Uncasville, Connecticut facts for kids
Uncasville is a small village in the town of Montville, Connecticut, in the United States. It's located in the southeastern part of Montville, right where the Oxoboxo River meets the Thames River. The name "Uncasville" is often used for the entire eastern part of Montville, which shares the same ZIP Code (06382).
In 1994, the United States government officially recognized the Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut. This tribe had lived in this area for a very long time. That same year, a law called the Mohegan Nation (Connecticut) Land Claim Settlement Act was passed. This law allowed the U.S. government to set aside land in northeastern Montville for the Mohegan tribe to use as their reservation. After getting their reservation, the tribe built the famous Mohegan Sun casino resort in 1996. They also built the Mohegan Sun Arena on their land. The Mohegan people are one of the Native American groups who speak Algonquian languages.
History of Uncasville
Uncasville was named by early English settlers after Uncas. He was an important leader, called a sachem, of the Mohegan people in the 1600s. Uncas became a friend and ally to the English colonists. The Mohegan people were originally part of the Pequot people, who also spoke Algonquian languages. But they became their own independent tribe during the 1600s and 1700s.
The Mohegan tribe helped the English colonists during the Pequot War in 1637. Uncas built a strong, protected village for his people's safety. This village is now known as Fort Shantok. It was built on a high spot next to the Thames River. Later, Uncas welcomed English settlers to the Mohegan lands.
The first woolen mill in the United States was started in Uncasville by two brothers, John and Arthur Schofield. Their mill used water power from the Oxoboxo River to clean and spin wool. The Uncasville Manufacturing Corporation continued to operate on the river into the early 1900s. You can see a picture of the mill from 1906 on the right.
For many years, the Mohegan people faced challenges. During the time of the colonies, their traditional lands were sold by others. This left the Mohegan people without their own land. In the 1900s, the Mohegan tribe worked hard to get their community recognized by the federal government. They showed lots of proof that their culture and community had continued, even without their land. They also started a legal case against Connecticut. They argued that their traditional lands had been taken from them unfairly.
In 1994, the U.S. Department of the Interior officially recognized the Mohegan tribe. A few months later, the U.S. Congress passed a law called the Mohegan Nation (Connecticut) Land Claim Settlement Act. This law allowed the United States government to set aside land for the Mohegan tribe. This land became their official reservation. In return, the law allowed the tribe to open a casino on their new reservation.
With their own reservation, the Mohegan tribe started gaming operations. This helped them earn money to support their tribe and its members. They opened the Mohegan Sun casino on October 12, 1996. It was built near the old Fort Shantok site, overlooking the Thames River. Since then, it has grown into a very large resort with hotels and many other attractions.
Where is Uncasville?
Uncasville village is located in the southeastern part of Montville. It's near where the Oxoboxo River flows into the Thames River. All of eastern Montville, which is on the western side of the Thames River, uses the Uncasville ZIP code, 06382. So, this whole area is often called Uncasville. The U.S. Census Bureau considers Uncasville village to be part of the Oxoboxo River census-designated place. The Mohegan Sun resort is about 3 miles (5 km) north of Uncasville village.
Mohegan Sun Resort
The Mohegan Sun casino in Uncasville opened in 1996. It has become one of the biggest casinos in the world. It has more than 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) of gaming space. The resort also includes a fancy hotel, a theater for shows, about 50 restaurants, and 35 stores.
The Mohegan Sun Arena is also part of the complex. It hosts concerts and live sports events. It can hold up to 10,000 people. The arena is the home court for the Connecticut Sun, a professional basketball team in the Women's National Basketball Association.
Notable Person
- Stephanie Fielding, who worked to keep the Mohegan language alive.
See also
In Spanish: Uncasville para niños
