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Parkville, Hartford, Connecticut facts for kids

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Parkville Historic District
HartfordCT Parkville 3.jpg
Parkville, Hartford, Connecticut is located in Connecticut
Parkville, Hartford, Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Parkville, Hartford, Connecticut is located in the United States
Parkville, Hartford, Connecticut
Location in the United States
Location Roughly bounded by I-84, Park Hwy., Francis Ct., New Park & Sisson Aves., Hartford, Connecticut
Area 155 acres (63 ha)
NRHP reference No. 15000112
Added to NRHP March 31, 2015

Parkville is a lively neighborhood in Hartford, Connecticut. It's on the city's west side. This busy area centers around Park Street. It stretches from Pope Park to the West Hartford town line. Parkville is known for its homes, shops, and businesses. Most people living here have working-class jobs.

The neighborhood gets its name from the Park River. This river used to flow openly through the area. Now, it flows underground. In 2015, a large part of Parkville became a historic district. This means its older buildings and history are protected.

Discovering Parkville's Past

For much of the 1800s, Parkville was mostly farmland. It was one of the last areas in Hartford to grow. People living here even tried to leave Hartford. They felt they paid too much in taxes. Their land was not as developed as other parts of the city.

The Start of Industry

Things began to change around 1873. A man named Michael Kane started a brickyard. This brickyard was located off New Park Avenue. It marked the start of a big industrial boom. This growth helped a once-quiet part of the city. The Kane Brickyard quickly became very important. It made bricks for many famous buildings. These included Trinity College and the Connecticut State Capitol.

In the years that followed, many large factories opened.

  • The Pope Manufacturing Company
  • Underwood Typewriter Company
  • Royal Typewriter Company
  • Gray Pay Telephone Company
  • Hartford Rubber Works

As Underwood and Royal grew, Hartford became famous. Some people even called it the "Typewriter Capital of the World."

A Growing Community

These factories offered many skilled jobs. This attracted new people to Parkville. First came immigrants from Ireland. Then, people from France, Canada, Scandinavia, and Germany arrived. More people meant more homes were needed. In 1871, developers bought farmland. They created new streets with small lots. These were perfect for working-class families. Most of the houses in Parkville today were built between 1890 and 1917.

Parkville Today

After World War II, things changed again. The building of Interstate 84 also affected the area. Many factories in Parkville closed down. Middle-class families started moving to the suburbs. New immigrants and people from other parts of Hartford moved in. By the mid-1960s, many Portuguese families made Parkville their home. They opened small businesses along Park Street. Today, Parkville is home to many different cultures. You'll find people from Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean.

Parkville is also a center for art and culture. Real Art Ways started in 1975. It is now in the old Underwood Typewriter building. This center brings creative energy to the neighborhood. It offers:

  • Modern art exhibits
  • Live art performances
  • Movies
  • A wi-fi lounge
  • Special community programs

The Hartford Preservation Alliance also has offices here. They work to protect Hartford's historic buildings.

Parkville is also well-connected by public transport. The Parkville station is part of the CTfastrak system. This is a special bus line. It connects downtown Hartford to New Britain.

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