The state of Connecticut was named for the Connecticut River. Algonquian Indians called the river Quonehtacut, meaning “long tidal river.” Connecticut is nicknamed the Constitution State because its early settlers came up with a set of laws to govern themselves that later provided ideas for the United States Constitution. These laws, known as the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, were created in 1638 and covered such issues as elections, powers of officials, creation of a general assembly, and taxation. GeographyWith a total area of 5,018 square miles (12,997 square kilometers), Connecticut is the third smallest state. Only Rhode Island and Delaware are smaller. Connecticut is the southernmost New England state. It is bordered by Massachusetts on the north, Rhode Island on the east, New York on the west, and the Long Island Sound on the south. The state can be split into three natural regions: the Western Highlands, the Central Lowland, and the Eastern Highlands. The Western Highlands includes the Litchfield Hills as well as Mount Frissell, which at 2,380 feet (725 meters) is the state's highest point. The Connecticut River valley is part of the Central Lowland. The Eastern Highlands is a section of low, wooded hills through which the Thames River flows. A coastal plain on Long Island Sound runs across the southern edge of all three regions. Plants and animalsThe southern part of the state is largely an oak forest. In the north are birch, beech, maple, and hemlock trees. Deer are still found in some regions. Other animals include bobcats, foxes, muskrat, squirrels, and beavers. Chickadees, blue jays, and English sparrows are birds that stay in the state year-round. People and cultureThe earliest people in the region that became the state of Connecticut were Native Americans known as the Pequot. European colonists arrived from Massachusetts in the 1630s. In the mid-19th century immigrants arrived from Ireland, Germany, the Scandinavian countries, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, and Czechoslovakia. African Americans came from the South to work on tobacco farms in the Connecticut Valley after the American Civil War ended in the mid-1860s. French Canadians arrived during World War II to work in the factories. Between 1960 and 2000, almost 200,000 Puerto Ricans came to the state. In the year 2000, Connecticut had a population of about 3.4 million. CitiesHartford is the capital of Connecticut and one of its largest cities. It is sometimes called Insurance City because many of the nation's largest insurance companies are based there. Other major cities include Bridgeport, Waterbury, Stamford, and New Haven. RecreationPeople enjoy a variety of outdoor activities in Connecticut. Hills and valleys attract hikers and horseback riders. The state operates 30 forests and 90 parks. Many tourists visit in the autumn to see the leaves change colors. The coast by Long Island Sound appeals to many in the summer. The state has many historical societies that help preserve houses and other buildings dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The Mystic Seaport Museum, at Mystic, displays relics of New England whaling days. The New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks contains aircraft that trace the history of flight. EducationThe nation's first public school opened in Connecticut in 1640. The best-known institution of higher learning in the state is Yale University, a private school located in New Haven. The first law school in the United States was founded at Litchfield in 1784. The largest public university in the state is the University of Connecticut, at Storrs. The federal government runs the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London. EconomyConnecticut farms produce eggs, milk, poultry, and vegetables. The production of tobacco, once a major crop, is decreasing. The long shoreline once made Connecticut a leading state in the whaling industry and in oyster and lobster catching. Connecticut factories produce clocks, silverware, sewing machines, and brass products. The state's textile mills are known for their cotton, rayon, and woolen fabrics. Manufacturing as a whole declined in value in the last decades of the 20th century, but high-technology industries boosted the economy in its place. Natural resources include sand, gravel, clay, and lime. Much of the land is forested and contains valuable timber. HistoryIn contrast to many of the other New England areas, relations between Native Americans and the early settlers in Connecticut were good. In June 1633 the Dutch built a fort and trading post at a site that later became Hartford. English colonists began arriving in the same decade, and three of their towns joined under one government in 1638. In 1662 Governor John Winthrop, Jr., obtained the right to make Connecticut an independent colony. StatehoodSeveral Connecticut men, including Nathan Hale and Israel Putnam, became heros of the American Revolution. During the American Revolution, Connecticut became known as the nation's arsenal because of its gun-making industry. Connecticut entered the Union in 1788 as the nation's fifth state. Connecticut and some other New England states were not in favor of the War of 1812 (against Great Britain). Representatives from five states had a secret meeting in Hartford in 1814 to talk about the war and to consider withdrawing from the Union. The war ended shortly after this meeting, however, so the states did not have to take action. In 1917 the United States Navy built a submarine base at Groton. In 1954 the world's first atomic-powered submarine, the Nautilus, was launched there. The state produced a large number of firearms and also ammunition during both World War I and World War II. Modern ConnecticutIn 1974, Connecticut citizens elected the nation's first woman governor, Ella Grasso. In 1981, Hartford became the first New England city to elect a black mayor, Thirman L. Milner. In 1991, Bridgeport became the largest city ever to file for bankruptcy. That same year, Connecticut's legislature passed its first state income tax law. Connecticut displays sharp contrasts between areas of great wealth and deep poverty. The central cities of Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport are particularly affected. In this sense there are two Connecticuts. Closing the gap remains the state's major challenge. Population (2000 census), 3,405,565. |