Downtown New Britain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Downtown New Britain
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Roughly bounded by CT 72, Main St., Franklin Sq., Whiting St., Arch St., and High St., New Britain, Connecticut |
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| Area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian; Late 19th & Early 20th Century Revival; Moderne; Art Deco |
| NRHP reference No. | 16000210 |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 2016 |
Downtown New Britain is the old and important center of New Britain, Connecticut. This area was once the main place for businesses and city activities. It is located in the southern part of the city.
The downtown area is built around two parks: Central Park to the north and Franklin Park to the south. New Britain was a very strong industrial city in the 1800s and early 1900s. This history is shown in the many beautiful and well-built buildings downtown. In 2016, this special area was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
History of Downtown New Britain
New Britain is an industrial city in Connecticut. It is about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Hartford. Unlike many industrial cities, New Britain is not on a major river. It grew into an industrial center later, in the mid-1800s. The city became known for making precise tools and products.
By the late 1800s, New Britain was a very diverse and rich city. Its downtown area shows this history. Factories and workshops started small, often near the downtown. Later, bigger factories moved outside the downtown. They were still close to transportation like railroads and trolleys. Many workers, managers, and leaders lived or worked in the downtown area. New Britain officially became a city in 1871.
Changes Over Time in Downtown New Britain
New Britain stayed successful until after World War II. After the war, how people traveled and lived changed. This led to a decline in the downtown area. Several big fires in the early 1940s also caused damage.
In the 1950s and 1960s, new highways were built. This caused many people to move out of the city. Parts of the downtown area were also torn down. Since the 1970s, city leaders have worked to make downtown better. They are finding new uses for old buildings. They also made streets safer and easier for everyone to use.
Exploring Downtown New Britain
Downtown New Britain is in the south-central part of the city. It is located on both sides of Connecticut Route 72. It is also west of Connecticut Route 9. Both of these are major roads that serve the city.
At the heart of downtown is City Hall. It is in an old building that used to be the Russwin Hotel. City Hall is on the north side of Central Park. The city's Soldiers' Monument is also in Central Park. The busiest shopping areas are west of City Hall. They also stretch south on Main Street to Arch and Elm Streets.
Arch Street and Franklin Square are at the southern end of downtown. This part of the area has more homes, like apartment buildings. There are also many churches here. These churches were built in the 1800s and early 1900s. They served the many different groups of immigrants and their beliefs.
