Connecticut

Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Connecticut is small but has many important cities, with Hartford as its capital and Bridgeport as its largest city. It lies between two big cities, New York City and Boston, and many people live there.

The state is named after the Connecticut River, which runs through it and empties into the Long Island Sound. Before European settlers arrived, many Algonquian tribes lived in the area. In 1633, the Dutch tried to settle there, but English settlers soon came and formed colonies. Over time, Connecticut became one of the original Thirteen Colonies and helped shape the early United States.

Connecticut is known as the “Constitution State” because it created one of the first written constitutions in 1639. Two of its leaders helped create the United States Constitution in 1787. Today, Connecticut is a wealthy state with good schools, including Yale University, and important industries like insurance and aerospace. It also has a long history linked to the sea, with the United States Coast Guard Academy located there.

History

The name Connecticut comes from a Mohegan-Pequot word meaning "long tidal river" or "upon the long river," referring to the Connecticut River. People have lived in the area for about 10,000 years, using stone tools for hunting and fishing. They moved with the seasons to use different resources and spoke languages based on Algonquian. Many Native American tribes lived there, including the Nipmuc, Sequin or "River Indians," Mattabesec or "Wappinger Confederacy," and Pequot-Mohegan. Some groups, like the Mohegans and Pequots, still live in Connecticut today.

In the 1600s, Dutch explorer Adriaen Block was the first European to explore the area. English settlers arrived in 1633, starting with Windsor and then Wethersfield. More settlers came in 1636, led by Thomas Hooker, who founded the Connecticut Colony in Hartford. By 1662, Connecticut united its settlements under a royal charter from King Charles II. The Pequot War in 1636-1637 was a big conflict between settlers and Native Americans. The war ended with the peace Treaty of Hartford, which changed the land and lives of the Pequot people.

Connecticut played an important role in the American Revolution. Four of its delegates signed the Declaration of Independence. Connecticut soldiers fought in many battles, including Bunker Hill. The state also built ships and supplied troops for the war. After the Revolution, Connecticut became the fifth state in 1788. The state grew with mills, factories, and busy ports. It was also a leader in manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution, making textiles, machines, and ships.

During the Civil War, Connecticut helped the Union by making weapons and supplies and sending soldiers to fight. In the 1900s, Connecticut became known for making airplanes, engines, and other war supplies. After World War II, the state grew with new highways and suburbs. In recent years, Connecticut has faced challenges like storms, droughts, and economic changes. It continues to be an important part of the United States.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Connecticut

Further information: Geography of New England

Connecticut is bordered on the south by Long Island Sound, on the west by New York, on the north by Massachusetts, and on the east by Rhode Island. The state's capital and fourth-largest city is Hartford, and other major cities and towns include Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Waterbury, Norwalk, Danbury, New Britain, Greenwich, and Bristol. There are 169 incorporated towns in Connecticut.

The highest peak in Connecticut is Bear Mountain in Salisbury. The Connecticut River flows through the center of the state into Long Island Sound. Connecticut's landscape changes from rolling mountains and farms in the northwest to coastal marshes and beaches in the east.

Climate

Further information: Climate change in Connecticut

Connecticut has a mix of climates. Northern areas have hot, humid summers and cold winters with snow. Southern and coastal areas have cooler winters with some rain and snow, and hot, humid summers. The state usually gets rain and snow spread evenly through the year, with occasional storms.

Flora

Main article: Flora of Connecticut

See also: List of Connecticut tree species

Forests in Connecticut include oak in the south and other trees in the northwest. The state flower, Mountain Laurel, grows in low ridges. Coastal areas have special plants like beach grasses and wildflowers.

Fauna

Main article: Fauna of Connecticut

Largest cities and towns

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, Connecticut has a population of 3,605,944. This is an increase of 31,847 people from the 2010 United States census. About 20.4% of the people living in Connecticut are under 18 years old.

Most of western and southern Connecticut, especially the Gold Coast, is closely connected to New York City. This area has many people, high incomes, and expensive homes. The center of population of Connecticut is in the town of Cheshire.

In Connecticut, non-Hispanic whites have been the largest group, but their share of the population has gone down. In 1940, they were 98% of the people, but by 2020, they were 63%. This change has led to more people identifying as Hispanic, Latino, or Asian. As of 2011, 46.1% of babies younger than age 1 were from minority groups. In 2004, about 11.4% of the population, or 400,000 people, were born in another country.

The largest ancestry groups in Connecticut since 2010 include Italian (19.3%), Irish (17.9%), English (10.7%), German (10.4%), and Polish (8.6%).

Hispanics make up 19.2% of Connecticut’s population. Most of them are of Puerto Rican origin (8.2%), followed by Mexican (1.7%) and Dominican (1.5%). Connecticut has the highest share of Puerto Ricans in the United States.

Connecticut is one of the most segregated states in the country, with many people from different racial and ethnic groups living mostly in big cities like Bridgeport, Hartford, New Haven, and Waterbury.

The top countries where Connecticut’s immigrants come from in 2018 were India, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Poland, and Ecuador.

Birth data

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.

• Since 2016, data for births of White Hispanic origin are not collected, but included in one Hispanic group; persons of Hispanic origin may be of any race.

Religion

A 2014 survey found that Connecticut residents identified as Protestant (35%), Roman Catholic (33%), non-religious (28%), Jewish (3%), Mormonism (1%), Orthodox (1%), Jehovah's Witness (1%), Hinduism (1%), Buddhism (1%), and Islam (1%).

The Jewish community is mainly found near Long Island Sound between Greenwich and New Haven, and in areas like Greater New Haven and Greater Hartford, especially West Hartford. The largest Christian groups in 2010 were the Catholic Church, the United Church of Christ, and non-denominational Evangelical Protestants.

Recent immigration has brought followers of other religions to Connecticut, though these groups remain small. Connecticut is home to New England's largest Protestant church, The First Cathedral in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Hartford is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford, which oversees the Diocese of Bridgeport and the Diocese of Norwich.

A 2020 survey found that 71% of Connecticut’s population identified as Christian. It found the state to be 21% non-religious, with 19% being white mainline Protestant, 19% white Catholic, 9% white evangelical Protestant, 7% black Protestant, and 7% Hispanic Catholic. The survey found Connecticut to be 40% Protestant and 28% Catholic. It also found Jewish citizens to make up 2% of the population, with Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims each at 1%.

Economy

See also: Economy of Connecticut and List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

In 2025, Connecticut’s total value of goods and services was $376.4 billion.

Connecticut’s average income per person in 2025 was $98,879. There are differences in income across the state. Connecticut shares a spot with California and Massachusetts for having the second highest inequality after New York. Even with these differences, Connecticut has a relatively low rate of people living in poverty. According to a study in 2018, Connecticut had the third-largest number of millionaires per person in the United States, with 7.75% of people being millionaires. New Canaan is the wealthiest town in Connecticut, while Hartford is the least wealthy. At the county level, incomes ranged from $48,295 in Fairfield County to $26,585 in Windham County, which is close to the national average.

As of May 2025, Connecticut’s job loss rate was 3.8%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.2% that month. The lowest job loss rate in Connecticut was in 2000 between August and October at 2.2%. The highest job loss rate during that time was in November and December 2010 at 9.3%, though many jobs were expected to be lost in early 2020 due to business closures from the coronavirus.

Taxation

Taxes are collected by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services and local governments.

As of 2012, Connecticut had the second highest rate of taxes in the nation for both state and local taxes after New York, at 12.6% of income compared to the national average of 9.9%.

Before 1991, Connecticut had a tax system focused only on investments. Income from jobs was not taxed, but income from investments was taxed at 13%, the highest rate in the U.S., with no deductions allowed.

In 1991, under Governor Lowell P. Weicker Jr., the system changed to tax both job income and investment income equally at a maximum rate of 4%. This new tax policy brought many investment firms to Connecticut; as of 2019, Fairfield County was home to 16 of the 200 largest hedge funds in the world.

As of 2019, Connecticut had seven tax levels: 3% on incomes up to $10,000; 5% on incomes from $10,000 to $50,000; 5.5% on incomes from $50,000 to $100,000; 6% on incomes from $100,000 to $200,000; 6.5% on incomes from $200,000 to $250,000; 6.9% on incomes from $250,000 to $500,000; and 6.99% on incomes above $500,000, with additional amounts owed depending on the level.

All wages of Connecticut residents are subject to state income tax, even if earned outside the state. However, Connecticut only withholds tax to the extent it exceeds what is withheld by the other state. Since New York has higher income tax rates than Connecticut, Connecticut residents who work in New York have no Connecticut income tax withheld. Connecticut allows a credit for taxes paid to other states, but residents who work in other states may still owe Connecticut taxes if the credit does not cover the full amount.

Connecticut has a 6.35% state sales tax on most goods sold. Some items and services are not taxed unless specifically listed. A rule that exempted clothing under $50 from sales tax was removed in 2011. There are no extra sales taxes added by local governments. In 2001, Connecticut started a yearly “sales tax holiday” each August lasting one week, when certain clothing items are sold without tax.

State law allows local governments to tax property, including homes, cars, and other personal property, with assessments at 70% of fair market value. The maximum property tax credit is $200 per year. According to the Tax Foundation, in 2017 Connecticut had the third highest average property taxes per person in the nation after New Hampshire and New Jersey.

As of January 1, 2020, gasoline taxes in Connecticut were 40.13 cents per gallon, 11th highest in the United States. Diesel taxes were 46.50 cents per gallon, ninth highest nationally.

Real estate

In 2019, sales of single-family homes in Connecticut totaled 33,146, a small drop from 2018. The average home sold for $260,000 in 2019, a small increase from 2018.

Connecticut had the seventh highest rate of home foreclosures in the country in 2019.

Industries

See also: List of Connecticut companies

Finance, insurance, and real estate was Connecticut’s largest industry in 2018, creating $75.7 billion in economic value. Major companies include The Hartford, Travelers, Harman International, Cigna, Aetna, Mass Mutual, People's United Financial, Bank of America, Realogy, Bridgewater Associates, GE Capital, William Raveis Real Estate, and Berkshire Hathaway.

The education, health, and social services sector was the largest in terms of jobs, employing 342,600 people at the end of 2019, and was fourth in economic value at $28.3 billion.

The business and professional services sector was second in economic value in 2018 at $33.7 billion.

Manufacturing was third in 2018 with $30.8 billion in economic value, led by Raytheon Technologies, formed in March 2020 from the merger of United Technologies and Raytheon Co. Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace are subsidiaries of Raytheon Technologies. Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, operates the largest manufacturing plant in Connecticut in Stratford, making helicopters.

Harman International is a major audio equipment maker based in Stamford, owning brands like JBL, Akg, and Harman kardon.

Other major manufacturers include the Electric Boat division of General Dynamics, which builds submarines in Groton.

Connecticut has a history of gun manufacturing, with four gun-making companies still operating as of 2012: Colt, Stag, Ruger, and Mossberg.

Other important parts of Connecticut’s economy in 2018 included wholesale trade ($18.1 billion); information services ($13.8 billion); retail ($13.7 billion); arts, entertainment, and food services ($9.1 billion); and construction ($8.3 billion).

Tourists spent $9.3 billion in Connecticut in 2017. Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun are the biggest tourist attractions and among the largest employers in the state, both located on Native American reservations in southeastern Connecticut.

Main article: Agriculture in Connecticut

Connecticut’s farming created $580 million in 2017, with more than half from nursery stock production. Milk production was $81 million, with other important products including eggs, vegetables, fruit, tobacco, and shellfish.

Energy

See also: List of power stations in Connecticut

Connecticut uses less energy to create each dollar of economic value than all states except California, Massachusetts, and New York. It also uses less energy per person than most states. Connecticut has no fossil-fuel resources but does have renewable resources. Electricity prices are the highest among the 48 contiguous states. Most of Connecticut’s energy comes from fossil fuels, but nuclear power provided over 40% of the state’s electricity in 2019. Refuse-derived fuels and other biomass made up the largest share of renewable electricity at about 3%. Solar and wind power have been growing. In 2019, most solar power came from small rooftop installations, and there are plans to increase renewable energy using the state’s offshore wind.

Transport

Main article: Transportation in Connecticut

Roads

For a more comprehensive list, see List of State Routes in Connecticut.

The Interstate highways in Connecticut include Interstate 95 (I-95), which runs along the coast. Other important roads are I-84, I-91, and I-395. The Merritt Parkway and Wilbur Cross Parkway are also major roads. These roads can get very busy during rush hour, so many people use trains or share rides to save time.

Connecticut has many people who enjoy riding bikes, especially in New Haven.

Rail

Trains are a common way to travel between New Haven and New York City. The Metro-North Railroad helps people get to and from New York. Amtrak also runs fast trains along the coast. A new train service called the Hartford Line started in 2018, connecting New Haven to Springfield.

Bus

Buses are important for getting around in cities like Hartford and Bridgeport. Connecticut Transit runs many bus routes, including a fast bus service called CTfastrak between New Britain and Hartford.

Air

The biggest airport in Connecticut is Bradley International Airport near Hartford. People also use airports in New York and New Jersey for travel. Smaller airports in Connecticut serve local flights and private planes.

Ferry

Ferry boats travel across Long Island Sound, connecting Connecticut to New York and Rhode Island. These ferries are popular for both travel and tourism.

Law and government

Main articles: Law of Connecticut and Administrative divisions of Connecticut

Hartford has been the capital of Connecticut since 1875. Before that, New Haven and Hartford shared the role as capital.

Constitutional history

Main article: History of the Connecticut Constitution

Connecticut is called the "Constitution State." This name likely comes from its important role in the 1787 federal constitutional convention. Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth helped create the Connecticut Compromise, which combined ideas from Virginia and New Jersey to form a two-part legislature, a design used by many states. This plan helped shape the U.S. Congress.

The nickname might also refer to the Fundamental Orders from 1638–39. These were the first written rules for Connecticut’s government. Connecticut’s government has changed over time, with the current constitution starting in 1965.

Executive

The governor leads the executive branch. As of 2020, Ned Lamont is the Governor and Susan Bysiewicz is the Lieutenant Governor. Both are Democrats. From 1639 until 1818, the governor also led the General Assembly. In 1974, Ella Grasso became the first woman governor in U.S. history without her husband being governor first.

There are many departments, such as Education, Public Health, and Transportation. Other elected leaders include the secretary of the state, treasurer, comptroller, and attorney general, all serving four-year terms.

Legislative

Connecticut’s legislature is called the General Assembly. It has two parts: the State Senate with 36 senators and the House of Representatives with 151 representatives. Bills must pass both parts to become law. The governor can veto bills, but this can be overcome by a large majority in both parts. Senators and Representatives are at least 18 years old and serve two-year terms.

As of 2021, Connecticut’s United States Senators are Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy. The state also has five representatives in the U.S. House.

Judicial

The highest court in Connecticut is the Connecticut Supreme Court, led by the Chief Justice. The Supreme Court decides if laws are fair and handles important cases. As of 2020, the Chief Justice is Richard A. Robinson.

Local government

Main article: Local government in Connecticut

See also: List of counties in Connecticut, Councils of governments in Connecticut, List of municipalities in Connecticut, and Borough (Connecticut)

Connecticut does not have county governments, unlike most other states. County governments were mostly removed in 1960, though sheriffs were elected in each county until 2000 when they were replaced by state marshals. The eight counties are still used for things like weather reports.

The state is divided into towns, which are the main local governments. There are also cities and boroughs that provide extra services.

Politics

Further information: Political party strength in Connecticut and Elections in Connecticut

Connecticut has often voted for Democratic leaders. As of 2024, the state’s U.S. Senators, all five U.S. House representatives, and the Governor are Democrats. The last time Connecticut voted for a Republican presidential candidate was in 1988.

Residents of Connecticut can choose which political party they support when they register to vote. Most voters join a party, with the Democratic Party having the most members, followed by the Republican Party. Some voters also join smaller parties. Connecticut allows one candidate to represent more than one party on the ballot.

In 2009, Connecticut made a big change by creating a new public health care option. In 2012, the state also decided to no longer use the most serious punishment for crimes.

Education

Main article: Education in Connecticut

Further information: List of school districts in Connecticut

Connecticut is known for having very good schools. In a big report in 2018, it ranked third in the whole country for how well its schools perform. On average, schools across the nation scored 75.2 out of 100, but Connecticut scored 83.5. This means the state does a great job helping students succeed in school and later in life.

K–12

See also: Connecticut State Board of Education

Public schools

Hartford Public High School is one of the oldest schools in the United States, started in 1638. Today, the Connecticut State Board of Education takes care of all public schools for children from kindergarten through 12th grade. The leaders of this board are chosen by the Governor of Connecticut.

Private schools

Connecticut also has many private schools. These schools don’t have to follow all the same rules as public schools, but they do need to tell the state how many students they have each year.

Some well-known private schools are Choate Rosemary Hall, The Hotchkiss School, Loomis Chaffee School, and Taft School.

Colleges and universities

See also: List of colleges and universities in Connecticut

Connecticut has many colleges and universities. One of the first law schools in the United States, Litchfield Law School, was here from 1773 to 1833. Famous schools today include Yale University, Wesleyan University, Trinity College, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, Quinnipiac University, and the University of Connecticut. There are also four state universities and 12 community colleges, as well as the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London.

Sports

Connecticut is home to several sports teams. The Bridgeport Islanders play hockey and are connected to the New York Islanders. The Hartford Wolf Pack also play hockey and are linked to the New York Rangers. There is also a baseball team called the Hartford Yard Goats, and a women's basketball team named the Connecticut Sun.

The state has hosted many big sporting events. A famous golf tournament, now called the Travelers Championship, has been held in the Hartford area since 1952. There are also exciting racing tracks like Lime Rock Park and several speedways where cars race every week. The state also holds big fighting events.

Professional sports teams

The Hartford Whalers used to play hockey in Hartford from 1975 to 1997 but moved to Raleigh, North Carolina. There was also an old baseball team called the Hartford Dark Blues that played many years ago, and a football team named the Hartford Blues in 1926. A tennis team called the Hartford FoxForce played in the city from 2000 to 2006.

College sports

The Connecticut Huskies are the team of the University of Connecticut (UConn). Both their men's and women's basketball teams have won many national titles. The women's team once won 111 games in a row, the longest streak in college basketball history. They play in Hartford at special arenas. Nearby, New Haven hosts an old and famous college football game called "The Game" between the Yale Bulldogs and the Harvard Crimson. Other universities in Connecticut, like Quinnipiac University, Fairfield University, Central Connecticut State University, and Sacred Heart University, also have sports teams.

Etymology and symbols

The name "Connecticut" comes from the Mohegan word quonehtacut, which means "place of long tidal river". The state's official nickname is "The Constitution State", chosen in 1959 because of its early colonial constitution from 1638–1639, which was the first in America. Connecticut is also called "The Nutmeg State". No one really knows why, but some stories say it is because sailors brought back valuable nutmeg, or because traders sold wooden knobs that looked like nutmeg.

George Washington called Connecticut "The Provisions State" for the help it gave during the American Revolutionary War. The state is also known as "The Land of Steady Habits". The official state song is "Yankee Doodle". The common short form of the state’s name is "Conn." and the official postal abbreviation is CT.

Commemorative stamps issued by the United States Postal Service have featured Nathan Hale, Eugene O'Neill, Josiah Willard Gibbs, Noah Webster, Eli Whitney, the whaling ship the Charles W. Morgan, and a decoy of a broadbill duck.

• The Charter Oak

The [USS _Nautilus_ (SSN-571)](/wiki/USS_Nautilus_\(SSN-571\))

Notable people

For a more comprehensive list, see List of people from Connecticut.