Concord, city on the Merrimack River, seat of Merrimack County and capital of New Hampshire, in the south central part of the state. It is the financial, manufacturing, commercial, and transportation hub of an extensive farming region; manufactures include printed materials, electronic and communications equipment, and forest products. The famous white Concord granite, used in the construction of the Library of Congress, is quarried nearby and has been used in the construction of several local buildings. Of interest in Concord are the home and law office of United States President Franklin Pierce, who lived here after he left the White House; the State Historical Society Museum, with displays of early Americana; and the State House (1816-1819). Nearby is the birthplace of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of Christian Science. Franklin Pierce Law Center (1973) and a junior college are in Concord.
The city's site was settled by whites as a trading post in 1659, in an area occupied by Native Americans of the Algonquin tribe. In 1725 a grant from the Massachusetts Bay Colony created Penacook Plantation, which in 1733 became the town of Rumford. A bitter dispute was initiated in 1741 when both Massachusetts and New Hampshire claimed jurisdiction over the town. The conflict was settled in New Hampshire's favor in 1762, and in 1765 the town was renamed Concord (for the unanimity of its inhabitants during the jurisdictional dispute). In 1808 Concord became the permanent state capital. The town's early economic development was centered around printing. After 1827 Lewis Downing, Sr., and J. Stephen Abbot developed a large stagecoach factory, and, as part of the Wells Fargo fleet, the Concord coaches played a vital role in opening the American West. Because New Hampshire's presidential primary election occurs first in the nation, Concord historically has served as a focus of primary campaigning. The city was incorporated in 1853. Population 30,400 (1980); 36,006 (1990); 37,444 (1998 estimate).
