New Hampshire Symbols, State Names

Browse the state's symbols; state animal, state bird, state flower, state flag, state fossil, state insect, state motto, state seal, state tree, color, dance, fish, mammal, music, nut, reptile seal, and miscellaneous designations, emblems, and mascot of each state with pictures. Find origin of the state name. View the state almanacs, state timelines and peruse state facts and stats such as the capitol, location, and date admitted to the union.

Nick Name

Northeast

Granite State - Granite is the traditional rock in New Hampshire. It gave New Hampshire its nickname of The Granite State. New Hampshire once had a large industry surrounding the quarrying of granite.
Queen State - Queen by right of her natural beauty; queen by her native hardy spirit; queen by her diversified industry; queen by reason of her motherhood of great men.
White Mountain State
Switzerland of America - For the White Mountains.
Mother of Rivers - For rivers with headwaters in the White Mountains.

Origin of Name

From the English county of Hampshire

Captain John Mason received a grant for land in 1629. He named this land New Hampshire after the English county of Hampshire where he had enjoyed a number of years as a child.