The capital city of Connecticut is Hartford. The largest city by population is Bridgeport. Connecticut is located between the big cities of New York City and Boston. It is the third-smallest state by area in the U.S. It is also one of the most densely populated states.

The state gets its name from the Connecticut River. This river is the longest in New England. Its name comes from a Mohegan-Pequot word, Quinnetuket. This means "long tidal river." Before Europeans arrived, different Algonquian tribes lived here.

In 1633, the Dutch built a small settlement called House of Hope in Hartford. But the first main settlements were started by the English. Thomas Hooker led people from the Massachusetts Bay Colony to form the Connecticut Colony. Other English settlers founded the Saybrook Colony and the New Haven Colony. These all joined together by 1664.

Connecticut's official nickname is "The Constitution State." This is because of the Fundamental Orders adopted in 1639. Some people consider this to be the first written constitution in Western history. Connecticut was one of the Thirteen Colonies that fought against British rule in the American Revolution. It helped shape the federal government of the United States.

In 1787, Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth from Connecticut suggested a compromise for the U.S. Congress. This idea led to the two-house system we have today. One house has members based on population, and the other has an equal number from each state. In January 1788, Connecticut was the fifth state to approve the U.S. Constitution.

Today, Connecticut is a developed and wealthy state. It has many good schools, like Yale University in New Haven. The United States Coast Guard Academy is in New London. The state is also known for aerospace companies like Pratt & Whitney and Sikorsky Aircraft. Historically, it made arms and hardware. Now, its economy focuses on finance, insurance, and real estate. Many big companies in these areas are in Hartford and Fairfield County.

History of Connecticut

A map of the Connecticut, New Haven, and Saybrook colonies.

Early Explorers and Settlers

The first European to explore Connecticut was Adriaen Block from the Netherlands in 1614. Dutch fur traders later built a fort called "House of Hope" in what is now Hartford.

The name "Connecticut" comes from the Mohegan Indian word "Quinnehtukqut." It means "Long River Place" or "Beside the Long Tidal River."

The first English settlers arrived in 1633. They were Puritans from Massachusetts, led by Reverend Thomas Hooker. They started the Connecticut Colony. Other colonies were also set up at Old Saybrook and New Haven. These later became part of Connecticut.

Because there were more English settlers than Dutch, the Dutch left their fort in 1654.

Connecticut's Constitution

Connecticut's first constitution, called the "Fundamental Orders," was adopted on January 14, 1639. This document helped set up the government. Connecticut was the fifth of the original thirteen states to join the United States.

The state's borders have changed over time. Originally, Connecticut's charter in 1662 said it owned all the land to the "South Sea," which meant the Pacific Ocean. But agreements with New York and Pennsylvania later set the state's current boundaries.

Connecticut in the 21st Century
George W. Bush, born in Connecticut, was a U.S. President.
Tropical Storm Irene hit Connecticut in 2011.
A big snowstorm in October 2011 caused damage.
Hurricane Sandy caused a lot of damage in 2012.
A drought in 2016 affected farming and water use.

Geography and Climate

Landmarks and Cities of Connecticut
Bridgeport
New Haven
Hartford
Stamford
New London
Willimantic
Gold Star Bridge and Amtrak Thames River Bridge
Mount Frissell, the highest point in the state.
Lake McDonough from the Tunxis Trail.
The Connecticut River near Connecticut Route 82.

Connecticut is bordered by Long Island Sound to the south. New York is to the west, Massachusetts to the north, and Rhode Island to the east. The capital city is Hartford. Other large cities include Bridgeport, New Haven, and Stamford.

The highest point in Connecticut is on the southern slope of Mount Frissell. Its peak is actually in Massachusetts. Many coastal towns are very close to sea level.

The Connecticut River flows through the middle of the state. It empties into Long Island Sound. Even though Connecticut is small, its landscape changes a lot. In the northwest, you'll find rolling mountains. Along the coast, there are marshes and beaches.

The state has both rural areas and busy cities. The northeast and northwest parts are more rural. Cities like Stamford, Bridgeport, and New Haven are industrial and located along the coast.

Areas managed by the National Park Service include parts of the Appalachian Trail. Also, the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor and Weir Farm National Historical Park.

Connecticut's Weather

Scenery at Barndoor Hills in Granby during autumn.

Winter in East Haven.

Most of Connecticut has a humid continental climate. This means cold winters and hot, humid summers. The far southern and coastal areas have a milder, humid temperate climate. This brings hot, humid summers and cool to cold winters with a mix of rain and snow. Connecticut usually gets a good amount of rain or snow throughout the year.

Thunderstorms happen often in the summer. They can be strong, and the state usually sees about one tornado each year. Tropical storms can also affect the region during hurricane season.

Plants and Trees

Connecticut has many different kinds of trees and plants. Forests in the southern parts have oak trees. In the northwest, you'll find New England–Acadian forests.

The state flower is the Mountain Laurel. It grows on low ridges. The Rosebay Rhododendron is also native to eastern Connecticut. You can find some of the largest wild rhododendrons in the U.S. at Pachaug State Forest.

Government and Laws

The Connecticut State Capitol in downtown Hartford.

Hartford has been the only capital of Connecticut since 1875. Before that, New Haven and Hartford took turns being the capital.

Why "Constitution State"?

Connecticut is called the "Constitution State." This nickname likely comes from its important role in the 1787 U.S. Constitutional Convention. During this meeting, Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth from Connecticut helped create the "Connecticut Compromise." This plan combined ideas from other states to form a two-house legislature for the U.S. Congress. This design is still used today.

The nickname also refers to the Fundamental Orders of 1638–39. These orders were the first formal government framework written by a representative group in Connecticut.

How the Government Works

Connecticut's government has three main parts:

Executive Branch: This branch is led by the Governor. The Governor makes sure state laws are carried out. In 1974, Ella Grasso became the first woman in U.S. history to be elected governor without her husband having been governor first.
Legislative Branch: This is called the General Assembly. It has two parts: the State Senate (36 senators) and the House of Representatives (151 representatives). They make the laws for the state.
Judicial Branch: The highest court is the Connecticut Supreme Court. It decides if laws are fair and constitutional.

Local Government

Connecticut does not have county governments like most other states. Instead, it is divided into 169 towns. These towns are the main local government areas. Many cities in Connecticut, like Bridgeport and New Haven, have their city government combined with their town government.

People of Connecticut

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	237,946	—
1800	251,002	5.5%
1810	261,942	4.4%
1820	275,248	5.1%
1830	297,675	8.1%
1840	309,978	4.1%
1850	370,792	19.6%
1860	460,147	24.1%
1870	537,454	16.8%
1880	622,700	15.9%
1890	746,258	19.8%
1900	908,420	21.7%
1910	1,114,756	22.7%
1920	1,380,631	23.9%
1930	1,606,903	16.4%
1940	1,709,242	6.4%
1950	2,007,280	17.4%
1960	2,535,234	26.3%
1970	3,031,709	19.6%
1980	3,107,576	2.5%
1990	3,287,116	5.8%
2000	3,405,565	3.6%
2010	3,574,097	4.9%
2020	3,605,944	0.9%
2023 (est.)	3,617,176	1.2%
Sources:

As of 2020, Connecticut has a population of over 3.6 million people. About 20% of the population is under 18 years old.

Most of western and southern Connecticut is closely linked to New York City. This area is known for being wealthy. The center of Connecticut's population is in the town of Cheshire.

Ethnic origins in Connecticut.

Connecticut's population density map.

Connecticut has a diverse population. While most people are non-Hispanic white, the number of Hispanic/Latino and Asian Americans has grown. In 2000, about 81% of residents spoke English at home. Spanish was the next most common language.

Many people in Connecticut have Italian, Irish, English, German, or Polish backgrounds. The state also has immigrants from India, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic.

Religion in Connecticut

Many people in Connecticut identify as Protestant or Roman Catholic. There are also Jewish, Orthodox, Hindu, Buddhist, and Muslim communities. A large number of people also say they are not religious.

Connecticut's Economy

A welcome sign on I-91 in Enfield.

Connecticut is a wealthy state. Its economy is strong, especially in finance, insurance, and real estate. Many major companies in these fields are located here. For example, The Hartford and Travelers are big insurance companies.

Manufacturing is also important, with companies like Raytheon Technologies (which includes Pratt & Whitney) and Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky makes helicopters in Stratford. Electric Boat in Groton builds submarines.

Tourism is a big part of the economy too. Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun are popular places to visit. They are also major employers in the state.

Connecticut's farms produce nursery plants, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruit.

Getting Around Connecticut

Roads and Highways

The Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge (Q Bridge) in New Haven.

Major highways in Connecticut include I-95 along the coast, I-84 in the center, and I-91 going north-south. The Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway are also important roads. These roads used to have tolls, but they were removed in 1988.

I-95 between New Haven and New York City can get very crowded. The state encourages people to use trains or carpool to reduce traffic.

Connecticut has a strong bicycling community. New Haven has one of the highest rates of people who bike to work on the East Coast.

Trains

A Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line train leaving Stamford Station.

Trains are a popular way to travel between New Haven and New York City. The Metro-North Railroad serves southwestern Connecticut. Amtrak also runs frequent trains through the state.

A new commuter train service, the Hartford Line, started in 2018. It connects New Haven and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Buses

Connecticut Transit provides bus service across the state. Bus networks are very important in cities like Hartford and New Haven. CTfastrak is a special bus rapid transit service between New Britain and Hartford.

Airports

Bradley International Airport, Connecticut's largest airport.

Connecticut's largest airport is Bradley International Airport near Hartford. Many people also use airports in New York for international travel. Smaller airports serve regional flights.

Ferries

Several ferry services cross Long Island Sound. They connect Connecticut to Long Island. Ferries also go from New London to places like Orient, New York and Block Island, Rhode Island. Two ferries cross the Connecticut River. The Rocky Hill–Glastonbury ferry has been running since 1655, making it the oldest continuously operating ferry in the U.S.

Education in Connecticut

Yale's motto means "light and truth".

Connecticut is known for its strong education system. It often ranks high for educational performance in the U.S.

Schools for Kids

Hartford Public High School (founded in 1638) is one of the oldest high schools in the country. The Connecticut State Board of Education oversees public schools for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Connecticut also has many private schools. Some well-known ones include Choate Rosemary Hall and The Hotchkiss School.

Colleges and Universities

University of Connecticut, the state's main public university.

Connecticut was home to the first law school in the nation, Litchfield Law School, from 1773 to 1833. Today, famous universities in the state include Yale University, Wesleyan University, and the University of Connecticut (UConn). The United States Coast Guard Academy is located in New London.

Sports in Connecticut

Connecticut has several professional and college sports teams.

Professional Teams

Connecticut has two teams in the American Hockey League: the Bridgeport Islanders and the Hartford Wolf Pack. In baseball, the Hartford Yard Goats and Norwich Sea Unicorns play here. The Connecticut Sun is a women's basketball team in the WNBA. Hartford Athletic is a soccer team that started in 2019.

Lime Rock Park, a racing course.

The state also hosts big sporting events. The Travelers Championship is a PGA Tour golf tournament held in the Hartford area. Lime Rock Park in Salisbury is a famous road racing course.

College Sports

Yale Bowl during "The Game" between Yale and Harvard.

The Connecticut Huskies (UConn) play NCAA Division I sports. Their men's and women's basketball teams have won many national championships. In 2004 and 2014, UConn became the only school to win both men's and women's basketball national titles in the same year. The UConn women's team holds a record for the longest winning streak in college basketball.

New Haven hosts "The Game" between Yale and Harvard every two years. Walter Camp, known as the "Father of American Football," helped create modern football while living in New Haven.

Connecticut's Name and Symbols

State symbols of Connecticut
Song	"Yankee Doodle" "The Nutmeg"
Dance	Square dance
Bird	American robin
Fish	American shad
Flower	Mountain laurel
Tree	Charter Oak, a white oak
Insect	European mantis

The name "Connecticut" comes from the Mohegan word quonehtacut. This means "place of long tidal river."

Connecticut's official nickname is "The Constitution State." This was adopted in 1959. It refers to its colonial constitution from 1638–1639, which was very important.

The state is also unofficially called "The Nutmeg State." The reason for this nickname is not fully known. It might come from sailors bringing nutmeg back from voyages. Or from early peddlers who sold nutmeg grinders. Some even say it's because peddlers from Connecticut would sell fake wooden nutmegs!

George Washington called Connecticut "The Provisions State." This was because the state provided a lot of help during the American Revolutionary War. Connecticut is also known as "The Land of Steady Habits."

A person from Connecticut is called a "Connecticuter" or sometimes a "Nutmegger" or "Yankee".

The official state song is "Yankee Doodle". The short form for the state's name is "Conn." The official postal abbreviation is CT.

Commemorative stamps from the U.S. Postal Service with Connecticut themes include Nathan Hale and the whaling ship Charles W. Morgan.

The Charter Oak.
The USS Nautilus (SSN-571).

Connecticut State Symbols and Historical Figures
State aircraft	Vought F4U Corsair
State hero	Nathan Hale
State heroine	Prudence Crandall
State composer	Charles Edward Ives
State statues in National Statuary Hall	Roger Sherman and Jonathan Trumbull
State poet laureate	Margaret Gibson
Connecticut State Troubadour	Nekita Waller
State composer laureate	Jacob Druckman

Connecticut facts for kids

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