The New England state of Connecticut is a vital part of the industrial and transportation corridor of the northeastern United States. One of the smallest U.S. states, it is bordered by Massachusetts on the north, Rhode Island on the east, Long Island Sound (an arm of the Atlantic Ocean) on the south, and New York on the west. Connecticut was first explored by Europeans in 1614, and the earliest white settlements were established in the 1630s. Manufacturing and service industries are the chief economic sectors in the state. Connecticut is the chief producer of submarines, aircraft engines, and helicopters in the United States. Several major insurance companies are headquartered in the state, mainly in and around Hartford, the state capital. The word Connecticut is derived from the Algonquian Indian quinnehtukqut, meaning "beside the long tidal river." LAND AND RESOURCES Connecticut is a scenic state, with many streams and extensive woodlands. It has 994 km (618 mi) of tidal shoreline. Only 0.3% of Connecticut's land area is owned by the federal government. Physiographic Regions Almost all of Connecticut lies within the geomorphic region known as the New England Upland (a low, dissected plateau sloping southward from Maine to Long Island Sound). It may be divided into three major physiographic regions--the Western Highlands, the Central Lowland, and the Eastern Highlands. The Western Highlands, a rugged region of strong relief, rises to 598 m (1,962 ft) at Haystack Mountain and has the state's highest point at Mount Frissell (725 m/2,380 ft) in the Taconic section of the northwest. The Central Lowlands, about 32 km (20 mi) wide, are fertile. The Eastern Highlands are less elevated than their western counterpart; the greatest elevation is nearly 400 m (1,300 ft), and most of the region consists of rolling terrain. The Coastal Lowlands, a narrow strip along Long Island Sound, includes an indented shoreline where low, rocky headlands alternate with smooth, sandy beaches and broad, flat tidal marshes. Several small islands lie off the coast, among which Masons Island, near Mystic, is the largest. Rivers and Lakes The valleys of Connecticut contain more than 13,000 km (8,075 mi) of rivers and streams; most flow in a generally north-south direction. The state's principal waterway is the \TConnecticut River\t, which flows through parts of the Central Lowlands and the Eastern Highlands before entering Long Island Sound; its chief tributary in the state is the Farmington River. The major stream in western Connecticut is the \THousatonic River\t, which receives the Naugatuck River shortly before flowing into the Sound. The Eastern Highlands are drained by the extensive network of the Shetucket and Quinebaug rivers, whose waters combine a short distance before joining with the Yantic River to form the Thames, a broad river that empties into Long Island Sound. Connecticut has numerous small natural lakes, the largest of which is Bantam Lake, near Litchfield. The state also has numerous artificial lakes, which are used for power production, flood control, and irrigation. The largest, Lake Candlewood, is near \TDanbury\t. Climate Connecticut has a moderate climate, with four well-defined seasons and considerable diversity of weather over short time periods. The state as a whole receives ample precipitation, which is distributed more or less evenly throughout the year. Hurricanes occasionally strike along the shore, usually during August or September. \TBridgeport\t, on the coast, has a mean January temperature of -1 deg C (30 deg F) and an average July temperature of 23 deg C (74 deg F); it receives about 991 mm (39 in) of precipitation per year. \THartford\t, in the central part of the state, has a mean January temperature of -4 deg C (25 deg F) and an average July temperature of 23 deg C (74 deg F); it receives about 1,092 mm (43 in) of precipitation yearly. Vegetation and Animal Life Approximately 65% of Connecticut's total area is covered by forestland, almost all of which is privately owned. Of relatively low commercial value, the forests are densest in the highland regions. Most of the trees are hardwoods, including white oak, hickory, ash, maple, beech, birch, and elm; softwoods include such evergreens as white pine, red pine, and hemlock. Among the numerous flowering plants found are mountain laurel, pink dogwood, white dogwood, azaleas, hepatica, jack-in-the-pulpits, and cowslips. Connecticut has few large animals other than the white-tailed deer. Wild animals commonly found include rabbits, skunks, opossums, raccoons, beavers, squirrels, and foxes. Large numbers of game birds, such as ducks, ruffed grouse, pheasants, and quail, are found. The state's many streams and lakes harbor large numbers of fish, notably bass, perch, pickerel, trout, and shad. Although the marine life in Long Island Sound near the shoreline has suffered because of pollution, flounder, smelt, porgy, clams, and mussels are still found. Mineral Resources Connecticut has numerous deposits of minerals, but only a few occur in quantities large enough for commercial exploitation. The principal minerals are stone, sand and gravel, and clay, with some feldspar, lime, and mica. Deposits of iron ore (mainly in the northwest), copper ore, and nickel exist in small quantities. PEOPLE The resident population of Connecticut (1990 census) is 3,287,116, an increase of about 6% over that of 1990. This rate of increase was far below the state's 20% growth rate of 1960-70, but above the 2.5% growth rate of 1970-80. The state's population is identified as mostly urban, with the main concentrations occurring along Long Island Sound (especially in the southwest) and in the central part of the state. In terms of population, the chief cities are Bridgeport, Hartford, \TNew Haven\t, \TWaterbury\t, \TStamford\t, \TNorwalk\t, New Britain, Danbury, Bristol, Meriden, and West Haven. The great majority of the inhabitants are white, most of them having been born in the United States of American parents. The state has a large Italian-American community, as well as many who trace their ancestry to Poland and other countries of Eastern Europe, Greece, and French-speaking Canada. About 8% of the state's population are black; most blacks live in the state's larger cities. Hartford, Bridgeport, and New Britain have substantial minorities of Hispanic background. Nearly 6,700 American Indians also live in Connecticut and there is a rapidly growing Asian population. Roman Catholics constitute the largest religious body in the state. The largest Protestant groups are the United Church of Christ, Episcopalians, Methodists, and Baptists. The state also has substantial communities of Jews and Greek Orthodox. Education and Cultural Activity Connecticut has a long tradition of public education. In 1642 a free school was opened in New Haven, and in 1650 a law was enacted in Connecticut Colony, requiring townships with 50 or more families to establish a public elementary school. In 1979 about 378,000 pupils were enrolled in the state's public elementary schools, and about 203,000 in its secondary schools. The best-known institution of higher education in Connecticut is \TYale University\t (founded 1701), in New Haven. (For information on public institutions, see \TConnecticut, state university and colleges of\t.) Cultural Institutions Connecticut has a wide array of cultural institutions: the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford, with a large collection of European and American paintings; the New Britain Museum of American Art; the Yale University Art Gallery, the Yale Center for British Art, and the Peabody Museum of Natural History, all in New Haven; and the American Clock and Watch Museum in Bristol. Well-known theaters are the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, which presents musical theater from April to December, the Hartford Stage Company, and the Long Wharf and Yale Repertory theaters (both in New Haven). Historical Sites Notable among Connecticut's colonial structures are the Henry Whitfield house (built in 1639, now containing a museum) in Guilford, one of the oldest stone dwellings in New England. The Old State House (built in 1796 and now including a museum) is located in Hartford, along with the Mark Twain Memorial (the writer's residence during the 1870s). Mystic Seaport, in Mystic, has been rebuilt as a facsimile of a 19th-century whaling town. In Groton a granite obelisk commemorates the battle of Fort Griswold in 1781. The town of Litchfield has many well-preserved colonial buildings. Sports and Recreation A section of the \TAppalachian Trail\t is found in Connecticut, as well as many beaches along Long Island Sound. A well-known automobile racetrack is located at Lime Rock. Communications Connecticut is well supplied with communications media. Besides the state's numerous television and radio stations, there are 23 (1988) daily newspapers with a combined circulation of 865,000 copies. The Hartford Courant is considered the most influential daily paper. ECONOMY Manufacturing became a principal economic activity in Connecticut beginning in the mid-19th century. Today, it remains an important sector of the economy, although various service industries now account for about 70% of the gross state product. The state has a large insurance industry; a large number of national companies have their home offices there. The headquarters of many large industrial corporations are located in various communities of Fairfield County. Agriculture Connecticut has a small agricultural sector of limited economic importance to the state. About 4,000 farms are distributed throughout the state; their average size is about 45 ha (110 acres). The chief commodities are dairy products, especially whole milk, and poultry products, notably eggs and broilers. Significant numbers of cattle and hogs are marketed. The most valuable crop is shade tobacco, the leaves of which are used in the outer wrapping of cigars. Mining The yearly value of Connecticut's mineral output is relatively small. Although feldspar, stone, sand and gravel, lime, and clay are produced, the state is ranked among the ten lowest of U.S. states in nonfuel mineral production. Manufacturing In highly industrial Connecticut in recent years more than 250 foreign firms either have located or expanded plants. A significant number of the labor force work for fabricating industries. Transportation equipment is the main product. The state is the nation's leading producer of submarines, helicopters, and jet engines for aircraft. Other major manufactured goods are nonelectric machinery, fabricated metals, electrical and electronic items, precision instruments, firearms, chemicals, textiles, and cutlery and silverware. The principal manufacturing centers are Hartford, Bridgeport, New London, New Haven, Norwalk, and Waterbury. Tourism Connecticut has a sizable tourist industry, and attracts vacationers both to its varied beaches and to the wooded hills in the western regions. More than 100 state parks and state forests are open to visitors. Transportation Extensive transportation facilities are available, with most land and inland-water routes following a generally north-south direction. The leading seaports are Bridgeport, New Haven, and New London; oceangoing vessels navigate the Connecticut River as far north as Hartford. The state also has almost 100 airports. Energy In the mid-1980s, Connecticut had an electricity-generating capacity of 6.2 million kilowatts; the annual production was some 25 billion kilowatt hours. More than 90% of this electric power is produced in thermal plants using coal or refined petroleum. GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS Connecticut is governed under a constitution of 1965, as amended. The chief executive of the state is a governor, popularly elected to a 4-year term; no restrictions are placed on the number of terms the governor may serve. Other officials elected statewide are the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general. Connecticut's legislature, called the General Assembly, consists of a 36-member senate and 151-member house of representatives; all the legislators are popularly elected to 2-year terms. The highest tribunal is the state supreme court consisting of a chief justice and five associate justices; the court only hears appeals. The highest trial court is the superior court. Members of the supreme court and the superior court are appointed to 8-year terms by the General Assembly. The main units of local government are the state's 169 towns; the Connecticut town is similar to the township in other states and may contain villages, boroughs, and cities. Connecticut has eight electoral votes in national presidential elections and is represented in the U.S. Congress by two senators and six representatives. Politics The Republicans dominated the governorship of Connecticut from the 1830s to 1931; since then, Democrats have usually held the office, including Ella \TGrasso\t, who in 1974 became the first U.S. woman elected governor in her own right. During the 1970s the state's major cities usually voted Democratic, and the small towns voted Republican; the growing suburban areas, however, were fairly evenly divided between supporters of the two parties. More recently, despite a larger Democratic registration, the Republicans have won a significant number of presidential and congressional elections. HISTORY When, early in the 17th century, the first Europeans arrived in present-day Connecticut, the area was sparsely inhabited by 6,000 Algonquian-speaking Indians, most of whom lived near the coast. Other Indian groups were the \TPequot\t, who lived near the Thames River, and the closely related \TMohegan\t (written about by James Fenimore \TCooper\t in The Last of the Mohicans); the Niantic; the Quinnipiac; and the Wangunk. Adriaen \TBlock\t, a Dutch navigator, discovered the Connecticut River in 1614 and claimed the region for the Dutch. A small Dutch trading fort, named the House of Hope, was built in 1633 on the site of modern Hartford, but was soon abandoned. Meanwhile, English settlers from the Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony established settlements at Wethersfield, Hartford, New Haven, New London, Guilford, Milford, Saybrook, Windsor, and other places. The Pequot Indians tried to prevent white settlement, but they were soundly defeated in the \TPequot War\t (1637). The settlements of Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor joined together to form the Connecticut (or River) Colony, which adopted (1639) the Fundamental Orders, a constitution based on democratic principles. In 1662 John Winthrop, Jr., governor of the Connecticut Colony (see \TWinthrop\t family), obtained a royal charter that gave the colony considerable self-government and control of New Haven Colony. The latter reluctantly agreed to unite with the Connecticut Colony in 1665. Between 1685 and 1689, James II attempted to organize New England under one government; Connecticut, however, resisted and refused to turn over its charter. Colonists are believed to have hidden (1687) the document in the \TCharter Oak\t tree in Hartford. By the early 18th century, Connecticut farmers were producing agricultural products for export to the other American colonies, and the coastal towns traded with the West Indies. Connecticut also became known for its clocks, silverware, tinware, and shipbuilding. By the 1770s the state had a population of nearly 200,000, most of whom favored independence from Great Britain. During the \TAmerican Revolution\t, about 30,000 troops joined the Continental Army, and large amounts of food and provisions were contributed. Nathan \THale\t, from Connecticut, was hanged by the British in 1776 as a spy. A few battles were fought in Connecticut, among them skirmishes at Danbury (1777), New Haven (1779), and New London (1781). Representatives from Connecticut played an important role at the \TConstitutional Convention\t of 1787, especially in promoting the so-called Connecticut Compromise, which helped establish the present method of apportioning representation in the U.S. Congress among the states. On Jan. 9, 1788, Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. Most of the state's residents opposed the War of 1812, and New England representatives who opposed the war met at the \THartford Convention\t in 1814-15. During the first half of the 19th century, Connecticut's economy grew considerably, with manufacturing overtaking agriculture by mid-century. The state was known for its textiles (including silk), clocks, firearms (notably the repeating revolver manufactured in Hartford by Samuel \TColt\t), shipbuilding, and rubber products. Commerce, shipping, and insurance were also important. Most residents of Connecticut opposed slavery, which was abolished in the state in 1848. During the Civil War the state sent more than 57,000 men to the Union army and supplied firearms, ammunition, and numerous ships. Industry in Connecticut continued to expand after the war; meanwhile, the state's cities grew as immigrants arrived from Europe and Canada, many of them around the turn of the century. Numerous industries were founded during World War I, when Connecticut was a major producer of war materiel, especially munitions. A U.S. naval base (now a submarine station) was established at Groton in 1917. The economy suffered a slump immediately after the war, however, recovering somewhat in the 1920s. The Depression of the 1930s seriously affected the state. Industrial output declined markedly, and the unemployment rate rose considerably. Some social-welfare legislation (including minimum-wage and unemployment-compensation laws) was passed during the administration (1931-39) of Gov. Wilbur L. Cross, a Democrat. The economy revived again during World War II, when Connecticut produced submarines, aircraft engines, ball bearings, firearms, and other items crucial to the U.S. war effort. In the postwar period Connecticut, along with most of the United States, enjoyed relative prosperity. Some older cities, such as Bridgeport and Danbury, however, declined as manufacturers closed or moved to other parts of the country. Newer, diversified industries took hold, however, and Connecticut prospered; by the late 1980s its per capita income was among the nation's highest. George R. Rumney Bibliography: Bell, M., The Face of Connecticut: People, Geology, and the Land (1985); Federal Writer's Project, Connecticut: A Guide to Its Roads, Lore and People (1938; repr. 1980); Lewis, Thomas R., and Harmon, John E., Connecticut: A Geography (1986); Lieberman, Joseph I., The Legacy: Connecticut Politics 1930-1980 (1981); Main, Jackson T., Society and Economy in Colonial Connecticut (1985); Roth, David M., ed., The Series in Connecticut History, 5 vols. (1978).