NASHUA NH
Nashua NH, with a population of over 86,000, is the 2nd largest city in New Hampshire. In fact, Manchester is the only city larger in all three of the New England states in the northern part of the country.
HISTORY
The area that became Nashua was originally a fur trading settlement established in 1655. The settlement’s location on both the Nashua River and the Merrimack River made it a prime location for the fur trade. The land was granted to Edward Tyng in 1673. Nashua is located in the middle of this original land grand that was known as Dunstable at the time. After the border disagreement between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was settled in 1741, Dunstable was divided between the two states.
Just as many other towns located on the water, the industrial revolution came early with textile mills. These mills were powered by the flowing waters of the rivers. The Nashua Manufacturing Company built 3 cotton mills in Dunstable in 1836, with 710 looms. That was the year Dunstable was renamed Nashua.
When the Great Depression struck and the cotton mills moved to the south, unemployment became a problem. But, a defense firm called Sanders Associates moved into the abandoned mills, creating a new industry and reviving the economy. In the 1970s, Nashua moved into the high tech industry with Digital Equipment Corp, which is now a division of Hewlett-Packard. The high tech industry moved Nashua into membership in the Boston Tech Corridor.
ECONOMY
Nashua has included the Nashua River into its design, providing an attractive walkway through public and private funding and Tax Increment Financing. Shopping is free of sales taxes. The Nashua Corporation produced floppy disks throughout the beginning of the 90s, giving the city a foothold in the personal computing industry. The defense contractor BAE Systems, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, and Oracle also have their headquarters in Nashua, and the Boston Air Route Traffic control Center is located here, too.
The city is currently building a major development along the highway, and adding to economic development in the city. It is also reviving the downtown area. Nashua has been voted as the Best Place to Live in the U.S. on two different occasions, and is considered to be the nation’s 27th safest city.
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
The people of Nashuashare a strong commitment to helping the needy. There are many charitable organizations in Nashua, such as The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and Habitat for Humanity.The residentsoften donate cars to Heritage for the Blind, which enables people with visual impairment and to learn about eye disorders, find facilities for rehabilitation, and get help in living independently. Heritage for the Blind accepts car donations on their website. These vehicle donations for the blind are the major source of fundraising for the organization, and funds all of these philanthropic activities.
Whether you are a resident of Nashua, or a visitor you’ll find that the city has a plenty to offer. Everyone enjoys the action, and energy in Nashua.