Connecticut: State of the United States of America
Connecticut is a state in the United States.
Its capital is Hartford, and its largest city is Bridgeport. It is one of the six states of New England.
Connecticut | |
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| State of Connecticut | |
Nicknames:
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Mottoes:
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| Anthem: "Yankee Doodle" | |
.svg) Map of the United States with Connecticut highlighted | |
| Country | United States |
| Before statehood | Connecticut Colony |
| Admitted to the Union | January 9, 1788 (5th) |
| Capital | Hartford |
| Largest city | Bridgeport |
| Largest county or equivalent | Fairfield |
| Largest metro and urban areas | New York (combined) Greater Hartford (metro and urban) |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Ned Lamont (D) |
| • Lieutenant Governor | Susan Bysiewicz (D) |
| Legislature | Connecticut General Assembly |
| • Upper house | Connecticut Senate |
| • Lower house | Connecticut House of Representatives |
| Judiciary | Connecticut Supreme Court |
| U.S. senators | Richard Blumenthal (D) Chris Murphy (D) |
| U.S. House delegation | 5 Democrats (list) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5,018 sq mi (13,023 km2) |
| • Land | 4,849 sq mi (12,559 km2) |
| • Water | 698 sq mi (1,809 km2) 12.6% |
| • Rank | 48th |
| Dimensions | |
| • Length | 70 mi (113 km) |
| • Width | 110 mi (177 km) |
| Elevation | 500 ft (150 m) |
| Highest elevation (Massachusetts border on south slope of Mount Frissell) | 2,379 ft (725 m) |
| Lowest elevation | 0 ft (0 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 3,605,944 |
| • Rank | 29th |
| • Density | 739/sq mi (285/km2) |
| • Rank | 4th |
| • Median household income | $79,900 |
| • Income rank | 6th |
| Demonyms |
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| Language | |
| • Official language | None |
| Time zone | UTC– 05:00 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC– 04:00 (EDT) |
| USPS abbreviation | CT |
| ISO 3166 code | US-CT |
| Traditional abbreviation | Conn. |
| Latitude | 40°58′ N to 42°03′ N |
| Longitude | 71°47′ W to 73°44′ W |
| Website | portal |
| Connecticut state symbols | |
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| Living insignia | |
| Bird | American robin |
| Fish | American shad |
| Flower | Mountain laurel |
| Insect | European mantis |
| Mammal | Sperm whale |
| Tree | Charter Oak, a white oak |
| Inanimate insignia | |
| Dance | Square dance |
| Fossil | Dinosaur tracks |
| Mineral | Garnet |
| Motto |
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| Tartan | Connecticut State Tartan |
| State route marker | |
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| State quarter | |
 Released in 1999 | |
| Lists of United States state symbols | |
Geography
The highest peak in Connecticut is Bear Mountain in Salisbury in the northwest corner of the state. The highest point is just east of where Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York meet (42° 3' N; 73° 29' W), on the southern slope of Mount Frissell, whose peak lies nearby in Massachusetts.
The Connecticut River cuts through the center of the state, flowing into Long Island Sound, Connecticut's outlet to the Atlantic Ocean.
The state, although small, has regional variations in its landscape and culture from the wealthy estates of Fairfield County's "Gold Coast" to the rolling mountains and horse-farms of the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut. Connecticut's rural areas and small towns in the northeast and northwest corners of the state contrast sharply with its industrial cities, located along the coastal highways from the New York border to New Haven, then northwards to Hartford, as well as further up the coast near New London. Many towns center around a small park, known as a "green," (such as the New Haven Green). Near the green may stand a small white church, a town meeting hall, a tavern, and several colonial houses. Forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and a sandy shore add to the state's beauty.
The southwestern corner of Connecticut, where it touches New York State, includes Greenwich, Stamford, Fairfield, Westport, Wilton, and Darien. These places house some of the wealthiest residents in the world.
Areas maintained by the National Park Service include Appalachian National Scenic Trail; Quinebaug & Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor; and Weir Farm National Historic Site.
History
The name "Connecticut" comes from the Mohegan Indian word "Quinnehtukqut". It means "Long River Place" or "Beside the Long Tidal River." The first explorer from Europe to come to Connecticut was Adriaen Block, from the Netherlands. After he explored this region in 1614, Dutch fur traders sailed up the Connecticut River (Named Versche Rivier by the Dutch) and built a fort near present-day Hartford, which they called "House of Hope" (Dutch: Huys de Hoop).
The first English settlers came in 1633. They were Puritans from Massachusetts, who were led by the Reverend Thomas Hooker. They founded the Connecticut Colony. Colonies were also established at Old Saybrook and New Haven, which later became part of Connecticut. Historically important colonial settlements included: Windsor (1633), Wethersfield (1634), Saybrook (1635), Hartford (1636), New Haven (1638), and New London (1646).
Because the Dutch were outnumbered by the English settlers, they left their fort in 1654. Connecticut's first constitution, the "Fundamental Orders," was adopted on January 14, 1639, while its current constitution, the third for Connecticut, was adopted in 1965. Connecticut is the fifth of the original thirteen states.
The western boundaries of Connecticut have changed over time. According to a 1650 agreement with the Dutch, the western boundary of Connecticut ran north from the west side of Greenwich Bay "provided the said line come not within 10 miles [16 km] of Hudson River." On the other hand, Connecticut's original Charter in 1662 granted it all the land to the "South Sea," i.e. the Pacific Ocean. This probably added confusion to the early forefathers because the Pacific Ocean is located on the west coast of the United States. Agreements with New York, the "Pennamite Wars" with Pennsylvania over Westmoreland County, followed by Congressional intervention, and the relinquishment and sale of the Western Reserve lands brought the state to its present boundaries.
Related pages
References
Other websites
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