Conveniently nestled at the mouth of the Piscataqua River, the body of water that divides New Hampshire and Maine, the quiet community of Portsmouth is one of New Hampshire's finest. With its close proximity to larger cities like Rochester and Dover, residents who live in Portsmouth apartments for rent love their way of life because they can have all of the big-city amenities nearby but still live in a small town with a distinctive personality. In addition to being such a great community for families, the city has won several awards, including being named one of America's Best Walking Cities by Prevention magazine in 2008. Portsmouth was also added to a list of America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and named one of America's Prettiest Towns by Forbes Traveler in 2009.
The areas around Portsmouth were settled as early as 1623, and many people in the city claim that the town is the third-oldest in the country. It built up its reputation as a port city until the 1800s when the railroad became the largest method of commerce and trade. The city was also the first to have its own Naval shipyard. According to information from the U.S. Census Bureau, the city is home to more than 20,000 residents and has slowly started to establish itself as a tourist attraction because of its location near the Atlantic Ocean and its charming New England sensibility.
The biggest attractions in the area are the Atlantic coastline beaches, included Hampton Beach, the most popular in the region. Ever since the turn of the 20th century, the Hampton Beach has been attracting visitors from all over the New England area due to its pristine white sands and warm, beautiful waters.
Some of the city's biggest events are held at Prescott Park in the summer. The park's music and film festival has reached an estimated 3.5 million festival-goers since 1974 and will continue to lure visitors and residents alike. With events like a summer concert series, movies under the stars and delicious New England Fare, this prized community green space is here to stay.
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