The Origin and Meaning of the New Hampshire Nicknames The American citizens who live in, or who come from New Hampshire, are referred to as New Hampshirites or sometimes as New Hampshiremen. The history, origin and meaning of each of the state's nicknames are as follows: The Granite State Granite is the state rock of New Hampshire. Granite comes in a variety of colors including red, black, blue and gray and is used particularly for building. There are extensive granite formations and quarries. The White Mountain State and the Switzerland of America The White Mountain State and the Switzerland of America reflect the magnificent mountains of the region. The White Mountains is the name given to the vast mountain range that goes through the northern areas covering nearly a quarter of the region. The Mother of Rivers The Mother of Rivers is a reference to the rivers that originate from the White Mountain range. The interstate rivers are: the Connecticut River, the Saco River, the Androscoggin River, the Pemigewasset River and the Merrimack River. |