Rockingham County

Rockingham County is an administrative division in southeastern New Hampshire covering roughly 795 square miles of land and water. It contains 37 municipalities, including the city of Portsmouth and the county seat of Brentwood.

The county was established in 1769 and named after Charles Watson-Wentworth, who had recently served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. This naming reflects the close historical ties between the American colonies and Britain during that period.

The county preserves original records from 1629 onward, showing how land changed hands and property developed across southeastern New Hampshire over the centuries. These documents tell the story of how communities grew and settled in this part of the state.

The Registry of Deeds office handles real estate documents and offers public access to property records during regular office hours. Visitors can make payments by cash or check and review various property information.

The county contains all of New Hampshire's Atlantic shoreline, stretching for about 18 miles. This represents the shortest ocean coastline of any U.S. state.

Location: New Hampshire

Inception: 1769

Capital city: Brentwood

Shares border with: Strafford County, Essex County, Merrimack County, Hillsborough County, York County

Website: http://co.rockingham.nh.us

GPS coordinates: 42.96287,-71.07762

Latest update: December 6, 2025 21:25