Connecticut State Almanac: Facts and Figures

Quick Facts, Figures, and Overview of the State of Connecticut

Connecticut is the southernmost of the New England states of the US. Connecticut is bordered by Long Island Sound, New York State, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The state capital of Connecticut is Hartford and other major cities are New Haven, New London, Norwich, Bridgeport etc. Connecticut's name is a particular reference to the Connecticut River. The word itself was translated from the Indian name "Quinnehtukqut" and means "beside the long tidal river."

By the mid-19th century the state's economy was dominated by manufacturing, and Hartford, its capital, had become one of the chief centers of the US insurance industry. Today, Connecticut factories produce weapons, sewing machines, jet engines, helicopters, motors, hardware and tools, cutlery, clocks, locks, silverware, and submarines. Hartford has the oldest US newspaper still being published- the Hartford Courant, established 1764- and is the insurance capital of the nation.

Connecticut leads New England in the production of eggs, pears, peaches, and mushrooms, and its oyster crop is the nation's second largest. Poultry and dairy products also account for a large portion of farm income.