Connecticut (IPA: /k?'n?t?k?t/)[6]
is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern
United States of America. Portions of southwestern Connecticut are
also considered part of the New York metropolitan area. Connecticut
is the 29th most populous state with 3.4 million residents and ranked
48th in size by area, making it the 4th most densely populated state.[4]
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.
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. Both the Connecticut and New Haven Colonies
established documents of Fundamental Orders, considered the first
constitutions in North America. In 1662, the disparate colonies
merged under a royal charter, making Connecticut a crown colony.
This colony was one of the Thirteen Colonies that revolted against
British rule in the American Revolution.
Connecticut enjoys a temperate climate thanks to its long coastline
on the Long Island Sound. 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. In the
19th and 20th centuries, financial organizations flourished: first
insurance companies in Hartford, then hedge funds along the Gold
Coast. This prosperity has helped give Connecticut the highest per
capita income and median household income in the country.[7][8]
Contents [hide]
1 Geography
1.1 Climate
2 History
3 Names and symbols
4 Demographics
4.1 Race, ancestry, and language
4.2 Religion
5 Economy
5.1 Taxation
5.2 Real estate
5.3 Industries
6 Transportation
6.1 Roads
6.2 Public transportation
6.2.1 Rail
6.2.2 Bus
6.2.3 Air
7 Law and government
7.1 Constitutional history
7.2 Executive
7.3 Legislative
7.4 Judicial
7.5 Local government
8 Politics
8.1 Political corruption
9 Education
10 Sports
11 Famous residents
12 See also
13 References
14 External links
14.1 Government
14.2 Tourism
14.3 History
14.4 Civic and business organizations
[edit] Geography
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. 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. There
are 169 incorporated towns in Connecticut.
Bear Mountain, highest peak in ConnecticutThe highest peak in Connecticut
is Bear Mountain in Salisbury in the northwest corner of the state.
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.[9]
The Connecticut River cuts through the center of the state, flowing
into Long Island Sound, Connecticut's outlet to the Atlantic Ocean.
Further information: List of Connecticut rivers
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. Connecticut's rural areas and
Highest point in Connecticut on slope of Mount Frissell, as seen
from Bear Mountainsmall 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 small park, known as 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).
Windsor's Town Hall and Fountain on the Town GreenNear the green
may stand a small white church, a town meeting hall, a tavern and
several colonial houses. Forests, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and
a sandy shore add to the state's beauty.
Further information: List of Connecticut state forests
The northern boundary of the state with Massachusetts is marked
by the distinctive Southwick Jog/Granby Notch, an approximately
2.5 mile (4.0 km) square detour into Connecticut slightly west of
the center of the border. Somewhat surprisingly, the actual origin
of this anomaly is not absolutely certain, with stories ranging
from surveyors who were drunk, attempting to avoid hostile Native
Americans, or taking a shortcut up the Connecticut River; Massachusetts
residents attempting to avoid Massachusetts' high taxes for the
low 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.[10][11]
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. This irregularity
in the boundary is the result of territorial disputes in the late
1600s, culminating with New York giving up its claim to this 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.[12]
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.
[edit] Climate
Connecticut has a Humid Continental Climate, with seasonal extremes
tempered by its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. 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.[13]
Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For Various Connecticut
Cities
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Bridgeport 37/23 39/25 47/32 57/41 67/51 76/60 82/66 81/65 74/58
63/46 53/38 42/28
Hartford 34/17 38/20 48/28 60/38 72/48 80/57 85/62 82/61 74/52 63/41
51/33 39/23
[1]
[edit] History
This section needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references.
Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)
Main article: History of Connecticut
A map of the Connecticut, New Haven, and Saybrook colonies.The name
"Connecticut" originates from the Mohegan word quinnitukqut,
meaning "place of long tidal river."[14] In fact, the
exact spelling "connect I cut", was rendered by Whalley,
Goffe, and Dixwell, the three "Regicide Judges" fleeing
the persecution by Charles II of England, who came to New Haven
in the 17th century.[15] The first European explorer in Connecticut
was the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block. After he explored this region
in 1614, Dutch fur traders sailed up the Connecticut River (Named
Versche Rivier by the Dutch) and built a fort at Dutch Point near
present-day Hartford, which they called "House of Hope"
(Dutch: Huis van Hoop).
John Winthrop, then of Massachusetts, got permission to create
a new colony at Old Saybrook at the mouth of the Connecticut River
in 1635. 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. 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. This was the second
of the three colonies.
Because the Dutch were outnumbered by the flood of English settlers
from Massachusetts, they left their fort in 1654.
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 had its own Constitution, 'The Fundamental Agreement
of the New Haven Colony' which was signed on 4 June 1639.
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.
Historically important colonial settlements included:
Windsor (1633),
Wethersfield (1634),
Saybrook (1635),
Hartford (1636),
New Haven (1638),
Fairfield (1639),
Stratford (1639),
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. 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.
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 [16][17] "provided the said line come not within 10 miles
(16 km) [16 km] of Hudson River. This agreement was observed by
both sides until war erupted between England and The Netherlands
in 1652. No other limits were specified. Conflict over uncertain
colonial limits continued until the Duke of York captured New Netherland
in 1664 [16][17]. "… On the other hand, Connecticut's
original Charter in 1662 granted it all the land to the "South
Sea," i.e. the Pacific Ocean.[18][19] 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. This resulted in the brief Pennamite
Wars with Pennsylvania.
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.
[edit] Names and symbols
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".[1] The nutmeg connection to Connecticut may
come from its sailors returning from voyages with nutmeg (which
in the 18th and 19th centuries was a very valuable spice in New
England). It is also said to come from Yankee peddlers from Connecticut
who would sell small carved nobs of wood shaped to look like nutmeg
to unsuspecting customers.[20] George Washington gave Connecticut
the title of "The Provision State"[1] because of the material
aid the state rendered to the Revolutionary War effort. 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. "Connecticutensian"
- Samuel Peters in 1781. "Nutmegger" is sometimes used,[21]
as is "Yankee" (the official State Song is "Yankee
Doodle"), though this usually refers someone from the wider
New England region.[22] 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.
The Charter Oak
The USS NautilusConnecticut state insignia and historical figures[1],
except where noted State tree White Oak; or more specifically, the
Charter Oak
State bird American Robin
State flower Mountain Laurel
State insect European Mantis
State animal Sperm Whale
State mineral Garnet
State shellfish Eastern Oyster
State fish American Shad
State fossil Eubrontes giganteus
State ship USS Nautilus (SSN-571)
State flagship and tall ship ambassador Freedom Schooner Amistad
State aircraft F4U Corsair
State tartan visible here
State song Yankee Doodle
State folk dance Square dance
State cantata The Nutmeg
State hero Nathan Hale
State heroine Prudence Crandall
State composer Charles Edward Ives
State statues in Statuary Hall Roger Sherman and Jonathan Trumbull[23]
State poet laureate John Hollander
Connecticut State Troubadour Pierce Campbell[24]
State composer laureate Jacob Druckman
Connecticut Population Density MapAs of 2005, Connecticut has an
estimated population of 3,510,297,[27] 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. Based on the 2005 estimates,
Connecticut moves from the 29th most populous state to 30th.[27]
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. A portion of rural northeastern 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.[28]
[edit] Race, ancestry, and language
Demographics of Connecticut (csv)
By race White Black AIAN Asian NHPI
AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native — NHPI is Native
Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
2000 (total population) 87.09% 10.46% 0.73% 2.83% 0.13%
2000 (Hispanic only) 8.31% 1.04% 0.14% 0.07% 0.04%
2005 (total population) 86.09% 10.88% 0.76% 3.56% 0.15%
2005 (Hispanic only) 9.74% 1.09% 0.16% 0.07% 0.05%
Growth 2000–2005 (total population) 1.89% 7.19% 6.59% 29.77%
15.41%
Growth 2000–2005 (non-Hispanic only) -0.11% 7.16% 3.74% 30.12%
16.21%
Growth 2000–2005 (Hispanic only) 20.87% 7.40% 18.36% 14.98%
13.68%
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 8.42% spoke Spanish, followed by Italian at
1.59%, French at 1.31% and Polish at 1.20%.[29]
The five largest reported ancestries in the state are: Italian
(18.6%), Irish (16.6%), English (10.3%), German (9.9%), and French/French
Canadian (9.9%).
Connecticut has large Italian American and Irish American populations,
as well as German American and Portuguese American populations,
second highest percentage of any state behind Rhode Island (19.3%).
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. African Americans and Hispanics
(mostly Puerto Ricans) are numerous in the urban areas of the state.
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. Connecticut
also has a sizable Polish American population, with New Britain
containing the largest Polish American population in the state.
More recent immigrant populations include those from Laos, Vietnam,
Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, Guatemala, Panama, and former
Soviet countries.
[edit] Religion
A 2001 survey of Connecticut residents' religious self-identification
showed the following distribution of affiliations:[30]
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.
Recent immigration has brought other non-Christian religions to
the state, but the numbers of adherents of other religions are still
low.
[edit] Economy
Connecticut welcome sign being updated as Rell takes office on July
1, 2004.
Connecticut state welcome signThe total gross state product for
2004 was $187 billion. The per capita income for 2005 was $47,819,
ranking first among the states.[31] 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 (The low number
may partially be due to the fact that the city, like other cities
in the area, has a small footprint relative to a typical American
city--only about 18 square miles--and therefore does not have more
middle-income areas included in its total to "balance out",
statistically, inner areas with older housing stock and a poorer
population).[citation needed] 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. Fairfield
County has become a bedroom community for higher-paid New York City
workers seeking a less urban lifestyle. This in turn has attracted
businesses wishing to remain near New York City to southwestern
Connecticut, most notably to Stamford.[citation needed]
New Canaan is the wealthiest town in Connecticut, with a per capita
income of $85,459. Darien, Greenwich, Stamford, Weston, Woodbridge,
Westport and Wilton also have per capita incomes over $65,000. Hartford
is the poorest city in Connecticut, with a per capita income of
$13,428 (although see above).[citation needed] There are other lower-income
and blue-collar towns, mostly parts of towns, in the eastern part
of the State. Poor and medium wealth households are particularly
affected by a very high cost of living, due to a combination of
expensive real estate, expensive heating for the winters, and other
factors.[citation needed]
[edit] 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.
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. It put an enormous burden
on Connecticut property tax payers, particularly in the cities with
their more extensive municipal services. As a result, the middle
class largely fled the urban areas for the suburbs, taking stores
and other tax-paying businesses with them, leaving mostly the urban
poor in the older, central areas of Connecticut cities.[citation
needed]
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. Today the income tax rate on Connecticut individuals
is divided into two tax brackets of 3% and 5%.[32] All wages of
a Connecticut resident are subject to the state's income tax, even
when the resident works outside of the state. 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. Some items and services in general are
not subject to sales and use taxes unless specifically enumerated
as taxable by statute. 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. 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.[32] Connecticut does not levy an intangible personal property
tax.
[edit] Real estate
Homes in southwestern Connecticut on the fringes of the New York
City metropolitan area are quite expensive. Many towns have median
home prices over $500,000, with some more desirable homes exceeding
$1 million. Greenwich has the most expensive real estate market,
with most houses selling at over $1 million and most condos selling
at over $600,000. Connecticut has the most 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.[33] 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.[34]
[edit] Industries
The agricultural output for the state is nursery stock, eggs, dairy
products, cattle, and tobacco. 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.
Downtown Hartford's Central Business District.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. 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.[35] Governor John Dempsey also declared August 15 to be
"Gustave Whitehead Day."[36]
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. This provides $9
billion in personal income for Connecticut residents and $1.7 billion
in state and local revenue.[37]
[edit] Transportation
Map of Connecticut showing major highways
[edit] Roads
Glaciers carved valleys in Connecticut running north to south; as
a result, many more roadways in the state run north to south than
do east to west, mimicking the previous use of the many north-south
rivers as transportation.[citation needed] 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 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. 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 series of terrible crashes at these plazas eventually
contributed to the decision to remove the tolls in 1988.[38] Other
major arteries in the state include U.S. Route 7 in the west running
parallel to the NY border, State Route 8 farther west near the industrial
city of Waterbury and running north-south along the Naugatuck River
Valley nearly parallel with U.S. 7, and State Route 9 in the east.
See List of State Routes in Connecticut for an overview of the state's
highway system.
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.
Frequently, the congestion spills over to clog the parallel Merritt
Parkway. The state has encouraged traffic reduction schemes, including
rail use and ride-sharing.[39]
[edit] Public transportation
[edit] 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. 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.
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. 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. Operation of commuter trains from New Haven to Springfield
on Amtrak's New Haven-Springfield Line is scheduled to begin in
2010.[40]
[edit] Bus
Statewide bus service is supplied by Connecticut Transit, owned
by the Connecticut Department of Transportation, with smaller municipal
authorities providing local service. 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.[41][42]
[edit] 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. Regional air
service is provided at Tweed-New Haven Airport. Larger civil airports
include Danbury Municipal Airport and Waterbury-Oxford Airport in
western Connecticut. The Westchester County Airport in Harrison,
New York serves part of southwestern Connecticut.
[edit] Law and government
See also: Administrative divisions of Connecticut
The Connecticut State Capitol in downtown HartfordHartford has been
the sole capital of Connecticut since 1875. Before then, New Haven
and Hartford alternated as capitals.[14]
[edit] 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. These Fundamental
Orders represent the framework for the first formal government written
by a representative body in Connecticut. The government has operated
under the direction of four separate documents in the course of
Connecticut Constitutional History. After the Fundamental Orders,
Connecticut was granted governmental authority by King Charles II
of England through the Connecticut Charter of 1662. While these
two documents acted to lay the ground work for the state’s
government, both lacked essential characteristics of a constitution.
The Fundamental Orders and the Connecticut Charter could both be
altered simply by a majority vote of the General Assembly. 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.
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.
[edit] Executive
The governor heads the executive branch. The current Governor of
Connecticut is M. Jodi Rell (Republican). The current Lieutenant
Governor is Michael Fedele. 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.
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.[43]
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.[14]
[edit] Legislative
The legislature is the General Assembly. 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).[14]
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. The Democrats currently hold the majority in both
houses of the General Assembly.
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. Connecticut currently
has five representatives in the U.S. House, four of whom are Democrats.
[edit] Judicial
The highest court of Connecticut's judicial branch is the Supreme
Court, headed by the Chief Justice of Connecticut. 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.
Before 1818 the highest court in Connecticut was the General Assembly,
and later, the Upper House, with the Governor having the title "Chief
Judge".[citation needed] In 1818, the court became a separate
entity, independent of the legislative and executive branches.[44]
The Appellate Court is a lesser state-wide court and the Superior
Courts are lower courts that resemble county courts of other states.
[edit] 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.[14] Connecticut shares a local form of government with
the rest of New England called the New England town. There are also
21 cities,[14] 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. There are also nine
incorporated boroughs which may provide additional services to a
section of town.[14][45] One, Naugatuck, is a consolidated town
and borough.
Unlike most other states, Connecticut does not have county government.
Connecticut county governments were mostly eliminated in 1960, with
the exception of the sheriff system.[46] 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.[47] The eight counties
are still widely used for purely geographical and statistical purposes,
such as weather reports, and census reporting.
The state is divided into 15 planning regions defined by the state
Office of Planning and Management.[48] 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."[48]
[edit] Politics
Presidential elections results[49] Year Republican Democratic
2004 43.95% 693,826 54.31% 857,488
2000 38.44% 561,094 55.91% 816,015
1996 34.69% 483,109 52.83% 735,740
1992 35.78% 578,313 42.21% 682,318
1988 51.98% 750,241 46.87% 676,584
1984 60.73% 890,877 38.83% 569,597
1980 48.16% 677,210 38.52% 541,732
1976 52.06% 719,261 46.90% 647,895
1972 58.57% 810,763 40.13% 555,498
1968 44.32% 556,721 49.48% 621,561
1964 32.09% 390,996 67.81% 826,269
1960 46.27% 565,813 53.73% 657,055
Connecticut is a centrist libertarian-leaning state, allotting its
electoral votes to Democratic candidates in the past four presidential
elections and to Republican presidential candidates five times in
the 1970s and 1980s. 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.[50] Voters in the state are more supportive
of fiscal conservatives and may be considered to be generally socially
liberal.
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. 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. Westport, a wealthy town a few miles to the
east, is often considered one of the most loyally-Democratic, liberal
towns in Fairfield County. 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. 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.
Democrats hold veto-proof majorities in both houses of the Connecticut
General Assembly. 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
Dodd and Joseph Lieberman are Connecticut's U.S. senators. 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.
Lieberman's predecessor, Lowell P. Weicker, Jr., was the last Connecticut
Republican to serve as Senator. 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. 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. He served from 1953–1963.
Further information: U.S. presidential election, 2004, in Connecticut
[edit] Political corruption
Several mayors, state legislators, and government employees have
been convicted and imprisoned for crimes ranging from bribery to
racketeering. 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.[51] 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.[52] In 2003, he was convicted
and sentenced to 37 years in federal prison.[53] 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.[54][55] 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.
A more recent scandal involved a botched construction project on
Interstate 84 near Waterbury. 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.G. DeFelice, its bonding company USF&G, and the consultants
(the Maguire Group) hired by CONNDOT to oversee the project, resulting
in a $17.5 million settlement to fix the problems. A federal grand
jury and FBI investigation were also launched into the operations
of L.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. 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.
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,[56] and allegations
that he tried to use these same ties to intimidate the husband of
his granddaughter, whom he claimed was abusing her.
Following Rowland's resignation, the state legislature passed a
campaign finance reform bill that bans contributions from lobbyists
and state contractors in future campaigns.[57]
[edit] 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).[58][59] 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 Quinnipiac University (1929), Trinity College (1825) and
Wesleyan University (1832). 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.
Additionally, the State has many noted boarding schools, such as
Miss Porter's School, Choate Rosemary Hall, Hotchkiss, westminster,
Pomfret School, Avon Old Farms, Loomis Chaffee, Salisbury School
and The Taft School which draw students from all over the world.
Also Connecticut has many noted private day schools such as Kingswood-Oxford
School located in West Hartford, the Hopkins School, based in New
Haven, and the Williams School in New London.
See also: List of colleges and universities in Connecticut for
a comprehensive listing.
See also: List of school districts in Connecticut
[edit] Sports
Club Sport League
Bridgeport Sound Tigers Ice hockey American Hockey League
Danbury Trashers Ice hockey United Hockey League
Hartford Wolf Pack Ice hockey American Hockey League
New England Stars Ice hockey North Eastern Hockey League
Connecticut Defenders Baseball Minor League Baseball (AA)
New Haven County Cutters Baseball Minor League Baseball (AA)
New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Minor League Baseball (AA)
Bridgeport Bluefish Baseball Atlantic League
Manchester Silkworms Baseball New England Collegiate Baseball League
Danbury Westerners Baseball New England Collegiate Baseball League
Stamford Robins Baseball Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League
Torrington Twisters Baseball New England Collegiate Baseball League
Connecticut Sun Basketball Women's National Basketball Association
Connecticut Roller Girls Flat Track Roller Derby Women's Flat Track
Roller Derby Association
From 1979 to 1997, the National Hockey League had a franchise in
Hartford, the Hartford Whalers. Their departure to Raleigh, North
Carolina, caused great controversy and resentment. The former Whalers
are now known as the Carolina Hurricanes.
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.
In 1926, Hartford had a franchise in the National Football League
known as the Hartford Blues.
From 1975 to 1995, the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball
Association played a number of home games at the Hartford Civic
Center.
Since 1952, a PGA Tour golf tournament has been played in the Hartford
area. Originally called the "Insurance City Open" and
later the "Greater Hartford Open," the event is now know
as the Travelers Championship.
The Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament is held annually at the Connecticut
Tennis Center at Yale University. It is one of the few dual-sex
tournaments in professional tennis and is the warm-up tournament
to the US Open, played the following week in Queens, New York. The
court speed and weather conditions are identical to those at the
US Open.[citation needed]
The Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) is the
state's sanctioning body for high school sports. 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).
[edit] Famous residents
Main article: List of famous residents of Connecticut
George Walker Bush, the current President of the United States,
was born in Connecticut. He is a member of the Bush political family,
with roots in the state extending three generations. 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
and Katharine Hepburn, and Roger Sherman. 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.
The state is home to many actors, entertainers and business people.
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