New Hampshire
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Maggie Hassan (D) |
Maggie Goodlander (D) |
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New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. Of the 50 U.S. states, New Hampshire is the fifth smallest by area and the tenth least populous, with slightly more than 1.3 million residents. Concord is the state capital, while Manchester is the largest city. New Hampshire's motto, "Live Free or Die", reflects its role in the American Revolutionary War; its nickname, "The Granite State", refers to its extensive granite formations and quarries. It is well known nationwide for holding the first primary (after the Iowa caucus) in the U.S. presidential election cycle, and for its resulting influence on American electoral politics, leading the adage "As New Hampshire goes, so goes the nation".
New Hampshire was inhabited for thousands of years by Algonquian-speaking peoples such as the Abenaki. Europeans arrived in the early 17th century, with the English establishing some of the earliest non-indigenous settlements. The Province of New Hampshire was established in 1629, named after the English county of Hampshire. Following mounting tensions between the British colonies and the crown during the 1760s, New Hampshire saw one of the earliest overt acts of rebellion, with the seizing of Fort William and Mary from the British in 1774. In January 1776, it became the first of the British North American colonies to establish an independent government and state constitution; six months later, it signed the United States Declaration of Independence and contributed troops, ships, and supplies in the war against Britain. In June 1788, it was the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution, bringing that document into effect.
Through the mid-19th century, New Hampshire was an active center of abolitionism and fielded close to 32,000 men for the Union during the U.S. Civil War. After the war, the state saw rapid industrialization and population growth, becoming a center of textile manufacturing, shoemaking, and papermaking; the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company in Manchester was at one time the largest cotton textile plant in the world. The Merrimack and Connecticut rivers were lined with industrial mills, most of which employed workers from Canada and Europe; French Canadians formed the most significant influx of immigrants, and today roughly a quarter of all New Hampshire residents claim French American ancestry, second only to Maine.
Reflecting a nationwide trend, New Hampshire's industrial sector declined after the Second World War. Since 1950, its economy has heavily diversified to include financial and professional services, real estate, education, and transportation, with manufacturing still higher than the national average. Beginning in the 1980s, its population surged as major highways connected it to the Greater Boston and led to more bedroom communities. In the 21st century, New Hampshire is among the wealthiest states in the U.S., with the seventh-highest median household income and some of the lowest rates of poverty, unemployment, and crime. It is one of only nine states without an income tax and has no taxes on sales, capital gains, or inheritance; consequently, its overall tax burden is the lowest in the U.S. after Florida. New Hampshire ranks among the top ten states in metrics such as governance, healthcare, socioeconomic opportunity, and fiscal stability.
With its mountainous and heavily forested terrain, New Hampshire has a growing tourism sector centered on outdoor recreation. It has some of the highest ski mountains on the East Coast and is a major destination for winter sports; Mount Monadnock is among the most climbed mountains in the U.S. Other activities include observing the fall foliage, summer cottages along many lakes and the seacoast, motorsports at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and Motorcycle Week, a popular motorcycle rally held in Weirs Beach in Laconia. The White Mountain National Forest links the Vermont and Maine portions of the Appalachian Trail, and has the Mount Washington Auto Road, where visitors may drive to the top of 6,288-foot (1,917 m) Mount Washington.
Attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ Community in New Hampshire
Attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community in New Hampshire are generally supportive, especially in urban areas like Manchester and Portsmouth. However, recent legislative developments have introduced complexities, particularly concerning transgender rights. Here's an overview:
- Legal Protections and Support
Anti-Discrimination Laws: New Hampshire prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation (since 1998) and gender identity (since 2018) in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
- Same-Sex Marriage: Legal since 2010, with civil unions recognized earlier in 2008.
- Adoption Rights: Same-sex couples have been permitted to adopt since 1999.
- Hate Crime Protections: Laws include sexual orientation (since 1991) and gender identity (since 2019).
- Conversion Therapy Ban: Prohibited for minors since 2019.
- Gender Marker Changes: Individuals can change the gender marker on driver's licenses and IDs, with a non-binary "X" option available since 2020. However, changing the gender marker on birth certificates requires sex reassignment surgery.
- Community and Cultural Acceptance
- Public Opinion: A 2022 PRRI poll found that 82% of New Hampshire residents support same-sex marriage, and 88% support non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Educational Institutions: Many schools and universities have active LGBTQ+ student groups and inclusive policies.
- Healthcare Services: Organizations like Transhealth provide gender-affirming healthcare and support services to transgender and gender-diverse individuals across New England, including New Hampshire.
- Recent Legislative Challenges
Transgender Sports Participation: In July 2024, Governor Chris Sununu signed a bill banning transgender girls from participating in girls' sports teams in grades 5–12. This law has faced legal challenges, with a federal judge granting a temporary injunction allowing a 15-year-old transgender girl to play soccer while the case is pending.
- Gender-Affirming Care Restrictions: Starting January 1, 2025, gender reassignment surgeries for minors will be banned, with exceptions for intersex individuals and certain medical conditions. This legislation has raised concerns among LGBTQ+ advocates.
- Parental Notification Policies: The New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld a school district policy that prohibits disclosing a student's transgender status to parents without the student's consent. This decision emphasizes the importance of student privacy and autonomy.
- Summary
While New Hampshire has established strong legal protections and generally supportive public attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community, recent legislative actions have introduced challenges, particularly for transgender individuals. The state's commitment to LGBTQ+ rights remains evident, but ongoing advocacy and legal efforts are crucial to address and navigate these emerging issues.
History of the New Hampshire Flag
The New Hampshire State Flag features a blue background with the state seal emblazoned in the center. The seal showcases a central circular scene depicting a large warship flying a U.S. flag, docked on a yellow landmass surrounded by water, with the sun rising in the background. The ship represents the USS Raleigh, one of the thirteen warships sponsored by the Continental Congress and built in 1776. Its inclusion on the flag symbolizes New Hampshire's history and its renowned shipbuilding industry. The water represents the harbor of Portsmouth, while the yellow granite land symbolizes the landscape of New Hampshire and the unshakable character of its people. Surrounding this scene is bold yellow text running around the outside of the circle that reads, "Seal of the State of New Hampshire * 1776." Surrounding that text is a circle with a double yellow line border, which is further encircled by nine stars interwoven in a wreath of laurels. The choice of nine stars represents New Hampshire as the 9th state to gain statehood in the United States of America. The New Hampshire State Flag was adopted on November 30th, 1931.
New Hampshire is located in the New England region of the United States of America and shares borders with Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Canadian province of Quebec. New Hampshire is the 5th smallest state by land mass. The capital city is Concord, and the largest city is Manchester. New Hampshire is also referred to as "The Granite State" due to its granite formations and quarries; granite is also the official state rock of New Hampshire. The beautiful, scenic mountain ranges of New Hampshire have also earned the state the nicknames "The White Mountain State" and "The Switzerland of America" in reference to the stunning White Mountains that cover the northern part of the state.
Some of the earliest residents of New Hampshire were the Abenaki tribes and the Penacook. English explorer Martin Pring was the first European to discover the area in 1603. He was shortly followed by British explorer Captain John Smith and French explorer Samuel de Champlain, who also visited and explored the region. After Martin Pring's arrival, England claimed the area and soon began to colonize and establish settlements.
The first settlement, established in 1623, was a fishing outpost near the city now known as Rye. Soon afterward, a permanent settlement called Hilton's Point was established in what is now Dover. In 1679, New Hampshire was elevated to a province of England; however, it was still governed by the leadership of Massachusetts. In 1741, New Hampshire was reclassified as a separate colony. Following the French and Indian War in 1763, New Hampshire was one of the first states to revolt against perceived unfair taxation by the British, and it was the first of the original 13 English colonies to declare its independence from Great Britain. On June 21, 1788, after the colonies were victorious in the Revolutionary War, New Hampshire became one of the original states in the United States of America.
Notes
- ↑ In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the president of the State Senate is first in line to assume the gubernatorial powers and duties as acting governor.
- ↑ In the event of a vacancy in the office of governor, the president of the State Senate is first in line to assume the gubernatorial powers and duties as acting governor.
External links
- Wikipedia article: New Hampshire
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