural regions.

Climate - New Hampshire has a humid continental short summer climate, with cool summers and long cold winters. Some of the longest and severest winters in the eastern United States occur in the Presidential Range of north-central New Hampshire. The highest wind velocity on record, 372 km/h (231 mph), was recorded on Mount Washington. The coldest parts of the state are in the White Mountains and the extreme north. Average January temperatures range from about -11° C (about 12° F) along the Canadian border to about -3° C (about 26° F) along the coast. July temperatures range from about 17° C (about 63° F) in the mountains to about 21° C (about 70° F) in the south. Precipitation is evenly distributed throughout the year over most of the state. However, the higher peaks of the White Mountains have heavy rainfall during summer. For most of the state the average annual precipitation is about 1020 mm (about 40 in), although the White Mountains receive about 1170 mm (about 46 in). Heavy snowfalls are common in winter.

State Flag

State Flower - Purple Lilac

State Capitol - Concord
New Hampshire's present constitution, its second, was enacted in 1784 and is older than that of any other state except Massachusetts and even older, by five years, than the United States Constitution. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed either by a convention or by a three-fifths majority in each house of the legislature and to be adopted must be approved by two-thirds of the electorate voting on the question.

Famous People

Alan Shepard astronaut, East Derry
Benjamin F. Keith theater entrepreneur, Hillsboro
Charles Anderson Dana editor, Hinsdale
Daniel Chester French sculptor, Exeter
Daniel Webster statesman, Salisbury
Franklin Pierce U.S. president, Hillsboro
Harlan F. Stone jurist, Chesterfield
Horace Greeley journalist, politician, Amherst
John Irving writer, Exeter
John Langdon political leader, Portsmouth
Joseph Worcester Lexicographer, Bedford
Mary Morse Baker Eddy founder, religious leader, Bow
Ralph Addams Cram architect, Hampton Falls
Salmon Portland Chase jurist, Cornish
Sam Walter Foss journalist, poet
Sarah Josepha Hale editor, Newport