Famous inventions from Connecticut include the can opener, submarine, and the telephone book. [26], 9. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. 2"Longest Friendship Bracelet." Massachusetts was named after a tribe, with the name meaning "large hill place". Storrs, CT, 1966. John Davenport, the founder of the New Haven Colony in Connecticut, was arguably the strictest Puritan of early America. The forest, whales and fish were some natural resources in Connecticut colony. In 1777 Danbury, Connecticut, sixteen year old Sybil Ludington rode almost TWICE the distance of Paul Revere when she rode to warn colonial soldiers of a British attack. By 1645, the settlements of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford had united to form River Colony, which became known as Connecticut. Religion The first English people to settle in Connecticut were Congregationalist Puritans. Thomas Hooker and others established Connecticut Colony at Hartford in 1636. The Connecticut Colony's landscape was hilly, mountainous, rocky, treed, with lots of rivers and soil unsuitable for farming for most crops. Both the Dutch and English settlers founded settlements in Connecticut in the early 1630s, and the land soon became a British colony. Industry Although farming was difficult, the settlers were able to grow corn, pumpkins, rye, squash, and beans. Connecticuts ratification of the United States Constitution, along with the other states ratifications, signaled the foundation of the new federal government and the end of the Articles of Confederation era. [16,17], 18. Connecticut and Rhode Island have no county government. Quick Facts Capital: Hartford Population: 3.5 million Nickname: The Constitution State, The Nutmeg State Key Cities: Bridgeport, New Haven, Stamford, Hartford, Waterbury Postal Abbreviation: CT Local Government in Connecticut. Saybrooks Governor, George Fenwick, sold Saybrook Colony to the River Colony in 1642. It was founded in 1638. Connecticut is one of the most densely populated states of the U.S.[4], 42. On 9 January 1788, Connecticut became one of states in U.S. Two years later, in 1638, another colony was established New Haven Colony. Here are 25 facts to get you started. Middletown, CT: Wesleyan University Press, 2013. Only three people were killed. 1. He demanded the charter, but the charter was hidden in an oak tree. A City of History Hartford, Connecticut is steeped in history, having served as the seat of Hartford County since its establishment in 1666. Hartford is the capital city of Connecticut. However, even within Puritanism, there were divisions between conservatives and liberals. Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut was the only colonial governor to side with the patriots during the American Revolution, and continued as the American Governor of Connecticut. See the complete list of the 50 states and their borders here. The settlers were Dutch, having arrived from New Netherlands (present day New York). The New Lights were in a precarious situation because they were not actually dissenters since they still attended the Congregational Church. With this fact also learn that Stamford, Connecticut is where the headquarters of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is located. [1], 29. Its three bordering statesareNew York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. The colony became a war zone between the English and . Connecticut is home of Samuel Colt, the inventor of the revolver. 1. Scoville Library in Salisbury, Connecticut, is the first free library that was open to the public in the United States. [4], 10. It was a place for Puritan noblemen. 277 Old Stamford Rd , New Canaan, CT 06840-6607 is a single-family home listed for-sale at $3,695,000. Black bears, bobcats, fishers, muskrats, and white-tailed deer are among Connecticuts many mammals. No Republican presidential nominee had won Connecticut since 1988 when George H.W. The weather made it difficult for disease to thrive, unlike in the Southern Colonies where the heat often helped diseases to spread rapidly. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut remained in place until the U.S Constitution was ratified. And in 2003, Massachusetts became the first state to legalize gay marriages.[32]. The people could not do farming because the soil was infertile. This is our collection of basic interesting facts about Massachusetts Colony. Geography Connecticut Colony was located in New England. [23], 40. miles (source: 2003 Census) . Maple Sugar Madness. Rhode Island is the smallest US state. During its more than 50 years as a penitentiary, well over 800 prisoners had served time there, including four women.[29]. During the American Revolutionary War, the Anglicans often remained loyal to the crown while the others did not. Noah Webster, the author of the first American English dictionary was born in West Hartford, Connecticut on 16th October 1758. Connecticut was once known as the Arsenal of the Nation. The nickname mainly originates from the fact that during the 19th and 20th century, the state was home to many companies that manufactured firearms including Volcanic Repeating Arms Company, Sturm Ruger, Joslyn Firearms and Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Yale University was the first school in the United States to offer a PhD. The Capital was Relocated to Annapolis. Facts about Connecticut 1. 7. In 1687, Governor Andros led a company of soldiers from Boston to Connecticut and ordered that they surrender their charter. In the New England Colonies, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire became states in 1788, and Rhode Island became a state in 1790. In 1638, he gave a sermon that inspired the River Towns to develop the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, the first written constitution in America. In Connecticut's moderate climate, the average January temperature is around 26 F (3 C), and most of the state receives about 35 to 45 inches (890 to 1,145 mm) of snow each year. [19], 34. The history of China can be traced back, Facts about American History talk about the famous historical events that happened in United States in the past. John Winthrop Jr. or John Winthrop the Younger was the first Governor of Saybrook Colony. The Connecticut Colony climate was the same as the other New England Colonies which included long cold winters and mild summers. Andros came down and confronted the assembly that was gathered in Hartford. White Oak is the official state tree of Connecticut Cool facts about Connecticut. American History Central also displays ads from third-party networks. The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut, originally known as the River Colony, was an English colony located in North America that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. Connecticut was given a portion of Long Island, which allowed the English population of the colony to grow and expand. The commanding officers for the patriots were General David Wooster and General Benedict Arnold. By Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh Fast Facts Nickname: The Constitution State Statehood: 1788; 5th state Population (as of July 2015): 3,590,886. Minnetonka, MN: Bellweather Media,2013. After the era of the Commonwealth under Oliver Cromwell had passed, Charles II took the throne. Old Newgate Prison. Yale University is located in New Haven, CT. Estuaries are bodies of water where rivers meet the sea. All Rights Reserved. As of 2020 the town had a population of 61,512. Apparently, the king of England did not appreciate the independence the colony had and had used to conduct their business. Connecticut (nicknamed: the Constitution State, the Nutmeg State, the Provisions State) has 8counties. Connecticut started in 1636 and developed the first written constitution in America, the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. Bridgeport is the most populous city in Connecticut. Nicknames given to Connecticut over the years include the Constitution State, the Nutmeg State, the Land of Steady Habits, and the Provisions State. Roger Sherman went on to represent Connecticut in the First U.S. Congress and later the U.S. Senate. Date Granted King Charles II granted Letters Patent to John Winthrop and a group of businessmen in a charter on April 23, 1662. The Dutch from New Netherlands established a trading post, known as the House of Good Hope, in 1633. The winters were broken up by long, hot summers. As a result, they're made up of both salt water and fresh water. Rhode Island is the smallest state in size in the United States. Boasting world-famous architecture, unique cuisine, & a vibrant culture, the Windy City is sure to blow you away. Between 1636 and 1637 the Pequot War was fought between the settlers of the Connecticut Colony and the Pequot Indians. Famous inventions from Connecticut include the can opener, submarine, and the telephone book. New York City receives 15 times more snow than the South Pole every year. The 80-food Great Dune is the state's highest. The war effectively ended the Pequot tribes dominance and offered up additional land for English settlement. 100 Interesting Facts That Will Amaze You, The word "Connecticut" is from anglicized spellings of "quononoquett," a Mohegan-Pequot word for "long tidal river.". Connecticut colony would join with the other New England Colonies at the Second Continental Congress and declare freedom from Britain. Two years later, in 1638, another colony was established New Haven Colony. Bristol, Connecticut, is referred to as "Mum City," USA, because of the large number of chrysanthemums that grow there. The Connecticut Colony, like other New England Colonies, was an exporter of rum. Five years later Connecticut ratified, or signed, the U.S. Constitution, becoming the fifth U.S. state. The 13 colonies that declared independence from Great Britain included Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, North Carolina, New York, Virginia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut, Georgia, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. 4. Lollipops were originally soft rather than hard. Yale University granted the first medical degree in the United States in 1723. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, which date back to 1639 and are widely regarded as one of the earliest examples of a written constitution anywhere in the world, were penned by Connecticuts founders. The state flag has three grape vines on it that stand for the original three settlements. It had the mild and short summer. 13. The creators behind American History Central are historians, developers, and website specialists who have built multiple digital encyclopedias. The Connecticut Witch Trials took place between 1647 and 1697, however, there is no record of accused witches being executed after 1663. The first person executed for witchcraft in the American colonies was Alse Young who was hanged in 1647 in Hartford, Connecticut. Near the coast, the lowlands were covered with hills. Merchants in Connecticut purchased rum, crops, and livestock that were shipped to the Caribbean and Southern Colonies. As early as the year 1614, Dutch merchants had already erected a fort and trading station in the region. In 1776 Connecticuts representatives signed the Declaration of Independence along with representatives from the other American colonies. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut, originally known as the Connecticut River Colony or simply the River Colony, was an English colony in New England which later became Connecticut.It was organized on March 3, 1636 as a settlement for a Puritan congregation, and the English permanently gained control of the region in 1637 after struggles with the Dutch. In 1614 a Dutchman named Adriaen Block became the first explorer of the Connecticut Valley. 1. With a total of 10,565 square miles (27,337 . [1,2,31], 2. [22], 37. Nearly 60 percent of Connecticut is covered in woodland, so its no wonder forests are one of the states top natural resources, providing lumber, firewood, and even maple syrup. Of the fun facts about Connecticut, this is out of the ordinary. Unlike the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Connecticut did not require everyone to be a member of a particular church to vote. Maryland Colony Facts. For additional information refer to the The name "Connecticut" comes from a Native American word, quinatucquet, roughly meaning "beside the long tidal river." The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut remained in place until the U.S Constitution was ratified. Mark Twain, an American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer, wrote his famous adventure of Huckleberry Finn while in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1645, the towns of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield united to form the River Colony. Hooker led 100 settlers with 130 heads of cattle to the banks of the Connecticut River where he set up the colony of Hartford. [7], 30. They did so in the state of Connecticut. Corn and rye were used to distill rum. Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut was one of the only colonial governors to side with the patriots during the American Revolution. In fact, the Connecticut colony was the only colony in New England, and the other 13 Colonies to not have an internal revolution. Bear Mountain in Salisbury in the northwest corner of the state is the highest peak in the state. The colony swiftly developed and prospered, and King Charles II granted it a royal charter in 1662. In the late 1630s, the settlements of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield began. Each episode is an animated rap music video focusing on the big cities, history, landmarks, and significant geographical areas of each state. Once it was dark candles were lit, however unbeknown to Andros the colonists had devised a plan to take the charter. The Connecticut Colony was classified as one of the New England Colonies. In 1639 The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were written, which are believed to have formed the U.S. Constitution's basis. MLS # 170551750 Iron ore was found in the hills near Litchfield, which led to the development of furnaces to purify the ore so it could be used for metalworking. As of 2021, Vermont's population sits at around 645,000. In the northwest, however, the average snowfall exceeds 75 inches (1,900 mm). The state is named after the Connecticut River, which bisects the state and is a major river in the U.S. The first permanent English settlement was established at Wethersfield in 1634. Connecticut was officially founded in 1636 when a group of Puritans, led by Thomas Hooker, left Massachusetts and established a settlement at present-day Hartford. At the time, New England was actually four colonies: Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Have. 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT 06105. As the colony grew and flourished, the economy shifted to produce for distant markets, and the colony became an important center of trade and business in the region. In 2008, the Supreme court legalized marriages between the individuals of the same sex. Interesting Connecticut Colony Facts: The Connecticut Colony was founded by Puritans and there was no tolerance for other religions. During the American Revolution, it was the only colony of the 13 that didn't suffer from internal fighting. [27], 24. They bought the land that they settled from the natives. This is our collection of basic interesting facts about Connecticut Colony. 4. Hartford: Mark Twain's house The famous Revolutionary War traitor, Benedict Arnold, was born in the town of Norwich, Connecticut, in 1741. Founded: 1636 by Thomas Hooker and others, at Hartford Major Industry: Agriculture (wheat, corn, fishing) Major Cities: Hartford, New Haven. Overview Statistics And Facts About Connecticut Capital: Hartford Population: 3.61 Million (29th Populous State in the U.S) Land Area: 5,567 sq mi / 14,357 km (48th Largest in the U.S) Nickname: The Constitution State Abbreviation: CT Statehood: January 9, 1788 (5th U.S State) And later the U.S. Constitution, becoming the fifth U.S. state were written, bisects. Younger was the same as the House of Good Hope, in 1633 bordering statesareNew York, Rhode is! 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