Litchfield Hills facts for kids

Map of Connecticut showing the Northwest Connecticut region in green and the Litchfield Hills region in blue

The Litchfield Hills are a beautiful area in the northwestern part of Connecticut. People also call this region the Northwest Hills or Northwest Highlands. It's mostly the same area as Litchfield County. This region is known for its rolling hills and forests. It's also the southern part of the larger Berkshires mountain range. The Litchfield Hills share a similar culture with other parts of western New England.

Towns and Cities in the Litchfield Hills

Many towns and one city make up the Litchfield Hills region. Here is a list of them:

What Makes the Litchfield Hills Special?

The Litchfield Hills are famous for their lovely rural scenery. This is different from central and southern Connecticut, which have more cities and suburbs. Even so, some new buildings are starting to appear as more people move here. People from New York City and other parts of Connecticut enjoy moving to this peaceful area.

Nature and Landscape

This region is important for the Housatonic River and Farmington River. These rivers provide water for many areas. The Litchfield Hills also have some of Connecticut's tallest mountains. These include Bear Mountain and Canaan Mountain. Most of the area has forests and rocky hills. You can also find farms and small towns in the flatter parts. The land changes from gently rolling hills in the south to more mountainous areas in the north. Because of its higher elevation, the region usually has colder weather.

Local Charm and History

The Litchfield Hills are well-known for their pretty town greens. These are open grassy areas in the center of towns. The region is also famous for its amazing fall foliage. In autumn, the leaves on the trees turn bright colors. You can also see many historic buildings here. The Litchfield Hills are the southernmost part of the the Berkshires. This area also has many small vineyards and wineries. In the past, the region was known for its limestone, iron, and dairy farms.

A Unique Local Word: "Raggie"

You might hear a special word in this region: "raggie". This term likely came from iron workers in Salisbury, near Mount Riga. These workers were often poor immigrants. Their clothes got dirty from their work. After the iron factories closed, the workers moved to other towns like Norfolk and Torrington. The name "raggie" stayed with them. This word is almost never heard outside of this area.

Different Parts of the Litchfield Hills

The Litchfield Hills region can be divided into a few smaller areas. Each has its own unique features.

Northwestern Connecticut

A scene from The Hotchkiss School in Salisbury

The towns in Northwestern Connecticut include: Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Roxbury, Salisbury, Sharon, Warren, and Washington. This part of Connecticut is special because its soil is more alkaline. This is due to the limestone found underground. The flatter areas near the upper Housatonic River have some of the best farming soil in Litchfield County.

This region is very popular for people who want a second home. Many people from New York City buy homes here. The hills are quiet enough to escape city life. But they are also close enough (less than 90 miles) for weekend visits. Many visitors come in the fall to see the colorful leaves. They also enjoy visiting the region's covered bridges and waterfalls.

Many famous people have lived in this area. Some include Mia Farrow, Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman, Denis Leary, and Kevin Bacon. This region is very similar to parts of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, which is just to the north.

Northwestern Connecticut offers many cultural activities. You can enjoy chamber music at Music Mountain in Canaan. There are also many art galleries. The region is home to several well-known preparatory schools. These include the Hotchkiss School, Kent School, Marvelwood School, and The Gunnery.

The Upper Naugatuck Valley

This part of the Litchfield Hills is also called the Upper Naugatuck Valley. It includes towns like Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Goshen, Hartland, Harwinton, Litchfield, Morris, New Hartford, Norfolk, Torrington, and Winchester. This area has a stronger history of industry than Northwestern Connecticut. Manufacturing was centered along the Naugatuck River in Torrington. In the past, things like brass, needles, and scythes were made here. However, the rural areas still have industries like dairy farming, vineyards, and stone quarrying.

These towns were first settled in the mid-1700s for farming. But in the 1800s, towns with flowing water started to develop factories. When the Midwest opened up for settlement, many farmers moved west. The family of John Brown, who was from Torrington, was one of them. Some places settled by people from the Litchfield Hills include the Western Reserve in Ohio and Torrington, Wyoming.

Around the time industries grew, many immigrants came to work in the factories. Many came from Italy, Ireland, Lebanon, Poland, and Slovakia. Later in the 1900s, many of these industries closed or moved away. Today, tourism is a very important industry for the Litchfield Hills.

The eastern towns, such as Hartland, Barkhamsted, and New Hartford, have large water supply reservoirs. These reservoirs provide water to the city of Hartford.

Famous People from the Litchfield Hills

Many notable people have connections to the Litchfield Hills. Here are a few: