Manchester, New Hampshire

Manchester is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Located on the banks of the Merrimack River, it had a population of 115,644 at the 2020 census. As the tenth-most populous city in New England, Manchester plays an important role in the region.

The city was named by Samuel Blodget, a merchant and inventor, who wanted to create a great industrial center similar to the original Manchester in England. During the Industrial Revolution, Manchester became a major economic hub, largely thanks to the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company, which was the largest cotton textile plant in the world. Even after World War II, when many textile jobs left, new industries such as DEKA brought growth and change to the city.

History

See also: Timeline of Manchester, New Hampshire

The native Pennacook people called Amoskeag Falls on the Merrimack River—the area that became the heart of Manchester—Namaoskeag, meaning "good fishing place". In 1722, John Goffe III settled beside Cohas Brook, later building a dam and sawmill at what was dubbed "Old Harry's Town". It was granted by Massachusetts in 1727 as "Tyngstown" to veterans of Queen Anne's War who served in 1703 under Captain William Tyng. But at New Hampshire's 1741 separation from Massachusetts, the grant was ruled invalid and substituted with Wilton, Maine, resulting in a 1751 rechartering by Governor Benning Wentworth as "Derryfield"—a name that lives on in Derryfield Park, Derryfield Country Club, and the private Derryfield School.

In 1807, Samuel Blodget opened a canal and lock system to allow vessels passage around the falls, part of a network developing to link the area with Boston. He envisioned a great industrial center arising, "the Manchester of America", in reference to Manchester, England, then at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution.^: 13–18  In 1809, Benjamin Prichard and others built a water-powered cotton spinning mill on the western bank of the Merrimack. Apparently following Blodgett's suggestion, Derryfield was renamed "Manchester" in 1810, the year the mill was incorporated as the Amoskeag Cotton & Woolen Manufacturing Company. It would be purchased in 1825 by entrepreneurs from Massachusetts, expanded to three mills in 1826, and then incorporated in 1831 as the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company.^: 13–18 

Amoskeag engineers and architects planned a model company town on the eastern bank, founded in 1838 with Elm Street as its main thoroughfare. Incorporation as a city followed for Manchester in 1846, soon home to the largest cotton mill in the world—Mill No. 11, stretching 900 feet (270 m) long by 103 feet (31 m) wide, and containing 4,000 looms. Other products made in the community included shoes, cigars, and paper. The Amoskeag foundry made rifles, sewing machines, textile machinery, fire engines, and locomotives in a division called the Amoskeag Locomotive Works (later, the Manchester Locomotive Works). The rapid growth of the mills demanded a large influx of workers, resulting in a flood of immigrants, particularly French Canadians. Many current residents descend from these workers. In 1871, the arch dam was built on the Merrimack River, enhancing the mill's water power delivery system. By 1912, the production of woven cloth in the Millyard had reached a production rate of 50 miles in length per hour.

Throughout the late 19th century and the early 20th century, the city began to expand outward, and many streetcar suburbs such as Mast Road were built. Manchester was formerly home to a streetcar network, the Manchester Street Railway. The streetcar network was replaced with a bus network in the 1940s.

In 1922, 17,000 workers from two of the city's largest companies (Amoskeag and Stark Manufacturing Companies) went on strike for a period of nine months. After the strike, the textile industry began a slow decline, with the Great Depression hitting the city particularly hard. The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company declared bankruptcy in 1935. During the Great Flood of 1936, the McGregor Bridge was destroyed and $2.5 million of damage was incurred to the city's mills and buildings. After the flood, the Amoskeag Manufacturing Company reorganized out of bankruptcy as Amoskeag Industries, diversifying its manufacturing operations with new industries in the Millyard.

Manchester's economy benefitted from World War II, as the city was already well-positioned and equipped with industry to handle war-time production. In 1941, Grenier Field, on the city's border with Londonderry, was converted to a U.S. Army air base.

The city faced a decline in manufacturing in the 1950s and 1960s, with many Millyard buildings becoming abandoned during this time. As part of urban renewal projects, the city filled in the Millyard canals to make room for roads and demolished several mill structures to make way for parking and roads. The Mall of New Hampshire opened in 1977, leading to further decline of downtown. However, during this time several important buildings were constructed in the downtown area, including the Hampshire Plaza in 1972 (the tallest building in New Hampshire until 1994, later renamed Brady Sullivan Plaza).

The 1980s brought renewed interest in the Millyard and downtown. The University of New Hampshire at Manchester opened a campus in the Millyard during this time, and Segway inventor Dean Kamen purchased two old mill buildings which became the headquarters for DEKA. Kamen purchased more buildings in 1984 and 1991, aiming to convert the Millyard into a high-tech center for smart manufacturing and offices. John Madden, a local developer, and Kamen worked with the city to implement capital improvements to the Millyard in the 1980s and early 1990s.

City Hall Plaza was built in downtown Manchester in 1992, to this day the tallest building in New Hampshire and northern New England. In 1991, the city went into economic decline as four major banks were shut down by federal regulators. Many shops and restaurants along the Elm Street thoroughfare closed during this time, as foot traffic declined. At the turn of the century, renewed interest in the Millyard led to a boom in development and business. Several high-tech firms opened offices or relocated to the Manchester Millyard in the 2000s, including Autodesk in 2000 and Dyn in 2004. Brady Sullivan, a local real estate developer, opened its first Millyard apartments in 2013.

Manchester has continued to grow steadily and transform itself into a cultural and commerce hub for the state of New Hampshire. The mill town's 19th-century affluence left behind some of the finest Victorian commercial, municipal, and residential architecture in the state.^: 22–27

Geography

Manchester is located in south-central New Hampshire. It is 18 miles south of Concord, the state capital, and 18 miles north of Nashua, the second-largest city in the state. It is also 51 miles north-northwest of Boston, the largest city in New England.

The city covers a total area of 34.9 square miles, with 33.1 square miles of land and 1.9 square miles of water. The Merrimack River and its tributaries, the Piscataquog River and Cohas Brook, flow through Manchester. Massabesic Lake is on the eastern edge of the city. The highest point in Manchester is Wellington Hill, which reaches an elevation of 570 feet above sea level.

Neighborhoods

Main article: Neighborhoods in Manchester, New Hampshire

The city has 25 different neighborhoods. Some well-known ones include Amoskeag, Rimmon Heights, and Piscataquog/Granite Square on the West Side; the North End and Janeville/Corey Square on the East Side; and Youngsville and Goffes Falls on the edges of the city.

Adjacent municipalities

• Hooksett (north)
• Auburn (east)
• Londonderry (southeast)
• Litchfield (south)
• Merrimack (south)
• Bedford (southwest)
• Goffstown (west)

Climate

Manchester has four seasons. Winters are long, cold, and snowy, while summers are warm and somewhat humid. Spring and fall are shorter and cooler. The temperature usually ranges from about 26 °F in January to about 74 °F in July. The city gets rain and snow throughout the year, with winter being the driest season and early spring the wettest.

Demographics

Manchester, New Hampshire, is the most populous city in the state. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 115,644 people. It is part of a larger area that includes nearby cities and towns, with over 187,000 people.

In 2010, the city had many different groups of people. Most were White, but there were also Black, Asian, and Hispanic or Latino residents. The city has many families of French, French-Canadian, Irish, English, German, and Italian ancestry. Many people in Manchester are young adults, while a smaller number are children or seniors.

Economy

Manchester is the largest city in northern New England. It used to be known for making textiles, but now it has many different jobs and places to visit. The city is called the Queen City and sometimes "Manch Vegas". A big shopping place called the Mall of New Hampshire is near where two major roads meet. In 2001, a large place for concerts and sports called the Verizon Wireless Arena opened, and in 2016 it was renamed the SNHU Arena after Southern New Hampshire University.

Some of the biggest places that employ people in Manchester include Elliot Hospital, Catholic Medical Center, Southern New Hampshire University, and several banks and energy companies. In 2021, a website called Business Insider said Manchester was a great place to start a new business.

Downtown Manchester has some tall buildings, like One City Hall Plaza and the SNHU Arena. There are also places to watch baseball, like the Northeast Delta Dental Stadium, where the New Hampshire Fisher Cats play. Many old mill buildings are now homes or shops, making the area look nice and busy.

Manchester has three main places to shop: downtown, South Willow Street, and Second Street. The Mall of New Hampshire on South Willow Street has over 125 stores.

Arts and culture

Manchester, New Hampshire, is full of interesting places to visit and explore. You can see art at the Currier Museum of Art and learn about design at the New Hampshire Institute of Art. The city also has special buildings like the historic Palace Theatre and homes designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, such as the Zimmerman House and Kalil House.

There are also places where you can learn about nature, like the Massabesic Audubon Center and the Amoskeag Fishways Learning and Visitors Center. The SEE Science Center is a fun spot for kids to discover how things work. Manchester also has a library that has been helping people read and learn since the 1850s.

Sports

Manchester, New Hampshire, is a place where many sports teams play. The city has college teams from Saint Anselm College and Southern New Hampshire University that compete in the NCAA Division II Northeast-10 Conference. These teams battle for a special award called the Queen City Cup each year.

Manchester is special because it is the only city in New Hampshire to have professional sports teams. The New Hampshire Fisher Cats, who have won the Eastern League three times, play at Delta Dental Stadium. There is also a basketball team called the New Hampshire Kingz that plays in the American Basketball Association. In the past, the city had hockey teams called the Manchester Monarchs and an arena football team called the Manchester Wolves. These teams played at the SNHU Arena, which used to be called the Verizon Wireless Arena.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Manchester, New Hampshire and Mayoral elections in Manchester, New Hampshire

Manchester is a city in the state of New Hampshire. It has a strong mayor who leads the city's government. The mayor chairs a group of fourteen people called the Board of Mayor and Aldermen, which makes important decisions for the city. Twelve areas, or wards, of Manchester each choose one member, and two more members are chosen by everyone in the city.

The mayor also helps lead the school board, which has twelve members chosen by wards and two more chosen by the whole city. The school board works closely with the city government but is separate from it.

Manchester has three representatives in the New Hampshire Senate:

• Keith Murphy (Republican-District 16): includes Manchester Ward 1
• Victoria Sullivan (Republican-District 18): Wards 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
• Patrick Long (Democrat District 20): Wards 2, 3, 4, 10, 11, 12

In the New Hampshire Executive Council, Manchester is part of the 4th District and is represented by Republican John Stephen, a former mayor of the city. Manchester is also part of New Hampshire's 1st congressional district and is represented by Democrat Chris Pappas.

In presidential elections, Manchester usually supports Democratic candidates. Although George W. Bush won the city by a very small margin in 2004, more recent elections have shown strong support for Democratic candidates, with Joe Biden receiving the highest percentage of votes in recent history.

Education

Manchester has many schools for children of all ages. The city’s public schools are managed by the Manchester School District. There are four public high schools: Manchester High School West, Manchester High School Central, Manchester Memorial High School, and Manchester School of Technology. The district also includes four middle schools and fourteen elementary schools.

Besides public schools, Manchester has private and charter schools. Private high schools include Trinity High School, The Derryfield School, and Holy Family Academy. Charter schools such as The Founders Academy, MC2, Mills Falls Charter School, Polaris Charter School, and Kreiva Academy offer choices for families. There are also special education and religious schools like Mount Zion Christian Schools and several Catholic elementary schools.

Manchester is also home to many colleges and universities. Over 8,000 students attend schools such as Franklin Pierce University, Hellenic American University, Manchester Community College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Southern New Hampshire University, and University of New Hampshire at Manchester.

Media

Manchester has several local newspapers, including the New Hampshire Union Leader, formerly known as the Manchester Union Leader, as well as The Hippo and Manchester Ink Link.

The city has many FM radio stations, and listeners can also pick up almost all stations from Boston, along with some from nearby areas like Worcester, the Seacoast, and the Lakes Region.

Manchester is near the northern edge of the Boston television market and has several TV stations based in the Greater Manchester area.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Manchester-Boston Regional Airport, the fourth-largest passenger and third-largest cargo airport in New England, serves the city.

Two Interstate Highways, one U.S. Route, and six New Hampshire State Routes run through the city. The Manchester Transit Authority provides local bus routes and a Zip Line service to nearby cities like Concord, Nashua, and Salem, New Hampshire. Greyhound Lines also offers bus travel from Manchester to places in the Northeast.

In the past, many trains ran from Manchester Union Station to cities like Montreal, Portsmouth, and Boston. Today, there are plans to bring new train service to Manchester, possibly stopping at a station near the Market Basket grocery store. Ideas for a rail loop in downtown Manchester are still being discussed.

Public safety

The Manchester Police Department keeps the city safe, with its station located at 405 Valley Street. The city is also protected by the Manchester Fire Department, which has 200 firefighters and ten fire stations. They respond to many emergencies each year and have a fleet of vehicles to help fight fires and rescue people.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Manchester, New Hampshire

Manchester, New Hampshire, has been home to many famous people throughout history. Some well-known individuals include actors, athletes, and writers who have made their mark in various fields. These notable people have helped shape the city's culture and history.

Sister cities

Manchester has friendly connections with two cities in other parts of the world. One is Neustadt an der Weinstraße in Germany, and the other is Taichung in Taiwan. These partnerships help people learn about each other's cultures and traditions.