Nicknamed the Queen City, Manchester is true royalty among New Hampshire cities. Straddling the banks of the Merrimack River, she's the largest city in northern New England and home to people who love the special lifestyle offered in the Granite State.

Visitors to the Greater Manchester area are only one hour from Boston, the Seacoast, the Lakes Region and the White Mountains, making it an excellent base camp for area excursions. Visitors will discover what residents know -- everything is right here. Shopping, dining, attractions, historical points of interest dating to the Revolutionary War and plenty more can keep your days filled. Enjoy the amenities of the area without the hassle of traffic and crowds. Fish, hike, golf and even ski without leaving the city. In the Manchester region, living is easy.

Commerce from the area comes in all forms. For instance, the world headquarters of Velcro USA is in Manchester, and scores of emerging high-tech companies are located in the city. Large area employers include Fidelity Investments, investment brokers; Citizens Bank, banking; Public Service of New Hampshire, utility; Verizon, telecommunications; General Electric Company, aircraft engines; and Osram Sylvania, electronics.

Not only is Manchester the financial center of the state, it is home to three public high schools and eight area colleges and universities. In addition, Manchester is the headquarters of FIRST, an innovative series of national programs designed to show America's young people that the worlds of science and technology are rewarding. And, Manchester is the cultural hub of New Hampshire. From the New Hampshire Symphony to the world-class Currier Gallery of Art to the Manchester Historic Association's Millyard Museum and a host of other cultural venues, Manchester is a major focal point of the arts in northern New England.

For transportation, the Manchester Airport is one of the fastest growing and most economical airports in the United States. It served well over 3.2 million passengers in 2000, offering 75 commercial departures a day.

With a long tradition of Yankee values, the residents are known for their strong work ethic, as well as a commitment to living in a vibrant small city. With a combination of business, education and the arts, the greater Manchester region has a great deal to offer. Whether you're here for a couple of days or the rest of your life, you'll discover that this region combines city convenience with rural charm.

Incorporated: 1751

Origin: First known as Harrytown and Tyng's Town, the town was granted as Derryfield in 1751. The name Manchester was suggested by Samuel Blodgett, a businessman who found that the Amoskeag Falls impeded shipping on the Merrimack River. After visiting Manchester, England, he was determined to build a canal like those in England. The canal was first opened in May 1807. Mr. Blodgett s goal was to make the town a great city, and although he died in September 1807, it was renamed Manchester in 1810, and incorporated as a city in 1846.

Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 362 residents in 1790

Population Trends: Manchester continues to reign as the state's largest city, and was the first to reach 100,000 residents. Population increased by a total of 24,274 residents, the third largest increase, going from 82,732 in 1950 to 107,006 residents in 2000. But decennial growth rates were low, ranging from a one percent decrease between 1960-1970 to a nine percent increase between 1980-1990. The 2003 Census estimate for Manchester was 108,871 residents, which ranked first among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2003: 3,270.3 persons per square mile of land area, the state s highest population density. Manchester contains 33.0 square miles of land area and 1.9 square miles of inland water area.