In 1901, the first law regulating the speed of a motor vehicle was imposed in Connecticut. They used the word to refer to the Connecticut River. [16,17], 18. In 2004, UConn became the first school in NCAA DivisionI history to have its men's and women's basketball programs win the national title in the same year; they repeated the feat in 2014 and are still the only DivisionI school to win both titles in the same year. [1,2,31], 2. Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia) is the state flower and is native to low ridges in several parts of Connecticut. [30], The western boundaries of Connecticut have been subject to change over time. Sarah is a Chicago-based travel writer who loves to explore the Midwest and beyond. Give us feedback about this article. The Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic, CT, opened in 1929, and today it covers 19 acres with exhibits, working shipyards, and the recreation of a New England coastal village. The first expert in the treatment of Asiatic cholera was Dr. Henry Bronson in 1832. The Connecticut River flows through the center of the state, south to the Long Island Sound. Connecticut 23 Interesting Connecticut Facts By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer Published July 30, 2021 The word "Connecticut" is from anglicized spellings of "quononoquett," a Mohegan-Pequot word for "long tidal river." [1] Connecticut and New Haven colonies established the Fundamental Orders, considered the first constitutions in America. He published A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language in 1806. Lime Rock Park in Salisbury is a 1.5-mile (2.4km) road racing course, home to the International Motor Sports Association, SCCA, United States Auto Club, and K&N Pro Series East races. Beaches are numerous on Connecticut's . For other uses, see, Map of the United States with Connecticut highlighted, Early national period and industrial revolution. It continues its long tradition of prosperity, with in-migrants attracted by the good employment opportunities, excellent educational facilities, and pleasant living conditions for the majority of its people. [100][101], Connecticut was hit by three major storms in just over 14 months in 2011 and 2012, with all three causing extensive property damage and electric outages. More than 750 dinosaur tracks at the park were discovered in 1966. The first telephone book ever issued contained only fifty names. Capital: Hartford Population: (2020) 3,605,944; (2022 est.) 35 Interesting & Fun Facts about Connecticut | What is known for? The northern boundary of the state with Massachusetts is marked by the Southwick Jog or Granby Notch, an approximately 2.5 miles (4.0km) square detour into Connecticut. [24] The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were adopted in January 1639, and have been described as the first constitutional document in America. 2023 Fact Retriever LLC. These qualities have been matched by production skills since the earliest days. Connecticuter Mary Kies (17521837) was the first woman to receive a U.S. Patent; it was for a new technique of weaving straw with silk and thread. Capital City: Hartford, CT Most Populated City: Bridgeport, CT 30 Connecticut Facts for School Connecticut is a state in the United States of America. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Abbreviation for the State of Connecticut. The Bridgeport Islanders is a farm team for the New York Islanders which competes at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport. The United States Coast Guard Academy is located in New London. The coast of Connecticut sits on Long Island Sound, which is an estuary. Connecticut is home to the oldest U.S. newspaper still being published: The Hartford Courant, established in 1764. Connecticut sees a fairly even precipitation pattern with rainfall/snowfall spread throughout the 12 months. [192] Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun are the two biggest tourist draws and number among the state's largest employers;[193] both are located on Native American reservations in the southeastern Connecticut. The Hartford Treaty with the Dutch was signed on September 19, 1650, but it was never ratified by the British. Connecticut State Information - Symbols, Capital, Constitution, Flags [176], As of January1, 2020[update], gasoline taxes and fees in Connecticut were 40.13 cents per gallon, 11th highest in the United States which had a nationwide average of 36.13 cents a gallon excluding federal taxes. Connecticut, constituent state of the United States of America. The highest point of the mountain in CT is 2,380 feet. Thousands of state, local, and volunteer groups mobilized for the war effort and were coordinated by the Connecticut State Council of Defense. The first lollipop was invented in Connecticut. Daily high temperatures in October and November range from the 50s to 60s (Fahrenheit) with nights in the 40s and upper 30s. Lowell P. Weicker Jr., maverick senator during Watergate, dies at 92, Alyssa Thomas now WNBA triple-doubles leader and has Connecticut near top of standings. The Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League played in Hartford from 1975 to 1997 at the Hartford Civic Center. Forests consist of a mix of Northeastern coastal forests of oak in southern areas of the state, to the upland New England-Acadian forests in the northwestern parts of the state. Connecticut is considered the most haunted state in the country. Connecticut's legislative branch is known as the General Assembly. [14], 20. Construction of the submarine started in 1951, and it was launched on January 21, 1954. The first fully operational steel mill in America opened in Simsbury, Connecticut, in 1728.[30]. [202], Statewide bus service is supplied by Connecticut Transit, owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, with smaller municipal authorities providing local service. Connecticut's Historical Facts. [116], Areas maintained by the National Park Service include Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, and Weir Farm National Historic Site.[117]. 2.50: Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2017-2021: 88.4%: Not many cities in the United States have ever been captured by a foreign power, but Essex was. New England is the northeastern region of the United States. Twain built his house in Hartford, CT, in 1874, and Stowe lived next door. [28], 4. [44] For the winter of 177879, General George Washington decided to split the Continental Army into three divisions encircling New York City, where British General Sir Henry Clinton had taken up winter quarters. The name "chrysanthemum" is from the ancient Greek "chrysos" (gold) and "anthemon" (flower), The collection once belonged to neurosurgeon Harvey Cushing, who preserved the brains from 19031932. New Milfords worst disaster struck in 1902 when the main business section centered on Bank Street was almost completely leveled by the Great Fire. It may have come from its sailors returning from voyages with nutmeg, which was a very valuable spice in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Hartford Yard Goats of the Double-A Northeast are a AA affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. [238] Since 1998, the game has been played annually with the location of the matchup determined on a yearly basis. In 1705, copper was discovered in Simsbury. Connecticut is one of the most densely populated states of the U.S.[4], 42. Hopefully, this article helped you get acquainted with and ready for some Connecticut trivia! There are 169 incorporated towns in Connecticut, with cities and villages included within some towns.[111]. Speaker of the House of Representatives of Connecticut, 198384 and 198788; Connecticut State Representative, 197193. Among the 50 states, Connecticut is first on the list of the percentage of urban lands covered by trees. Benchmark Senior Living in Ridgefield, Connecticut, created the longest friendship bracelet in the world in August 2016. [41] Connecticut's legislature authorized the outfitting of six new regiments in 1775, in the wake of the clashes between British regulars and Massachusetts militia at Lexington and Concord. A constitution similar to the modern U.S. Constitution was not adopted in Connecticut until 1818. Connecticut. 1. [112] At the opposite extreme, many of the coastal towns have areas that are less than 20 feet (6.1m) above sea level. [33] Most Colonial royal grants were for long eastwest strips. Connecticut - HISTORY This is his collection of Connecticut resources. Photograph by Kristy Durbridge, Dreamstime, Illustration by National Geographic Kids Mountain laurel: Jill Lang, Dreamstime American robin: Thomas Biegalski, Dreamstime Sperm whale: Lagarde Sebastien, Dreamstime.com. Connecticut shares with the rest of New England a governmental institution called the New England town. Barry the bald eagle soars from coast to coast to meet state birds and learn about their homes. Lollipops were invented by George Smith of New Haven, Connecticut in 1908. . All the rest of the state was in Moderate Drought or Severe Drought, including Middlesex, Fairfield, New London, New Haven, Windham, and Tolland counties. [1], 5. [118] Occasionally, some months may see extremes in precipitation, either much higher or lower than normal, though long term droughts and floods are rare. We will be in touch soon with discounts on tickets and hotels and our latest guides. Read more articles about the United States: Sarah_Hartness [172] There are no additional sales taxes imposed by local jurisdictions. People have spotted her wearing a bright white nightgown with her face concealed by a white bonnet. 41 Interesting Facts About Connecticut - Foreign USA [14][15], The name Connecticut is derived from the Mohegan-Pequot word that has been translated as "long tidal river" and "upon the long river",[16] both referring to the Connecticut River. The Submarine Force Museum in Groton is home of the historic ship Nautilus (SSN 571). [11], 23. Evidence of human presence in the Connecticut region dates to as much as 10,000 years ago. [156], The Jewish population is 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. Today, the dinosaur tracks are along a pathway you can walk, and they are in the same spots where they were found. The Fundamental Orders of 1638 and 1639 are considered the first written set of state rules. [234][235] The UConn women's basketball team holds the record for the longest consecutive winning streak in NCAA college basketball at 111 games, a streak that ended in 2017. [102] Two months later, the "Halloween nor'easter" dropped extensive snow onto trees, resulting in snapped branches and trunks that damaged power lines; some areas were without electricity for 11 days. The limit was set at 12 miles per hour on city roads and 15 mph on country roads. Mary Kies started weaving silk and thread into straw to make hats. Minnetonka, MN: Bellweather Media,2013. Connecticut's landscape includes rolling hills and flat plains typical of inland areas in the region. The Scoville Memorial Library is the United States oldest public library. Her receiving a patent was a big deal. These storms can cause widespread power outages and damage. The lower 60 miles of the river are tidal, so you can see the rise and fall of the tides along this stretch of the Connecticut River. [71] Remington Arms in Bridgeport produced half the small-arms cartridges used by the U.S. Army,[72] with other major suppliers including Winchester in New Haven and Colt in Hartford.[73]. 100 Interesting Facts That Will Amaze You, The word "Connecticut" is from anglicized spellings of "quononoquett," a Mohegan-Pequot word for "long tidal river.". General Connecticut Facts The state also hosts several major mixed martial arts events for Bellator MMA and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. [120] Although summers are sunny in Connecticut, quick moving summer thunderstorms can bring brief downpours with thunder and lightning. Precipitation, averaging 3 to 4 inches (75 to 100 mm) per month, is evenly distributed. Generally, any locale north or west of Interstate 84 receives the most snow, during a storm, and throughout the season. [189], Connecticut historically was a center of gun manufacturing, and four gun-manufacturing firms continued to operate in the state as of December2012[update], employing 2,000 people: Colt, Stag, Ruger, and Mossberg. Connecticut and Rhode Island have no county government. Connecticut ranks among the top U.S. states in average annual individual salary, median household income, teachers salaries, major corporate headquarters per capita, and access to primary health care. It is filled with sandstone and shale. Over the following decade to the doorstep of renewed hostilities with Britain that sparked the War of 1812, Connecticut boatyards constructed close to 1,000 vessels, the most productive stretch of any decade in the 19th century.[39]. The new tax policy drew investment firms to Connecticut; as of 2019[update], Fairfield County was home to the headquarters for 16 of the 200 largest hedge funds in the world. There are two exceptions: the City of Groton, which is a subsection of the Town of Groton, and the City of Winsted in the Town of Winchester. Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated his invention (the telephone) in New Haven. It was created in 1929 by impounding the Rocky River. They were Puritans from Massachusetts Bay Colony led by Thomas Hooker, who established the Connecticut Colony at Hartford. [162], As of December 2019, Connecticut's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8%, with U.S. unemployment at 3.5% that month. The intensely fought 1863 election for governor was narrowly won by the Republicans. It started in Hartford when Jeremiah Wadsworth started offering informal fire insurance throughout the town. After the Fundamental Orders, Connecticut was granted governmental authority by King Charles II of England through the Connecticut Charter of 1662. [52], The state prospered during the era following the American Revolution, as mills and textile factories were built and seaports flourished from trade[53] and fisheries. Diesel taxes and fees as of January 2020 in Connecticut were 46.50 cents per gallon, ninth highest nationally with the U.S. average at 37.91 cents. Average highs are 81F (27C) in New London and 85F (29C) in Windsor Locks at the peak of summer in late July. Connecticut's rural areas and small towns in the northeast and northwest corners of the state contrast sharply with its industrial cities such as Stamford, Bridgeport, and New Haven, located along the coastal highways from the New York border to New London, then northward up the Connecticut River to Hartford. Close to 60% of the state's land is covered by forest. 66 Awesome and Interesting Facts & Trivia About Connecticut VAT registration number: 347471777. John Haynes was Connecticuts first governor. This plan combined the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan to form a bicameral legislature, a form copied by almost every state constitution since the adoption of the federal constitution. Connecticut: The Constitution State. Connecticut State Facts - 50States.com - 50states [158], Connecticut's per capita personal income in 2019 was estimated at $79,087, the highest of any state. An official website of the United States government . The first automobile law was passed by the state of CT in 1901. .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}4136N 7242W / 41.6N 72.7W / 41.6; -72.7. Although I-95 has been widened in several spots, some areas are only three lanes and this strains traffic capacity, resulting in frequent and lengthy rush hour delays. More than three-quarters of solar generation came from distributed small-scale installations such as rooftop solar in 2019, and there is planning underway to significantly increase renewable generation with the state's offshore wind resource.[195]. Connecticut Facts You Probably Never Knew But Now You Do - Only In Your The first people came to the area thats now Connecticut more than 10,000 years ago. Note: Births in table do not add up because Hispanics are counted both by their ethnicity and by their race, giving a higher overall number. On occasion, heat waves with highs from 90 to 100F (38C) occur across Connecticut. J. P. Morgan began financing the major New England railroads in the 1890s, dividing territory so that they would not compete. The other state was Rhode Island. The World Wrestling Federation or the WWF is headquartered in Stamford. Connecticut | Flag, Facts, Maps, & Points of Interest The quote reads, "Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it.". [228], In April 2012, both houses of the Connecticut state legislature passed a bill (20 to 16 and 86 to 62) that abolished capital punishment for all future crimes, while 11 inmates who were waiting on the death row at the time could still be executed. Connecticut was a leading manufacturer of guns and other arms.[4]. 4Oachs, Emily. Five years later Connecticut ratified, or signed, the U.S. Constitution, becoming the fifth U.S. state. As of the 2010 census, it has the highest per-capita income, second-highest level of human development behind Massachusetts, and highest median household income in the United States. Several ferry services cross Long Island Sound and connect the state to Long Island. As of 2020[update], Ned Lamont is the Governor[208] and Susan Bysiewicz is the Lieutenant Governor;[209] both are Democrats. However, in 1827, the prison was abandoned. Following a court proceeding, the court may take several months to arrive at a judgment. West Hartford is the birthplace of Noah Webster, the author of the first dictionary published in 1807. [42] In 1775, David Bushnell invented the Turtle which the following year launched the first submarine attack in history, unsuccessfully against a British warship at anchor in New York Harbor. The states capital is Hartford. Separate branches of government did not exist during this period, and the General Assembly acted as the supreme authority. Nickname: The Constitution State Statehood: 1788; 5th state Population (as of July 2015): 3,590,886 Capital: Hartford Biggest city: Bridgeport Abbreviation: CT State bird: American robin State. Far southern and coastal Connecticut has a climate with cool winters with a mix of rain and infrequent snow, and the long hot and humid summers typical of the middle and lower East Coast. Smaller regional air service is provided at Tweed New Haven Regional Airport. The name "Connecticut" comes from a Native American word, quinatucquet, roughly meaning "beside the long tidal river." The official state song is "Yankee Doodle". Interestingly, Mr. Roosevelt was also the first president to own a car and have a telephone in his home. : State's Damage From Superstorm Sandy $360M and Climbing", "27 Dead, Including 20 Children, in Conn. School Shooting: Police", "State Gun Laws Enacted in the Year Since Newtown", "United States Drought Monitor > Home > State Drought Monitor", "As Connecticut's drought worsens, officials again urge water conservation", "Water Company Issues Mandatory Water Ban for Parts of CT", "List of Connecticut Towns & Counties Including Year Established", "Mount Frissell-South Slope, Connecticut/Massachusetts", "Press Release: Scientists Find Block Island Sound Protected from Great Storms", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, "NWS Boston The Great Hurricane of 1938", "A look back at historic snow storms in Connecticut", "Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth", 10.1641/0006-3568(2001)051[0933:teotwa]2.0.co;2, "Historical Population Change Data (19102020)", "State of Connecticut Center of Population", "The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress", "Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census", Table A-1. All county governments in Connecticut were abolished on October 1, 1960. The name Middlebury derives from the central position the Towns meetinghouse occupies, six miles from three older neighbors, Waterbury, Southbury, and Woodbury. Staples High School in Westport, Conn. holds the record for having the most twins enrolled in a single academic school year, at 16 pairs. [212] Connecticut has five representatives in the U.S. House, all of whom are Democrats. Ed & Lorraine Warren have declared several sites demonically possessed, there's a cursed town, and even haunted hiking trails. Rosebay rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) is also native to eastern uplands of Connecticut and Pachaug State Forest is home to the Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail. 5Webster, Christine. Accessed: January 31, 2021. [77] Manufacturers wrestled with manpower shortages; Waterbury's American Brass and Manufacturing Company was running at half capacity, so the federal government agreed to furlough soldiers to work there. Connecticut is one of the six New England states. Connecticut Fast Facts - Connecticut is located in the New England region of the northeast United States. Finally, the current state constitution was implemented in 1965. Religious Data, Demographics and StatisticsPew Research Center", "The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report", "Gross Domestic Product by State, 4th Quarter and Annual 2019", "State Annual Personal Income, 2019 (Preliminary) and State Quarterly Personal Income, 4th Quarter 2019", "U.S. Millionaires Ranking By State & Market Growth", Connecticut per capita income, median household income, and median family income at State, County and Town level: Census 2000 data, "State of Connecticut vs. United States Unemployment RateState of Connecticut", "U.S. Jobless Claims Top 20 Million Since Start of Shutdowns", "Connecticut Department of Revenue Services", "Statutes Governing Property Assessment and Taxation", "State-Local Tax Burden Rankings FY 2012", "State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2020", "Summary of Tax Provisions Contained in 2011 Conn. Pub. The broad business and professional services sector had the second highest GDP total in Connecticut in 2018 at an estimated $33.7 billion.[180]. Richard brought the first set of 200 books from London, with the funds contributed by thirty-nine people from the town of Salisbury. [51], Connecticut ratified the U.S. Constitution on January 9, 1788, becoming the fifth state. Essex is one of a small handful of American towns to have been invaded by a foreign power.