This, the lowest number assigned to an American Social Security card, was given to one Grace D. Owen of Concord, New Hampshire. She was an ordinary citizen with no special accolades, but was granted this number after the three-time governor of the state, John G. Winant, and the chairman of the Old Age Bureau both declined. The number was then reserved not as any special honor, but merely to the first applicant for the card.
Social Security numbers are determined geographically, starting in New England and working around to the northwestern portion. Then this progression is used to fill the first three digits of the numbering scheme; by this scheme, New Hampshire was granted the '001' range. So, the first card issued in New Hampshire was numbered 001-01-0001. It is important to note that this was not the first card issued, just the lowest number. The first card issued a record was 055-09-0001, belonging to John Sweeney. The first card actually typed is lost in the mists of obscurity.