HARTFORD COUNTY
Chamber of Commerce
31 Pratt Street
Hartford 860-525-4451
www.metrohartford.com
Central Connecticut Tourism
1 Constitution Plaza
Hartford 860-787-9640
http://centerofct.com
Major Highways
Interstates 91, 84, 384; Routes 5, 6, 44
The region of Hartford County could is also often called “metropolitan Hartford,” since this area clusters 28 towns around the cosmopolitan hub of the City of Hartford. Situated in north-central Connecticut, Hartford County supports approximately one-third of the state’s total population. Business booms in Hartford County, where the per capita income is one-third greater than the national average.
Known as the central hub of the nation’s insurance industry, Hartford is home an extensive list of high-tech manufacturing firms, leading healthcare organizations, and a thriving retail sector. Many of the nation’s Fortune 500 companies and large, multi-national organizations maintain major offices or even corporate headquarters in Hartford. Nevertheless, small to mid-sized businesses form the real backbone of the regional economy. These businesses have been encouraged and strongly supported through an ambitious network of incentives and assistance programs.
Hartford County is a region of progress and accomplishment, claiming many of the nation’s “first” and “oldest” milestones. Noah Webster once made his home in West Hartford. The nation’s first insurance company was chartered in this area, which also claims the first public park. Hartford boasts the oldest State House as well as the oldest continuously published newspaper in the nation. Hartford County undoubtedly claims a legacy of leadership.
Services
Major Interstate highways like 84 and 91, which converge in downtown Hartford and provide connections to the Connecticut and Massachusetts turnpikes, combine with a network of state and federal highways to link Hartford County to major markets and employment centers. Bradley International Airport serves the region with major airlines and smaller carriers that reach mid-sized cities. Amtrak operates passenger service to key points throughout the nation, including New York, Washington, and Boston.
The educational opportunities from pre-K through graduate school are outstanding, whether the choice is public or private schooling. The area is home to more than 30 colleges and universities that include Trinity College, the University of Hartford, the University of Connecticut, Rensellear at Hartford, and the Hartford Conservatory. Continuing education and two-year degrees and certifications are available close to home at Manchester Community Technical College, Charter Oak State College, Capital Community Technical College, and Tunxis Community College.
Healthcare institutions are prestigious and plentiful, anchored by the University of Connecticut Health Center located in Farmington. The latter encompasses the School of Medicine, the School of Dental Medicine, John Dempsey Hospital, the UConn Medical Group, and University Dentists. Founded in 1961, the Health Center is dedicated to exemplary patient care, research, and public service.
Lifestyle
Newcomers to Hartford will discover a vibrant arts scene, a pleasing variety of leisure and sporting activities, outstanding educational institutions, a high standard of living, and many premier home choices in neighborhood settings. Lifestyle choices abound, from high-rise urban living to luxurious suburbs or the picturesque and peaceful countryside. The architectural styling, sizes, and prices of available homes are equally diverse.
From the viewpoint of cultural attractions and the performing arts, Hartford County rivals any metropolitan area in the nation. Attractions include the Tony-award winning Hartford Stage Company, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Hartford Ballet, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Connecticut Opera Association, the Mark Twain House, and literally hundreds of innovative and diverse venues. Multi-cultural celebrations and festivals are abundant, celebrating the rich and varied heritage of county residents.
Although Hartford County is an inland area, Atlantic Ocean beaches are just an hour’s drive away. Even closer to home are rushing streams and rolling rivers or quiet retreats for swimming, boating, and rafting. The federal government has designated the Connecticut River an American Heritage River, and select sections of land protected by the Nature Conservancy have been listed among “The Forty Last Great Places in the Western Hemisphere.” Throughout the county, four-season splendor encourages every outdoor pastime and leisure activity, from UCONN sports mania to snow skiing. Public and private clubs abound, and local recreational programs are highly developed.
Nestled on both sides of the Connecticut River, Hartford County mixes the quick pace of the state’s capital region with quaint historic villages, comfortable bedroom communities, affluent suburban centers, thriving farms, and pristine woodlands. Decades of continuing revitalization has modernized the Hartford skyline, yet the rich architectural heritage is still preserved.
Little wonder that this dynamic region has been southern New England’s economic, cultural, and social center for more than three centuries.
Bloomfield, West Hartford
Bloomfield Offices
860-769-3507
www.bloomfieldct.org
West Hartford
860-561-7500
www.west-hartford.com
Bloomfield Chamber
860-242-3710
www.bloomfieldchamber.org
West Hartford Chamber
860-521-2300
www.whchamber.com
Transportation efficiencies and close proximity to world-class urban amenities make Bloomfield an appealing home. The local school system boasts one of the highest per-pupil expenditures and some of the lowest teacher/student ratios in the state. Located within 15 minutes from Bradley International Airport, Bloomfield is an attractive, residential suburb of Hartford, recognized as an “All American City” for its success as an ethnically and culturally diverse community. Many elegant homes along tree-shaded lanes enjoy a serene, picturesque atmosphere. Rural for much of its history, neighboring West Hartford developed its substantial population when the trend toward suburban living made it an attractive address. Today, the town boasts a thriving industrial sector as well as active retail and service business sectors that include Westfarms Mall and West Hartford Center. Newcomers will find a complete range of housing options, from starter homes to handsome estates. St. Joseph College, the University of Hartford, and the University of Connecticut enrich daily life with cultural and sporting events.
Canton, Simsbury
Canton Offices
860-693-7870
www.townofcantonct.org
Simsbury Offices
860-658-3200
https://www.simsbury-ct.gov
Chamber of Commerce
860-651-7307
www.simsburycoc.org
Together with Simsbury, Canton is part of the Farmington Valley region with its arts, antiques, quaint bed and breakfasts, and natural beauty. Many neighborhoods have preserved historic structures and lovely vintage homes with elegant architectural embellishments. Simsbury maintains an active parks and recreation department that offers a wide range of programs designed to appeal to every age group and manages the parks that dot the community. Canton is located on U.S. Routes 44 and 202. The community developed from four distinct villages that have preserved many of their original structures. Canton Center and Collinsville offer National Register Historic Districts filled with colonial and Victorian homes. Diverse industries provide a strong tax base. Recreational opportunities in this region are outstanding, including fine golf courses, horseback riding, opportunities for downhill skiing, canoeing or kayaking, hiking, biking, in-line skating, and fishing. One of the most popular of the regional outdoor attractions is the Farmington Valley Greenway with a 25-mile multi-use trail through five valley towns.
East Hartford, Manchester
E. Hartford Offices
860-291-7230
www.easthartfordct.gov
Manchester Offices
860-647-5235
www.manchesterct.gov
E. Hartford Chamber
860-659-3587
https://www.crvchamber.org
Manchester Chamber
860-646-2223
www.manchesterchamber.com
Covering 18 square miles, East Hartford is home to more than 100 highly diversified manufacturing plants, producing everything from aircraft engines to bakery products. Minutes from downtown Hartford, the town offers many unique advantages centered on its location near the Connecticut River. The East Hartford Riverfront offers luxurious high-rise residential living along with a waterfront park and riverwalk. Other neighborhoods offer single-family homes in a variety of architectural styles and price ranges. The Manchester region has enjoyed considerable growth in recent decades, offering more than 1,000 acres of parkland, attractive housing options, Manchester Community College, Manchester Memorial Hospital, an award-winning school system, a strong cultural community, transportation advantages, and civic-minded residents. The city serves as a service, retail, employment and residential hub for those who live in eastern Hartford.
Enfield, Suffield
Enfield Offices
860-253-6300
www.enfield-ct.gov
Suffield Offices
860-668-3838
www.suffieldtownhall.com
Enfield Chamber
860-741-3838
www.ncccc.org
Suffield Chamber
860-668-4848
www.suffieldchamber.com
The suburban community of Enfield covers 34 square miles and serves as home to more than 1,660 thriving businesses. European farmers began the legacy of successful trade, leading to sprawling tobacco farms. The population boomed in the mid ’90s, creating a finely balanced community. The lifestyle in Enfield is enhanced by close proximity to professional theater, concerts, opera, ballet, sporting events, and other activities in Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts. Recreational programs are abundant, with hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and winter sports available nearby. Suffield has grown from its agricultural roots to offer a long list of advantages and amenities: the respected private school of Suffield Academy, the Suffield Country Club, and Bradley International Airport. Astute planning by early generations laid the groundwork for a beautiful cityscape where the majority of attractive homes enjoy enviable vistas.
Farmington, Avon
Farmington Offices
860-675-2300
www.farmington-ct.org
Avon Offices
860-409-4300
www.town.avon.ct.us
Farmington Chamber
860-676-8490
www.farmingtonchamber.com
Avon Chamber
860-675-4832
www.avonchamber.com
The community of Farmington is called the “mother of towns” because its area was divided to create nine central Connecticut cities. Nestled in the Farmington River Valley region, the town features historic landmarks, sprawling fields and farmland, and village-style shopping areas. Home of the multi-facility complex of the University of Connecticut Health Center, the town balances quiet suburban living, flourishing industry, and unspoiled nature. Exceptional leisure attractions and recreational facilities, national blue ribbon award-winning schools, the Tunxis Community-Technical College campus, attractive housing options, and fine museums combine to place Farmington in a class of its own for quality of life. Avon is a picturesque New England village that grew up along the wooded banks and meadow plains of the Farmington River. This area provides a scenic backdrop for tranquil, tree-shaded neighborhoods of lovely homes.
Glastonbury, Marlborough
Glastonbury Offices
860-652-7710
www.glasct.org
Marlborough Offices
860-295-6200
www.marlboroughct.net
Chamber of Commerce
860-659-3587
https://www.crvchamber.org
Covering 53 square miles of fertile land, Glastonbury claims historic significance as the birthplace of “Aqua Velva” and Hale peaches. East of the Connecticut River, the town is strategically located between the two major cultural centers of Boston and New York City with the state capital of Hartford just a 10-minute drive away. Glastonbury is primarily suburban, mixing limited business and industry with welcoming residential neighborhoods. Nearby Marlborough holds fast to its reputation as the “seat of Yankee ingenuity,” boasting a long list of native sons like the sewing machine inventor Henry Dickinson. Friendly local companies and businesses preserve the town’s charm, enhanced by the surrounding countryside of hills, valleys, streams, the Blackledge River, and Lake Terramuggus. Newcomers will find a wide variety of attractive housing options, from vintage cottages to estates.
Granby, East Granby, Hartland
Granby Offices
860-844-5308
www.granby-ct.gov
E. Granby Offices
860-653-2576
www.eastgranbyct.org
Hartland Offices
860-653-6800
www.hartlandct.org
Chamber of Commerce
860-741-3838
www.ncccc.org
Slowly evolving from its agricultural roots, Granby has managed to retain much of its rural character. Covering a full 41 square miles, Granby invites newcomers to explore winding backroads, pick produce at a family farm, or relax on the porch swing. The town of East Granby was actually formed from Granby and Windsor Locks, establishing an incorporated municipality of 17 square miles. Newcomers will enjoy seeing wild turkeys and deer in the rolling hills near the old New-Gate Prison—once a copper mine and now a National Historic Landmark. The old canal railroad track is becoming part of the Farmington Valley Greenway, forming a walking and biking trail between Suffield and Simsbury. Sparsely populated but covering 35 square miles, Hartland blends the finest of small-town living with an excellent public educational system, strong community and civic organizations, and welcoming neighborhoods. Residents take great pride in Hartland Elementary School, distinguished as a nationally recognized blue ribbon exemplary school. All three communities provide the intimacy of a smaller town with close proximity to the urban amenities of the capital region.
Hartford
Municipal Offices
860-757-9500
www.hartford.gov
Chamber of Commerce
860-525-4451
www.metrohartford.com
Ideally located midway between Boston and New York, the culturally diverse capital city of Hartford has also been nicknamed the “Insurance City” for the large collection of companies headquartered in this region. Serving as the center of government, the city balances a wide range of economic activity with social and cultural advantages. Brainard International Airport is only one of many transportation efficiencies that ensure regional access. Cultural amenities include theatres, Broadway shows, opera, ballet, symphony, concerts, historic sites, galleries, gardens, and one of the ten top fine arts museums in the nation. Hartford is also home to several colleges.
New Britain
Municipal Offices
860-826-3344
www.newbritainct.gov
Chamber of Commerce
860-229-1665
https://greaternewbritainchamber.com
Known as “Hardware City,” New Britain is located just 15 minutes from the capital city of Hartford. The expansion of Route 9 and the intersection with Route 72 in the center of town have given this community direct access to Interstates 91 and 84, creating an efficient highway network for business, trade, and commuting. Residents enjoy lush parks and an active parks and recreation organization that offers everything from summer concerts to golf lessons. Central Connecticut State University enjoys the distinction of being the oldest public institution of learning in the state, home of the popular Blue Devils that play in the Northeast Conference. The university presence enriches the entire community with cultural and sports events, stimulating the local economy and infusing an atmosphere of intellectual vitality.
Newington
Municipal Offices
860-665-8500
www.newingtonct.gov
Chamber of Commerce
860-666-2089
www.newingtonchamber.com
Located in the heart of Central Connecticut, the community of Newington has actively encouraged economic growth while it balances quality of life issues. In recent years, planners have wisely improved the infrastructure, developed nature trails, and preserved open space for recreational use. Fine examples of historic homes can be found in Newington, although newer homes are also available in a pleasing range of architectural styles and the Town Center is schedule for revitalization. An unusually strong network of interstates and highways provide superb transportation amenities, serving both residents and local business. In addition to the Newington Children’s Hospital, the community is home to a wide variety of businesses and companies. The recreational amenities include lush parks and regional recreational land for outdoor adventure, sports, and relaxation. Balancing commercial, residential, and industrial sectors, Newington has all the ingredients for continued growth and prosperity.
Bristol, Burlington, Plainville
Bristol Offices
860-584-6100
www.ci.bristol.ct.us
Burlington Offices
860-673-6789
http://burlingtonct.us
Plainville Offices
860-793-0221
www.plainvillect.com
Chamber of Commerce
860-584-4718
https://bristolallheart.com/community-groups/bristol-chamber-of-commerce
The community of Plainville was a stretch of sand covered with scrub oak before its development as a pleasing residential community with a thriving local economy. This region offers a quick commute to several institutions of higher education including Tunxis Community Technical College, Briarwood College, and Central Connecticut State University. Burlington is a town that sprawls over 30 square miles of gently rolling hills, pristine woodland, and working farms at the foot of the Berkshires. Nearly half the land is owned by water companies and the state of Connecticut, enabling the town to retain its delightful rural character. With its central location in the state, Bristol covers 27 square miles to offer a stable, residential community with a rich ethnic background and a history of industrial successes—particularly in the watch and clock industry. Boasting a legacy of wealth, the community enjoys beautifully landscaped parks and many architectural treasures. Leading edge technology has been successfully integrated into yesterday’s charm. Satellite dishes dot the landscape at ESPN’s world headquarters, while Federal Hill showcases historic homes.
Southington, Berlin
Southington Offices
860-276-6200
www.southington.org
Berlin Offices
860-828-7000
www.town.berlin.ct.us
Southington Chamber
860-628-8036
www.southingtoncoc.com
Berlin Chamber
860-229-1665
https://greaternewbritainchamber.com
Covering 37 square miles, Southington was one of the area’s first industrial centers and claims a number of important inventions and manufacturing innovation. Over the years, one success after another in the production of special hardware items and tools ensured the town’s legacy as a premier center of manufacturing. At the same time, the area became well known for its apple orchards and pleasing residential neighborhoods. The Apple Harvest Festival attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area each year in October. Nearby Berlin is situated in the geographic center of the county and also the state, giving residents quick and easy access to regional amenities. Employment centers, leading universities and hospitals, and first-class cultural attractions are all close to home in Berlin. The town offers newcomers a pleasing blend of rural and suburban lifestyles supported by a strong industrial base for a balanced environment.
Wethersfield, Rocky Hill
Wethersfield Offices
860-721-2800
www.wethersfieldct.com
Rocky Hill Offices
860-258-2700
www.rockyhillct.gov
Chamber of Commerce
860-525-4451
www.metrohartford.com
Characterized as an established commercial and residential center on the Connecticut River, Wethersfield has been a thriving community for over 350 years. Striking a fine balance between small-town spirit and urban advantages, Wethersfield takes pride in its commitment to the aesthetics of the community, the area’s historic heritage, and educational excellence. Many welcoming neighborhoods feature well-kept homes in a variety of architectural styles along tree-shaded streets. Neighboring Rocky Hill is a small town with a flourishing economic base. Service and trade dominate the local economy, featuring such leading employers as Ames Department Stores, a Veterans Home, and the town government. However, manufacturers like Loctite and Sysco have also found a fertile home in Rocky Hill. Both communities enjoy easy access to Hartford’s array of exceptional cultural and educational amenities.
Windsor, South Windsor
Windsor Offices
860-285-1902
www.townofwindsorct.com
S. Windsor Offices
860-644-2511
www.southwindsor.org
Chamber of Commerce
860-688-5165
www.windsorcc.org
Distinguished as Connecticut’s first town, the 31-square-mile community of Windsor is nestled along the banks of the Farmington and Connecticut Rivers. Historic and charming, Windsor provides residents with an exceptional school system, attractive neighborhoods, responsive municipal services, and solid economic development initiatives. The latter has been so successful that Windsor job growth rates are enviably high. More than 1,000 acres of parkland provide first-rate leisure opportunities for every age group. The suburban community of South Windsor covers 29 square miles immediately northeast of Hartford. Ideally located between Boston and New York City, South Windsor takes pride in maintaining a tranquil, suburban environment. The community’s close proximity to the capital city adds cosmopolitan cultural and educational advantages to the intimate spirit of a smaller town.
Windsor Locks, East Windsor
Windsor Locks Offices
860-292-8686
www.windsorlocksct.org
E. Windsor Offices
860-623-8122
www.eastwindsor-ct.gov
Chamber of Commerce
860-741-3838
www.ncccc.org
The 27-square-mile town of East Windsor is strategically located midway between the capital city of Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts. Two major highways, U.S. 5 and Interstate 91, traverse the western section of the town; and Interstate 84 is available within a ten-minute drive for quick commutes to New York and Boston. East Windsor and Windsor Locks are both known as small suburban towns with a rich sense of history. They also claim the distinction of having Bradley International Airport “in their backyard.” Complete in nine square miles, Windsor Locks is characterized as a small community with a rooted population that manages to retain a surprising number of its residents. Even after young adults complete their education, many of them continue living in Windsor Locks and begin raising their own families. The result is a town with a strong sense of stability and a rich community life.
