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Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth, New Hampshire
City
Market Square
Market Square
Official seal of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Seal
Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire.
Location in Rockingham County and the state of New Hampshire.
Coordinates: 43°4′32″N 70°45′38″W / 43.07556°N 70.76056°W / 43.07556; -70.76056Coordinates: 43°4′32″N 70°45′38″W / 43.07556°N 70.76056°W / 43.07556; -70.76056
Country United States
State New Hampshire
County Rockingham
Settled 1630
Incorporated 1653
Incorporated (city) 1849
Government
 • Mayor Jack Blalock
 • City manager John P. Bohenko
 • City council James Splaine
Rebecca E. Perkins
M. Chris Dwyer
Bradley Lown
Nancy Pearson
Eric Spear
Joshua Cyr
Josh Denton
Area
 • Total 16.8 sq mi (43.6 km2)
 • Land 15.6 sq mi (40.5 km2)
 • Water 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2)  7.21%
Elevation 20 ft (6 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 21,233
 • Density 1,358/sq mi (524.4/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP codes 03801–03804
Area code(s) 603
FIPS code 33-62900
GNIS feature ID 0869312
Website www.cityofportsmouth.com

Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, in the United States. It is the only city in the county, but only the fourth-largest community, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census. A historic seaport and popular summer tourist destination, Portsmouth was the home of the Strategic Air Command's Pease Air Force Base, later converted to Portsmouth International Airport at Pease with limited commercial air service.

Native Americans of the Abenaki and other Algonquian languages-speaking nations, and their predecessors, inhabited the territory of coastal New Hampshire for thousands of years before European contact.

The first known European to explore and write about the area was Martin Pring in 1603. The Piscataqua River is a tidal estuary with a swift current, but forms a good natural harbor. The west bank of the harbor was settled by English colonists in 1630 and named Strawbery Banke, after the many wild strawberries growing there. The village was fortified by Fort William and Mary. Strategically located for trade between upstream industries and mercantile interests abroad, the port prospered. Fishing, lumber and shipbuilding were principal businesses of the region.Enslaved Africans were imported as laborers as early as 1645 and were integral to building the city's prosperity. Portsmouth was part of the Triangle Trade, which made significant profits from slavery.


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