Since becoming the ninth state in the union on June 21, 1788, New Hampshire has supported various industries consistent with its New England neighbors.
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Its economy primarily depended on cotton and woolen mills, and a few ship building enterprises, before being shoved into modern economic times. With its milling past left behind,
these are the three leading industries in New Hampshire today, based on a report by NPR:
3. Tourism
New Hampshire is a scenic place with opportunities for winter adventures and water sports. The Lakes Region especially is popular with state parks and forested land. It is estimated to be 85 percent forested, which attracts a variety of outdoorsy visitors. With skiing in the winter and boating in the summer, any time of the year pulls visitors to the Lakes Region.
For those more interested in U.S. history,
New Hampshire also features a variety of historically significant sites. Mountain View Grand Hotel in Whiteview is a well-known destination for notable people, including past presidents, artists, and literary figures. In Peterborough, you’ll find America's first library, the Peterborough Town Library, which opened on April 9, 1833, a state website said.
2. Health Care
Biotech and medical research industries in New Hampshire are a strong part of the state’s economy. New Hampshire faces an aging population, which makes these services necessary but has also supported this industry with award-winning research hospitals. One of these institutions,
Dartmouth-Hitchcock, not only offers comprehensive health care but also supports research facilities like the Norris Cotton Cancer Center.
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In the Upper Valley,
biotech and pharmacology dominate the economic landscape. While large facilities are prominent, however, New Hampshire also hosts other hospitals and smaller clinics, which offers many opportunities for those wishing to pursue a health care career.
1. Manufacturing/High-Tech Industries
New Hampshire’s economy has been
supported by the manufacturing industry for years, according to the New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies, and in particular in recent years, by a booming growth in smart manufacturing/high technology. In 2013, this field paid 18 percent of wages earned in New Hampshire.
This market is expected to grow and is considered the modern replacement for the milling sectors of the past. At this point, it just eases out healthcare as the most important industry. Most of the activity for this sector is concentrated at the Seacoast and Upper Valley, with further growth occurring in the Monadnock Region and Merrimack Valley.
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