Connecticut

From Free net encyclopedia

Template:US state Connecticut (pronounced Template:IPA) is a U.S. state located in the Northeastern United States.

Contents

[edit]

Geography

Template:Further

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, Torrington 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. Image:Approaching Summit Again.JPG Image:Highest Point here.JPG 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, 2354 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. According to Peakbagger.com, this makes Connecticut the only state whose highest point is not also its highest peak.

The Connecticut River cuts through the center of the state, flowing into Long Island Sound, Connecticut's outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. Template:Further Image:False Inscription.JPG 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 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, 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.[1] [2] [3] 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, 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.[4]

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]

Regions

Image:National-atlas-connecticut.png 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, and 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:

[edit]

History

Template:Main

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 Europeans to settle permanently in Connecticut were English Puritans from Massachusetts in 1633. 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." Another popular nickname for Connecticut is "The Nutmeg State." Residents of Connecticut are known as a "Nutmeggers."

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 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.


Connecticut was particularly hard-hit on 9/11 as many of the state's residents work in New York City. Seventy-two Connecticut residents were killed [5]. Many schools in Connecticut closed for the day because of the number of students who had parents who worked in New York City.

[edit]

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

Image:Connecticut population map.png

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.

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).

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%.

[edit]

Race and ancestry

The racial / ethnic makeup of Connecticut:

The five largest reported ancestries in the state are: Italian (18.6%), Irish (16.6%), English (10.3%), German (9.9%), African American (9.1%).

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 second most Italian-American state percentage-wise, after Rhode Island. Blacks and Hispanics (mostly Puerto Ricans) are numerous in the urban areas of the state. Connecticut also has a sizeable Polish minority, with New Britain containing the largest Polish-American population in the state.

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.

[edit]

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. Recent immigration has brought other non-Christian religions to the state, but the numbers of adherents of other religions are still low.

[edit]

Economy

Image:Wiki connecticut.jpg The total gross state product for 2004 was $187 billion. The per capita income for 2004 was $45,506, ranking 1st among the states [6]. 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 the Western CT--particularly in Fairfield County--are quite expensive, often starting around $500,000. In this region of the state, a three bedroom home on 1/4 acre (1000 m2) might easily run about US$1 million. Although Connecticut has the highest amount of million-dollar plus homes in the country, many of these homes are in Western portion of the state.

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.

Connecticut levies a 6 percent 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 percent 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.

[edit]

Transportation

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 is the Oxford Airport in western Connecticut. The airport is located 15 miles (24 km) east of Danbury and 12 miles (19 km) south 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 Connecticut 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 whole toll system in 1988. Other major arteries in the state include State Routes 8 and 25 and U.S. Highway 7.

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, and a general increase in American driving, and 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.

See [7] for an in-depth discussion of Connecticut roadways, current, past, and future.

[edit]

Law & Government

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-terminous 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 three exceptions are the City of Groton, which is a subsection of the Town of Groton the City of Winsted in the Town of Winchester, and the City of Milford, which is most, but not all, of the Town of Milford. There are also nine incorporated boroughs, eight 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, 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.

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.

[edit]

Politics

Connecticut is a solidly Democratic state, alloting 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.

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 stronghold is rural Litchfield County as well as some wealthy towns in 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. The once Republican strongholds of Stamford and Waterbury have become predominantly Democratic over the years, increasing their mandate in the state.

President George W. Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut and lived there for a short time before moving to Texas. Template:Further

[edit]

Important cities and towns

Population > 10,000 (urbanized area)

Population > 10,000 (urbanized area)

Important Suburbs

[edit]

25 Richest places in Connecticut

Template:Main

Ranked by per capita income:

  1. New Canaan, Connecticut $82,049
  2. Darien, Connecticut $77,519
  3. Weston, Connecticut $74,817
  4. Greenwich, Connecticut $74,346
  5. Westport, Connecticut $73,664
  6. Wilton, Connecticut $65,806
  7. Roxbury, Connecticut $56,769
  8. Georgetown, Connecticut $55,029
  9. Easton, Connecticut $53,885
  10. Essex Village, Connecticut $51,928
  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
[edit]

Education

Colleges and universities

[edit]

Sports teams

Minor League Hockey Teams:

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 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).

[edit]

Miscellaneous topics

Connecticut is the southernmost state in New England and the wealthiest state in the country per capita as well as the third smallest state in landmass. It was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution.

Famous residents:

[edit]

See also

[edit]

External links

Template:Sisterlinks

[edit]

References

  • {{cite web 
| url = http://www.ct.gov/ctportal/cwp/view.asp?a=843&q=246434 
| title = CT.gov: About Connecticut 
| accessdate = December 18, 2005
}}
Image:Flag of Connecticut.svg The State of Connecticut
 Capital  Hartford
 Regions 

Greater New Haven | Greater Hartford | Litchfield Hills | Lower Connecticut River Valley | Naugatuck River Valley | New York metropolitan area/Gold Coast | Quiet Corner | Southeastern Connecticut

 Counties 

Fairfield | Hartford | Litchfield | Middlesex | New Haven | New London | Tolland | Windham

 Cities 

Ansonia | Bridgeport | Bristol | Danbury | Fairfield | Greenwich | Groton | Hartford | Manchester | Meriden | Middletown | Milford | Naugatuck | New Britain | New Haven | New London | North Haven | Norwalk | Norwich | Shelton | Stamford | Torrington | Waterbury | West Hartford

Image:Connecticut state seal.png  Culture   Geography   Government   History   Images 
</center>

Template:United Statesang:Connecticut ar:كناتيكت ast:Connecticut bg:Кънектикът ca:Connecticut cs:Connecticut da:Connecticut de:Connecticut et:Connecticut es:Connecticut eo:Konetikuto eu:Conecticut fr:Connecticut ga:Connecticut gl:Connecticut ko:코네티컷 주 id:Connecticut is:Connecticut it:Connecticut he:קונטיקט ka:კონექტიკუტი kw:Connecticut la:Connecticuta lv:Konektikuta lt:Konektikutas hu:Connecticut mk:Конектикат nl:Connecticut ja:コネチカット州 no:Connecticut nn:Connecticut os:Коннектикут pl:Connecticut pt:Connecticut ru:Коннектикут sq:Connecticut simple:Connecticut sk:Connecticut sl:Connecticut sr:Конектикат fi:Connecticut sv:Connecticut th:มลรัฐคอนเนตทิคัต vi:Connecticut tr:Connecticut uk:Коннектикут zh:康乃狄克州

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Connecticut"