Connecticut Facts

conneticut

Introduction

The state of Connecticut is in the southern New England region. It has coastal cities as well as rural areas that are dotted with small towns. The Seaport Museum in Mystic is filled with centuries-old ships, and Mystic Aquarium houses beluga whale exhibits. Yale University is located in New Haven, along with the Peabody Museum of Natural History. The state of Connecticut has the 3rd smallest area in the country. It is a popular hub for many company headquarters.


QUICK FACTS ABOUT CONNECTICUT
  • Capital City: Hartford
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  • Largest City: Bridgeport
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  • Nickname: The Constitution State
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  • Statehood: 1788; 5th state
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  • Population (as of 2020): 3,605,944 million
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  • Abbreviation: CT
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  • State bird: American robin
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  • State flower: mountain laurel
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  • Total Size Of The State: 5,567 sq mi (14,357 km2)
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    Conneticut map by user TUBS @Wikipedia

    Historical Background

    More than 10,000 years ago, the first people settled in what is now Connecticut. Many Native American tribes lived in this region a few thousand years later, including the Mohegans, the Pequots, and the Niants.

    Connecticut's first European settlement was established in 1633 by Dutch traders who arrived in 1614. In the early 1630s, both Dutch and English settlers established colonies in Connecticut, and the land soon became a British colony. Eventually, the colonists became unhappy with British rule.

    Together with representatives from the other American colonies, Connecticut signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The result was the American Revolution, which lasted until 1783 when the colonies formally gained independence from Britain. In 1817, Connecticut ratified the United States Constitution and became the fifth state.


    Why Does It Have That Name?

  • Connecticut is named after a Native American word, quinatucquet, meaning "beside the long tidal river." The reference is to the Connecticut River, which cuts through the middle of the state.

  • Because of the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, adopted in 1639, Connecticut earned the nickname "the Constitution State."


    • Geographic Features and Landforms

  • The state of Connecticut is bordered by Massachusetts in the north, Rhode Island in the east, Long Island Sound in the south, and New York in the west.

  • There are three geographic regions in Connecticut. Mount Frissell, Connecticut's highest point, is located in Connecticut's Western Upland, which covers roughly one third of the state.

  • Volcanic eruptions between 150 and 200 million years ago created the ridges and valleys in the Central Lowland of the state. As a result of this volcanic activity, the region contains a lot of igneous, or lava-based, rocks, such as basalt. The Connecticut River is also its longest.

  • Hills, rivers, and dense forests are found in the Eastern Upland.


    • The Natural World

    Among Connecticut's many mammals are black bears, bobcats, fishers, muskrats, and white-tailed deer. There are bald eagles, eastern bluebirds, red headed woodpeckers, and rare Connecticut warblers among the trees. Reptile enthusiasts can spot eastern painted turtles, garter snakes, and five-lined skinks here. It is home to amphibians such as the northern redback salamander and the endangered mudpuppy.

    Connecticut has a wide variety of trees, including red maples, black birches, eastern hemlocks, and sugar maples. Blanket Flowers, orange daylilies, violets, and chicory are among the wildflowers found here.


    Natural Resources

    Connecticut has more than 60 percent of its territory covered in forests, so it's no wonder forests are one of the state's top natural resources, providing lumber, firewood, and maple syrup.


    Some Fun Facts About Connecticut

  • Connecticut has produced many famous residents, including Nathan Hale, a spy during the Revolutionary War; Gen. Benedict Arnold, a turncoat during the Revolutionary War; actress Katharine Hepburn; and authors Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain.

  • At the Mystic Seaport maritime museum, more than 500 historic ships, a re-creation of a 19th-century coastal village, and a working shipyard are on display. Some of the historic boats can even be boarded and sailed.

  • The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford lets you see where writer Samuel Clemens lived with his wife and children under the pen name Mark Twain.

  • Take a tour of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, where you can find out how her novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, helped to change views on slavery in the U.S.