PORTSMOUTH. A city and one of the coun ty-seats of Rockingham County, N. H.. 5S mile's north-northeast of Boston: on the Piscataqua River, about three miles from the Atlantic Ocean, and on the Boston and Maine Railroad (Map: New Hampshire, L 9). It is a port of entry and the only seaport in the State, situated on a penin sula overlooking the harbor, which is deep and commodious, fortified, and dotted with islands that make the site of the city one of great pic turesqueness. On one of the islands, formerly called Fernald's Island, is the United States navy-yard. the place of construction of such fa mous ve—els as the Rangcr and the Kearsarge. Many of the islands in this vicinity, particularly the isles of Shoals. are noted summer resorts. Portsmouth itself is a well-known resort, attrac tive for its fine situation and for the historic interest of its colonial mansions, several of which are still standing. It is also closely con nected with the popular watering places of the coast.
There are three parks: Goodwin, Langdoti, and Haven. Among the edifices of note are the old residences of Governors Wentworth and Lang don, Saint John's Church. the Federal Government building, and the Portsmouth Atbenicum, with a museum and a library of 24,000 volumes. The
city has also a public library, containing more than 16,000 volumes, and several charitable insti tutions. Portsmouth is of considerable impor tance as a manufacturing centre, its establish ments including a large shoe factory, several breweries, a shoe-button factory, and manufac tories of button-sewing machines, locks, boot and shoe heels, and marble and granite. The govern ment, under a revised charter of 1895. is vested in a mayor, annually elected, a bicameral council, and in administrative officers, among whom the police C0/131. issioners are appointed by the State Governor. The water-works are owned and oper ated by the municipality. Population, in 1890, 9827: in 1900, 10,037.
Portsmouth was settled in 1623 by the Laconia Company, headed by Sir Ferdinand° Gorges and Captain Mason. and for many years was known as Strawberry-Bank. Before New Hampshire was organized in 1679. Portsmouth lay within the limits of Massachusetts. It was incorporated as a town and named Portsmouth iu 1653, and in 1S49 it was chartered as a city. Until 1S07 it was the capital of the State.