Portsmouth, NH

#26 in the world; #6 in the U.S.

National Geographic Traveler's "Historic Places"

Originally a working seaport where merchant ships traveled up and down the Piscataqua River, Portsmouth continues to be a working port where tugboats can be seen escorting ships through the currents of this tidal river.

Settled in the early 1600s and listed as one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations by The National Trust for Historic Preservation, Portsmouth is called “one of the most culturally rich destinations in the country” with a “stimulating mix of historic buildings, sidewalk cafes, great restaurants, art galleries, jazz clubs, and distinctive artisans’ boutiques.”

Portsmouth, N.H., a city of roughly 21,000 people, sits near the mouth of the Piscataqua River, a short, wide river that divides New Hampshire and Maine. The city also is at the hub of a metropolitan region that includes the cities of Rochester and Dover, N.H., and many towns – Exeter, Hampton, Greenland, Stratham, Newington, and Rye, N.H.; Kittery, Eliot, South Berwick, and York, Maine; and others.

Settled in 1623, Portsmouth claims to be the nation’s third-oldest city. It served as a focal point on the Eastern seaboard until the late 1800s when rail travel did in the shipping industry. John Paul Jones’ ship The Ranger was built in Portsmouth, and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (which lies across the river in Maine) was established in 1800 as the country’s first Naval shipyard.

The geographic location, historic past and cultural strength of Portsmouth regularly lands it on various “best places to live” lists.

(Info taken from Go Portsmouth and www.portsmouthnh.com.)