Nashua, NH

Named after the Nashua River, the city of Nashua, New Hampshire is the state's second largest urban center, after Manchester. Incorporated in 1853, Nashua was for many years a hub for textile manufacturing, due in large part to its river and the proximity to the railroad. Today, the city's economy revolves around the high-tech and defense industries, as well as on the city's popularity as a regional retail, commercial, and entertainment district. The population of Nashua is around 87,000.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The leading industries in the city are manufacturing, educational services, health care and retail. Major companies in the city include Nashua Corporation, BAE Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Amphenol TCS Division, Southern New Hampshire Health, St. Joseph Hospital & Trauma, and SkillSoft PLC.

The city is home to two major hospitals and medical centers, the Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and St. Joseph's Hospital, and it is located 15 miles from three other hospitals, namely the Dr. Harry Solomon Medical Health Center and the Lowell General Hospital, both in Lowell, and the Elliot Hospital in Manchester.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

With tree-lined streets and historic architecture, Downtown Nashua is one of the region's most popular shopping and tourist destinations. The area is home to a host of specialty boutiques, local businesses, and restaurants. Downtown also boasts many of the city's historic buildings. The city hosts evening walking tours of the area during summer months.

Residential areas of Nashua accommodate about 35,000 houses, 40% of them rented.

SHOPPING

Located south of downtown Nashua, the Pheasant Lane Mall houses more than a hundred shops and eateries, as well as several major retailers. The two-story, enclosed mall also hosts a number of seasonal events and activities, and is surrounded by an abundance of outdoor shopping areas.

FOR VISITORS

• Abbot-Spalding House: Built in the mid-1800s, the Abbot-Spalding House reflects Federal-style architecture, and features period furnishings. The house served as a residence and meeting place of many notable individuals in New Hampshire history.
• Canobie Lake Park: Located in nearby Salem, this classic park has consistently ranked as one of the nation's most beautiful amusement parks. Canobie Lake Park features more than 75 family-friendly rides and activities, with roller coasters and carnival games, as well as a paddlewheel riverboat and historic steam engine.
• Frye's Measure Mill: A National Historic Landmark, Frye's Measure Mill has produced wooden products since the 1850s. Many older items manufactured at the mill are now housed in museums. Still powered by water, the mill offers live demonstrations for visitors.
• Nashua Historical Society: Located in the city's downtown, the Nashua Historical Society features exhibits and artifacts from the area's history, including the Native-American heritage of the region and the settlement of the city in the early 1800s.
• Anheuser-Busch Brewery: Located in nearby Merrimack, the brewery showcases the New England brewing tradition through tours, demonstrations, and tastings. The brewery stables also house several of the famous Budweiser Clydesdales.
• Robert Frost Farm: A National Historic Landmark, the Robert Frost Farm is located east of Nashua in the town of Derry. The farmhouse and barn feature original furnishings and family memorabilia, as well as exhibits about the poet and his work.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Fields of Lupine Festival: In neighboring Franconia Notch, the Fields of Lupine Festival is held every June during the height of the lupine flowering season. The festival highlights the region's picturesque blossoms and is a popular community event.
• Hollis Strawberry Festival: An annual June tradition, the Hollis Strawberry Festival showcases the berry harvests of local communities, along with live concerts, seasonal refreshments, face painting, pony rides, and more.
• Keene Pumpkin Festival: Held every October, the Keene Pumpkin Festival is a favorite community event that includes family-friendly activities such as pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating. The festival also features fireworks, refreshments, and a children's parade.
• New Ipswich Children's Fair: Dating to the Civil War-era, the New Ipswich Children's Fair is an annual fall event that showcases regional produce and features a mix of games and activities, entertainment, refreshments, and an auction.
• Taste of Nashua: A popular regional event, the Taste of Nashua draws close to 1,000 people from the surrounding communities. The food-lovers event is held every June and features a wide variety of dishes created by many of the city's chefs and restaurants.
• Winter Holiday Stroll: Hosted every Thanksgiving weekend, the Winter Holiday Stroll winds through Nashua's downtown and features live music, seasonal decorations, and street performances. The area's many shops and boutiques offer holiday refreshments, and the event ends with the annual tree lighting ceremony in the main square.

SPORTS TEAMS

The only professional baseball team in New Hampshire is the American Defenders of New Hampshire, a Canadian American League baseball team that previously played as the Nashua Pride in the Atlantic League. Beloved throughout the state, the team won the 2000 championship while still in the Atlantic League. The American Defenders play at historic Holman Stadium, which underwent extensive renovations in the early 2000s.

EDUCATION

Nashua is home to Rivier College, a private Catholic institution, and Daniel Webster College, a private independent college. Both schools offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The city also has one junior college, Nashua Community College, and extension campuses for Hesser College, Franklin Pierce College, and Southern New Hampshire University. Other institutions of higher education located within 30 miles of Nashua include the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, Brandeis University in Waltham, New Hampshire College in Manchester, and Middlesex Community College in Bedford.

LOCAL MEDIA

Nashua is served by the daily Nashua Telegraph and by the weeklies The Broadcaster and The Hippo. The city is home to four local radio stations and two local television stations, and it receives broadcast radio and television stations from a number of surrounding metropolitan markets, including Boston and Manchester.