Things to do / Travel Guide
The New Hampshire-Vermont region was originally populated by indigenous peoples from the Algonquin, Iroquois, and Abenaki tribal nations. Many of the towns, rivers, and lakes in the area derive their names from old Indian words.
New Hampshire
Though Bartholomew Gosnold was the first European to explore the New Hampshire coast in 1602, it wasn't until 20 years later that Scotsman David Thomson founded the territory's first settlement at Piscataqua. In 1629, British Captain John Mason claimed the area between the Piscataqua River and the Merrimack River and named it New Hampshire. New Hampshire was declared a British royal colony in 1679, but the area's eastern and southern borders were not finalized until 1741. The final western border was not established until Vermont became a state.
New Hampshire was the first colony to declare its independence from Great Britain and establish its own government, in January 1776. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788. It was during this period before the 19th century that settlement in New Hampshire expanded. New Hampshire was among those at the forefront of instituting school systems in the nascent U.S. Also in the 1700s, the now-Ivy League Dartmouth College was founded in Hanover.
In the 1800s, New Hampshire's economy began to flourish with the production of woolen and cotton goods as well as the manufacturing of shoes. Due to the state's prosperity, New Hampshire became a popular destination for immigrants from Quebec. Considered a politically “active” state, New Hampshire has become famous in American electoral politics since 1952 for being the first state in the Union to hold presidential primaries.
During the earlier part of the 20th century, the state became a popular tourist destination, especially for visitors from Boston and New York City. It was also during this time that New Hampshire became more heavily involved in textiles as well as in lumber production. When, in 1960, New Hampshire's textile industry collapsed, the technology sector of the state's economy began to develop.
Vermont
While the dates vary slightly, history books generally agree that Jacques Cartier was the first European to set foot in Vermont, around 1535. But it took another 70 years before French explorer Samuel de Champlain arrived and claimed the area around what is now Lake Champlain in the name of France. He called the area “Verde Mont,” which is French for “Green Mountain.”
Much of the land changed hands several times between the two rival colonial powers in the ensuing years. In 1763, the French gave England the area that is now known as Vermont as part of the Treaty of Paris deal which brought an end to the French and Indian War. While this sounded fine to the Brits across the Atlantic, in the New World the land was actually claimed by both the colonies of New Hampshire and New York. The matter was resolved when Vermont patriot Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys seized the area. By 1777 Vermont was an independent republic, remaining so until 1791, when it became the 14th state - the first one after the original 13 colonies.
Over the next century, Vermont became one of the first states to write a constitution, constitutionally provide for the abolition of slavery, grant suffrage for men who did not own land, and build public schools. In 1880, women were granted the right to vote for the first time in state school board elections. Until today Vermont remains known as a bastion of political and civil liberties.
Generally speaking, the state has also been a popular resort and travel destination for over 100 years. While entire swaths of Vermont suffered from two major floods, in 1927 and in 1973, in both cases the state was able to rebound fairly quickly and thus remain a popular travel spot for those seeking relaxation, scenic beauty, and the ability to get in touch with nature through outdoor recreational activities.
In both New Hampshire and Vermont, there has been a recent establishment of important new industries such as electronics, as well as the continued development of the tourism industry. This growth in both states has successfully counterbalanced the departure to other regions of older industries such as textiles.
Historical Attractions in Burlington, Stowe, Rutland and the New Hampshire and Vermont mountains
History
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