History of the North Country

The North Country of New Hampshire was first established in the late 1700s as a collection of small farming communities nestled within a scenic backdrop of mountain vistas and far reaching sunsets. In 1769, to encourage settlement in the frontier, Governor Wentworth supported establishment of Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Over the next 150 years, the region became an early hub for luxury mountain tourism and skiing, drawing wealthy guests from Boston and New York for fresh air, guided hikes, and winter “sports weeks”. In 1918, the creation of the first National Forest east of the Mississippi - the White Mountain National Forest - protected vast tracts of these northern landscapes and reinforced their appeal as a destination for healthful outdoor recreation. By the 1920s and 1930s, grand luxury hotels, ski trains and some of the nation’s first organized ski schools were operating in the White Mountains, creating a template for development later replicated in Colorado. Though only few of the original hotels remain, today the region offers a vibrant blend of world-class outdoor recreation, growing local businesses, and community activities with proximity to Dartmouth College (1 hour), Boston MA (2+ hours), Portland ME (2.5 hours). and Montreal Canada (3 hours).