New England USA Quick Facts
WHERE IS NEW ENGLAND?
New England is a region located in the northeast corner of the USA. The region is made up of six diverse U.S. states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Discover New England is the official cooperative marketing organization for the region.
CLIMATE
New England has four distinct seasons and is truly a year-round destination. It’s the distinct change of seasons that native New Englanders often like best about living in this part of the United States.
Summer (Late June, July, August)
- Average temperature: 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit (26-29 degrees Celsius)
- Nighttime air is sometimes cooler in the northern mountainous and coastal regions — bring a sweatshirt!
Fall (Sept. through early Nov.)
- Average temperature: 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit (7-10 degrees Celsius)
- Fall air is crisp and cool. This is great traveling weather.
- Peak foliage season is typically early to mid October in the mountains. Fall color starts in the north in September and works its way south to Massachusetts/Connecticut. Plug your desired travel dates into this Yankee Magazine fall foliage map to see where the colors might be best.
Winter (mid-Nov. through the end of March)
- Average temperature: 25 degrees Fahrenheit (-3 Celsius)
- Snowfall: Southern New England snowfall averages around 35 inches per year while the upper mountainous regions often receive over 100 inches annually — to the delight of skiers and snowboarders.
Spring (April, May, early June)
- Temperatures: 40-60 degrees Fahrenheit (4 – 15.5 degrees Celsius)
- Tip: bring a raincoat, just in case.
LANGUAGE
English
CURRENCY
U.S. Dollar. The official rate of exchange fluctuates daily, depending on the foreign exchange markets. Please check for current exchange rates.
GEOGRAPHY
New England’s geography offers immense diversity. The region is bounded to the north by Canada, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the south by Long Island Sound, and to the west by the state of New York. There are rivers and lakes, towering forests, mountain ranges with hiking and skiing trails, pastoral farmland and countryside, and dramatic rocky coastline and soft, sandy beaches.
ACCOMMODATION
Quaint country inns and boutique B&B’s are the most popular type of accommodation for the vast majority of visitors wishing to experience the warm hospitality and high levels of service for which the region is renowned. The hearty New England breakfast combined with comfy four poster beds, in-room fireplaces and private whirlpool baths add to their appeal.
New England also boasts a wide range of hotels, budget motels and hostels to large family resorts and luxurious five-star properties.
Private rental properties; condominiums; spa retreats; golf, tennis and ski resorts; fully equipped and primitive campgrounds and RV parks are also available throughout the region. Learn more about New England accommodation options.
GATEWAY AIRPORT
New England’s principal gateway is Boston, Massachusetts, the region’s largest city. For U.K. travelers, four major airlines operate direct scheduled flights from London into Boston’s Logan International Airport, situated just a stone’s throw away from the city center. The airport is located at the heart of New England’s interstate highway network linking Boston to every corner of the region.
PORTS & HARBORS
New England’s major cruise ship ports are Newport, Rhode Island; Boston, Massachusetts; Portland, Maine; and Bar Harbor, Maine. Most major cruise lines offer New England and Canada/New England trips aboard the large and mid-sized ships. Other companies offer interesting specialty cruises aboard smaller boats that can navigate into other harbors and waterways along the New England coast — even Vermont’s Lake Champlain. Read more about New England cruises and New England cruise destinations.
PEOPLE
The people of New England are known for their warm hospitality, friendly manner and liberal approach to life.
The majority of New Englanders love the great outdoors and, as such, plenty of outdoor activities are available throughout the region from hiking, biking and kayaking to more extreme sports including white water rafting, tubing and sky diving. New Englanders are very passionate when it comes to sport and the biggest professional teams in the region are the Boston Red Sox (baseball), the New England Patriots (American football), the Boston Celtics (basketball), the Boston Bruins (ice hockey) and the New England Revolution (soccer).
WELL-KNOWN PERSONS LIVING IN OR INSPIRED BY NEW ENGLAND
Authors: Over the years, New England has been the home and inspiration to many literary greats including Mark Twain (Huckleberry Finn) and Harriet Beecher Stowe (Uncle Tom’s Cabin) as well as a number of best-selling modern-day authors including Stephen King, John Irving and Dan Brown.
Presidents: The region is also well known for its presidential connections and is a favorite summer vacation spot of many present and past presidents.
- John F. Kennedy, who was born in Massachusetts, would often vacation in the state of Rhode Island and in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
- Former Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush regularly vacation in Kennebunkport, Maine, where the family has a summer compound.
- Current president Barack Obama, who studied law at Harvard University in Boston, has spent vacation time on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and in Acadia National Park in Maine.
Filmmakers: Due to its diverse landscape, New England is popular with Hollywood filmmakers and actors alike, and has served as the backdrop to many Hollywood movies throughout the years, including White Christmas, Carousel, On Golden Pond, The Crucible, The Perfect Storm, Mystic River, Mystic Pizza and The Departed. See a recommended driving tour for New England area film locations.
POPULATION
New England’s population in 2010 (per the 2010 census) was 14,444,865. The three southern states of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are more densely populated than the northern states, with the most populated urban areas being situated along the eastern coastline. New England’s history and culture is very diverse and has been shaped over hundreds of years by many immigrants from Europe.
HISTORY
New England is one of the most historic and culturally rich regions of the USA. The region was one of the earliest English settlements in the “New World” following the arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers, who set sail from England aboard the Mayflower in 1620 in search of religious freedom. By the late 18th century, the British colonies of New England were amongst the first to demonstrate ambitions of independence from the British Crown; one of the most notable demonstrations was the Boston Tea Party of 1773. The American Revolutionary war broke out shortly after in 1775 and the Declaration of Independence was signed and adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. In the 19th Century, New England also played a fundamental role in the movement to abolish slavery. Learn more about New England history and heritage experiences and New England’s living history museums.
POLITICS
As you might expect from the region that was paramount to the American Revolution, the people of New England are extremely politically active. The Democratic Party is the dominant political party in the region, and New Englanders tend to be very liberal in their views. For example, in May 2004, Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to legally recognize and perform same-sex marriages. All six New England states have now legalized same-sex marriages.
FOOD
New Englanders love their food and take full advantage of the rich regional produce. There’s nothing quite like an apple cider during the fall, pancakes with real maple syrup, a clambake on the beach or a barbecue on the back porch. Think of blueberries, cranberries and lobster. Then there are clams, the vital ingredient for New England’s very own clam chowder and “just off the boat” lobster and fish. Fresh organic fruit and produce grown on family farms is used to make pumpkin, peach and apple pies, spinach soufflés or corn and crabmeat bisque. A wide choice of artisan cheeses and breads are available, and there are also a number of microbreweries and vineyards to be explored throughout the region.
DID YOU KNOW?
- New Englanders love their ice cream and the town of Waterbury, Vermont, is the official home of Ben & Jerry’s HQ. Factory tours are available every day and there is even the opportunity to sample exclusive flavors in the scoop shop afterwards.
- New England’s wildlife is diverse and ranges from whales and dolphins to thousands of species of birds and wild moose. Moose safaris are available in New Hampshire and Maine and are the best and most exciting way to view these shy giants.
- The small coastal town of Rockland is the Lobster Capital of Maine and, each August, plays host to the Maine Lobster Festival.
- Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state but has the longest name. Little Rhody, as it is known locally, measures just 48 miles long and 37 miles wide, however, the state’s full name is Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
- Popular sports, including basketball and volleyball, were invented in Massachusetts; Springfield, Mass., is home to the Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Connecticut, New England’s southernmost state, has a wine trail through a collection of 25 unique vineyards.
Read about the best things to see and do in each New England state.
