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Connecticut, US (Population: 3,504,809)
State Capitol: Hartford

Major Cities: Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, New Britain, West Hartford, Greenwich

State Nickname/Motto: Constitution State / Qui transtulit sustinet: He who transplanted still sustains

Statehood Granted: January 9, 1788

History: The name "Connecticut" originates from the Mohican word quinnitukqut, meaning "long tidal river." for the Connecticut River. Adriaen Block, the Dutch explorer was the first European explorer in Connecticut. Later, Dutch fur traders sailed up the Connecticut River and built a fort near present-day Hartford, which they called "House of Hope" (Dutch: Huys de Hoop). In 1633, the Puritans from Massachusetts, led by the Puritan reverend Thomas Hooker were the first English settlers in the area. About that same time, colonies were also established at Old Saybrook and New Haven.

Geography: Highest point: Mt. Frissell; 2,380 feet. Despite its size, the state has regional variations in its landscape and culture from the wealthy estates of Fairfield County's "Gold Coast" to the rolling mountains and horse-farms of the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut. Connecticut's rural areas and small towns in the northeast and northwest corners of the state contrast sharply with its industrial cities, located along the coastal highways from the New York border to New Haven, then northwards to Hartford, as well as further up the coast near New London.

Ethnic Diversity: One Race (98.3%), White (81.2%), Black or African American 9.1%), American Indian and Alaska Native (0.2%), Asian (0.9%), Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (0.0%), Some other race 4.5%), Two or more races (1.7%), Hispanic or Latino (10.9%)*

Famous State People:
  • Benedict Arnold (1741 - 1801) A captain of the Colonial Army turned British spy. He is famous for burning down the town of New London; since then, his name has meant “traitor;” born in Norwich.
  • Phineas T. Barnum (1810 - 1891) One founder of the Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus; born in Bethel.
  • Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) (1835 - 1910) Author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; lived in Hartford.
  • Ethan Allan (1738 - 1789) American Revolutionary soldier; Born in Litchfield.
  • Dorothy Hamill (1956 - ) Olympic gold medallist and professional ice skater with the Ice Capades; grew up in Riverside.
  • Samuel Colt (1814 - 1862) Inventor and founder of the Colt firearm company; born in Hartford.
  • Nathan Hale (1755 -1776) A martyr soldier of the American Revolution; born in Coventry.
  • Katharine Hepburn (1907 - ) Famous actress who won four Academy Awards for best actress; born in Hartford.
  • Mary Kies The first woman to receive a US patent, received on May 15th, 1809 for a method of weaving straw with silk; from South Killingly.
  • Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 - 1896) Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin; born in Litchfield.
  • Noah Webster (1758 - 1843) Author of the first dictionary published in 1807; from West Hartford.
  • Charles Goodyear (1800 - 1860) Inventor of vulcanized rubber; born in New Haven.
  • Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (1908 - 1972) Congressman; born in New Haven.
  • Ella Grasso (1919 - 1981) The first woman to be elected governor of a state; born in Windsor Locks.


  • Major Colleges/Universities: Yale University, Central Connecticut State University - New Britain, Charter Oak State College - New Britain, University of Connecticut - Storrs (main campus), Avery Point, Stamford, Torrington, Waterbury, West Hartford (regional campuses), Eastern Connecticut State University - Willimantic, Southern Connecticut State University - New Haven, United States Coast Guard Academy - New London, Western Connecticut State University - Danbury (main campus); Waterbury (secondary campus)

    State Parks: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, and Weir Farm National Historic Site.

    Misc: Connecticut is well-known as the home of Yale University, which maintains a consistent ranking as one of the world's greatest and richest universities, and has the most selective undergraduate program of any university in the United States (an 8.6% acceptance rate in 2006). Yale is also one of the largest employers in the state, and its research activity has recently spun off dozens of growing biotechnology companies, which have brought in billions of dollars to the economy of New Haven and the State in general.

    *U.S. Census - 2005