51 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About New Hampshire

1. In 2012, a man named Vermin Supreme was listed on New Hampshire’s Democratic Primary ballot for president. The heart of his platform were promises of “free ponies and mandatory tooth brushing." Supreme finished in sixth with 833 votes. 2. The 1995 blockbuster “Jumanji,” starring Robin Williams, was set and filmed in the city of Keene. 3. New Hampshire is home to the first ever widely publicized case of an alien abduction. In 1961, Portsmouth natives Betty and Barney Hill reported being abducted by extraterrestrials and taken into a UFO. Since July of 2011, there has been a state historical marker at the alleged abduction site. 4. The potato is New Hampshire’s state vegetable. It is widely believed that America’s first white potato was planted in Londonderry in 1719. Most nutritionists consider the potato to be more of a starch. 5. In 2012, an Epping, New Hampshire woman was arrested four times over the span of 26 hours for blasting AC/DC music and then throwing a frying pan. That kind of dedication takes some Big Balls. 6. Franklin Pierce is the only United States President to hail from New Hampshire. While he is generally considered to have had a lackluster presidency, New Hampshirites can take solace in the fact that Nerve.com ranked him America’s 5th sexiest president. 7. In 2011, a Rochester, New Hampshire woman had an urn full of her mother’s ashes stolen at a bingo game. She eventually went to the media with the story hoping to convince the perpetrator to return the urn. A few days later, it showed up on her doorstep. 8. In 2013, an Epsom, New Hampshire man lost $2,600—all of his savings—playing a carnival game called “Tubs of Fun.” He was trying to win an Xbox Kinect but came up short, and instead, went home with a huge stuffed banana with dreadlocks. 9. Last December, a New Hampshire man caught the attention of local police by knocking on the windows of Hollis Primary School while dressed as Santa and waving to students. The man claimed he was just trying to spread some good old-fashioned “holiday cheer.” 10. New Hampshirites are some of the best presidential voters in the country. In 2012 they ranked fourth in the nation with a turnout of 71 percent compared to a national turnout of 57.5 percent. 11. New Hampshire’s coastal Isles of Shoals were originally named Smythe Isles by the explorer John Smith—yes, he of Disney movie fame. 12. In New Hampshire, it’s illegal to sell lightning rods without a license. 13. It’s also illegal to shoot animals chased up a tree by a dog not from your hunting party. 14. In 2010, the obituary of Dover’s Binx the Goat appeared in newspapers around the state, even though he was famous for almost no reason beyond the fact his owners frequently walked him through town. According to one obituary, “he welcomed a soft pat on his behind, and appreciated any treats fans would drop in his path.” Don’t we all. 15. You probably know that “Live free or die” is New Hampshire’s stark state motto. You might not know that the quote comes from a toast written by New Hampshire Revolutionary War hero General John Stark, and the full quote was “Live free or die: Death is not the worst of evils.” 16. New Hampshire’s state sport is skiing. 17. The Woodman Museum in Dover is a history, science, and art museum displaying everything from Abe Lincoln’s saddle to samurai armor. Maybe the most popular attraction at the museum, however, is a four-legged chicken. 18. In New Hampshire, it’s against the law for unlicensed showmen, tumblers and rope dancers to perform in public. 19. New Hampshire’s oldest continuous European settlement is Dover, which dates all the way back to 1623. 20. It’s against the law to import a wolf into New Hampshire. 21. Peterborough is home to the United States’ first public library, which dates back to 1833. 22. Cornish is home to the Blow-Me-Down Bridge. The name isn’t meant to tempt fate, it refers to the Blow-Me-Down Brook below. 23. Mount Washington was home to the highest wind speed ever recorded by man. The record 231 mph speed was measured in 1934. 24. CNBC ranked New Hampshire America’s “Best State to Live in 2012.” 25. Luther C. Ladd of Alexandria, New Hampshire is believed to be the first soldier killed during the Civil War. He died during the Baltimore riot of 1861, and was just 17 at the time. 26. At just 18 miles, New Hampshire has the shortest coastline of any ocean-touching U.S. state. 27. New Hampshire was originally named North Virginia. 28. If there was a good metric to calculate the statistic, New Hampshire would probably by #1 in the country when it comes to per capita comedy talent. Late Night host Seth Meyers and stand-up comedian Sarah Silverman both grew up in Bedford. Adam Sandler is from neighboring Manchester. 29. The Mount Washington Hillclimb, hosted since 1904 on Mount Washington Auto Road, is the oldest auto race in America. 30. "Old New Hampshire" is the official state song but there are eight other honorary state songs, including "New Hampshire Naturally" and "Oh, New Hampshire (you’re my home)." 31. It’s possible you’ve never heard of Newport native Sarah Josepha Hale, but you definitely know her work. She wrote the nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb.” She was also instrumental in the founding of Thanksgiving, writing letters to five different presidents trying to convince them to support legislation establishing the holiday. The last, Abraham Lincoln, took her up on her request in 1863 in part to foster a sense of unity and hope during the Civil War. 32. Levi Hutchins of Concord is frequently credited with inventing the first alarm clock in 1787. However, mechanical alarm clocks date back to 15th-century Europe, and ancient Greek philosopher Plato is rumored to have possessed something akin to an alarm clock. 33. Derry, New Hampshire native Alan B. Shepard was the first American ever in space. He also has the longest golf drive in history, having hit two balls an estimated 2.5 miles each when he visited the moon in 1971. 34. Most New Hampshirites know that the unincorporated town of Dixville Notch is the first place in America to cast votes on presidential election day, with voting beginning at Midnight. The town’s roughly 75 residents are known for accurately predicting the final outcome but it hasn’t always been the case. In 1960, Richard Nixon received nine Dixville Notch votes, while John F. Kennedy received zero. 35. Earlier this year, New Hampshire’s bald eagle population was reported as being on the rebound after wildlife experts and birdwatchers counted 69 in a single day. 36. New Hampshire has two state seals: the best known seal features early American frigate the USS Raleigh, and the other features upright fish, a pine tree and five arrows. The fish and tree represent industry, and the arrows represent New Hampshire’s five counties. 37. New Hampshire acquired the state nickname “ Switzerland of America” after early visitors compared the White Mountains to those of Switzerland. 38. In November of 2003, minor league baseball team the New Haven Ravens announced the would be renaming the team the New Hampshire Primaries upon relocating to Manchester. Their logo featured a donkey and an elephant. After some local outrage, the team allowed took to a fan vote to rename the team. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats ended up winning out. 39. New Hampshire’s state constitution dates back to 1784, making it the second oldest in the nation. Only Massachusetts’ state constitution, approved in 1780, is older. 40. The island town of New Castle is the smallest by land mass in New Hampshire. It covers .8 square miles and has a population of roughly 1,000. It is also the easternmost town in the state. 41. New Hampshire ranks second in the nation for beef consumption per capita, behind only North Dakota. 42. Pittsburg, New Hampshire is the largest town in all of New England. It covers roughly 300 square miles, but has a population under 1,000. 43. New Hampshire is the only state where a foreign war has been formally ended. The Treaty of Portsmouth, signed in 1905, put an end to the Russo-Japanese War, fought over competing imperial interests. Teddy Roosevelt moderated the talks, and won a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. 44. New Hampshire is the only state where seat belts are not mandatory, and one of only a few states where motorcycle helmets are not mandatory. 45. New Hampshire is also the only state in New England that currently allows the death penalty. 46. A 2009 study conducted by University of New Hampshire researchers found a negative correlation between childhood spanking and the IQ. 47. New Hampshire has hosted the earliest presidential primary since 1920, and the state has passed several laws to ensure they stay #1. This is largely because holding the primary is a big moneymaker for the state. 48. New Hampshire is the only state in America where the parks system is completely funded by user fees instead of appropriated funds from the state budget. 49. A whopping 96% of all employers in New Hampshire are small business owners. 50. Merrimack is home to the famous Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. They’re notably the only horses ever to play football in a Super Bowl commercial. 51. New Hampshire has the longest running lottery in the continental United States. Initially numbers were not randomly drawn, but determined by horse races at Rockingham Park in Salem to avoid federal anti-lottery laws. What’s your favorite New Hampshire fun fact? Tell us in the comments below!