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Hartford County, Connecticut: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 41°49′N 72°44′W / 41.81°N 72.73°W / 41.81; -72.73
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2010 Census update
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| census yr = 2010
| census yr = 2010
| pop = 894014
| pop = 894014
| density_sq_mi =1190.4
| density_sq_mi =1216.3
|district=1st
|district=1st
|district2=2nd
|district2=2nd
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|1990 = 851783
|1990 = 851783
|2000 = 857183
|2000 = 857183
|2010 = 894014
|estimate=877312
|estyear=2008
}}
}}



Revision as of 05:02, 14 March 2011

Hartford County
Map of Connecticut highlighting Hartford County
Location within the U.S. state of Connecticut
Map of the United States highlighting Connecticut
Connecticut's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°49′N 72°44′W / 41.81°N 72.73°W / 41.81; -72.73
Country United States
State Connecticut
Founded1666 (an Original County)
Seatnone; since 1960 Connecticut counties no longer have a county government
Largest cityHartford
Area
 • Total751 sq mi (1,950 km2)
 • Land735 sq mi (1,900 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.02%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total894,014
 • Density1,216.3/sq mi (469.6/km2)
Congressional districts1st, 2nd, 5th

Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut.[1]

In Connecticut there is no county-level executive or legislative government; the counties determine probate, civil and criminal court boundaries, but little else. Each city or town is responsible for local services such as schools, snow removal, sewers, fire department and police departments. In Connecticut, cities and towns may agree to jointly provide services or even establish a regional school system.

History

Hartford County was one of four original counties in Connecticut that were established on May 10, 1666, by an act of the Connecticut General Court. The act establishing the county states:

This Court orders that the Townes on the River from ye
north bounds of Windsor wth Farmington to ye south end of
ye bounds of Thirty Miles Island shalbe & remaine to be one
County wch shalbe called the County of Hartford. And it
is ordered that the County Court shalbe kept at Hartford on
the 1st Thursday in March and on the first Thursday in September yearely.[2]

As established in 1666, Hartford County consisted of the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, Hartford, Farmington, and Middletown. The "Thirty Miles Island" referred to in the constituting Act was incorporated as the town of Haddam in 1668.[citation needed] In 1670, the town of Simsbury was established, extending Hartford County to the Massachusetts border. In the late 17th to early 18th centuries, several more towns were established and added to Hartford County: Waterbury in 1686 (transferred to New Haven County in 1728), Windham in 1694 (transferred to Windham County in 1726), Hebron in 1708 (transferred to Tolland County in 1785), Coventry in 1712 (transferred to Windham County in 1726), and Litchfield in 1722 (transferred to Litchfield County in 1751).

In 1714, all of the unincorporated territory north of the towns of Coventry and Windham in northeastern Connecticut to the Massachusetts border were placed under the jurisdiction of Hartford County. Windham County was constituted in 1726 resulting in Hartford County losing the towns of Windham, Coventry, Mansfield (incorporated in 1702), and Ashford (incorporated in 1714). Northwestern Connecticut, which was originally placed under the jurisdiction of New Haven County in 1722, was transferred to Hartford County by 1738. All of northwestern Connecticut was later constituted as a new county, Litchfield County, in 1751. In 1785, two more counties were established in the now U.S. state of Connecticut: Tolland and Middlesex. This mostly resulted in the modern extent of Hartford County. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the establishment of several more towns resulted in minor adjustments in the bounds of the county. The final adjustment resulting in the modern limits occurred on May 8, 1806, when the town of Canton was established.[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 751 square miles (1,945.1 km2), of which 735 square miles (1,903.6 km2) is land and 15 square miles (38.8 km2) (2.02%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Towns

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1900195,480
1910250,18228.0%
1920336,02734.3%
1930421,09725.3%
1940450,1896.9%
1950539,66119.9%
1960689,55527.8%
1970816,73718.4%
1980807,766−1.1%
1990851,7835.4%
2000857,1830.6%
2010894,0144.3%

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 857,183 people, 335,098 households, and 222,505 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,166 people per square mile (450/km²). There were 353,022 housing units at an average density of 480 per square mile (185/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.90% White, 11.66% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 2.42% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.43% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. 11.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.2% were of Italian, 11.2% Irish, 9.1% Polish, 6.5% English, 5.7% French and 5.3% German ancestry according to Census 2000. 78.4% spoke English, 10.3% Spanish, 2.6% Polish, 1.9% French and 1.6% Italian as their first language.

There were 335,098 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $50,756, and the median income for a family was $62,144. Males had a median income of $43,985 versus $33,042 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,047. About 7.10% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation Infrastructure

Major highways

Major Routes

Public Transportation

Politics

Presidential elections results
Year Republican Democratic
2008 33.7% 138,984 65.1% 268,721
2004 39.5% 154,919 58.7% 229,902
2000 34.7% 127,468 60.2% 221,167
1996 31.3% 111,566 57.0% 203,549
1992 32.0% 132,591 47.1% 195,495
1988 46.0% 173,031 53.1% 199,857
1984 55.0% 208,210 44.6% 168,609
1980 40.5% 150,265 44.3% 164,643
1976 47.5% 175,064 51.9% 191,257
1972 52.1% 194,095 46.9% 174,837
1968 38.8% 131,740 56.2% 190,865
1964 27.0% 88,811 72.9% 240,071
1960 41.1% 136,459 58.9% 195,403

See also

References

  1. ^ http://2010.census.gov/2010census/data/index.php
  2. ^ "CCR: Volume 02, Page 39". Retrieved 2008-06-17. [dead link]
  3. ^ Newberry Library -- Connecticut Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

41°49′N 72°44′W / 41.81°N 72.73°W / 41.81; -72.73