Editing Unity, New Hampshire (section)

== History ==

Prior to [[British colonization of the Americas|British colonization]], the [[Connecticut River]] valley was populated by bands of the [[Abenaki|Western Abenaki]], who lived in sometimes-large villages of [[Longhouses of the indigenous peoples of North America#Iroquois and the other East Coast longhouses|longhouses]].<ref name="abenaki">[http://www.flowofhistory.org/themes/movement_settlement/abenaki.php Native Americans in Vermont: the Abenaki] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714190519/http://www.flowofhistory.org/themes/movement_settlement/abenaki.php |date=July 14, 2006 }}, from flowofhistory.org, a website funded by educational grants</ref> Depending on the season, they would either remain near their villages to fish, gather plants, engage in [[sugaring]], and trade or fight with their neighbors, or head to nearby fowling and hunting grounds. Later, they also farmed [[tobacco]] and the "[[Three Sisters (agriculture)|three sisters]]": corn, beans, and squash.<ref name="abenaki"/>

[[Image:The Common, Unity, NH.jpg|thumb|left|The Common {{circa|1904}}]]
Colonization eventually resulted in the establishment of the [[Province of New Hampshire]]. Within that province, the area that is now Unity was part of a territory chartered in 1753 and named "Buckingham" after [[John Hobart, 1st Earl of Buckinghamshire]].<ref name="nhealmib"/> Grants in the area were given by both the [[Province of Massachusetts Bay|early Massachusetts government]] and by Governor [[Benning Wentworth]], which led to disputes. The town was incorporated as "Unity" in 1764 after amicable resolutions of the disputes were reached.<ref name="nhealmib"/>

In the [[1790 United States census|1790 census]], the town had 538 residents.<ref name="nhealmib"/> Unity was on the Second New Hampshire Turnpike, an important trade route chartered in 1799 that connected [[Amherst, New Hampshire]], to [[Claremont, New Hampshire|Claremont]].<ref>[http://www.flowofhistory.org/themes/technology_transportation/transportation.php Technology and Transportation: 1790-1870], from flowofhistory.org<!--, a website funded by educational grants--></ref> By 1810, the town had 1,044 inhabitants, with two [[gristmill|grain mills]], five [[sawmill]]s, a clothing mill and a [[distillery]]. [[Sheep]] farming was a principal business.

===2008 presidential politics===

[[Image:obama unity.jpg|thumb|left|''"Unite for Change"'' Rally]]
On June 27, 2008, presidential candidate [[Barack Obama]] and former rival [[Hillary Clinton]] appeared together in Unity at their first public event since Clinton pulled out of the race to be the Democratic presidential candidate.<ref name="bbc">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7477825.stm  Clinton and Obama rally together], a June 27, 2008, article from the [[BBC News]] website</ref> Unity was reportedly chosen because of the town's name and because, in the [[New Hampshire Democratic primary, 2008|2008 primary]], Obama and Clinton each received 107 votes from Unity citizens.<ref name="bbc"/>