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Connecticut (IPA: ) is a state in the New England region of the United States, located in the northeastern part of the country. It has the highest per capita income in the country, and ranks 1st in median household income*. Connecticut is also one of the most densely populated states in the nation and has strong economic connections to New York; part of Connecticut belongs to the New York metropolitan area. Connecticut was one of the Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. Residents of Connecticut are sometimes referred to as Nutmeggers. Geography-Climate Connecticut is bordered on the south by Long Island Sound, on the west by New York State, on the north by Massachusetts, and on the east by Rhode Island. The state capital is Hartford, and the other major cities include New Haven, New London, Norwich, Stamford, Waterbury, Danbury and Bridgeport. In all, there are a total of 169 incorporated towns in Connecticut. There is an ongoing civic pride and economic competition between Hartford and New Haven, which stems back to the days when the two cities shared the state's capital, and even back to the rivalry between New Haven Colony and Connecticut Colony. 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 northern boundary of the state with Massachusetts is marked by the distinctive Southwick Jog/Granby Notch, an approximately 2.5 mile (4.0 km) square detour into Connecticut slightly west of the center of the border. Somewhat surprisingly, the actual origin of this anomaly is not absolutely certain, with stories ranging from surveyors who were drunk, attempting to avoid hostile Native Americans, or taking a shortcut up the Connecticut River; Massachusetts residents attempting to avoid Massachusetts' (even then) high taxes for the low taxes of Connecticut; Massachusetts' interest in the resources represented by the Congamond Lakes which lie on the border of the jog; and the need to compensate Massachusetts for an amount of land given to Connecticut due to inaccurate survey work.* * * Perhaps the only suggested reason which can be safely ruled out is that the jog is necessary to prevent Massachusetts from sliding out into the Atlantic Ocean. In any event, the dispute over the border retarded the development of the region, since neither state would invest in even such basic amenities as schools for the area until the dispute had been settled. The southwestern border of Connecticut, where it abuts New York State, is marked by a panhandle in Fairfield County, containing Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, and Darien, housing some of the wealthiest residents in the world. This irregularity in the boundary is the result of territorial disputes in the late 1600s, culminating with New York giving up its claim to this area, whose residents considered themselves part of Connecticut, in exchange for an equivalent area extending northwards from Ridgefield, Connecticut to the Massachusetts border as well as undisputed claim to Rye, New York.* 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 Climate Connecticut lies in a Humid Continental Climate, somewhat tempered by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Winters are Cold, with average temperatures of 31°F (-2c) in the southeast and 23°F (-6c) in the northwest in January. Snowfall averages 25-100" (64-254 cm) across the state- higher in the northwest. Spring has variable temperatures with frequent rainfall. Summer is hot and very humid across the state, with average highs in New London of 81°F (27c) and 87°F (31c) in Windsor Locks. Fall months are mild, and bring foliage across the state in October and November. During Hurricane season, Tropical Cyclones occasionally affect the region. Thunderstorms are most frequent during the summer, occurring on average 30 times annually, and can occasionally be very severe. Tornadoes are not unheard of, but are somewhat rare. NOAA National Climatic Data Center. Retrieved on October 24, 2006. History The name "Connecticut" comes from the Mohegan Indian word "Quinnehtukqut" meaning "Long River Place" or "Beside the Long Tidal River." The first European explorer in Connecticut was the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block. 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, led by the Puritan 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. Its first constitution, the "Fundamental Orders," was adopted on January 14, 1639, while its current constitution, the third for Connecticut, was adopted in 1965. The traditional abbreviation of the state's name is "Conn." Connecticut's official nickname, adopted in 1959, is "The Constitution State." Connecticut is the fifth of the original thirteen states. According to Webster's New International Dictionary, 1993, a person who is a native or resident of Connecticut is a "Connecticuter". There are numerous other terms coined in print, but not in use, such as: "Connecticotian" - Cotton Mather in 1702. "Connecticutensian" - Samuel Peters in 1781. "Nutmegger" is sometimes used. It is derived from the nickname, the Nutmeg State, based on the practice of the Connecticut peddlers who traveled about selling nutmegs, possibly fake ones as a scam. There is not, however, any nickname that has been officially adopted by the State for its residents.* The western boundaries of Connecticut have been subject to change 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. Demographics
Race and ancestry As of 2004, 11.4% of the population (400,000) was foreign-born, and 10% of the foreign-born in the state were illegal aliens (about 1.1% of the population). In 1870, native-born Americans had accounted for 75% of the state's population, but that had dropped to 35% by 1918. As of 2000, 81.7% of Connecticut residents age 5 and older spoke English at home and 8.4% spoke Spanish, followed by Italian at 1.6%, French at 1.6% and Polish at 1.2%. The five largest reported ancestries in the state are: Italian (18.6%), Irish (16.6%), English (10.3%), German (9.9%), and French/French Canadian (9.9%). Connecticut has a large Italian-American population, although residents of British, Irish, German, and other ancestries are also present, with old-stock Americans being the largest percentage of the population in the eastern part of the state. Italian is the largest ancestry group in five of the state's counties, while the Irish are the largest group in Tolland county, French-Canadians the largest group in Windham county, and old stock New England Yankees are present throughout. Connecticut is the most Italian-American state percentage-wise, just above Rhode Island. Blacks and Hispanics (mostly Puerto Ricans) are numerous in the urban areas of the state. Connecticut also has a sizable Polish American population, with New Britain containing the largest Polish-American population in the state. Religion The religious affiliations of the people of Connecticut are: There is a significant Jewish population in the state, concentrated in the towns near Long Island Sound between Greenwich and New Haven, in Greater New Haven and in Greater Hartford, especially the suburb of West Hartford. New Haven's Jewish population is now mostly suburban, but a number of synagogues and Kosher and Jewish-style restaurants/bakeries and synagogues remain in the city proper. Recent immigration has brought other non-Christian religions to the state, but the numbers of adherents of other religions are still low. Economy
Transportation Transportation in Connecticut is predominantly via highway. Bradley International Airport (BDL) is located in the central part of the state (15 miles (24 km) north of Hartford). Another large airport, mostly used by corporate executives and those who own private aircraft, is the Oxford Airport in western Connecticut. The airport is located 15 miles (24 km) east of Danbury and 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Waterbury. There is railway service along the coastline from New York City to Boston, including commuter rail service between New Haven and New York and a new commuter service along the river north of New Haven, with spur service running northwards to cities such as Hartford. Bus service is supplied by Connecticut Transit, owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. In practice, most Connecticut residents find public transportation not fully adequate for all their needs and either own a private vehicle or have access to one. The glaciers carved valleys in Connecticut running north to south; as a result, many more roadways in the state run north to south than do east to west, mimicking the previous use of the many north-south rivers as transportation. The Interstate highways in the state are I-95 (the Connecticut Turnpike) running southwest to northeast along the coast, I-84 running southwest to northeast in the center of the state, I-91 running north to south in the center of the state, and I-395 running north to south near the eastern border of the state. The other major interstate traffic arteries in Connecticut are the Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway, which together form State Route 15, running from the Hutchinson River Parkway in New York State parallel to I-95 before turning north of New Haven and running parallel to I-91, finally becoming a surface road in Berlin, Connecticut. This road and I-95 were originally toll roads; they relied on a system of toll plazas at which all traffic would stop and pay an incremental fare, rather than the alternative system of providing drivers a ticket where they entered the highway and charging them when they exited. A series of terrible crashes at these plazas eventually led to abandonment of the entire toll system in 1988, although most of the highway bonds had already been paid off by that time. Other major arteries in the state include U.S. Route 7, State Route 8, and State Route 9. See List of State Routes in Connecticut for an overview of the state's highway system. I-95 from south of New Haven to the New York border is one of the most congested highways in the United States due to increasing population density, increasing business in the New York area, inadequate capacity and a general increase in American driving. Frequently, the congestion spills over to clog the parallel Merritt Parkway. At rush hours, multiple backups tens of miles long are common, and the daily radio broadcasts of where crashes have completely blocked traffic are a fact of life for commuters in this area. As a result, commuter rail is also heavily crowded, along with parking facilities and traffic at the stations. Funds to relieve the situation, either by enhancing commuter rail, increasing highway capacity, or both, are lacking, and the problem is noted as one hindering further economic development for the state. Law and government Hartford has been the sole capital of Connecticut since 1875. Prior to that, New Haven and Hartford alternated as capitals. Unlike most other states, Connecticut does not have county government; government exists at the state and municipal levels. The associated state marshal system, however, is still divided by county. The judicial system is divided, at the trial court level, into judicial districts. * The eight counties are still widely used for purely geographical purposes, such as weather reports. There are 169 incorporated cities and towns across the state. Most cities are coterminous with their namesake towns and have a merged city-town government. There are two exceptions: City of Groton, which is a subsection of the Town of Groton and the City of Winsted in the Town of Winchester. There are also ten incorporated boroughs, nine of which provide additional services to a section of town. One, Naugatuck, is a consolidated town and borough. The two U.S. senators representing Connecticut are Christopher J. Dodd (Democrat) and Joseph I. Lieberman (Democrat). Connecticut currently has five representatives in the U.S. House. The supreme executive power is vested in the governor, who heads the executive branch. The current Governor of Connecticut is Her Excellency, M. Jodi Rell (Republican). There are several executive departments responsible for administering the laws of Connecticut: Administrative Services, Agriculture, Children and Families, Correction, Education, Environmental Protection, Higher Education, Information Technology, Insurance, Labor, Military, Motor Vehicles, Public Health, Public Utility, Revenue Services, Social Services, Transportation, Veterans Affairs. In addition to these departments, there are many other independent bureaus, offices and commissions *. From 1639 until the adoption of the 1818 constitution, the governor presided over the General Assembly. Connecticut was the first state in the United States to elect a woman as governor, Ella Grasso in 1974. The legislature, referred to as the General Assembly, is a bicameral body consisting of an upper body, the Senate (36 senators); and a lower body, the House of Representatives (151 representatives). Before a bill can be signed into law, it must be passed by a vote of at least two thirds of each house. The governor can veto the bill, but this veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in each house. Senators and representatives, all of whom must be at least eighteen years of age, are elected to two-year terms in November on even-numbered years. The Lieutenant Governor presides over the senate, except when absent from the chamber, when the President Pro Tempore presides. The Speaker of the House presides over the House; James A. Amann is the current Speaker of the House of Connecticut. The Democrats currently hold the majority in both houses of the General Assembly. The highest court of Connecticut's judicial branch is the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of Connecticut. The Supreme Court is responsible for deciding on the constitutionality of the law or cases as they relate to the law. Its proceedings are similar to that of the United States Supreme Court, with no testimony given by witnesses, and the lawyers of the two sides each present an oral argument no longer than thirty minutes. Following a court proceeding, the court may take several months to arrive at a judgment. The current Chief Justice is William J. Sullivan. Historically, the highest court in Connecticut was the General Assembly, and later, the Upper House, with the Governor having the title "Chief Judge". In 1818, the court became a separate entity, independent of the legislative and executive branches. Below the Supreme Court are the Appellate Court and the Superior Courts. Politics Connecticut is a generally moderate to liberal state, allotting its electoral votes to Democratic candidates in the past four Presidential elections but to Republican Presidential candidates five times in the 1970's and 1980's. The perception from outside the state, however, is that Connecticut is a liberal Democratic stronghold. Connecticut has an unusually high number of voters who are not registered with a major party: 34% Democratic, 23% Republican, but 43% unaffiliated by party registration. Voters in the state are more supportive of fiscal conservatives than social conservatives. Many Connecticut towns show a marked preference for moderate candidates of either party. Republicans are the minority in the state legislature, but they currently hold three of the five congressional seats, while Democrats Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman are Connecticut's senators. Lieberman's predecessor, Lowell P. Weicker Jr was the last Connecticut Republican to serve as Senator. Weicker was known as a liberal Republican, who broke with Nixon during Watergate and successfully ran for governor in 1991 as an independent, creating A Connecticut Party as his election vehicle. Before Weicker, the last Republican to represent Connecticut in the Senate was Prescott Bush from 1953-1963. Bush is the father of former president George H.W. Bush and the grandfather of President George W. Bush. Democrats hold a registration edge in most parts of the state, especially in the cities of Hartford (the state capital), New Haven and Bridgeport. The state's Republican-leaning areas are Litchfield County and adjoining towns in the west of Hartford County, the Naugatuck River Valley, and some of the affluent Fairfield County towns near the New York State border. The suburban towns of New Canaan and Darien in Fairfield County are considered the most Republican areas in the state, the former being the hometown of conservative activist Ann Coulter. On the other hand, Westport, a wealthy town a few miles to the east, is often considered one of the most loyally-Democratic, liberal towns in Fairfield County. Waterbury is nominally a Democratic city, but tends to favor conservative candidates. Norwalk and Stamford have favored moderate Republicans in many elections such as former Governor John G. Rowland and Congressman Chris Shays. Pundits such as Michael Barone speculate that Connecticut voters are hesitant to give one party control of state government after the massive expansion in taxes and spending that occurred in the final years of the William O'Neill administration. Political corruption In recent years, Connecticut politics has been plagued by widespread corruption. Several mayors, state legislators, and government employees have been convicted and imprisoned for crimes ranging from bribery to racketeering. In 2004, Governor John G. Rowland, a Republican, was forced to resign when it was discovered he helped steer state contracts to firms that offered him gifts and free vacations. Following his resignation, he plead guilty to corruption charges and served ten months in federal prison. On the more extreme end, former Waterbury, CT Mayor Philip Giordano (R) was stripped of power in 2001 after a corruption investigation had to be cut short when phone taps unexpectedly revealed alleged sexual acts with 8- and 10-year-old minor girls and other possible pedophilia charges. In 2003, he was convicted and sentenced to 37 years in federal prison. Democrats have been convicted of corruption as well, most notably former Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. The current Mayor of Bridgeport, John Fabrizi admitted to using cocaine while in office, but has stayed on. Following Rowland's resignation, Connecticut passed a campaign finance reform bill that will ban contributions from lobbyists and state contractors in future campaigns. The measure was praised by Arizona Senator John McCain. Cities Over 20% of Connecticut's incorporated places are cities. Most, however, are small. Connecticut's distincive mix of many small cities with larger and smaller towns helps explain the relatively high population density. Five of Connecticut's cities have population over 100,000: In addition, fifteen more cities have populations over 45,000: Norwalk, Danbury, New Britain, West Hartford, Greenwich, Bristol, Meriden, Fairfield, Hamden, Manchester, West Haven, Milford, Stratford, East Hartford, Enfield, and Middletown. Connecticut also has several cities with populations under 45,000: Ansonia, Glastonbury, Groton, Naugatuck, New London, New Milford, Norwich, Shelton, Torrington, Trumbull, and Willimantic. Richest and poorest places in Connecticut New Canaan is the wealthiest town in Connecticut, with a per capita income of $85,459. Darien, Greenwich, Stamford, Weston, Westport and Wilton also have per capita incomes over $65,000. Hartford is the poorest town in Connecticut, with a per capita income of $13,428. There are other poor places, mostly parts of towns, in the eastern part of the State. New Haven and Bridgeport also have per capita incomes under $17,000 Education Connecticut is well-known as the home of Yale University, which maintains a consistent ranking as one of the world's greatest and richest universities, and has the most selective undergraduate program of any university in the United States (an 8.6% acceptance rate in 2006). Yale is one of the largest employers in the state, and its research activity has recently spun off dozens of growing biotechnology companies, which have brought in billions of dollars to the economy of New Haven and the State in general. Connecticut is also the host of many other institutions. Additionally, the State is packed with dozens of prestigious boarding schools, such as Choate Rosemary Hall, Hotchkiss, Loomis Chaffee, and The Taft School which draw students from all over the world. Colleges and universities Sports teams Minor League Hockey Teams: (The Danbury Trashers of the United Hockey League have been dissolved by the league after their owner, James Galante was arrested in June 2006 on accusations that he was running a mob-related scheme to control trash hauling prices and was paying hockey team employees under the table and against league rules.) Minor League Baseball Teams: Independent League Baseball Teams: Professional Cycling Teams: The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) is the state's sanctioning body for high school sports. Xavier High School (Middletown, CT) claimed the 2005 Class LL football championship. Other state champions in football include Staples (in Westport), Branford, Daniel Hand (in Madison), Woodland Regional (in Beacon Falls), and Hyde Leadership (in Hamden). Famous residents, past and present Historical figures Trivia See also | |||||||||||||
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