Situated on the west bank of the Merrimack River, Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire. It is a financial and transportation hub in an apple orchard belt. The town is located about 75 miles (120 kilometers) northwest of Boston, Massachusetts.

Places of interest

The home of Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the United States, is now a museum within the town. The golden-domed State House of New Hampshire is in the center of the town. It was built with concord granite from noted quarries north of the town. The New Hampshire Historical Society and the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium also can be found in Concord. The Canterbury Shaker Village, which includes 24 historic buildings and exhibits of Shaker furniture, is 15 miles (24 kilometers) north of the city.

Economy

Printing was a significant industry during the town's development. Carriage making and granite quarrying soon overshadowed it, and by the end of the 19th century rail transportation had taken over as the town's main business. Concord's present-day economy includes the manufacturing of semiconductors and industrial equipment, the production of apples and dairy produce, and insurance. Concord granite, used in the construction of the State House and of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., is still quarried. Federal, state, and county offices also provide employment in Concord.

History

The site of Concord was settled in 1727, and the community was incorporated as Rumford in 1733 by Massachusetts. In 1741 it was decided that the city was within the jurisdiction of the Province of New Hampshire. After a long legal battle the town was reincorporated by New Hampshire in 1765. It was named Concord to signify the peaceful settlement of the boundary dispute. In 1808 it became the state capital. Population (2000 census), 40,687.