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About Connecticut
The state of Connecticut is the southernmost state in New England region of the northeastern United States. Also known as "The Constitution State" and "The Nutmeg State," it is the third smallest state by area and the fourth most densely populated state in the US. Hartford is the state capital and Bridgeport is the largest city. There are eight counties in Connecticut.
History of Connecticut
The region was inhabited by several Indian tribes − the Mohegans, the Pequots, and the Paugusetts − before the European colonization. The first European to explore the area was a Dutch explorer Adriaen Block in the early 17th century. The first large group of settlers, who were mostly Puritans from Massachusetts, arrived in 1636 and established the Connecticut Colony at Hartford. The Quinnipiack Colony was founded at present-day New Haven in March 1638.
The conservative elite of the state played a pivotal role in most of the colonial affairs till the American Revolution. Connecticut ratified the US Constitution in order to become the fifth state on January 9, 1788. During the Industrial Revolution, the state experienced economic boom and seaport trade volume increased manifold. During the Civil War era, Connecticut manufacturers supplied weapons to the US military and continued to be one of the major suppliers of weaponry to the US military during World War I and II as well. In 1974, Connecticut elected Democratic Governor Ella T. Grasso, the first woman elected to this office in the US.
Geography of Connecticut
Comprising an area of 5,543 square miles, the state borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west. The coast of Connecticut stretches along the Long Island Sound. In the northwest, Litchfield Hills features rolling mountains, whereas to the east of New Haven along the coast, the landscape is dominated by coastal marshes & beaches. The highest point is the southern slope of Mount Frissell, where Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York state lines meet.
The Connecticut River, after which the state is named, divides the land in two equal regions. The highest elevations in Connecticut lie to the northwest. And to the southern part, land gradually lowers into coastal plains. Major rivers that flow through the state are the Connecticut River, Housatonic River, and Thames River. The most populated areas in the state are centered around the Connecticut River Valley.
Travel Destinations in Connecticut
The Mark Twain House & Museum chronicles the legacy of America's most celebrated writer. It is where he spent most of his adult life and penned famous American characters. The Peabody Museum of Natural History, Mystic Aquarium, Gillette Castle State Park, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, and Weir Farm National Historic Site are prominent places to visit in Connecticut.
Hartford is the state capital and marked as Mark Twain's literary abode. Attractions in Hartford include the Wadsworth Atheneum, Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens, and the observation deck of Travellers Tower. Bridgeport houses attractions for all ages including the Adventure Park at the Discovery Museum, the Bridgeport Bluefish Baseball Club, Beardsley Zoo, Barnum Museum, and Captain's Cove Boardwalk.
Transportation in Connecticut
Bradley International Airport (BDL), 15 miles north of Hartford, is the primary airport in Connecticut.
The state lies along Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and thus, it is frequently served by Northeast Regional and Acela Express routes.
I-95 (southwest to northeast), I-84, I-91, and Connecticut Route 15 are major highways in the state.
Education in Connecticut
The state has 166 school districts under the Connecticut State Board of Education. The Connecticut State Universities create the second largest public higher education system in New England. Yale University in New Haven, Trinity College in Hartford, and Wesleyan University in Middletown are among the oldest academic institutions in the US.
Facts about Connecticut
- The word 'Connecticut' is derived from anglicized versions of an Algonquian word for "long tidal river."
- The state is home to the first hamburger, Polaroid camera, and color television.
- It averages nearly 2,400 hours of sunshine in a year, higher than national average.
Last Updated on: September 6th, 2017
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