State of Connecticut
Flag of Connecticut Seal of Connecticut Nickname(s): The Constitution State, The Nutmeg State[1] Motto(s): Qui transtulit sustinet[1] Latin meaning "He who transplanted still sustains"
Official language(s)	none (de facto English)
Demonym	Connecticuter or Connecticutian[2]
Capital	Hartford
Largest city	Bridgeport[3]
Largest metro area	Hartford Metro Area[4]
Area	Ranked 48th in the US
- Total	5,543[5] sq mi (14,356 km²)
- Width	70 miles (113 km)
- Length	110 miles (177 km)
- % water	12. The Flag of Connecticut consists of a white shield with three grapevines (each bearing three bunches of purple Grapes) on a field of Azure Seal of Connecticut (also Connecticut State Seal, in full Great Seal of the State of Connecticut) is a coat of arms of Connecticut. This is a list of US state nicknames, including officially adopted Nicknames and other traditional nicknames for individual states of the United States. Here is a list of state Mottos for the states of the United States of America. Qui transtulit sustinet ( Latin "He who transplanted sustains" also "He Who Transplanted Still The United States does not have an Official language; however the majority of the population speaks English as a native language (about 82% English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place Washington DC has been the capital of the United States since 1800 This is a list of the largest cities of US states by population Table of United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas|Table of United States Core Based Statistical AreasIn the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB has produced Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. This is a complete list of the states of the United States and its major territories ordered by total area, land area, and water area The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand 6
- Latitude	40°58′ N to 42°03′ N
- Longitude	71°47′ W to 73°44′ W
Population	Ranked 29th in the US
- Total	3,405,565[5]
- Density	702. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison as of July 1, 2007, according to the This article is a list of the 50 US States ordered by Population density. 9/sq mi  271. 40/km² (4th in the US)
- Median income	$55,970 (4th)
Elevation
- Highest point	South slope of Mount Frissell[6] Note: The peak of Mount Frissell is in Massachusetts 2,380 ft  (726 m)
- Mean	500 ft  (152 m)
- Lowest point	Long Island Sound[6] 0 ft  (0 m)
Admission to Union	January 9, 1788 (5th)
Governor	M. Jodi Rell (R)
Lieutenant Governor	Michael Fedele (R)
U.S. Senators	Christopher Dodd (D) Joe Lieberman (ID)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Abbreviations	CT. Conn. US-CT
Website	www.ct.gov

Connecticut (IPA: /kəˈnɛtɪkət/)^[7] is an state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. Household income is a measure of current private income commonly used by the United States government and private institutions Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below --> Mount Frissell, located on the border of southwest Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut, is a prominent peak of the Taconic Range. Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut Wikipedia_talkFeatured_lists#Proposed_change_to_all_featured_lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This is a list of U Events 475 - Byzantine Emperor Zeno is forced to flee his capital at Constantinople. Year 1788 ( MDCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap A governor is a governing official usually the executive (at least nominally to different degrees also politically and administratively of a non-sovereign level of government Mary Jodi Rell (born June 16 1946 is a Republican Politician who became the 72nd Governor of the U This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. Michael Fedele (born March 30, 1955 in Minturno, Italy) is an Italian-American politician The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American Lawyer and Democratic Politician, who is currently serving The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman (born February 24 1942 is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut. Independent Democrat is a term occasionally adopted by members of the United States Congress to refer to their party affiliation The United States Congress is the bicameral Legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses These are tables of congressional delegations from Connecticut to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. This is a list of United States of America States by time zone The Eastern Time Zone ( ET) of the Western Hemisphere falls mostly along the east coast of North America and the west coast of South America Daylight saving time ( DST The traditional abbreviations for US states and territories were widely used in mailing addresses prior to the introduction of two-letter U ISO 3166-2US is an ISO standard which defines Geocodes it is the subset of ISO 3166-2 which applies to the United States of America. A website (alternatively web site or Web site, a back-construction from the Proper noun World Wide Web) is a collection of Web pages A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the The Northeast is a region of the United States. As defined by the U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Portions of southwestern Connecticut are also considered part of the New York metropolitan area. The New York metropolitan area, often referred to as the Tri-State Area, is the most populous Metropolitan area in the United States and is also one Connecticut is the 29th most populous state with 3. This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison as of July 1, 2007, according to the 4 million residents and ranked 48th in size by area, making it the 4th most densely populated state. This is a complete list of the states of the United States and its major territories ordered by total area, land area, and water area This article is a list of the 50 US States ordered by Population density. ^[5] Called the "Constitution State", Connecticut has a long history dating from the early colonial times, and was influential in the development of early American government.

While Connecticut's first European settlers were Dutch, the first major settlements were established in the 1630s by the English. The Dutch people ( Dutch:) are the dominant Ethnic group of the Netherlands. The English people (from the adjective in Englisc) are a Nation and Ethnic group native to England who predominantly speak English Thomas Hooker led a band of followers overland from the Massachusetts Bay colony and founded what would become the Connecticut Colony; other settlers from Massachusetts founded the Saybrook Colony and the New Haven Colony. Thomas Hooker ( July 5 1586 &ndash July 7 1647) was a prominent Puritan religious and colonial leader remembered as probably the The Massachusetts Bay Colony (sometimes called the Massachusetts Bay Company, for the institution that founded it was an English settlement on the east coast of North America The Colony of Connecticut was an English colony that became the U The Saybrook Colony was established in late 1635 at the mouth of the Connecticut River in what is today Old Saybrook Connecticut and environs The New Haven Colony was an English colonial venture in present-day Connecticut in North America from 1637 to 1662. Both the Connecticut and New Haven Colonies established documents of Fundamental Orders, considered the first constitutions in North America. The Fundamental Orders were adopted by the Connecticut Colony council on January 14 1638 OS ( January 24 1639 NS A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity In 1662, the disparate colonies merged under a royal charter, making Connecticut a crown colony. A Royal Charter is a Charter granted by the Sovereign on the advice of the Privy council to legitimize an incorporated body such as a city company The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom This colony was one of the Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. The Thirteen Colonies were part of what became known as British America, a name that was used by Great Britain until the Treaty of Paris (1783 recognized the The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots"

Connecticut enjoys a temperate climate thanks to its long coastline on the Long Island Sound. Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut This has given the state a strong maritime tradition. Modern Connecticut is also known for its wealth. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Connecticut had ready access to raw materials which helped to develop a strong manufacturing industry. The history of Connecticut Industry is a major part of the History of Connecticut. In the 19th and 20th centuries, financial organizations flourished: first insurance companies in Hartford, then hedge funds along the Gold Coast. Insurance, in Law and Economics, is a form of Risk management primarily used to hedge against the Risk of a contingent loss A hedge fund is a private Investment fund open to a limited range of investors which is permitted by regulators to undertake a wider range of activities than other investment Gold Coast is a region of the state of Connecticut, United States that roughly corresponds to the labor market area of the city of Stamford. This prosperity has helped give Connecticut the highest per capita income and median household income in the country. Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' Household income is a measure of current private income commonly used by the United States government and private institutions ^[8][9]

Geography

New Haven

New London

Hartford

Stamford

Further information: Geology of Connecticut

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. New London is a seaport city and a Port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As part of New England, Connecticut has undergone much geologic change shaped by Plate tectonics, Volcanism, and Glacial activity Long Island Sound is an Estuary of the Atlantic Ocean and various Rivers in the United States that lies between the coast of Connecticut New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States The state capital is Hartford, and the other major cities include New Haven, New London, New Britain, Norwich, Milford, Norwalk, Stamford, Waterbury, Danbury and Bridgeport. New London is a seaport city and a Port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, US. It is located approximately 9 miles (14 km southwest of Hartford. Norwich known as "The Rose of New England" is a city in and formerly county seat (when there were county seats in the state of New London County, Connecticut Milford is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. There are 169 incorporated towns in Connecticut. The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states

Bear Mountain, highest peak in Connecticut

The highest peak in Connecticut is Bear Mountain in Salisbury in the northwest corner of the state. Bear Mountain, is prominent peak of the southern Taconic Mountains. Salisbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. 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 Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Mount Frissell, located on the border of southwest Massachusetts and northwest Connecticut, is a prominent peak of the Taconic Range. ^[10]

The Connecticut River cuts through the center of the state, flowing into Long Island Sound, Connecticut's outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. The Connecticut River is the largest River in New England, flowing south from the Connecticut Lakes in northern New Hampshire, along the border

Further information: List of Connecticut rivers

Highest point in Connecticut on slope of Mount Frissell, as seen from Bear Mountain

Despite its size, the state 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. List of Rivers in Connecticut ( US state) sorted by drainage basin Gold Coast is a region of the state of Connecticut, United States that roughly corresponds to the labor market area of the city of Stamford. The Litchfield Hills (also known as the Northwest Hills or Northwest Highlands) is a geographic region of the U 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 "green", (such as the New Haven Green), Litchfield Green, Simsbury Green, New Milford Green (the largest in the state), and Wethersfield Green (the oldest in the state). A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement The New Haven Green is a 16-acre privately owned park and recreation area located in the downtown district of the city of New Haven Connecticut. Near the green typically stand historical visual symbols of New England towns, such as a small white church, a colonial meeting house, a colonial tavern or "inne", several colonial houses, etc. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the In colonial New England, there was little distinction between Faith and Community. A tavern or pot-house is loosely a place of Business where people gather to drink Alcoholic beverages and more than likely also be served Food Inns are establishments where travellers can procure Food, Drink, and Lodging. American colonial architecture includes several building design styles associated with the colonial period of the United States including First Period English (late-medieval , establishing a scenic historicity maintained for both historic preservation and the tourism trade. Historic preservation or heritage conservation is a professional endeavor that seeks to preserve the ability of older (e Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel

Due to the climate, degree of urbanization, and economic status of the state, it offers easily accessed forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and a coastline, all developed for recreation. Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of A forest is an area with a high density of Trees There are many definitions of a forest based on various criteria "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there A lake (from Latin lacus) is a Terrain feature (or Physical feature) a body of Liquid on the surface of a world that is localized to the A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water often in the form of a Stream, flowing over an Erosion -resistant rock The coast is defined as the part of the land adjoining or near the Ocean.

Further information: List of Connecticut state forests

The northern boundary of the state with Massachusetts is marked by the distinctive Southwick Jog or Granby Notch, an approximately 2. See also List of US National Forests List of Connecticut state parks 5 mile (4. 0 km) square detour into Connecticut slightly west of the center of the border. The actual origin of this anomaly is uncertain, with stories ranging from the original surveyors having been drunk, having attempted to avoid hostile Native Americans, or having taken a shortcut up the Connecticut River; Massachusetts residents having attempted to avoid Massachusetts' higher taxes for the lower 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. ^[11][12]

Windsor's Town Hall and Fountain on the Town Green

The southwestern border of Connecticut, where it abuts New York State, is marked by a panhandle in Fairfield County, containing the towns of Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan and Darien. A panhandle or salient is an informal geographic term for an elongated tail-like protrusion of a geo-political entity such as an Named after the extremely large area of salt-marshes and swamps both on the coast and inland Fairfield County is located in the southwestern corner of the U Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, 8 miles (13 km northeast of Stamford, on the Five Mile River Darien is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. This irregularity in the boundary is the result of territorial disputes in the late 1600s, culminating with New York giving up its claim to the 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. Connecticut began as three distinct settlements referred to at the time as 'Colonies' or 'Plantations' Ridgefield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Rye is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. ^[13]

Further information: Connecticut Panhandle

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. The Connecticut Panhandle, informally known to locals as the Tail, is in southwestern Connecticut, where it abuts New York State. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply The A Weir Farm National Historic Site is located in Ridgefield and Wilton Connecticut, in the United States.

Climate

Connecticut has a Humid Continental Climate, with seasonal extremes tempered by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist Winters are cold, with average temperatures ranging from 31°F (−1°C) in the southeast to 23°F (−5°C) in the northwest in January. The average yearly snowfall is about 25–100" (64–254 cm) across the state, with higher totals in the northwest. Spring has variable temperatures with frequent rainfall. Summer is hot and humid throughout the state, with average highs in New London of 81°F (27°C) and 87°F (31°C) 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. These storms can be severe, though tornadoes are rare. ^[14]

History

Main article: History of Connecticut

A map of the Connecticut, New Haven, and Saybrook colonies. Connecticut began as three distinct settlements referred to at the time as 'Colonies' or 'Plantations'

The Connecticut region was inhabited by the Mohegan tribe prior to European colonization. The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking tribe that lives in eastern upper Thames valley Connecticut The first European explorer in Connecticut was the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block. Adriaen (Aerjan Block (c 1567 Amsterdam &ndash buried April 27 1627, Amsterdam was a Dutch private trader and navigator who is best After he explored this region in 1614, Dutch fur traders sailed up the Connecticut River (then known by the Dutch as Versche Rivier - " Fresh River") and built a fort at Dutch Point near present-day Hartford, which they called "House of Hope" (Dutch: Huis van Hoop). Dutch ( is a West Germanic language spoken by around 24 million people 22 million of which are from the Netherlands, Belgium and Suriname

John Winthrop, then of Massachusetts, received permission to create a new colony at Old Saybrook at the mouth of the Connecticut River in 1635. John Winthrop ( February 12, 1606 - April 5, 1676) generally known as John Winthrop the Younger, was Governor of Connecticut The Saybrook Colony was established in late 1635 at the mouth of the Connecticut River in what is today Old Saybrook Connecticut and environs This was the first of three distinct colonies that later would be combined to make up Connecticut. Saybrook Colony was a direct challenge to Dutch claims. The colony was not more than a small outpost and never matured. In 1644, the Saybrook Colony merged itself into the Connecticut Colony.

The first English settlers came in 1633 and settled at Windsor and then Wethersfield in 1634. However, the main body of settlers came in one large group in 1636. The settlers were Puritans from Massachusetts, led by Thomas Hooker. A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of Worship and Doctrine, Thomas Hooker ( July 5 1586 &ndash July 7 1647) was a prominent Puritan religious and colonial leader remembered as probably the Hooker had been prominent in England, and was a professor of theology at Cambridge. He was also an important political writer, and made a significant contribution to Constitutional theory. He broke with the political leadership in Massachusetts, and, just as Roger Williams created a new polity in Rhode Island, Hooker and his cohort did the same and established the Connecticut Colony at Hartford in 1636. Roger Williams ( December 21, 1603 &ndash April 1, 1683) was an English theologian, a notable proponent of Religious Rhode Island ( officially named the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, is a state in the New England region of the United States The Colony of Connecticut was an English colony that became the U This was the second of the three colonies.

In the 1637-38 bloody Pequot War the European settlers and allies officially destroyed the Pequot Indians. The Pequot War was an armed conflict in 1636-1637 between an alliance of Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth colonies with Native American allies (the See Main articles Mashantucket Pequot Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation.

The third colony was founded in March of 1638. New Haven Colony, (originally known as the Quinnipiack Colony), was established by John Davenport, Theophilus Eaton and others at New Haven. The New Haven Colony was an English colonial venture in present-day Connecticut in North America from 1637 to 1662. John Davenport ( April 9, 1597 &ndash May 30, 1670) was a Puritan clergyman and co-founder of the American colony Theophilus Eaton (1590 &ndash January 7, 1658) was a merchant farmer and Puritan colonial leader who was the co-founder and first governor of New The New Haven Colony had its own Constitution, 'The Fundamental Agreement of the New Haven Colony' which was signed on 4 June 1639. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China.

Because the Dutch were outnumbered by the flood of English settlers from Massachusetts, they left their fort in 1654.

Neither the establishment of the Connecticut Colony or the Quinnipiack Colony were done with the sanction of British imperial authorities, and were independent political entities. They naturally were presumptively English, but in a legal sense, they were only secessionist outposts of Massachusetts Bay. In 1662, Winthrop took advantage of this void in political affairs, and obtained in England the charter by which the colonies of Connecticut and Quinnipiack were united. Although Winthrop's charter favored the Connecticut colony, New Haven remained a seat of government with Hartford, until after the American Revolution.

Winthrop was very politically astute, and secured the charter from the newly restored Charles II; who granted the most liberal political terms. Charles II (Charles Stuart 29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685 was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Historically important colonial settlements included:

Windsor (1633),

Wethersfield (1634),

Saybrook (1635),

Hartford (1636),

New Haven (1638),

Fairfield (1639),

Stratford (1639),

Stamford (1640),

New London (1646),

Middletown (1647)

Its first constitution, the "Fundamental Orders", was adopted on January 14, 1639, while its current constitution, the third for Connecticut, was adopted in 1965. Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in Another Wethersfield is in Wyoming County, New York. Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Old Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. New London is a seaport city and a Port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the south-central part of the state 16 miles (26 km The Fundamental Orders were adopted by the Connecticut Colony council on January 14 1638 OS ( January 24 1639 NS Events 1129 - Formal approval of the Order of the Templar at the Council of Troyes. The Constitution of the State of Connecticut is the basic governing document of the U Connecticut is the fifth of the original thirteen states. The original constitutions influenced the US Constitution as one of the leading authors was Roger Sherman of New Haven. Roger Sherman ( April 19, 1721 ( JC) April 30, 1721 ( GC) July 23, 1793) was an early

The western boundaries of Connecticut have been subject to change over time. According to The Hartford Treaty with the Dutch, signed on 1650-09-19, but never ratified by the British, the western boundary of Connecticut ran north from Greenwich Bay for a distance of 20 Miles^[15][16] "provided the said line come not within 10 miles (16 km) [16 km] of Hudson River. The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands Events 335 - Dalmatius is raised to the rank of Caesar by his uncle Constantine I. Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. This agreement was observed by both sides until war erupted between England and The Netherlands in 1652. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands No other limits were specified. Conflict over uncertain colonial limits continued until the Duke of York captured New Netherland in 1664. For the nursery rhyme see The Grand Old Duke of York. The title Duke of York is a title of Nobility in the British Peerage New Netherland (Dutch Nieuw-Nederland, Latin Novum Belgium or Nova Belgica) 1614–1674 is the name of the former Dutch territory on the eastern coast ^[15][16] ". . .  On the other hand, Connecticut's original Charter in 1662 granted it all the land to the "South Sea", i. e. the Pacific Ocean. ^[17][18] Most colonial royal grants were for long east-west strips. Connecticut took its grant seriously, and established a ninth county between the Susquehanna and Delaware Rivers, named Westmoreland County. The Susquehanna River (originally "Sasquesahanough" per the 1612 John Smith map is a River located in the northeastern United States. The Delaware River is a river on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Westmoreland County Connecticut was a County in Connecticut in the present day area of Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, until it was ceded to This resulted in the brief Pennamite Wars with Pennsylvania. The Pennamite-Yankee War (or Wars is the name given to fighting which occurred between 1769 and 1799 between settlers from Connecticut who claimed the land along the North Branch The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern

Connecticut's lands also extended across northern Ohio, called the Western Reserve lands. The Western Reserve section was settled largely by people from Connecticut, and they brought Connecticut place names to Ohio. Agreements with Pennsylvania and New York extinguished the land claims by Connecticut within its neighbors, and the Western Reserve lands were relinquished to the federal government, which brought the state to its present boundaries.

Names and symbols

Connecticut State Symbols
Living Symbols
-Bird	American Robin
-Fish	American shad
-Flower	Mountain Laurel
-Insect	European Mantis
-Mammal	Sperm whale
-Tree	Charter White oak
Dance	Square dance
Fossil	Dinosaur tracks
Mineral	Garnet
Shell	Eastern Oyster
Ship(s)	USS Nautilus (SSN-571), Freedom Schooner Amistad
Slogan(s)	Full of Surprises
Song(s)	Yankee Doodle, The Nutmeg
Tartan	Connecticut State Tartan
Route Marker(s)
Quarter	1999
See Also

The name "Connecticut" originates from the Mohegan word quinnitukqut, meaning "place of long tidal river". This is a list of US state birds as designated by each state's legislature The American Robin, Turdus migratorius, is a migratory Songbird of the thrush family This is a list of official and *unofficial US state fish:The only states lacking a state fish as of 2008 are Arkansas Indiana Kansas and Ohio The American shad or Atlantic shad, Alosa sapidissima, is a Species of Anadromous Fish in family Clupeidae This is a list of US state flowers: See also List of US state trees Lists of U Kalmia latifolia, commonly called Mountain-laurel or Spoonwood, is a Flowering plant in the family Ericaceae, native This is a list of United States state insects note that some states have more than one designated insect or have multiple categories (e Mantis religiosa, referred to as the European mantis outside of Europe (and known simply as the praying mantis in Europe and elsewhere is one of A state mammal is the official or representative Animal of a U The Sperm Whale ( Physeter macrocephalus or Physeter catodon) is the largest of all Toothed whales and largest living toothed animal This List of US state trees includes official trees of the following states and U The Charter Oak was an unusually large White oak Tree growing from around the 12th or 13th century until 1856 on what the English colonists named Wyllys Hill The tree species Quercus alba, also called "white oak" is one of the pre-eminent hardwoods of eastern North America This is a list of official US state dances: See also Lists of U Square dance is a Folk dance with four couples (eight dancers arranged in a square with one couple on each side beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going Most American states have made a state fossil designation in many cases during the 1980s. Trace fossils, also called ichnofossils (ˈɪknoʊfɒsɨl ιχνος or ikhnos meaning "trace" or "track" are geological records of biological Not every state has an official state mineral rock stone or gemstone The garnet group includes a group of minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives This is a list of official state shells: See also Lists of US The Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, also known as the American oyster, Atlantic oyster, or the Virginia oyster, is a Species This is a list of official state ships as designated by each state's legislature "Underway on nuclear power" Following her commissioning Nautilus remained dockside for further construction and testing La Amistad ( Spanish: "Friendship" was a 19th-century two- masted Schooner built in the United States but owned by a Spaniard This list of US state slogans is made up the Advertising slogans currently and formerly used by U Introduction Forty-nine states of the United States (all except New Jersey) have one or more state songs, selected by the state " Yankee Doodle " is a well-known US song, often sung Patriotically today The Nutmeg ( Discestra trifolii) also known as the Clover Cutworm, is a Moth of the family Noctuidae. This is a list of official US state Tartans: See also Lists of U Highways in the United States are split into at least four different types of systems The 50 State Quarters program ( is the release of a series of commemorative coins by the United States Mint. These are lists of US state insignia as designated by tradition or the respective state legislatures: List of U The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking tribe that lives in eastern upper Thames valley Connecticut ^[19] In fact, the exact spelling "connect I cut", was rendered by Whalley, Goffe, and Dixwell, the three "Regicide Judges" who came to New Haven in the 17th century, fleeing persecution by Charles II of England. ^[20]

Connecticut's official nickname, adopted in 1959, is "The Constitution State", based on its colonial constitution of 1638–39. ^[1] Unofficially (but popularly) Connecticut is also known as "The Nutmeg State". The nutmegs Myristica are a Genus of Evergreen Trees indigenous to tropical southeast Asia and Australasia ^[1] The origins of the nutmeg connection to Connecticut is unknown. It may have come from its sailors returning from voyages with nutmeg (which in the 18th and 19th centuries was a very valuable spice). It may have originated in the early machined sheet tin nutmeg grinders sold by early Connecticut peddlers. It is also facetiously said to come from Yankee peddlers from Connecticut who would sell small carved nobs of wood shaped to look like nutmeg to unsuspecting customers. The term Yankee, sometimes abbreviated to Yank, has a few related meanings often referring to someone of U ^[21] George Washington gave Connecticut the title of "The Provisions State"^[1] because of the material aid the state rendered to the Revolutionary War effort. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" Connecticut is also known as "The Land of Steady Habits". ^[1]

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. Cotton Mather (February 12 1663 &ndash February 13 1728 AB 1678 ( Harvard College) A "Connecticutensian" - Samuel Peters in 1781. Reverend Samuel Andrew Peters (1735–1826 was a Connecticut Anglican clergyman and historian "Nutmegger" is sometimes used,^[22] as is "Yankee" (the official State Song is "Yankee Doodle"), though this usually refers someone from the wider New England region. " Yankee Doodle " is a well-known US song, often sung Patriotically today History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the ^[23] Linguist Allen Walker Read reports a more playful term, 'connecticutie. ' The traditional abbreviation of the state's name is "Conn. "; the official postal abbreviation is CT.

Commemorative stamps issued by the United States Postal Service with Connecticut themes include Nathan Hale, Eugene O'Neill, Josiah Willard Gibbs, Noah Webster, Eli Whitney, the whaling ship the Charles W. Morgan which is docked in Mystic Seaport, and a decoy of a broadbill duck. A commemorative stamp is a Postage stamp issued to honor or commemorate a place event or person Nathan Hale ( June 6, 1755 &ndash September 22, 1776) was an officer for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16 1888–November 27 1953 was a Nobel -prize winning American playwright Josiah Willard Gibbs ( February 11, 1839 &ndash April 28, 1903) was an American theoretical Physicist, Chemist Noah Webster (October 16 1758 &ndash May 28 1843 was an American Lexicographer, textbook author Spelling reformer word enthusiast and editor Whaling is the hunting of Whales and dates back to at least 6000 BC A ship /ʃɪp/ is a large vessel that floats on water Ships are generally distinguished from Boats based on size Charles W Morgan was a US whaleship during the 19th and early 20th century Mystic Seaport: The Museum of America and the Sea is a Living history Maritime museum situated along the banks of the Mystic River in Mystic Connecticut A decoy is usually a person device or event meant as a distraction to conceal what an individual or a group might be looking for For duck as a food see Duck (food; for other meanings see Duck (disambiguation.

The Charter Oak

The USS Nautilus

Demographics

Connecticut Population Density Map

As of 2005, Connecticut has an estimated population of 3,510,297,^[28] which is an increase of 11,331, or 0. 3%, from the prior year and an increase of 104,695, or 3. 1%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase since the last census of 67,427 people (that is 222,222 births minus 154,795 deaths) and an increase due to net migration of 41,718 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 75,991 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 34,273 people. American immigration ( emigration to the United States of America) refers to the movement of non-residents to the United States. Human migration denotes any movement by Humans from one locality to another sometimes over long distances or Based on the 2005 estimates, Connecticut moves from the 29th most populous state to 30th. ^[28]

6. 6% of its population was reported as being under 5 years old, 24. 7% under 18 years old, and 13. 8% were 65 years of age or older. Females made up approximately 51. 6% of the population, with 48. 4% male.

In 1790, 97% of the population in Connecticut were classified as "rural". The first census in which less than half the population was classified as rural was 1890. In the 2000 census, it was only 12. 3%. Most of western and southern Connecticut is strongly associated with New York City; this area is the most affluent and populous region of the state. The City of New York A portion of rural eastern Connecticut is somewhat culturally influenced by Boston. This split has caused a lack of more than a few professional sport teams. ie: NHL hockey since the mid 1990s, NFL football, MLS soccer and men's basketball.

The center of population of Connecticut is located in the town of Cheshire. In Demographics, the center of population of a region is the geographical point nearest to all the inhabitants of that region on average Cheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. ^[29]

Race, ancestry, and language

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. 69% of Connecticut residents age 5 and older spoke English at home and 8. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States 42% spoke Spanish, followed by Italian at 1. Italian ( or lingua italiana) is a Romance language spoken by about 63 million people as a First language, primarily in Italy. 59%, French at 1. French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people 31% and Polish at 1. Polish ( język polski, polszczyzna) is the Official language of Poland. 20%. ^[30]

The five largest reported ancestries in the state are: Italian (18. An Italian American is an American of Italian descent and/or dual citizenship 6%), Irish (16. Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. 6%), English (10. English Americans (occasionally known as Anglo -Americans although this may have a wider cultural meaning are Citizens of the United States whose ancestry 3%), German (9. German Americans ( German: Deutschamerikaner) are citizens of the United States of Ethnic German ancestry 9%), and French/French Canadian (9. French Americans or Franco-Americans are citizens or permanent residents of the United States of French descent 9%).

Connecticut has large Italian American, Irish American and English American populations, as well as German American and Portuguese American populations, second highest percentage of any state behind Rhode Island (19. An Italian American is an American of Italian descent and/or dual citizenship Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. English Americans (occasionally known as Anglo -Americans although this may have a wider cultural meaning are Citizens of the United States whose ancestry German Americans ( German: Deutschamerikaner) are citizens of the United States of Ethnic German ancestry Portuguese Americans are Citizens of the United States whose ancestry originates in the southwest European nation of Portugal, including the 3%). 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. An Italian American is an American of Italian descent and/or dual citizenship Irish Americans (Gael-Mheiriceánach are citizens of the United States who can claim ancestry originating in Ireland. The term Yankee, sometimes abbreviated to Yank, has a few related meanings often referring to someone of U African Americans and Hispanics (mostly Puerto Ricans) are numerous in the urban areas of the state. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Hispanic and Latino Americans are Americans of Hispanic or Latino descent, which comprises ancestry or origins in Hispanic America Puerto Ricans in the United States (also referred to as the "Puerto Rican Diaspora," " Nuyorican " "Stateside Puerto Ricans" "mainland Like Ohio and New York, Connecticut is also known for its relatively large Hungarian American population, the majority of which live in and around Fairfield, Stamford, Naugatuck and Bridgeport. Hungarian Americans are American citizens of Hungarian descent Fairfield is a common place name in several English-speaking countries Naugatuck is a consolidated town and borough in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. Connecticut also has a sizable Polish American population, with New Britain containing the largest Polish American population in the state. A Polish American is an American citizen of Polish descent There are an estimated 10 million Americans of Polish descent New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, US. It is located approximately 9 miles (14 km southwest of Hartford. A Polish American is an American citizen of Polish descent There are an estimated 10 million Americans of Polish descent

More recent immigrant populations include those from Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Panama, and former Soviet countries. Laos (ˈlɑːoʊs or /ˈlaʊs/ officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a Landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma Vietnam (ˌviːɛtˈnɑːm Việt Nam) officially The Kingdom of Thailand (ˈtaɪlænd ราชอาณาจักรไทย, râːtɕʰa-ʔaːnaːtɕɑ̀k-tʰɑj The Republic of Indonesia ( (Republik Indonesia is a Country in Southeast Asia. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. |utc_offset = -2 to -4 |time_zone_DST = BRST |utc_offset_DST = -2 to -5 |cctld Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991

Religion

A 2001 survey of Connecticut residents' religious self-identification showed the following distribution of affiliations:^[31]

• Roman Catholic – 32%
• Baptist – 10%
• Episcopal – 6%
• Methodist – 4%
• Lutheran – 4%
• Congregational/United Church of Christ – 2%
• Presbyterian – 1%
• Pentecostal – 1%
• Other Protestant or general Protestant – 4%
• Latter-Day Saint – 2%
• Church of Christ – 2%
• Assembly of God – 1%
• Non-denominational – 1%
• Other Christian – 7%
• Jewish – 1%
• Muslim – 1%
• Other religions – 4%
• Non-religious – 12%
• No answer – 6%

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. Roman Catholicism in the United States has grown dramatically over the country's history from being a tiny minority faith during the time of the Thirteen Colonies Baptist is a term describing individuals belonging to a Baptist church or a Baptist denomination. The Episcopal Church is the official name of the Province of the Anglican Communion in the United States. Methodism is a movement within Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently The United Church of Christ ( UCC) is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination principally in the United States, Presbyterianism is a family of Christian denominations within the Reformed branch of Protestant Western Christianity Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. Mormonism is a term used to describe the religious, ideological and cultural elements of certain branches of the Latter Day Saint movement The World Assemblies of God Fellowship, or Assemblies of God for short is the world's largest Pentecostal denomination with over 283413 churches and outstations Judaism (from the Greek Ioudaïsmos, derived from the Hebrew יהודה Yehudah, " Judah " in Hebrew יַהֲדוּת Yahedut The history of Islam in the United States starts in the early 16th century, with Estevánico of Azamor being the first Muslim to enter the historical record American Jews, or Jewish Americans Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Greater New Haven is the Metropolitan area whose extent includes those towns in the U Greater Hartford is a region located in the state of Connecticut, centered around the state's capital of Hartford. "West Hartford" redirects here For the unincorporated community in Vermont, see West Hartford, Vermont.

Recent immigration has brought other non-Christian religions to the state, but the numbers of adherents of other religions are still low. Immigration refers to the movement of people among countries While the movement of people has existed throughout human history at various levels modern immigration implies long-term

Connecticut is also home to New England's Largest Protestant Church The First Cathedral in Bloomfield, Connecticut located in Hartford County. The First Cathedral exists both as a Christian ministry based in Bloomfield Connecticut as well as the edifice in which the ministry is held. Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Hartford County is located in the north central part of the U

Economy

Connecticut welcome sign being updated as Rell takes office on July 1, 2004. "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

Connecticut state welcome sign

The total gross state product for 2006 was $204 billion. Gross state product (or gross regional product) is a measurement of the economic output of a state or Province. The per capita income for 2007 was $54,117, ranking first among the states. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country ^[32] There is, however, a great disparity in incomes through the state; although New Canaan has one of the highest per capita incomes in America, Hartford is one of the ten cities with the lowest per capita incomes in America. Connecticut is the richest state in the United States of America, with a Per capita income of $28766 (2000 and a Personal per capita income of $43173 Should Hartford (or similar cities New Haven and Bridgeport) be combined with its immediate suburbs, it would rank as one of the richest cities in the country.

New Canaan is the wealthiest town in Connecticut, with a per capita income of $85,459. New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, 8 miles (13 km northeast of Stamford, on the Five Mile River Connecticut is the richest state in the United States of America, with a Per capita income of $28766 (2000 and a Personal per capita income of $43173 Darien, Greenwich, Weston, Westport and Wilton also have per capita incomes over $65,000. Darien is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Weston is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Westport is a coastal town located on Long Island Sound in Fairfield County, Connecticut, 47 miles north of New York City in the United Wilton is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in the United States. Hartford is the poorest town in Connecticut, with a per capita income of $13,428 in 2000. ^[33] There are other lower-income and blue-collar towns, mostly parts of towns, in the eastern part of the State.

Taxation

Prior to 1991, Connecticut had a highly populist income tax system. Income from employment was untaxed, but income from investments was taxed at the highest rate in the United States: 13%. And this burden was further increased by the method of calculation: no deductions were allowed for the cost (for example, interest on borrowing) of producing the investment income. Under Governor Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., an Independent, this was reformed to the present system. Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr (born May 16, 1931) is an American Politician who served as a U

This system prior to 1991 made it an attractive haven for high-salaried earners fleeing the heavy taxes of New York State, but highly unattractive for members of Wall Street partnerships. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous It put an enormous burden on Connecticut property tax payers, particularly in the cities with their more extensive municipal services. Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed Municipal services or city services refer to basic services that residents of a City expect the City government to provide in exchange for

With Weicker's 1991 tax reform, the tax on employment and investment income was equalized at a then-maximum of 4%. Since then, Greenwich, Connecticut, has become the headquarters of choice for a large number of America's largest hedge funds, and Connecticut income from that industry has soared. A hedge fund is a private Investment fund open to a limited range of investors which is permitted by regulators to undertake a wider range of activities than other investment Today the income tax rate on Connecticut individuals is divided into two tax brackets of 3% and 5%. ^[34] All wages of a Connecticut resident are subject to the state's income tax, even when the resident works outside of the state. A wage is a compensation workers receive in exchange for their labor. However, in those cases, Connecticut income tax must be withheld only to the extent the Connecticut tax exceeds the amount withheld by the other jurisdiction. Since New York state has higher tax rates than Connecticut, this effectively means that Connecticut residents that work in New York state pay no income tax to Connecticut.

Connecticut levies a 6% state sales tax on the retail sale, lease, or rental of most goods. A sales tax is a Consumption tax charged at the Point of purchase for certain goods and services Some items and services in general are not subject to sales and use taxes unless specifically enumerated as taxable by statute. A statute is a formal written enactment of a Legislative authority that governs a Country, State, City, or County. There are no additional sales taxes imposed by local jurisdictions. During the summer there is one week of duty free buying to spur retail sales.

All real and personal property located within the state of Connecticut is taxable unless specifically exempted by statute. All assessments are at 70% of fair market value. Fair Market Value (FMV is a term in both Law and Accounting that is based on the Economics term of "market value Another 20% of the value may be taxed by the local government though. The maximum property tax credit is $500 per return and any excess may not be refunded or carried forward. ^[34] Connecticut does not levy an intangible personal property tax. Property tax, or millage tax, is an Ad valorem tax that an owner pays on the value of the property being taxed

Real estate

Homes in southwestern Connecticut on the fringes of the New York City metropolitan area are quite expensive. The City of New York Many towns have median home prices over $500,000, with some more desirable homes exceeding $1 million. Fairfield County has the most expensive real estate market in Connecticut, with most houses selling at over $1. 5 million and many costing several million. Connecticut has the most multi-million dollar homes in the northeast, and the second most in the nation after California, with 3. 3% of homes in Connecticut priced over one million dollars in 2003. ^[35] In 2007, the median price for a house in Connecticut passed $300,000 for the first time, even though most of the country was mired in a real estate slump. ^[36]

Industries

The agricultural output for the state is nursery stock, eggs clams and lobster, dairy products, cattle, and tobacco. A nursery is a place where Plants are propagated and grown to usable size An egg is a round or oval body laid by the female of many animals consisting of an Ovum surrounded by layers of Membranes and an outer casing which acts to nourish Dairy products are generally defined as Foodstuffs produced from Milk. Cattle, colloquially referred to as cows, are domesticated Ungulates a member of the Subfamily Bovinae of the family Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. Its industrial outputs are transportation equipment (especially helicopters, aircraft parts, and nuclear submarines), heavy industrial machinery and electrical equipment, military weaponry and fabricated metal products, chemical and pharmaceutical products, and scientific instruments. Transport or transportation is the movement of people and goods from one place to another History Since 400 AD Chinese children have played with bamboo flying toys. A nuclear submarine is a Submarine powered by Atomic energy. Previously conventional submarines used diesel engines that required air for moving on the A chemical substance is a Material with a definite chemical composition. In the Physical sciences Quality assurance, and Engineering, Measurement is the activity of obtaining and comparing physical quantities

Due to the prominence of the aircraft industry in the state, Connecticut has an official state aircraft, the F4U Corsair, and an official Connecticut Aviation Pioneer, Igor Sikorsky. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Igor Sikorsky (25 May 1889 &ndash 26 October 1972 was born Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky (Игорь Иванович Сикорский The state officially recognizes aircraft designer Gustav Whitehead as "Father of Connecticut Aviation" for his research into powered flight in Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1901, two years before the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Gustave Albin Whitehead, born Gustav Albin Weisskopf ( January 1 1874 – October 10 1927)was a German immigrant to WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Kitty Hawk is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. ^[37] Governor John Dempsey also declared August 15 to be "Gustave Whitehead Day". ^[38]

A report issued by the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism on December 7, 2006 demonstrated that the economic impact of the arts, film, history and tourism generated more than $14 billion in economic activity and 170,000 jobs annually. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. This provides $9 billion in personal income for Connecticut residents and $1. 7 billion in state and local revenue. ^[39]

Transportation

Map of Connecticut showing major highways

Roads

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 Dwight D Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly called the Interstate Highway System (or simply the Interstate System) Interstate 95, the main north-south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, runs in a general east-west compass direction for 111 The Connecticut Turnpike, formally known as the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike, is a Freeway in Connecticut that runs from Greenwich to Interstate 84 (abbreviated I-84) is an Interstate highway extending from Dunmore Pennsylvania (near Scranton Pennsylvania) at an intersection Interstate 91 (abbreviated I-91) is an Interstate highway in the New England section of the United States. The other major highways 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. The Merritt Parkway is a limited-access Parkway in Fairfield County Connecticut. The Wilbur Cross Parkway is a Limited access road in Connecticut, comprising the portion of Route 15 between Milford and Meriden. Route 15 is a State highway in the US state of Connecticut that runs 83 The Hutchinson River Parkway (also known as The Hutch) is an long Parkway in Downstate New York. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Berlin is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Route 15 and I-95 were originally toll roads; they relied on a system of toll plazas at which all traffic stopped and paid fixed tolls. A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards A series of terrible crashes at these plazas eventually contributed to the decision to remove the tolls in 1988. ^[40] Other major arteries in the state include U.S. Route 7 in the west running parallel to the NY border, State Route 8 farther east near the industrial city of Waterbury and running north-south along the Naugatuck River Valley nearly parallel with U. US Route 7 is a north-south United States highway in the New England region that runs for from Norwalk Connecticut to northern Vermont. Route 8 is the portion of the multistate New England Route 8 within the state of Connecticut. S. 7, and State Route 9 in the east. Route 9 is a 4089 mile 4-lane Freeway beginning in Old Saybrook and ending at the Farmington - West Hartford town line See List of State Routes in Connecticut for an overview of the state's highway system. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT maintains a system of State highways to serve the predominant flow of traffic between towns within Connecticut

Between New Haven and the New York City, I-95 is one of the most congested highways in the United States. Many people now drive longer distances to work in the New York City area. This strains the three lanes of traffic capacity, resulting in lengthy rush hour delays. Rush hour at Shinjuku 02JPG|thumb|right|250px|Rush hour at Shinjuku Station, Yamanote Line]] A rush hour or peak hour is a part of the day during which Frequently, the congestion spills over to clog the parallel Merritt Parkway. The state has encouraged traffic reduction schemes, including rail use and ride-sharing. Carpooling (also known as car-sharing, ride-sharing, lift-sharing) is the shared use of a car by the driver and one or more passengers usually ^[41]

Connecticut also has a very active bicycling community, with one of the highest rates of bicycling ownership and use in the United States. New Haven's cycling community, organized in a local advocacy group called ElmCityCycling, is particularly active. Founded in 2001 ElmCityCycling or Elm City Cycling is a cycling advocacy group based in New Haven, Connecticut. According to the U. S. Census 2006 American Community Survey, New Haven has the highest percentage of commuters who bicycle to work of any major metropolitan center on the East Coast.

Public transportation

Rail

Since many Connecticut residents commute to New York City, there is an extensive commuter railway network connecting New York City to New Haven on Metro North Railroad (a commuter railroad based in New York and operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority) with spurs servicing Waterbury, Danbury, and New Canaan. The City of New York Commuter rail, regional rail or suburban rail is a Passenger rail transport service between a city center and outer suburbs and Commuter towns The Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, or MTA Metro-North Railroad, or more commonly Metro-North, is a Suburban commuter rail service Rail service does not end with New Haven, however. Connecticut is in the heart of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and the Amtrak Regional line makes stops in New Haven-State Street, Old Saybrook, New London, and Mystic. The Northeast Corridor ( NEC) is the busiest passenger rail line in the United States by ridership and service frequency Smaller town stops between New Haven and New London are served by Shore Line East, which takes commuters to those stations to catch a main train. Shore Line East (SLE is a Commuter rail service operating in southern Connecticut, USA. These commuter services are heavily utilized during weekday rush hours. Regional rail service is provided by Amtrak, which makes regular stops in Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Hartford, as well as in Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Windsor, and Windsor Locks. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 Operation of commuter trains from New Haven to Springfield on Amtrak's New Haven-Springfield Line is scheduled to begin in 2010. The New Haven-Springfield Line or Hartford Line is a Railroad line owned by Amtrak from New Haven Connecticut north to Springfield ^[42]

Bus

Statewide bus service is supplied by Connecticut Transit, owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, with smaller municipal authorities providing local service. Connecticut Transit (CT Transit is a Bus system serving much of the U The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT is responsible for the development and operation of Highways railroads, Mass transit systems Bus networks are an important part of the transportation system in Connecticut, especially in urban areas like Hartford, Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport and New Haven. A three-year construction project to build a busway from New Britain to Hartford will begin in August 2009. ^[43][44]

Air

Bradley International Airport, which became truly 'International' in the summer of 2007 beginning service to Europe, is located in Windsor Locks, 15 miles (24 km) north of Hartford. BDL redirects here For the beer distributor see Brewers' Distributor Ltd Windsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Regional air service is provided at Tweed-New Haven Airport. Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, formerly known as Tweed-New Haven Airport, is a public Airport located three miles (5 km southeast of the Central business Larger civil airports include Danbury Municipal Airport and Waterbury-Oxford Airport in western Connecticut. Danbury Municipal Airport is a public use General aviation airport located three miles (5 km) southwest of the Central business district of Danbury Waterbury-Oxford Airport is a public Airport located three miles (5 km north of the Central business district of Oxford, a town in New Haven The Westchester County Airport in Harrison, New York serves part of southwestern Connecticut. Harrison is a town/village in Westchester County, New York, United States.

Law and government

See also: Administrative divisions of Connecticut

The Connecticut State Capitol in downtown Hartford

Hartford has been the sole capital of Connecticut since 1875. The primary political subdivisions and administrative divisions of Connecticut are its towns The Connecticut State Capitol is located on Bushnell Park in the Connecticut capital of Hartford. Before then, New Haven and Hartford alternated as capitals. ^[19]

Constitutional history

Connecticut is known as the "Constitution State". While the origin on this title is uncertain, the nickname is assumed to refer to the Fundamental Orders of 1638–39. The Fundamental Orders were adopted by the Connecticut Colony council on January 14 1638 OS ( January 24 1639 NS These Fundamental Orders represent the framework for the first formal government written by a representative body in Connecticut. For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. The government has operated under the direction of four separate documents in the course of Connecticut Constitutional History. Connecticut is known as the “constitution state” While the origin on this title is uncertain the nickname is assumed to reference the Fundamental Orders of 1638-39 After the Fundamental Orders, Connecticut was granted governmental authority by King Charles II of England through the Connecticut Charter of 1662. Charles II (Charles Stuart 29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685 was the King of England, Scotland, and Ireland. While these two documents acted to lay the ground work for the state’s government, both lacked essential characteristics of a constitution. A constitution is a system for government often Codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity The Fundamental Orders and the Connecticut Charter could both be altered simply by a majority vote of the General Assembly. The Connecticut General Assembly (or CGA) is the state legislature of the U Separate branches of government did not exist during this period, and the General Assembly acted as the supreme authority. A true constitution was not adopted in Connecticut until 1818. Finally, the current state constitution was implemented in 1965. The 1965 constitution absorbed a majority of its 1818 predecessor, but incorporated a handful of important modifications. Another possible source of the nickname "constitution state" comes from Connecticut's pivotal role in the federal constitutional convention of 1787, during which Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth helped to orchestrate what became known as the Connecticut Compromise, or the Great Compromise. Oliver Ellsworth ( April 29 1745 &ndash November 26 1807) an American lawyer and politician was a revolutionary against British The Connecticut Compromise, also known as the Great Compromise, was an essential agreement between large and small states reached during the Philadelphia Convention 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. The Virginia Plan (also known as the Randolph Plan, after its sponsor or Large-State Plan) was a proposal by Virginia delegates drafted by The New Jersey Plan (also known as the Small State Plan or Paterson Plan) was a proposal for the structure of the United States Government proposed

Executive

The governor heads the executive branch. The current Governor of Connecticut is M. Jodi Rell (Republican). Colonial governors See also List of colonial governors of Connecticut Governors of the State of Connecticut 1776&ndashpresent Mary Jodi Rell (born June 16 1946 is a Republican Politician who became the 72nd Governor of the U The current Lieutenant Governor is Michael Fedele. The following is a list of Deputy or Lieutenant Governors of the State of Connecticut, from the Colonial period through present day Michael Fedele (born March 30, 1955 in Minturno, Italy) is an Italian-American politician 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 without electing her husband first, Ella Grasso in 1974. Ella Grasso ( May 10, 1919 – February 5, 1981) born Ella Giovanna Oliva Tambussi, was an American politician

There are several executive departments: Administrative Services, Agriculture, Banking, Children and Families, Consumer Protection, Correction, Economic and Community Development, Developmental Services, Education, Environmental Protection, Higher Education, Information Technology, Insurance, Labor, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Military, Motor Vehicles, Public Health, Public Safety, Public Utility Control, Public Works, Revenue Services, Social Services, Transportation, Veterans Affairs. In addition to these departments, there are other independent bureaus, offices and commissions. ^[45]

In addition to the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, there are four other executive officers named in the state constitution that are elected directly by voters: Secretary of State, Treasurer, Comptroller and Attorney General. All executive officers are elected to four year terms. ^[19]

Legislative

The legislature is the General Assembly. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation The Connecticut General Assembly (or CGA) is the state legislature of the U The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of an upper body, the State Senate (36 senators); and a lower body, the House of Representatives (151 representatives). In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral The Connecticut State Senate is the Upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U The Connecticut House of Representatives is the Lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U ^[19] Bills must pass each house in order to become law. 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. James A Amann (born 1956 in Bridgeport, Connecticut) is a Connecticut State Representative The Democrats currently hold the majority in both houses of the General Assembly. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party.

Connecticut's U. S. senators are Christopher J. Dodd (Democrat) and Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut for Lieberman, Independent Democrat) who is part of the Democratic Caucus. Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American Lawyer and Democratic Politician, who is currently serving Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman (born February 24 1942 is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut. Connecticut for Lieberman is a Connecticut political party created by twenty-five supporters of Senator Joe Lieberman. Independent Democrat is a term occasionally adopted by members of the United States Congress to refer to their party affiliation Connecticut currently has five representatives in the U.S. House, four of whom are Democrats. These are tables of congressional delegations from Connecticut to the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives.

Judicial

The highest court of Connecticut's judicial branch is the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of Connecticut. A court is a forum used by a power base to adjudicate disputes and dispense civil, labour administrative and criminal Justice under its 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 those of the United States Supreme Court, with no testimony given by witnesses, and the lawyers of the two sides each present oral arguments 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 Chase T. Rogers. Chase T Rogers is the Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court[http //www

In 1818, the court became a separate entity, independent of the legislative and executive branches. ^[46] The Appellate Court is a lesser state-wide court and the Superior Courts are lower courts that resemble county courts of other states.

Local government

See also: Administrative divisions of Connecticut and several lists: List of municipalities of Connecticut by population, List of towns in Connecticut, List of cities in Connecticut, Borough (Connecticut), List of counties in Connecticut

Connecticut has 169 towns, which serve as the fundamental local political subdivision of the state; the entire state is divided into towns. The primary political subdivisions and administrative divisions of Connecticut are its towns This is a list of municipalities in Connecticut in order of population from greatest to least The US state of Connecticut is divided into 169 towns. The towns are grouped into eight counties This page lists all municipalities that have been incorporated as cities in the U In the US state of Connecticut, a borough is an incorporated area that typically provides services to a section (usually urban in nature of a town. This is a list of counties in Connecticut. There are currently eight counties in the U The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states ^[19] Connecticut shares a local form of government with the rest of New England called the New England town. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states There are also 21 cities,^[19] most of which 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. The City of Groton is a political subdivision of the Town of Groton in New London County, Connecticut, United States. Groton is a town located on the Thames River in New London County, Connecticut, United States. Winsted is a Census-designated place and an incorporated city in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. Winchester is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. There are also nine incorporated boroughs which may provide additional services to a section of town. A borough is an Administrative division of various countries In principle the term borough designates a self-governing Township although in practice ^[19][47] One, Naugatuck, is a consolidated town and borough. Naugatuck is a consolidated town and borough in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States.

Unlike most other states, Connecticut does not have county government. A county is a Land area of Regional Government within a larger State. Connecticut county governments were mostly eliminated in 1960, with the exception of the sheriff system. SHERIFF is a telecom fraud detection and management system originally developed by BT and MCI. ^[48] In 2000, the county sheriff was abolished and replaced with the state marshal system, which has districts that follow the old county territories. The judicial system is divided, at the trial court level, into judicial districts which largely follow the old county lines. ^[49] The eight counties are still widely used for purely geographical and statistical purposes, such as weather reports, and census reporting. This is a list of counties in Connecticut. There are currently eight counties in the U Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location

The state is divided into 15 planning regions defined by the state Office of Planning and Management. The primary political subdivisions and administrative divisions of Connecticut are its towns ^[50] The Intragovernmental Policy Division of this Office coordinates regional planning with the administrative bodies of these regions. Each region has an administrative body known as either a regional council of governments, a regional council of elected officials, or a regional planning agency. The regions are established for the purpose of planning "coordination of regional and state planning activities; designation or redesignation of logical planning regions and promotion of the continuation of regional planning organizations within the state; and provision for technical aid and the administration of financial assistance to regional planning organizations. "^[50]

Politics

Connecticut leans strongly towards the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. However, Connecticut has a high number of voters who are not registered with a major party. As of 2004, 33. 7% of registered voters were registered Democratic, 22. 0% were registered Republican, and 44. 0% were unaffiliated with any party, with 0. 2% registered with a minor party. ^[52]

Many Connecticut towns show a marked preference for moderate candidates of either party. Democrats hold a registration edge especially in the cities of Hartford; New Haven; and Bridgeport, where Democratic machines have held power since the great immigration waves of the 1800s. The state's Republican-leaning areas are the rural Litchfield County and adjoining towns in the west of Hartford County, the industrial towns of the Naugatuck River Valley, and some of the affluent Fairfield County towns near the New York border. Litchfield County is located in the northwestern corner of the U Hartford County is located in the north central part of the U The Naugatuck River Valley is located in the western part of Connecticut along the Route 8 corridor and Metro-North railroad line Named after the extremely large area of salt-marshes and swamps both on the coast and inland Fairfield County is located in the southwestern corner of the U New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous 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. New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, 8 miles (13 km northeast of Stamford, on the Five Mile River Darien is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Ann Hart Coulter (born December 8 1961 is an American Political commentator, Syndicated columnist, and best-selling Author. Westport, a wealthy town a few miles to the east, is often considered one of the most loyally-Democratic, liberal towns in Fairfield County. Westport is a coastal town located on Long Island Sound in Fairfield County, Connecticut, 47 miles north of New York City in the United Norwalk and Stamford, two larger, affluent communities in Fairfield County, have in many elections favored moderate Republicans including former Governor John G. Rowland and Congressman Chris Shays, however they have favored Democrats in recent US presidential candidates. Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. John Grosvenor Rowland (born May 24, 1957, Waterbury Connecticut) was the Governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004 he is a member of Christopher H Shays (born October 18 1945) is an American politician has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives Waterbury has a Democratic registration edge, but usually favors conservative candidates in both parties. In Danbury unaffiliated voters outnumber voters registered with either major party. Other smaller cities including Meriden, New Britain, and Middletown favor Democratic candidates. Meriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. New Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, US. It is located approximately 9 miles (14 km southwest of Hartford. Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the south-central part of the state 16 miles (26 km

Democrats hold veto-proof majorities in both houses of the Connecticut General Assembly. The Connecticut General Assembly (or CGA) is the state legislature of the U In 2006, Republicans were reduced from three out of five to one out of five federal congressional seats. The remaining Republican, Chris Shays, is the only Republican from New England in the U.S. House of Representatives in the current Congress and is also one of the most liberal Republicans in the House. Christopher H Shays (born October 18 1945) is an American politician has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman are Connecticut's U.S. senators. Christopher John Dodd (born May 27, 1944) is an American Lawyer and Democratic Politician, who is currently serving Joseph Isadore "Joe" Lieberman (born February 24 1942 is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The senior Dodd is a Democrat while the junior Lieberman serves as an Independent Democrat caucusing with Senate Democrats after his victory on the Connecticut for Lieberman ballot line in the 2006 general election. Independent Democrat is a term occasionally adopted by members of the United States Congress to refer to their party affiliation Connecticut for Lieberman is a Connecticut political party created by twenty-five supporters of Senator Joe Lieberman. Lieberman's predecessor, Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., was the last Connecticut Republican to serve as Senator. Lowell Palmer Weicker Jr (born May 16, 1931) is an American Politician who served as a U Weicker was known as a liberal Republican. He broke with President Richard Nixon during Watergate and successfully ran for governor in 1990 as an independent, creating A Connecticut Party as his election vehicle. The Watergate scandals were a series of Political scandals during the presidency of Richard Nixon that resulted in the Indictment of several of Nixon's A Connecticut Party was a party formed by former Republican Senator and gubernatorial candidate Lowell P Before Weicker, the last Republican to represent Connecticut in the Senate was Prescott Bush, the father of former President George H.W. Bush and the grandfather of President George W. Bush. Prescott Sheldon Bush ( May 15, 1895 – October 8, 1972) was a United States Senator from Connecticut, a George Herbert Walker Bush (born June 12 1924 served as the forty-first President of the United States from 1989 to 1993 George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. He served from 1953–1963.

Further information: U.S. presidential election, 2004, in Connecticut

Political corruption

Several mayors, state legislators, and government employees have been convicted and imprisoned for crimes ranging from bribery to racketeering. In 2004 New England 's state of Connecticut was easily won by the challenger John Kerry by a margin of 10 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. John Grosvenor Rowland (born May 24, 1957, Waterbury Connecticut) was the Governor of Connecticut from 1995 to 2004 he is a member of ^[53] Following his resignation, he pled guilty to corruption charges and served ten months in federal prison. Former Waterbury Mayor and 2000 GOP Senate candidate Philip Giordano 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 child sex offenses. Philip Giordano (1963- is the former Republican mayor of Waterbury Connecticut and a convicted Sex offender. ^[54] In 2003, he was convicted and sentenced to 37 years in federal prison. ^[55] 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 while not running for re-election. John Michael Fabrizi ( December 25, 1956 - is a former Mayor of Bridgeport Connecticut, succeeded by Bill Finch ^[56][57] In August 2007 Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez announced he had been investigated for ties to a city contractor. [2] And in December 2007 in Enfield, former Mayor Patrick L. Tallarita (D) has been named in a lawsuit over an alleged threatening confrontation with a man at a grocery store. [3]

Several state agencies, including the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), and Department of Children and Families (DCF) have been rocked by scandals over the past decade. The Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT is responsible for the development and operation of Highways railroads, Mass transit systems

A more recent scandal involved a botched construction project on Interstate 84 near Waterbury. Interstate 84 (abbreviated I-84) is an Interstate highway extending from Dunmore Pennsylvania (near Scranton Pennsylvania) at an intersection An independent audit of the project in late 2006 revealed that over 300 storm drains installed by the now-defunct L. G. DeFelice Construction Company, were either filled with sand, were improperly installed, or were connected with pipes that led to nowhere. In addition to the faulty storm drains, officials discovered light fixtures with defective mounting brackets when one of the fixtures fell off of its support pole and onto the highway. Inspectors also discovered the structural steel for an overpass was not properly installed, raising serious questions about the bridge's structural integrity. Following the uncovering of this scandal, Attorney-General Richard Blumenthal filed suit against L. Richard Blumenthal is the 23rd elected Attorney General of Connecticut. G. DeFelice, its bonding company USF&G, and the consultants (the Maguire Group) hired by CONNDOT to oversee the project, resulting in a $17. USF&G was a Baltimore Maryland -based Insurance company that was acquired by the Saint Paul Companies in 1998, which itself merged with 5 million settlement to fix the problems. A federal grand jury and FBI investigation were also launched into the operations of L. In the Common law, a grand jury is a type of Jury which determines whether there is enough evidence for a trial. G. DeFelice before the company ceased operations in 2004. Several CONNDOT employees were fired after being implicated in the scandal, and are also subjects of state and federal investigations for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for covering up substandard work on the I-84 project. Bribery, a form of pecuniary corruption is an act usually implying money or gift given that alters the behaviour of the recipient in ways not consistent with the duties of that person Finally, the scandal prompted the Connecticut General Assembly to consider contract reform legislation and Governor M. Jodi Rell to order a complete reorganization of CONNDOT. The Connecticut General Assembly (or CGA) is the state legislature of the U Mary Jodi Rell (born June 16 1946 is a Republican Politician who became the 72nd Governor of the U

On June 1, 2007 Connecticut Senate Minority Leader Louis DeLuca (R-Woodbury) was arrested on conspiracy charges after it was discovered he was dealing with a local Mafia boss who is currently facing federal charges stemming from his trash-hauling operations,^[58] and allegations that he tried to use these same ties to intimidate the husband of his granddaughter, whom he claimed was abusing her. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The Connecticut State Senate is the Upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U Louis DeLuca (born August 17[[ 933]] in Everett Massachusetts) is a retired businessman and a Republican Party politician in the United States

Following Rowland's resignation, the state legislature passed a campaign finance reform bill that bans contributions from lobbyists and state contractors in future campaigns. ^[59]

Education

Connecticut is well-known as the home of Yale University, which maintains a consistent ranking as one of the world's most renowned universities, and has one of the most selective undergraduate programs of any university in the United States (an 8. 6% acceptance rate in 2006). ^[60][61] Yale is one of the largest employers in the state, and its research activity has recently spun off dozens of growing biotechnology companies.

Connecticut is also the host of many other academic institutions, including Sacred Heart University (1964),Quinnipiac University (1929), Trinity College (1823) and Wesleyan University (1832). Sacred Heart University is a Catholic university located in suburban Fairfield, Connecticut, near the border with Bridgeport. Quinnipiac University is a private, Nonsectarian, Coeducational University located in Hamden, Connecticut, at the Trinity College is a private liberal arts college in Hartford Connecticut. This article concerns Wesleyan The University of Connecticut has been the highest ranked public university in New England for eight years running, according to U.S. News and World Report. The University of Connecticut ( Connecticut or UConn) is the State of Connecticut 's Land-grant university. USNews & World Report is an influential weekly American Newsmagazine published in Washington D

Additionally, the State has many noted boarding schools, including Miss Porter's School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Hotchkiss, Westminster School, Pomfret School, Avon Old Farms, Loomis Chaffee, Salisbury School and The Taft School which draw students from all over the world. A boarding school is a School where some or all pupils not only study but also live during term time with their fellow students and possibly teachers Miss Porter's School, sometimes simply referred to as "Farmington" or "Porter's" is a highly selective private college preparatory school for girls Westminster School was founded by William Lee Cushing in 1888 as a boys’ school in Dobbs Ferry New York Pomfret School is an independent coeducational boarding and day school located in Pomfret Connecticut, United States for grades 9 through 12 and offers a post-graduate Avon Old Farms is a single-sex boarding school for boys located in Avon, Connecticut. The Loomis Chaffee School is a college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12 located in historic Windsor Connecticut, U Salisbury School is an all-boys private College-preparatory school founded in 1901 and located in Salisbury Connecticut. Also Connecticut has many noted private day schools such as Holy Cross High School located in Waterbury, Kingswood-Oxford School located in West Hartford, the Hopkins School in New Haven, St. Lukes School in New Canaan and the Williams School in New London. Holy Cross High School is a Catholic secondary school founded in Waterbury Connecticut in 1968 by the Congregation of Holy Cross Kingswood-Oxford School is a private day school located 170 Kingswood Road in West Hartford Connecticut. "West Hartford" redirects here For the unincorporated community in Vermont, see West Hartford, Vermont. The Hopkins School (or Hopkins Grammar School) is a Co-educational, private Day school, located in New Haven, Connecticut St Luke's School is a fee-charging college preparatory school for grades 5-12 in New Canaan, Connecticut. New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, 8 miles (13 km northeast of Stamford, on the Five Mile River The Williams School is a Coeducational independent High school located on the campus of Connecticut College in New London Connecticut

See also: List of colleges and universities in Connecticut for a comprehensive listing. The following is a list of Colleges and universities in the U

See also: List of school districts in Connecticut

Sports

• From 1979 to 1997, the National Hockey League had a franchise in Hartford, the Hartford Whalers. List of school districts in Connecticut by county, and (below that list of "district reference groups" used by the state Department of Education to compare similar The Bridgeport Sound Tigers are an Ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary The Danbury Mad Hatters are a professional ice hockey team based in Danbury Connecticut, in the United States. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. For information about the EPHL beginning play in 2008 please see Eastern Professional Hockey League (2008 The Eastern Professional Hockey League (EPHL was a The Hartford Wolf Pack are an Ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. American Hockey Association (1926–1942The American Hockey League (AHL is a Professional Ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary The Connecticut Defenders are a Minor league baseball team based in Norwich Connecticut. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North The New Britain Rock Cats are a Minor league baseball team based in New Britain Connecticut. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North The Bridgeport Bluefish are a professional baseball team based in Bridgeport Connecticut, in the United States Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each History Silkworm name In 1838 the Cheney Family started what became the world's largest silk mill and by the 1920s developed a utopian industrial community Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The New England Collegiate Baseball League ( NECBL) is a 12-team amateur summer Baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The New England Collegiate Baseball League ( NECBL) is a 12-team amateur summer Baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League ( ACBL) is a Baseball league located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Baseball is a Bat-and-ball Sport played between two teams of nine players each The New England Collegiate Baseball League ( NECBL) is a 12-team amateur summer Baseball league founded in 1993 and sanctioned by the NCAA and The Connecticut Sun are a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA team based in Uncasville Connecticut. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m The New Haven Warriors (also often known as simply The Warriors) are a semi-professional Rugby league club located in New Haven Connecticut History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games The American National Rugby League (sometimes referred to as the AMNRL) is the major Rugby league tournament for semi-professional clubs in the United States The Connecticut Wildcats is an American Semi-professional Rugby league football team based in Norwalk, Connecticut. History See also History of rugby league The grass roots of rugby league can be traced to early football history, through the playing of ball games The American National Rugby League (sometimes referred to as the AMNRL) is the major Rugby league tournament for semi-professional clubs in the United States The Hartford Whalers were an American professional Ice hockey team based in Hartford Connecticut. Their departure to Raleigh, North Carolina, caused great controversy and resentment. Raleigh (pronounced rah-lee) is the Capital of the State of North Carolina and the county seat of Wake County, USA The former Whalers are now known as the Carolina Hurricanes. The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional Ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

• Connecticut is a battleground between fans of the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and New York Mets[4]

• In 1876, Hartford had a franchise in baseball's National League known as the Hartford Dark Blues. The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of The Bronx, in New York City, New York. The Boston Red Sox are a Professional baseball team based in Boston Massachusetts, and are the reigning (2007 World Series Champions. "Mets" redirects here For the medical term see Metastasis. The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the National League ( NL) is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball The Hartford Dark Blues were a 19th century Baseball team The team was based in Hartford Connecticut.

• In 1926, Hartford had a franchise in the National Football League known as the Hartford Blues. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. Hartford Blues of the National Football League played only in the 1926 NFL season.

• From 1975 to 1995, the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association played a number of home games at the Hartford Civic Center. The Boston Celtics are an American professional Basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the The XL Center, formerly known as the Hartford Civic Center, is a sports and convention complex located in Hartford Connecticut, USA owned by the City of

• Since 1952, a PGA Tour golf tournament has been played in the Hartford area. The PGA Tour is an organization that operates the main professional Golf tours in the United States. Originally called the "Insurance City Open" and later the "Greater Hartford Open", the event is now know as the Travelers Championship. The Travelers Championship is a Golf tournament on the PGA Tour.

The Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament is held annually at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University.

The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) is the state's sanctioning body for high school sports. The Connecticut Association of Schools and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference ( CIAC) is the governing body for secondary school athletics Xavier High School (Middletown, CT) claimed the 2005 Class LL football championship. Other state champions in football include Staples (in Westport), Greenwich High School (Greenwich, CT) 2006 state LL champions, Branford, Daniel Hand (in Madison), Woodland Regional (in Beacon Falls), East Lyme High School (in East Lyme), Hyde Leadership (in Hamden), Southington High School (in Southington).

Famous residents

Main article: List of famous residents of Connecticut

George Walker Bush, President of the United States, was born in Connecticut. The following is a list of notable people born raised or resident in Connecticut, with place of birth or residence(when known Actors producers & directors George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. He is a member of the Bush political family, with roots in the state extending three generations. Originating in Orange New Jersey, the Bush family in the 20th century became an accomplished Political family in the United States, including across Other notable figures from the state span American political and cultural history, including Ralph Nader, Eli Whitney, Benedict Arnold, Nathan Hale, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John Brown, Eugene O'Neill, Charles Ives, Katharine Hepburn, and Roger Sherman. Ralph Nader (born February 27 1934 is an American Attorney, Author, Lecturer, political activist, and independent candidate for President Benedict Arnold V ( – June 14, 1801) was a General during the American Revolutionary War who originally fought for the American Continental Nathan Hale ( June 6, 1755 &ndash September 22, 1776) was an officer for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary Harriet Beecher Stowe (June 14 1811 – July 1 1896 was an American Author and Abolitionist, whose Novel Uncle Tom's Cabin John Brown (May 9 1800 December 2 1859 was an American Abolitionist who advocated and practiced armed Insurrection as a means to end all Slavery Eugene Gladstone O'Neill (October 16 1888–November 27 1953 was a Nobel -prize winning American playwright Charles Edward Ives (October 20 1874 – May 19 1954 was an American Composer of modernist Classical music. Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12 1907 – June 29 2003 was an American actress of film television and stage Roger Sherman ( April 19, 1721 ( JC) April 30, 1721 ( GC) July 23, 1793) was an early The state is often associated with American author Mark Twain, who resided there for a short period of time, although he felt more of a connection to his native Missouri, as demonstrated by his frequent mention of Missouri in his writing. Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30 1835 – April 21 1910 better known by the Pen name Mark Twain, was an American Humorist, satirist Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee

See also

• List of Connecticut-related topics

References

External links

Government

• State of Connecticut - Official state website
• Connecticut State Databases - Annotated list of searchable databases produced by Connecticut state agencies and compiled by the Government Documents Roundtable of the American Library Association.
• Connecticut State Register & Manual - updated annually
• Directory of Web sites of Connecticut towns and cities

Tourism

• CTVisit.com - Official state tourism website
• Connecticut travel guide from Wikitravel

History

• Connecticut Society of Genealogists (Est. 1968)
• Connecticut Historical Society
• USGS real-time, geographic, and other scientific resources of Connecticut
• U.S. Census Bureau
• Connecticut State Facts
• History topics timeline of Connecticut 1738-1838

Civic and business organizations

• Connecticut Junior Chamber (Jaycees)
• Connecticut Newspapers
• Connecticut Business & Industry Association
• The Connecticut Business Hall Of Fame