The Great North Woods region of New Hampshire includes communities whose history, natural beauty, and cultural heritage reflect a diverse and complex area. Easily cultivated, stone-free soils along the Connecticut and Ammonoosac rivers first drew settlers to Northumberland, where by the mid-1800s manufacturing had replaced agriculture as the economic mainstay and industrialization brought prosperity, leisure, fine hotels, stores, a railroad station, barbers, restaurants, a movie theatre, and Lowe's Opera House with its clock tower and seating for 1,200 patrons. Through much of the 20th century, the town supported a significant timber industry and a huge papermaking complex, but after the closure of Wausau Paper and Groveton Paper Board in 2007, Northumberland faced a crossroads as it sought a new identity and future. In Lancaster, Centennial Park's fox statue honors "the brave men and women who redeemed Lancaster from the wilderness"; incorporated in 1764, the town was once one of the 12 most productive agricultural regions in the state and still has the largest dairy farm in New Hampshire. At the junction of Routes 2 and 3, Lancaster has long welcomed visitors to its shops, wide Main Street, parks, public swimming pool, outdoor tennis courts, cinema, outdoor skating rink, and its historic and modern courthouses that reflect its status as county seat. Whitefield, deeded as a town in 1833 as a "playing ground for the boys," is known for the Whitefield Common, its picturesque 1875 bandstand, and the role of railroads introduced in the 19th century; the orange Ball Signal north of town marks the crossing of the Maine Central and Boston and Maine railroads and by the 1960s was the last remaining rail signal of its kind operating in the United States. For more than a century, tourists have come to Whitefield for mountain air and views, a tradition continued by small inns and the Mountain View Grand. Dalton's natural resources, including the Connecticut and John's rivers, Dalton Mountain, the David Dana Forest, and Forest Lake State Park, attract outdoor visitors, and the town also has a defunct goldmine. In Jefferson, hotels such as the Waumbek and the Mount Adams House drew vacationers after the publication of Thomas Starr King's 1859 book, "The White Hills," and today visitors enjoy hiking, birding, and Santa's Village. Randolph is distinguished by hiking trails maintained by the Randolph Mountain Club and by the largest town forest in the state. Stark was named for General John Stark, hero of Bunker Hill and the Battle of Bennington and author of the words that became New Hampshire's state motto, "Live Free or Die," and a statue in the town center honors him. In Stratford, snowmobile and ATV clubs share the longest lineal trail system in New England, with 120 miles of trails across 30,000 acres. Across these communities, friendly towns and abundant cultural and recreational attractions continue to draw visitors.