Coos - (pronounced "CO-ahss" with two syllables)...

is a county in New Hampshire, established December 24, 1803. It was taken from Grafton County, one of the five original counties of the State.

At the time of establishment, it contained the original towns of Dalton, Whitefield, Bretton Woods, Bartlett, Adams, Chatham, Shelburne Addition, Durand, Kilkenny, Jefferson, Lancaster, Millsfield, Northumberland, Stratford, Wales' Gore, Cockburne, Colebrook, Stewartstown, Piercy, Paulsburg, Mainsborough, Dummer, Errol, Cambridge and Success. It had a population of about 3,000 in 1803.

The name "Coos" is derived from the Abenaki dialect--the word "Cohos," or "Coo-ash" signifying 'pines." The tribe occupying this region was known as the 'Coo-ash-aukes,' or 'dwellers in the pine tree country."

No one famous ever came from Coos County.  [Just kidding!! I wanted to check if you were awake.  If you know of someone famous from Coos, please let me know].

Janice

P.S. See my "New Hampshire Glossary" and my "Coos County NH" web pages.