Most People Don't Know How These 7 Towns In New Hampshire Got Their Start
By Michelle|Published November 17, 2021
×
Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
We love featuring restaurants, attractions, and nature here in New Hampshire, but sometimes it’s fun to learn about the history of our state. And we sure do have a lot of it! Even our trails have history! If you love learning about what came before you, you’ll probably appreciate the stories of how some of the state’s oldest towns came to exist. As you read about these places, remember that the area was originally home to the Penacook and Abenaki people and when we visit we’re on their ancestral land.
Established in 1638, Exeter is one of the oldest towns in not only New Hampshire, but in all of America! After getting its start as a port town, it soon became known as a hub for manufacturing. A fun fact is that when most mills closed after the Civil War the Exeter Manufacturing Company stayed open here rather than moving south like many others. This is also where you'll find Phillips Academy, which dates back to 1781.
Another of the original four, Dover hasn't always had a great reputation. But that doesn't mean it's not worth a visit. The town began as a hub for trade and fishing. But in the 1800s, it joined in manufacturing along with Exeter.
When this coastal town was founded back in 1638 it was primarily known as a great area for farming. Its original indigenous name, Winnicunnet, even means "pleasant pines." While today you might know it best for being a fun beach town, it's nice to think about how different things were back then.
Londonderry was one of the very first inland settlements in the state dating back to 1719 when farmers from Northern Island showed up to take over. The town was covered in nut trees, earning it the name "Nutfield." Eventually, it became Londonderry named after the area from which the settlers were from in Ireland.
Rye is home to lovely Odiorne Point State Park, which also happens to be where some of the histories of the town's colonized beginning took place. In 1623 English traders and fishermen set up a village here. They fished in the rich waters and traded with nearby settlements.
Along with Dover, Exeter, and Hampton, Portsmouth is one of the four original towns in the state. They each came into existence in the early 1600s when the seacoast was settled by foreigners. Each town thrived, but Portsmouth became the largest and operated as a hub of trade for European goods as well as fish and wood.
With the incorporation year of 1829, Berlin is one of the younger towns compared to the others on this list. It earned its reputation as one of the first logging villages in the state and acted as an important gateway to the White Mountains, which had been inaccessible earlier. Things here really began thriving when immigrants arrived by train in 1852 to take on the hard work of logging giving the town a huge economic lift.
What are some of your favorite, historic towns in New Hampshire? Let us know and we’ll check them out!
