Downtown

Hartford is the capital of Connecticut and the historic seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. As of the 2010 Census , Hartford's population was 124,775, [1] making it Connecticut's fourth-largest city after the coastal cities of Bridgeport , New Haven , and Stamford .

Nicknamed the "Insurance Capital of the World", Hartford houses many insurance company headquarters , and insurance remains the region's major industry. [2] Founded in 1637, Hartford is among the oldest cities in the United States . Hartford is home to the nation's oldest public art museum, the Wadsworth Atheneum ; the oldest publicly funded park, Bushnell Park ; the oldest continuously published newspaper, The Hartford Courant ; the second-oldest secondary school, Hartford Public ; Trinity College , an elite, private liberal arts college, and the Mark Twain House where the author wrote his most famous works and raised his family, among other historically significant attractions. In 1868, resident Mark Twain wrote, "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief." [3]

Following the American Civil War , Hartford was the richest city in the United States for several decades. [4] Today, Hartford is one of the poorest cities in the nation with 3 out of every 10 families living below the poverty line . [5] In sharp contrast, the Hartford metropolitan area is ranked 32nd of 318 metropolitan areas in total economic production [6] and 7th out of 280 metropolitan statistical areas in per capita income . Highlighting the socio-economic disparity between Hartford and its suburbs, 83% of Hartford's jobs are filled by commuters from neighboring towns who earn over $80,000, while 75% of Hartford residents who commute to work in other towns earn just $40,000. [7]

Contents

The Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Arch was designed by Hartford architect George Keller, and was dedicated in 1886, –the anniversary of the Battle of Antietam–to honor the 4,000 Hartford citizens who served in the Civil War, and the 400 who died for the Union. Bushnell Park Foundation volunteer Arch Guides offer…

Did you know that there's a vintage 1914 Stein and Goldstein carousel in Bushnell Park? Of course you did. But, did you know that it reopened? IT HAS! For just $1.00, you get a 3 1/2 minute ride that can blur your worries, trick you into feeling young and enlarge the eyes…

Majorca's mission is to present the best, freshest, local ingredients into an innovative cuisine, paired with wines from Spain, California and other parts of the […]

Bushnell Park
Bushnell Park, Hartford, CT 06103
“An opening in the heart of the city… a place where children play… a place for holiday scenes and celebrations… a place of life and motion that will make us more completely conscious of being one people.” – The Rev. Horace Bushnell,1853.

Mortensen Riverfront Plaza
Riverfront Plaza, Hartford, CT 06106

Elizabeth Park
Elizabeth Park, Hartford, CT 06105

Notable Trees of the Institute
200 Retreat Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
Fredrick Law Olmstead designed the grounds at the Institute. He also designed Central Park. “Within a relatively small space, perhaps the greatest concentration of historic trees in Connecticut.” – Ed Richardson, Connecticut Botanical Society.

Riverside Park
Riverside Park, Hartford, CT 06120

Charter Oak Landing
Address: Charter Oak Landing, Hartford, CT 06106

Colt Park
Colt Park, Hartford, CT 06103

Goodwin Park
Goodwin Park, Hartford, CT 06114

Keney Park
Keney Park, Hartford, CT 06112
You can picnic, hike, play golf, play cricket, or just plain play…

Pope Park
Address: Pope Park, Hartford, CT 06106