91 Connecticut Facts And Weird Laws

By Sabrina E.
Published on

Connecticut occupies the southernmost region of New England. Known as the Constitution State, Connecticut was key to forming the United States. 

Connecticut’s museums are rich in United States history and the state’s cultural heritage.

Whether you want to explore the scenic lakes, crashing waterfalls, or lush forests, Connecticut has everything you may need.

Learn more about the state with our interesting Connecticut facts before planning your next trip. 

Do you love hamburgers? Well, Connecticut is the birthplace of your favorite sandwiches.

Let’s dive in.

Best Fun Facts About Connecticut

  1. New Haven, Connecticut, is home to the US’s first telephone directory.
  2. Mary Kies from Connecticut was the first woman to receive a US patent.
  3. Connecticut is the birthplace of lollipops.
  4. Connecticut was the first to have an automobile speed limit.
  5. Connecticut was the first state to issue permanent license plates.
  6. The Hartford Courant is the oldest functioning newspaper in the country.

Connecticut Facts—Politics And Government 

  1. Connecticut is a Democratic Party stronghold. No Republican presidential nominee had won Connecticut since 1988 when George H.W. Bush carried the state.
  2. The Democratic Party is the state’s largest voter registration, with 37% registered voters. The Connecticut Republican Party follows with 20% voters.
  3. In Connecticut, a candidate may appear on a different party’s ballot. The state permits electoral fusion.
  4. Connecticut is the “Constitution State.” The state was critical to the nation’s Constitution. 
  5. The governor (Ned Lamont) heads the executive branch of government.
  6. Ella Grasso became the only woman to be a governor in any state of the country without succeeding her husband.
  7. Voters elect all six executive officials. They include governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, secretary of state, and treasurer.
  8. The Connecticut legislature has 36 senators and 151 representatives.
  9. All five members of the US House of Representatives from Connecticut are Democrats.
  10. Both Connecticut’s  US Senators are Democrats.
  11. The Connecticut Supreme Court is the top court in the state.
  12. Connecticut is the only state other than Rhode Island that doesn’t have counties.
  13. The SustiNet is the nation’s first crucial public option health care reform. Connecticut passed the legislation in 2009.
  14. In 2012, Connecticut abolished capital punishment, but this bill didn’t work for the 11 inmates on death row at the time.

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Connecticut Facts—History

Image: Naval Encyclopedia 
  1. Connecticut’s name originated from the Native American word meaning “long tidal river” for Connecticut River.
  2. The first inhabitants in Connecticut occupied this region as early as 10,000 years ago.
  3. Several Native American people inhabited present-day Connecticut.
  4. Adriaen Block, the Dutchman, is the first European to explore Connecticut.
  5. Windsor and Wethersfield served as the first settlement for the European settlers.
  6. Thomas Hooker led the Puritans from Massachusetts Bay Colony into the region. He founded the Connecticut Colony. 
  7. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut is the nation’s first Constitution document.
  8. The Pequot War was the first primary battle in New England between Native Americans and the colonial power.
  9. Yale College was founded in 1701. Yale University gave the first medical diploma.
  10. Wethersfield is home to the Connecticut Colony’s first vessel, the Tryall.
  11. The state’s first lighthouse was built in 1760 near the Thames River.
  12. Four of the delegates who signed the Declaration of Independence were from Connecticut.
  13. The State of Connecticut was home to the Turtle, which launched the first-ever submarine attack during the American Revolution.
  14. Connecticut was essential during the American Revolutionary War.
  15. Connecticut ratified the United States Constitution and joined the Union in 1788 as the 5th state.
  16. Connecticut had two capitals between 1703 and 1875–Hartford and New Haven.
  17. Connecticut was home to James H. Ward. The first naval officer to die during the Civil War.
  18. Connecticut was one of the key suppliers of weapons to the US military during World War I and II.
  19. The state supplied battleships to the US Navy during World War I and World War II.
  20. The State of Connecticut is home to the first untethered helicopter flight.
  21. The Igor Sikorsky factory remained the state’s single largest manufacturing plant in the 21st century.
  22. Connecticut was home to the US first statehouse. The state capitol building was constructed in 1788.

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Connecticut Facts—Geography

Credits: Unsplash
  1. Connecticut State is the 3rd smallest state with 5,567 square miles.
  2. The Constitution State is in the Southern portion of New England. Connecticut forms the Tri-state with New Jersey and New York.
  3. Connecticut shares its borders with Massachusetts, Long Island Sound, New York, and Rhode Island.
  4. Hartford is the state capital of Connecticut.
  5. Bear Mountain of Salisbury in Northwestern  Connecticut is the state’s high point.
  6. Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York meet on Mountain Frissell.
  7. Connecticut lacks a direct oceanfront though it’s rich in maritime history.
  8. Coastal Connecticut lies in the Long Island Sound estuary.

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Connecticut River. Credits: Unsplash
  1. The Connecticut River emptied into the Long Island Sound.
  2. Connecticut River Valley is home to the state’s most populated metropolitan area.
  3. The Litchfield Hills region has horse farms and rolling mountains.
  4. The eastern region of New Haven has beaches, coastal marshes, and maritime activities.
  5. Small towns and rural areas occupy Northwestern and Northeastern Connecticut.
  6. Coastal highways have industrial cities, including New Haven, Stamford, and Bridgeport.
  7. Historical symbols of New England are in the Green. The symbols include a white church and a colonial tavern.
  8. The Southwick Jog (or Granby North) marks the state’s boundary with Massachusetts.
  9. A panhandle marks the state’s southwestern boundary.
  10. Northern Connecticut has cold winters, mild snowfall, and hot summers.
  11. Coastal and Southern Connecticut has cool winters, rare snow, and hot summers.
  12. Connecticut has an average of 100 days of Sunshine in a year.
  13. Hurricane Carol, New England Hurricane, Hurricane Sandy, and Hurricane Isaias are some of the hurricanes that hit Connecticut.

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Connecticut Facts—Animals And Plants Life

  1. The Mountain Laurel is the state flower of Connecticut. This flower thrives in low ridges across the state.
  2. Rosebay Rhododendron is common In the State’s eastern uplands. Pachaug State Forest houses the Rhododendron Sanctuary Trail.
  3. Atlantic White Cedar grows in Southern Connecticut.
  4. Connecticut is also home to wildflowers and beach grasses.
  5. Charter Oak is the state tree of Connecticut.
  6. Some communities in Coastal Connecticut cultivate Sabal minor, needle palms, crape myrtles, and southern magnolia.
  7. The sperm whale is the state animal of Connecticut.
  8. Connecticut is home to coyotes, snowshoe hares, badgers, white-tailed deer, black bears, red foxes, and long-tailed weasels.
  9. The Bald Eagle, Barn Owl, and Sperm whale are some of the most endangered animals in this state.
Credits: Unsplash
  1. The American Robin is the state bird of Connecticut.
  2. Connecticut is home to 14 snake species, including the common garter snake, timber rattlesnake, and copperhead snake.
  3. The American Shad is the state fish of Connecticut.

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Connecticut Facts—Demographics

  1. Connecticut is the 29th largest state in the US, with over 3,605,944 people.
  2. Bridgeport is the largest city in Connecticut by population.
  3. The other major cities in Connecticut are New Haven, Stamford, Hartford, and Waterbury.
Groton. Credits: Unsplash
  1. Connecticut has the 4th highest population density in the US–738 people per square mile.
  2. Around 70% of the residents of Connecticut are Christians by affiliation.
  3. Whites are the dominant racial composition in the state. Over 70% of the state’s population are whites.
  4. Connecticut has the highest Puerto Rican population in the US.
  5. Around 77% of the residents speak English as the only language for communication.

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Connecticut Facts—Economy

Credits: Unsplash
  1. Connecticut ranked 20th in long-term fiscal stability with healthcare(3), education(6), and crime & corrections(6) as its key attributes.
  2. Connecticut was once home to the nation’s highest per capita income – $79,087 in 2019.
  3. Connecticut has the third-highest number of millionaires per capita in the nation (Phoenix Marketing International, 2018).
  4. New Canaan is wealthier than other towns in the state. Hartford municipality is the poorest in the state.
  5. Connecticut Department of Revenue Services and local municipalities collect the state’s taxes.
  6. Connecticut ranked 7th in the nation’s home foreclosure activity in 2019.  
  7. Finance, Real Estate, and Insurance are Connecticut’s chief industries.
  8. Connecticut is home to the Electric Boat industry, which manufactures submarines.
  9. Gun manufacturing industries in Connecticut have been key to the state’s economy.
  10. Tourism is a major sector in Connecticut. Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino are two of the most visited places in the state.
  11. Connecticut’s agricultural sector produces shellfish, nursery stock, milk, fruit, eggs, tobacco, and vegetables.
  12. Connecticut is the only state that uses less energy to make one dollar of GDP other than Massachusetts, California, and New York.
  13. Connecticut doesn’t have fossil fuels but boasts renewable resources.
  14. The 12 miles per hour speed limit in Connecticut was the first automobile law in the nation.

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Famous Locations in Connecticut

Credits: Your Dream School
  1. Mystic Seaport in Mystic is a historic site rich in collections, including the world’s remaining wooden whaling ship–Charles W. Morgan.
  2. Yale University Museum in New Haven is home to the Peabody Museum of Natural History and the Yale University Art Gallery.
  3. The Mystic Aquarium allows you to explore ocean animals.
  4. Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam, is the home of William Hooker Gillette, the Sherlock Holmes. 
  5. Mark Twain House & Museum is Simon and Olivia Clemens’s home.
  6. Lake Compounce Theme Park is the nation’s oldest open amusement park.
  7. Wadsworth Atheneum, in Hartford, is the nation’s oldest free public museum.
  8. The Submarine Force Museum is on the Thames River. It is home to the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus.
  9. Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center is where you visit to learn Native American history.
  10. New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, houses an impressive collection of aircraft engines.

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Famous People From Connecticut 

  • Charles Down, the founder of Wall Street Journal, was born in Sterling, Connecticut.
  • Igor Ivanovich Sikorsky, the first person to fly a practical helicopter, lived and died in Easton, Connecticut.
  • Roger Sherman, the least-known US founding father, lived and died in New Haven, Connecticut.
Roger Sherman is second from the left, next to John Adams in the famous painting “Declaration of Independence”.
  • Richard Smith, the politician, was born in Danbury, Connecticut.
  • Noah Webster, the author of Webster’s Dictionary, was born in Hartford, Connecticut.
  • Meg Ryan, the actress, was born in Fairfield, Connecticut.
  • Karen Carpenter, the singer, was born in New Haven, Connecticut.

Common Misconceptions About Connecticut

Here are some of the misleading stereotypes people have about Connecticut.

There is no Spring in Connecticut

Connecticut actually has four seasons like most states.

Everyone is leaving Connecticut 

No, Connecticut has one of the highest population densities in the nation. 

Connecticuters pay high taxes

Credits: Pinterest

Yes, there are high taxes, but seven other states charge higher, including Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Minnesota.

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Weird Laws in Connecticut 

Here are our top 10 strange laws in Connecticut. Read the Craziest Laws in the United States, if you want more.

  1. You may not keep liquor and town records in the same place.
  2. You may not play scrabble when you are waiting for a politician’s address in Atwoodville.
  3. A prickle is not a prickle until it bounces.
  4. You may not walk backwards after sunset in Devon.
  5. In Hartford, it’s illegal to walk on your hands to cross a road.
  6. Silly string is unlawful in Southington.
  7. An arcade in Rocky Hill should have four (or fewer) amusement devices.
  8. In Meriden, you may find yourself in trouble for using a bean whistle in public.
  9. In Waterbury, a beautician shouldn’t hum, sing or whistle while working. 
  10. It’s illegal to educate dogs.
Image: Pinterest

Final Thoughts

Connecticut is a fantastic place filled with history and culture. There are several things to do in Connecticut, from indoors to outdoor activities. 

Connecticut has produced some of the brightest minds globally, including President George W. Bush.

What is the most interesting Connecticut fact you learned about Connecticut today?

Connecticut Stats And Facts

CapitalHartford
Population2020 (3,605,944)
GovernorNed Lamont (Democratic Party)
Date Of AdmissionJanuary 9, 1788
U.S. SenatorsRichard Blumenthal(D)
Chris Murphy(D)
US House of Representatives5 (of 435 Seats) 
State NicknameConstitution StateNutmeg StateLand of Steady HabitsProvision State
State Motto“Qui Transtulit Sustinet, ” “He Who Transplanted Still Sustains”
State Song“Yankee Doodle, ” by Francis Hopkinson
State FlowerMountain Laurel
State FishAmerican Shad
State BirdAmerican Robin
State TreeCharter Oak
State AnimalSperm Whale
State InsectPraying Mantis
State MineralAlmandine garnet
State ShellfishEastern Oyster
State FossilEubrontes
Neighbor StatesNew York Massachusetts Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Connecticut famous for?

  • Noah Webster.
  • The first dictionary.
  • Mark Twain House.
  • Connecticut Town.
  • Scoville Memorial Library.
  • Louis Lunch.
  • Mark Twain scrapbook.

What are the 13 interesting facts about Connecticut?

  1. Connecticut is home to the first public art museum.
  2. Connecticut is home to the first dictionary.
  3. Mary Kies from Connecticut was the first woman to earn a US patent. 
  4. Connecticut’s Hartford Courant is the nation’s oldest published newspaper.
  5. New Haven, Connecticut, was the birthplace of George Washington. 
  6. New Haven became a city in 1784.
  7. Connecticut is home to the nation’s oldest steam-powered cider mill–B.F Clyde’s Cider Mill.
  8. Connecticut is the birthplace of hamburgers.
  9. Orange, Connecticut, boasts the tallest PEZ dispenser in the world.
  10. Connecticut is home to some of the world’s oldest pizzerias. 
  11. Connecticut is home to Roger Sherman–the only one to sign all the four important US papers, including the Constitution, Articles of Confederation, Declaration of Independence, and  Continental Association.
  12. The Connecticut state insect is the praying mantis.
  13. Southwick Jog lies in the Connecticut–Massachusetts border.

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References

[1] https://www.history.com/.amp/topics/us-states/connecticut

[2] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mammals_of_Connecticut

[3] https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/connecticut-population

[4] https://www.attractionsofamerica.com/attractions/connecticut.php

[5] https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/connecticut

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Editor
Sabrina E.
Sabrina is a former campaign manager who has decided to focus her effort to help people contact senators and get help. She leads our Editorial Team with Ronald and Lawrence to curate content and resources that help us navigate the system.

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