What’s in a name? Sometimes the naming of towns is fairly obvious based on their location or a particular feature. This is true for a lot of small towns in New Hampshire. Some names, however, have a different story behind them.
- Stark, Coös County
Wikipedia Originally incorporated as Percy in 1795, this small town was renamed Stark in 1832 in honor of General John Stark. It was Col. Stark who wrote the words “Live Free Or Die”, which would eventually become the New Hampshire state motto.
- Lempster, Sullivan County
Wikipedia This town is said to get its name from a mispronunciation. It was re-granted in 1767 and named after Sir Thomas Fermor, Second Baron “Leominster”. The mispronunciation stuck and the Lempster name remains today.
- Pittsburg, Coös County
Wikipedia Not to be confused with the city in Pennsylvania, this Pittsburg is named after William Pitt, Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768. It was formerly known as Territory of Indian Stream prior to its incorporation in 1840.
- Orange, Grafton County
Wikipedia This town went through a number of name changes in its lifetime, including Bradford (now in use by another town), Middletown, and Liscomb. The “Orange” moniker may be derived from the orange-tinted ochre found on Mt. Cardigan, the summit of which is the highest point in the town.
- New Boston, Hillsborough County
Town of New Boston, NH/Facebook New Boston, same as the old Boston? Not quite, but close. When the town was first granted in 1736, it was done so by colonial governor Jonathan Belcher to several families from Boston. The name was derived after their old hometown.
- Hill, Merrimack County
Wikipedia You might think that a town with this name took it from one of the many hills in the area, but there’s no great mystery here. It was named in honor of Isaac Hill, who served as governor from 1836 to 1839. To make way for construction of the Franklin Falls Dam, the original village of Hill was moved in 1941.
- Freedom, Carroll County
Town of Freedom Originally called North Effingham, this small town experienced an influx of settlers from across the border in Maine. Due to cultural and religious differences between the townspeople, it spun of from its parent town of Effingham in 1831. It’s new name reflected this separation.
If you want to read more about unusual spots in New Hampshire, check out these 12 locations with the strangest names!
Wikipedia
Originally incorporated as Percy in 1795, this small town was renamed Stark in 1832 in honor of General John Stark. It was Col. Stark who wrote the words “Live Free Or Die”, which would eventually become the New Hampshire state motto.
This town is said to get its name from a mispronunciation. It was re-granted in 1767 and named after Sir Thomas Fermor, Second Baron “Leominster”. The mispronunciation stuck and the Lempster name remains today.
Not to be confused with the city in Pennsylvania, this Pittsburg is named after William Pitt, Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768. It was formerly known as Territory of Indian Stream prior to its incorporation in 1840.
This town went through a number of name changes in its lifetime, including Bradford (now in use by another town), Middletown, and Liscomb. The “Orange” moniker may be derived from the orange-tinted ochre found on Mt. Cardigan, the summit of which is the highest point in the town.
Town of New Boston, NH/Facebook
New Boston, same as the old Boston? Not quite, but close. When the town was first granted in 1736, it was done so by colonial governor Jonathan Belcher to several families from Boston. The name was derived after their old hometown.
You might think that a town with this name took it from one of the many hills in the area, but there’s no great mystery here. It was named in honor of Isaac Hill, who served as governor from 1836 to 1839. To make way for construction of the Franklin Falls Dam, the original village of Hill was moved in 1941.
Town of Freedom
Originally called North Effingham, this small town experienced an influx of settlers from across the border in Maine. Due to cultural and religious differences between the townspeople, it spun of from its parent town of Effingham in 1831. It’s new name reflected this separation.
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