New Britain, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Britain
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| City of New Britain | |||
West Main Street, Downtown New Britain
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| Nickname(s):
New Britski, Hard-Hittin’ New Britain, Hardware City
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| Motto(s):
"Industry fills the hive and enjoys the honey."
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 Hartford County and Connecticut Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country |  United States |
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| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
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| County | Hartford | ||
| Region | Capitol Region | ||
| Incorporated (town) | 1850 | ||
| Incorporated (city) | 1871 | ||
| Consolidated | 1905 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Mayor-council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 13.43 sq mi (34.78 km2) | ||
| • Land | 13.36 sq mi (34.59 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.07 sq mi (0.19 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 207 ft (63 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 74,135 | ||
| • Density | 5,551/sq mi (2,143.2/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP Codes |
06050, 06051, 06052, 06053
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| Area code(s) | 860/959 | ||
| FIPS code | 09-50370 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 02378284 | ||
| Interstates |  |
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| State Routes |     |
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| Rapid Transit |  |
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New Britain is a city in Connecticut, United States. It's located about 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of Hartford. The city is part of the Capitol Planning Region. In 2020, about 74,135 people lived there.
New Britain is home to two colleges: Central Connecticut State University and Charter Oak State College. Long ago, in the 1800s and early 1900s, New Britain was famous for its factories. Important places like Walnut Hill Park (designed by Frederick Law Olmsted) and Downtown New Britain are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The city's official nickname is the "Hardware City." This is because it was a big center for making tools and hardware. Stanley Black & Decker, a famous company, has its main office here. Because many people of Polish heritage live in New Britain, some playfully call it "New Britski."
Contents
History of New Britain
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New Britain was first settled in 1687. It became a new parish (a church district) in 1754. Later, it officially became a town in 1850 and then a city in 1871. New Britain separated from the nearby towns of Farmington and Berlin. In 1905, a new plan was adopted to combine the town and city governments.
In the early 1900s, New Britain was known as the "Hardware Capital of the World." Many big manufacturers, like The Stanley Works, P&F Corbin Company (which made locks), and Landers, Frary & Clark, had their main offices in the city.
Inventions and Innovations from New Britain
In 1843, Frederick Trent Stanley started Stanley's Bolt Manufactory in New Britain. This company made door bolts and other metal hardware. In 1857, his cousin Henry Stanley started The Stanley Rule and Level Company in the same city. The two companies joined together in 1920.
- The wire coat hanger was invented in 1869 by O. A. North of New Britain.
- In 1895, the basketball technique of dribbling was developed at the New Britain YMCA.
- In 1954, the sport of racquetball was also developed at the YMCA.
New Britain's City Motto
New Britain's motto is Industria implet alveare et melle fruitur. This Latin phrase means "Industry fills the hive and enjoys the honey." Elihu Burritt, a famous person from New Britain in the 1800s, created this motto. He was a diplomat, a helper of others, and a social activist.
For many years, there was a small mistake in the Latin motto. The word for "honey" was spelled mele instead of the correct melle. In 2007, this mistake was fixed, and the motto now uses the correct spelling.
Geography and Landscape
New Britain covers about 34.7 square kilometers (13.4 square miles). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The land in New Britain mostly has gentle, rolling hills and young forests. The city's many parks are full of trees. Even the streets have many trees lining the roads. One or two small streams flow through New Britain, mostly untouched by buildings.
People and Population
| Largest ancestries (2010) | Percent |
|---|---|
| Puerto-Rican | 29.9% |
| Polish | 17.1% |
| Italian | 9.6% |
| Irish | 8% |
| German | 4.1% |
| English | 3.9% |
| French-Canadian | 3.8% |
| Haitian | 3.1% |
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 11,800 | — | |
| 1890 | 16,519 | 40.0% | |
| 1900 | 25,998 | 57.4% | |
| 1910 | 43,916 | 68.9% | |
| 1920 | 59,316 | 35.1% | |
| 1930 | 68,128 | 14.9% | |
| 1940 | 68,685 | 0.8% | |
| 1950 | 73,726 | 7.3% | |
| 1960 | 82,201 | 11.5% | |
| 1970 | 83,441 | 1.5% | |
| 1980 | 73,840 | −11.5% | |
| 1990 | 75,491 | 2.2% | |
| 2000 | 71,538 | −5.2% | |
| 2010 | 73,206 | 2.3% | |
| 2020 | 74,135 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, New Britain had 74,135 people. The city is very diverse. About 42.7% of the people were Hispanic or Latino. About 14.2% were African American, and 38.1% were Non-Hispanic White.
The average age in the city was 34 years old. About 23.6% of the population was under 18.
The Polish Community in New Britain
New Britain has the largest Polish population in all of Connecticut. By 1930, about a quarter of the city's residents were of Polish heritage. The Broad Street neighborhood, also called "Little Poland," has been home to many Polish businesses and families since 1890.
In 2008, the city officially named the Broad Street area "Little Poland." The Polish community has helped make the area lively and successful again. There are Polish newspapers and a TV station. Many businesses and services also offer information in both English and Polish. The post office in Little Poland even has the word "post" written in Polish to welcome visitors. Every spring, a "Little Poland festival" is held.
Important visitors have come to the Polish district. In 1969, Pope John Paul II, who was then a cardinal, gave a mass at Sacred Heart Church. A statue was built in his honor in 2007. In 2019, Andrzej Duda, the President of Poland, visited New Britain. He spoke to thousands of people in Walnut Hill Park. This was the first time a Polish head of state visited New Britain.
Economy and Jobs
New Britain is where Stanley Black & Decker, a huge manufacturing company, has its global headquarters. Other important companies based in New Britain include Guida's Dairy and Polamer Precision.
Top Employers in New Britain
Here are some of the biggest employers in New Britain:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
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| 1 | Hospital of Central Connecticut | 3,100 |
| 2 | City of New Britain | 1,910 |
| 3 | Central Connecticut State University | 1,654 |
| 4 | Hospital for Special Care | 1,231 |
| 5 | Stanley Black & Decker | 600 |
| 6 | Starling Physicians | 326 |
| 7 | Community Mental Health Affiliates (CMHA) | 325 |
| 8 | Creed Monarch | 275 |
| 9 | Guida's Dairy | 240 |
| 10 | Costco | 225 |
Places to Visit in New Britain
- Central Connecticut State University
- New Britain Museum of American Art: This is the oldest art museum in the United States that focuses on American art.
- New Britain Industrial Museum: Here you can learn about New Britain's history of making things.
- The Hospital of Central Connecticut: This is the city's largest employer.
- Walnut Hill Park: This park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed Central Park in New York City.
- Walnut Hill Rose Garden: A beautiful garden with over 800 roses.
- Connecticut Theatre Company: Located in the historic Repertory Theatre.
- New Britain Youth Museum: Has exhibits for children about local culture.
- The Polish district or "Little Poland": On Broad Street, you can find unique jewelry, handmade items, and enjoy Polish food.
Sports in New Britain
- New Britain Bees: A summer baseball team that plays at New Britain Stadium.
- Hartford City FC: A professional soccer team that plays at the CCSU Soccer field.
- New Britain Fagan Cal Ripken Baseball League: A youth baseball program for kids aged 4 to 12.
- New Britain Little League (NBLL): A youth baseball and softball group for children aged 4 to 16.
Education in New Britain
Colleges and Universities
New Britain is home to two colleges: Central Connecticut State University and Charter Oak State College.
Schools for Younger Students
The Consolidated School District of New Britain runs the public schools. The main high school is New Britain High School.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford manages Catholic schools. Sacred Heart School is a Catholic elementary school in New Britain.
Transportation Around New Britain
Connecticut Route 9 is the main highway that connects New Britain to Hartford and other towns like Middletown. I-84 also passes through the northwest part of the city.
Public transportation is provided by Connecticut Transit. Downtown New Britain is the southern end of CTfastrak, which is a special bus line. This bus line started in 2015 and goes all the way to Union Station in Hartford. There are also CTfastrak stops on East Main Street and near Central Connecticut State University.
For train travel, there's an Amtrak station nearby in Berlin. You can take trains like the Vermonter or the Amtrak Hartford Line to places in the northeastern United States.
The closest airports are Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks and Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) in East Haven.
Famous People from New Britain
Many notable people have connections to New Britain:
- Elihu Burritt (1810–1879): A diplomat and social activist.
- Walter Camp (1859–1925): Often called the "Father of American Football."
- Steve Dalkowski (1939–2020): A famous minor league baseball pitcher known for his very fast fastball.
- Daym Drops (born 1977): A popular YouTube food reviewer.
- Nancy Johnson (born 1935): A former U.S. Representative.
- Byron Jones (born 1992): An NFL player.
- Tebucky Jones (born 1974): A professional football player.
- Sol LeWitt (1928–2007): A well-known conceptual artist.
- Chris Murphy (born 1973): A U.S. Senator for Connecticut.
- Lamar Odom (born 1979): A famous NBA basketball player.
- Jon Olsen (born 1969): A swimmer who won four Olympic gold medals.
- Carl Pavano (born 1976): A professional baseball player.
- George Springer (born 1989): A professional baseball player.
- Erin Stewart (born 1987): The current Mayor of New Britain.
- Tom Thibodeau (born 1958): A current head coach in the NBA.
Sister Cities
New Britain has sister cities around the world:
Atsugi, Japan
Giannitsa, Greece
Pułtusk, Poland
Rastatt, Germany
Solarino, Italy
Images for kids
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View of New Britain, 1930.
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Postcard: West Main Street, pre-1907.
See also
In Spanish: New Britain (Connecticut) para niños
