Connecticut: The Constitution State

Connecticut: The Constitution State book cover — ENCYCLOPÆDIA Britannica DISCOVER AMERICA Connecticut The Constitution State CHICAGO LONDON NEW DELHI PARIS SEOUL SYDNEY TAIPEI TOKYO

Connecticut: The Constitution State — page 1 — 4 CONNECTICUT Fruits and vegetables are among the crops grown in Connecticut Connecticut was one of the original 13 states On Jan 9 1788 it became the fifth state to enter the Union The sperm whale was chosen as Connecticut’s official state animal in 1975 During the 1800s Connecticut was ranked second only to Massachusetts in the nation’s whaling industry Whales were caught and their oil was used in lamps and other products Today the sperm whale is an endangered species INTRODUCTION Connecticut is one of six New England states located in the northeastern corner of the United States Despite being the third smallest state in the country Connecticut has much to offer The state is a perfect combination of old and new It is a place where busy seaports blend into magnificent coastal views and where bustling cities are supported by colonial architecture In the countryside autumn leaves provide a vibrant backdrop for the state’s many white-steepled churches Connecticut’s beauty is quite breathtaking Since Connecticut is believed to have the world’s first written constitution it is not surprising that its official nickname is the Constitution State In the 1700s and 1800s Connecticut Yankee peddlers traveled across the country with horse-drawn carts that were filled with various items for sale Some Connecticut Yankee peddlers reportedly sold small wood-carved nutmegs in place of real nutmegs and so Connecticut also became known as the Nutmeg State White-steepled churches dot the Connecticut countryside

Connecticut: The Constitution State — page 2 — INTRODUCTION 5 Connecticut is the southernmost state in New England It is bordered by Massachusetts to the north New York to the west Long Island Sound to the south and Rhode Island to the east Connecticut is linked by an extensive highway system Vehicles can whisk through the state in less than two hours Connecticut is also within a few hours drive of major cities such as New York and Boston Among the major highways is Interstate 95 which runs along Long Island Sound Interstate 91 heads north all the way through New England and up to Canada The eastern section of Interstate 84 is known as the Yankee Expressway Connecticut’s many airports help connect it to the rest of the world Bradley International Airport located north of Hartford is the state’s major airport The Metro-North Railroad carries thousands of passengers each day to New York City and locations across Connecticut The Merritt Parkway was built in the 1930s The highway was designed to emphasize the pleasure of driving Connecticut Location Map Connecticut has more than 19,000 miles of highway and more than 600 miles of railroad track Native Americans originally named the area of Hartford Saukiog It was renamed Hartford by the colonists in 1637 after Hertford England The curving tree-lined Merritt Parkway is considered to be one of the most scenic highways in the nation Scale Capital Hartford Interstate highways Mi 0 10 20 0 16 32 Km Population 3,405,565 Size 5,006 square miles Highest peak Mount Frissell 2,380 feet

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