Greater New Haven facts for kids

Greater New Haven is a big area in Connecticut, USA. It includes many towns that are closely connected to the city of New Haven. These towns share a lot in common, like their economy, history, and how people live. This region is in the south-central part of Connecticut, surrounding New Haven.

This area is famous for Yale University, a well-known school. People also enjoy the beaches and ocean activities in the towns along the shoreline, especially east of New Haven. North of New Haven, you can find cool landscapes made of a type of rock called trap rock.

The New Haven metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a group of towns that form a continuous urban area around New Haven. This MSA includes all 27 towns in New Haven County. In 2011, about 861,113 people lived in the New Haven MSA. This area is also part of the larger New York Tri-State Area.

What is Greater New Haven?

There are different ways to define the Greater New Haven area. Here are 15 towns that are always included in these definitions:

• Bethany
• Branford
• East Haven
• Guilford
• Hamden
• Madison
• Meriden
• Milford
• New Haven (the main city)
• North Branford
• North Haven
• Orange
• Wallingford
• West Haven
• Woodbridge

Official Definitions of the Area

Different groups use slightly different ways to describe Greater New Haven. These definitions help with planning and services.

New Haven Service Delivery Area

This area focuses on where job training services are offered. It includes 14 towns, adding Clinton to the list above.

South Central Region

This is an official region of Connecticut. A group called the South Central Council of Governments helps plan for land use, roads, and the economy for its member towns. This definition includes 15 towns, adding Meriden and Milford to the main list.

New Haven Labor Market Area

This definition looks at where people live and work. It includes 17 towns. These towns are Cheshire, Clinton, Killingworth, and Meriden, plus the main 13.

New England City and Town Area (NECTA)

The New Haven NECTA includes the main urban area around New Haven. It also adds towns where many people commute to work in the central cities. This definition has 23 towns. It includes Chester, Cheshire, Clinton, Deep River, Durham, Essex, Killingworth, Meriden, Middlefield, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook. This NECTA includes parts of the Lower Connecticut River Valley, which is sometimes seen as a separate area. In 2000, the NECTA had a population of 571,310.

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

The New Haven MSA includes all of New Haven County, which has 27 towns. This definition is used for national statistics. It includes cities like Waterbury and its nearby towns, which are not always considered part of "Greater New Haven" by local people. In 2005, the New Haven MSA had about 846,766 people. Until 2023, it was part of the New York–Newark–Bridgeport Combined Statistical Area. Now, it's a big part of the New Haven–Hartford–Waterbury, CT CSA.

Getting Around Greater New Haven

Train Services

New Haven Union Station is the main train hub for the Greater New Haven area.

• Metro-North Railroad: The Metro-North New Haven Line serves New Haven State St and New Haven Union Station. It also stops in West Haven and Milford.
• Shore Line East: This service stops at both New Haven stations. It also serves Branford, Guilford, Madison, Clinton, and Westbrook. You can also travel to Old Saybrook and New London.
• Amtrak: Both of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor services pass through New Haven Union Station. Most Acela Express and all Northeast Regional trains stop here. Amtrak also offers the New Haven–Springfield Shuttle for local trips to Springfield. The Hartford Line commuter service also helps with this route.

Bus Services

CTTransit provides bus services throughout the Greater New Haven area, helping people travel within the region.

See also

In Spanish: Área metropolitana de New Haven-Milford para niños