The presence of the navy yard, the Pease International Tradeport and the city's seaside location mean it will always have a place on the map, Cocchiaro said. But without Vaughan and her compatriots, it would be showing a very different face to the world. Cocchiaro remembers returning from the military service to a different city than the one he'd left behind. And the current of change continues to shape the seaside community. The population hovers at 23,000.
Tourism continues to grow.
Money magazine regularly rates the city among the top 10 best places to live in the United States. The redevelopment of Pease promises renewed commerce. And yet, all the change springs from the same passion to keep things the same. Today, residents and tourists alike will tell you why the city stands out on New Hampshire's map. It's old, but it's lovely.