The story of Manchester is one of optimism, entrepreneurship, and hard work. From its earliest days as the frontier town of Derryfield, to the era of industrial development, to the economic and societal challenges of the 20th Century, to today— Manchester has moved forward in a spirit of innovation.
Amoskeag Falls – “Place of Many Fish” Manchester owes its existence to the area of rapids on the Merrimack River known as Amoskeag Falls. The word Amoskeag means “place of many fish” in the language of the Abenakis– the Native Americans who inhabited the area for centuries. The plentiful fishing at the Falls was legendary. The power of water flowing down the more than 50 foot drop in the river at the Falls was harnessed by early European settlers to operate lumber and grist mills. This tremendous water power potential made large-scale textile manufacturing possible during the Industrial Revolution of the 19th Century.
City of Immigrants The Amoskeag Manufacturing Company was Manchester’s largest employer for over 100 years. At its height in 1912 it had 15,500 people on its payroll. It, as well as many other industries, including shoe factories and meat packing plants, attracted large numbers of immigrant workers. Distinct neighborhoods sprung up around the City to accommodate families from Ireland, Canada, Germany, Greece, England, Scotland, Sweden, Lithuania, Russia, Poland and other countries. Many descendants of these early immigrants still live in Manchester today, and the City’s landscape is graced with beautiful churches, temples, and other structures, as well as parks and monuments that reflect their history. The City’s cultural landscape is vibrant and ever changing. Today, nearly 20% of Manchester’s residents speak a nonEnglish language and a wide range of ethnic groups are represented in the community’s diverse immigrant and refugee populations.
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Plan Manchester 2021
