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Connecticut
State
CountryUnited States
Admitted to the UnionJanuary 9, 1788 (5th)
CapitalHartford
Largest cityBridgeport
Government
 • GovernorM. Jodi Rell (R)
 • Upper house{{{Upperhouse}}}
 • Lower house{{{Lowerhouse}}}
U.S. senatorsChris Dodd (D)
Joe Lieberman (D)
Population
 • Total3,405,565
 • Density702.9/sq mi (271.40/km2)
 • Median household income
$55,970
 • Income rank
4th
Language
 • Official languageEnglish
Traditional abbreviationConn.
Latitude40°58'N to 42°3'N
Longitude71°47'W to 73°44'W

Connecticut (IPA: /kəˈnɛtɪkət/) is a state in the New England region of the United States, located in the northeastern part of the country. In terms of per capita income, it is the wealthiest state in the country, while it ranks 4th for median household income. Connecticut is also one of the most densely populated states in the nation and has strong economic connections to New York, with several of its counties being part of the larger New York City metropolitan area. Connecticut was one of the Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. Residents of Connecticut are referred to as Connecticutians (IPA: kəˈnɛtɪkut-sion) and Nutmeggers.

Geography-Climate

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, Norwich, Stamford, Waterbury, Danbury and Bridgeport. In all, there are a total of 169 incorporated towns in Connecticut. There is an ongoing civic pride and economic competition between Hartford and New Haven, which stems back to the days when the two cities shared the state's capital, and even back to when New Haven and Hartford were two separate colonies.

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

The highest peak in Connecticut is Bear Mountain in Salisbury in the northwest corner of the state. Once the location of a stone tower, currently a stone plaque alongside the Appalachian Trail identifies the point as "the highest ground in Connecticut, 2,354 feet above the sea"; however, this is wrong on both counts. The current estimate of the height of the summit is only 2,316 feet 706 m); and although it is the highest peak in Connecticut, it is not actually the highest point in the state. That distinction belongs to an anonymous location just east of the point where Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York meet (42° 3' N; 73° 29' W), on the southern slope of 2,453 foot (747 m) high Mount Frissell, whose peak lies 740 feet (225 m) north in Massachusetts. Only a green metal stake set into a rock ledge marks this, the 2,372 foot (723 m) high top of Connecticut. Connecticut is the only state whose highest point is not also its highest peak. [1]

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]]
Erroneous inscription at summit of Bear Mountain

The state, although small, 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 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 small park, known as a "green," (like New Haven Green). Near 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.

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' (even then) 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.[2] [3] [4] Perhaps the only suggested reason which can be safely ruled out is that the jog is necessary to prevent Massachusetts from sliding out into the Atlantic Ocean. In any event, the dispute over the border retarded the development of the region, since neither state would invest in even such basic amenities as schools for the area until the dispute had been settled.

The southwestern border of Connecticut, where it abuts New York State, is marked by a panhandle in Fairfield County, containing Greenwich, Stamford, New Canaan, Westport, and Darien, housing some of the wealthiest residents in the world. 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.[5]

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

Regions

Connecticut

The state of Connecticut can be said to be sub-divided into eight general regions which generally correspond with the eight counties of the state, though there are differences in the boundaries. Each region boasts varied qualities which distinguish it within the state, and at times there are minor cultural frictions between the regions and their major cultural centers as each competes for tourists, new residents, and internal state pride. Fairfield County's "Gold Coast" and towns west of Waterbury and New Haven, for example, are often derided by residents of the rest of the state as being more similar to New York than to New England. Many of the residents go for years or even decades without ever traveling to other regions of the state, considering themselves more attached to New York City and its suburbs in eastern New York State.

The eight regions of Connecticut are:

Connecticut lies in a Humid Continental Climate. Winters are Cold, with average temperatures of 31°F (-2c) in the southeast and 23°F (-6c) in the northwest in January. Snowfall averages 25-100" (64-254 cm) across the state- higher in the northwest. Spring has variable temperatures with frequent rainfall. Summer is hot and very humid across the state, with average highs in New London of 81°F (27c) and 87°F (31c) in Windsor Locks. Thunderstorms are common during the summer months and sometimes reach severe magnitude. Fall months are mild, and bring foliage across the state in October and November. During Hurricane season, Tropical Cyclones occasionally affect the region.

History

Main article: History of Connecticut

The name "Connecticut" comes from the Mohegan Indian word "Quinnehtukqut" meaning "Long River Place" or "Beside the Long Tidal River." Connecticut is the fifth of the original thirteen states. 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 near present day Hartford which they called House of Hope (Dutch: Huys de Hoop). The first English settlers came in 1633. They were Puritans from Massachusetts, led by the Puritan reverend Thomas Hooker. Historically important colonial settlements included. Windsor (1633), Wethersfield (1634), Saybrook (1635), Hartford (1636), New Haven (1638), and New London (1646). Because the Dutch were outnumbered by the English settlers, they left their fort in 1654. Its first constitution, the "Fundamental Orders," was adopted on January 14, 1639, while its current constitution, the third for Connecticut, was adopted in 1965. The traditional abbreviation of the state's name is "Conn." Connecticut's official nickname, adopted in 1959, is "The Constitution State."

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. It is derived from the nickname, the Nutmeg State, based on the practice of the Connecticut peddlers who traveled about selling nutmegs, possibly fake ones as a scam. There is not, however, any nickname that has been officially adopted by the State for its residents.[6]

The western boundaries of Connecticut have been subject to dramatic changes over time. According to a 1650 agreement with the Dutch, the western boundary of Connecticut ran north from the west side of Greenwich Bay "provided the said line come not within 10 miles [16 km] of Hudson River." On the other hand, Connecticut's original Charter in 1662 granted it all the land to the "South Sea," i.e. the Pacific Ocean. This probably added confusion to the early forefathers because the Pacific Ocean is located on the west coast of the United States. Agreements with New York, the "Pennamite Wars" with Pennsylvania over Westmoreland County, followed by Congressional intervention, and the relinquishment and sale of the Western Reserve lands brought the state to its present boundaries.

Demographics

Historical populations
Census
year		 Population
1790 237,946
1800 251,002
1810 261,942
1820 275,248
1830 297,675
1840 309,978
1850 370,792
1860 460,147
1870 537,454
1880 622,700
1890 746,258
1900 908,420
1910 1,114,756
1920 1,380,631
1930 1,606,903
1940 1,709,242
1950 2,007,280
1960 2,535,234
1970 3,031,709
1980 3,107,576
1990 3,287,116
2000 3,405,565
Connecticut Population Density Map

As of 2005, Connecticut has an estimated population of 3,510,297, 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.

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%.

Race and ancestry

Demographics of Connecticut (csv)
By race White Black AIAN* Asian NHPI*
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 2000–05 (total population) 1.89% 7.19% 6.59% 29.77% 15.41%
Growth 2000–05 (non-Hispanic only) -0.11% 7.16% 3.74% 30.12% 16.21%
Growth 2000–05 (Hispanic only) 20.87% 7.40% 18.36% 14.98% 13.68%
* AIAN is American Indian or Alaskan Native; NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

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, 81.7% of Connecticut residents age 5 and older speak English at home and 8.4% speak Spanish. Italian is the third most spoken language at 1.6%, followed by French at 1.6% and Polish at 1.2%.

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 a large Italian-American population, although residents of British, Irish, German, and other ancestries are also present, with old-stock Americans being the largest percentage of the population in the eastern part of the state. 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. Connecticut is the most Italian-American state percentage-wise, just above Rhode Island. Blacks and Hispanics (mostly Puerto Ricans) are numerous in the urban areas of the state. Connecticut also has a sizable Polish American population, with New Britain containing the largest Polish-American population in the state.


Religion

The religious affiliations of the people of Connecticut are:

There is a significant Jewish population in the state, mostly concentrated in the "Gold Coast" towns between Greenwich and New Haven and in the Hartford suburb of West Hartford. New Haven once had a significant Jewish population, but it has mostly moved elsewhere, although there is still a large concentration in the suburban towns west of New Haven and still a number of Kosher restaurants/bakeries and synagogues remaining in the central city. Recent immigration has brought other non-Christian religions to the state, but the numbers of adherents of other religions are still low.

Economy

File:RellTakesOver.jpg
Connecticut welcome sign being fixed as Rell takes office on July 1, 2004

The total gross state product for 2004 was $187 billion. The per capita income for 2005 was $47,819, ranking first among the states [7]. 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. This is due to Fairfield County having become a bedroom community for higher-paid New York City workers seeking a less urban lifestyle, as well as the spread of businesses outwards from New York City having reached into southwestern Connecticut, most notably to Stamford. The state did not have an income tax until 1991, making it an attractive haven for high earners fleeing the heavy taxes of New York State, but putting 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, and leaving only the urban poor in the now impoverished Connecticut cities. As evident from the dichotomy in income figures described above, this problem has yet to be successfully solved. Exacerbating this problem, the state has a very high cost of living, due to a combination of expensive real estate, expensive heating for the winters, the need to import much food from warmer states, and the dependence on private automobiles for mobility.

Homes in southwestern Connecticut on the fringes of the New York City metropolitan area are quite expensive, often starting around $500,000. In this region of the state, a three-bedroom home on ¼ acre (1000 m2) might easily run about US$1 million. Although Connecticut has the highest percentage of million-dollar homes in the Northeast (and third in the country), the majority of these homes are located in the western third of the state, in the Hartford suburbs such as Avon, Simsbury and West Hartford, and the New Haven suburbs such as Orange, Cheshire, Madison, and Clinton.

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, fabricated metal products, chemical and pharmaceutical products, and scientific instruments.

The income tax rate on Connecticut individuals is divided into two tax brackets of 3% and 5%. 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.

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. The maximum property tax credit is $350 per return and any excess may not be refunded or carried forward. The maximum property tax credit will rise to $400 for tax year 2006. Connecticut does not levy an intangible personal property tax.

Transportation

File:Dscn3088 connecticut capitol.jpg
The Connecticut State Capitol in downtown Hartford

Transportation in Connecticut is predominantly via highway. Bradley International Airport (BDL) is located in the central part of the state (15 miles (24 km) north of Hartford). Another large airport, mostly used by corporate executives and those who own private aircraft, is the Oxford Airport in western Connecticut. The airport is located 15 miles (24 km) east of Danbury and 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Waterbury. There is railway service along the coastline from New York City to Boston, including commuter rail service between New Haven and New York and a new commuter service along the river north of New Haven, with spur service running northwards to cities such as Hartford. Bus service is supplied by Connecticut Transit, owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. In practice, most Connecticut residents find public transportation not fully adequate for all their needs and either own a private vehicle or have access to one.

The 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. 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 interstate traffic arteries 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. This road and I-95 were originally toll roads; they relied on a system of toll plazas at which all traffic would stop and pay an incremental fare, rather than the alternative system of providing drivers a ticket where they entered the highway and charging them when they exited. A series of terrible crashes at these plazas eventually led to abandonment of the entire toll system in 1988, although most of the highway bonds had already been paid off by that time. Other major arteries in the state include U.S. Route 7, State Route 8, and State Route 9. See List of State Routes in Connecticut for an overview of the state's highway system.

I-95 from south of New Haven to the New York border is one of the most congested highways in the United States due to increasing population density, increasing business in the New York area, inadequate capacity and a general increase in American driving. Frequently, the congestion spills over to clog the parallel Merritt Parkway. At rush hours, multiple backups tens of miles long are common, and the daily radio broadcasts of where crashes have completely blocked traffic are a fact of life for commuters in this area. As a result, commuter rail is also heavily crowded, along with parking facilities and traffic at the stations. Funds to relieve the situation, either by enhancing commuter rail, increasing highway capacity, or both, are lacking, and the problem is noted as one hindering further economic development for the state.

Law and government

See also: Administrative divisions of Connecticut

Hartford has been the sole capital of Connecticut since 1875. Prior to that, New Haven and Hartford alternated as capitals. Unlike most other states, Connecticut does not have county governments or county seats; rather, there is only the state government and the governments of the local municipalities. The associated state marshal system, however, is still divided by county. The judicial system is divided, at the trial court level, into judicial districts. The boundaries of the judicial districts largely track county lines, though in some instances a county may have more than one judicial district within it. For example, the Litchfield, Middlesex, New London, Tolland, and Windham judicial districts are co-terminus with the old county lines. On the other hand, there are three judicial districts each within Fairfield County and New Haven County. Hartford County contains two judicial districts. [8] The eight counties are still widely used for purely geographical purposes, such as weather reports. There are 169 incorporated cities and towns across the state. Most cities are coterminous with their namesake towns and have a merged city-town government. The two exceptions are the 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 ten incorporated boroughs, nine of which provide additional services to a section of town. One, Naugatuck, is a consolidated town and borough.

The two U.S. senators representing Connecticut are Christopher J. Dodd (Democrat) and Joseph I. Lieberman (Democrat). Connecticut currently has five representatives in the U.S. House.

Once considered one of the more conservative states in the Northeast (Connecticut was the first state to outlaw abortion, in 1822), the state now tends to vote Democratic for presidential and congressional elections. Connecticut has given its electoral votes to Democratic presidential candidates in the past four presidential elections. In 2004 election, John Kerry had a comfortable margin of 10 percentage points with 54.3% of Connecticut's popular vote. George W. Bush had only won Litchfield County at a small margin. Connecticut Republicans tend to be more liberal than their counterparts in many other states. The majority of Republican senators voted in favor of the civil unions bill, which passed the General Assembly, and was signed into law in 2005. Christopher Shays, a Republican representing Connecticut in the U.S. House of Representatives, has sided with the Democrats on a range of issues including gun control, abortion, and the environment. Governor M. Jodi Rell and former governors John Rowland and Lowell Weicker have all been considered more liberal than most Republicans. Conversely, some state Democrats tend to be conservative or moderate, Senators Joe Lieberman and Christopher Dodd being the most notable cases.

The supreme executive power is vested in the governor, who heads the executive branch. The current Governor of Connecticut is Her Excellency, M. Jodi Rell (Republican). There are several executive departments responsible for administering the laws of Connecticut: Administrative Services, Agriculture, Children and Families, Correction, Education, Environmental Protection, Higher Education, Information Technology, Insurance, Labor, Military, Motor Vehicles, Public Health, Public Utility, Revenue Services, Social Services, Transportation, Veterans Affairs. In addition to these departments, there are many other independent bureaus, offices and commissions [9]. Historically, 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, Ella Grasso.

The legislature, referred to as the General Assembly, is a bicameral body consisting of an upper body, the Senate (36 senators); and a lower body, the House of Representatives (151 representatives). Before a bill can be signed into law, it must be passed by a vote of at least two thirds of each house. 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.

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 that of the United States Supreme Court, with no testimony given by witnesses, and the lawyers of the two sides each present an oral argument 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 William J. Sullivan. Historically, the highest court in Connecticut was the General Assembly, and later, the Upper House, with the Governor having the title "Chief Judge". In 1818, the court became a separate entity, independent of the legislative and executive branches. Below the Supreme Court are the Appellate Court and the Superior Courts.

Politics

Presidential elections results
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 generally Democratic state, allotting its electoral votes (currently 7) to Democratic candidates in the past four Presidential elections. While Connecticut is the wealthiest state in America per capita, its less affluent urban areas account for the majority of its registered voters; this along with its proximity to New York City and its typically socially-liberal suburban voters have made Connecticut a Democratic bastion in general elections.

Connecticut was more supportive of Republican Presidential candidates in the 1970's and 1980's, voting five straight times from 1972 to 1988 for Republicans Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Voters in the state are more supportive of fiscal conservatives than social conservatives

Republicans are the minority in the state legislature, but they currently hold three of the five congressional seats. As of 2006, the two Senate seats from Connecticut are held by Democrats Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman. Connecticut's last Republican to serve in the U.S. Senate was Lowell P. Weicker Jr, who was a Senator from 1971-1989 when he was defeated by Joe Lieberman. Weicker was known as a liberal Republican, who served as governor of Connecticut from 1991-1995 as a member of the independent A Connecticut Party. Weicker later supported Howard Dean in 2004 Presidential Election. Before Weicker, the last Republican to represent Connecticut in the Senate was Prescott Bush from 1953-1963. Bush is the father of former president George H.W. Bush and the grandfather of President George W. Bush.

The state's Republican strongholds are rural Litchfield County, the Naugatuck River Valley, Western Hartford County and most towns in affluent Fairfield County near the New York State border. While Litchfield County supported George W. Bush in the 2004 Presidential Election, all other counties in Connecticut, including Fairfield County (often referred to as the Gold Coast) voted for his opponent, Senator John Kerry. The suburban towns of New Canaan and Darien in Fairfield County are considered the most Republican areas in the state, and perhaps one of the most reliably conservative areas in New England, the former being the hometown of conservative activist Ann Coulter. On the contrary, Westport, a wealthy town on the same tier as New Canaan and Darien, is widely known as a liberal place, and one of the most loyally-Democratic towns in Fairfield County. Former first selectwoman of Westport, Diane Farrell, a Democrat, ran for Christopher Shays' (a longtime incumbent Republican) congressional seat, and lost by only two percentage points in 2004. She is campaigning to face him again in the next congressional election.

Democrats are the majority almost everywhere else, especially in the cities of Hartford (the state capital), New Haven and Bridgeport, the largest cities in the state. Waterbury is nominally a Democratic city, but tends to favor conservative candidates. More affluent urban areas of the state, such as Norwalk and Stamford also trend towards the left, but have favored moderate Republicans in many elections such as former Governor John G. Rowland and Congressman Chris Shays.

Connecticut's independent streak is most apparent in its choice for Governor, as the Democrats have failed to win the office since 1989, losing four straight elections to independent Lowell P. Weicker Jr and Republican John G. Rowland. Rowland's successor, M. Jodi Rell, is favored to win the 2006 election. Pundits such as Michael Barone speculate that Connecticut voters are hesitant to give one party control of state government after the massive expansion in taxes and spending that occurred in the final years of the William O'Neill administration.

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

Political corruption

In recent years, Connecticut politics has been plagued by widespread 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. Following his resignation, he plead guilty to corruption charges and served ten months in federal prison. On the more extreme end, former Waterbury, CT Mayor Philip Giordano (R) 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 pedophilia charges. In 2003, he was convicted and sentenced to 37 years in federal prison. 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.

Following Rowland's resignation, Connecticut passed a campaign finance reform bill that will ban contributions from lobbyists and state contractors in future campaigns. The measure was praised by Arizona Senator John McCain.

Principal cities

Prominent cities and towns

Large cities (100,000 or greater)

  • Bridgeport: 139,529 (Census Estimate 2005: 139,008)
  • New Haven: 123,626 (Census Estimate 2005: 124,791)
  • Hartford: 121,578 (Census Estimate 2005: 124,397)
  • Stamford: 117,083 (Census Estimate 2005: 120,045)
  • Waterbury 107,271 (Census Estimate 2005: 107,902)

Small cities (45,000 up to 100,000)

Other (less than 60,000)

The following communities are other notable places in New Jersey with under 60,000 people.

25 richest places in Connecticut

Main article: Connecticut locations by per capita income

Ranked by per capita income*:

  1. New Canaan, Connecticut $85,459
  2. Darien, Connecticut $77,519
  3. Weston, Connecticut $74,817
  4. Greenwich, Connecticut $74,346
  5. Westport, Connecticut $73,664
  6. Stamford, Connecticut $67,109
  7. Wilton, Connecticut $65,806
  8. Roxbury, Connecticut $56,769
  9. Georgetown, Connecticut $55,029
  10. Easton, Connecticut $53,885
  11. Ridgefield, Connecticut $51,795
  12. Avon, Connecticut $51,706
  13. Groton Long Point, Connecticut $51,066
  14. Redding, Connecticut $50,687
  15. Woodbridge, Connecticut $49,049
  16. Sharon, Connecticut $45,418
  17. Fairfield, Connecticut $43,670
  18. Lyme, Connecticut $43,347
  19. Essex, Connecticut $42,806
  20. Bridgewater, Connecticut $42,505
  21. Cornwall, Connecticut $42,484
  22. Madison Center, Connecticut $42,046
  23. Old Lyme, Connecticut $41,386
  24. Noank, Connecticut $41,355
  25. Glastonbury, Connecticut $40,820

25 poorest places in Connecticut

(descending order)

  1. Hartford, Connecticut $13,428
  2. Conning Towers-Nautilus Park, Connecticut $14,216
  3. Poquonock Bridge, Connecticut $14,664
  4. Plainfield Village, Connecticut $14,836
  5. East Brooklyn, Connecticut $15,093
  6. Wauregan, Connecticut $15,311
  7. Willimantic, Connecticut $15,727
  8. Danielson, Connecticut $16,042
  9. Bridgeport, Connecticut $16,306
  10. New Haven, Connecticut $16,393
  11. North Grosvenor Dale, Connecticut $16,409
  12. Moosup, Connecticut $16,827
  13. Windham, Connecticut $16,978
  14. Waterbury, Connecticut $17,701
  15. Rockville, Connecticut $17,896
  16. Mansfield, Connecticut $18,094
  17. New Britain, Connecticut $18,404
  18. Bantam, Connecticut $18,442
  19. New London, Connecticut $18,437
  20. Plainfield, Connecticut $18,706
  21. North Canaan, Connecticut $18,971
  22. Jewett City, Connecticut $19,083
  23. Putnam District, Connecticut $19,229
  24. Sterling, Connecticut $19,679

Storrs, Connecticut, with an average per capita income of $9,947, is technically the poorest in the state, but this is only because of the high student population at the University of Connecticut, which is factored into the survey.

Education

Connecticut is well-known as the home of Yale University, which maintains a consistent ranking as one of the world's greatest and richest universities, and has the most selective undergraduate program of any university in the United States (an 8.6% acceptance rate in 2006). Yale is one of the largest employers in the state, and its research activity has recently spun off dozens of growing biotechnology companies, which have brought in billions of dollars to the economy of New Haven and the State in general.

Connecticut is also the host of many other institutions. Additionally, the State is packed with dozens of prestigious boarding schools, such as Choate Rosemary Hall, Hotchkiss, Loomis Chaffee, and Taft which draw students from all over the world.

Colleges and universities

Sports teams

Minor League Hockey Teams:

(The Danbury Trashers of the United Hockey League have been dissolved by the league after their owner, James Galante was arrested in June 2006 on accusations that he was running a mob-related scheme to control trash hauling prices and was paying hockey team employees under the table and against league rules.)

Minor League Baseball Teams:

Both of the Eastern League

Independent League Baseball Teams:

Professional Cycling Teams:

  • Team Nerac.com presented by OutdoorLights.com

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), Branford, Daniel Hand (in Madison), Woodland Regional (in Beacon Falls), and Hyde Leadership (in Hamden).

Famous residents, past and present

Historical figures

Trivia

See also

References

  • "CT.gov: About Connecticut". Retrieved December 18, 2005.
  • Michael Sletcher, New England. Westport, CT, 2004.

 United States

41°00′N 72°00′W / 41.000°N 72.000°W / 41.000; -72.000

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