Governor:

Dannel P. Malloy

Capital:

Hartford

Area:

5,543 square miles, ranks 48th of 50 U.S. states

Population:

3,502,309 (2007)

Settled:

1633, one of the 13 original colonies

Counties/Towns:

8/169

Regions:

Fairfield: 30 miles of beautiful coastline, rolling hills and picturesque New England countryside. It's a place where the shore, country and city come together to create a unique getaway destination to discover.

Mystic Country: Is an exciting and colorful destination blending the tranquility of classic New England seascapes and scenic rolling hills with rich cultural heritage and sophisticated, top-flight entertainment being home to the largest resort casino in the world, Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Litchfield Hills: The town of Litchfield is set amid the rolling Litchfield Hills, foothills of the Berkshire Mountains that provide a vibrantly colorful backdrop for autumn activities. Litchfield melds both history and cosmopolitan flair.

New Haven: The Greater New Haven area offers visitors an array of exciting arts and culture, wonderful accommodations, fine restaurants, shopping, meeting facilities, beaches, boat excursions and much more.

River Valley: Connecticut's River Valley offers visitors big-city sophistication, along with the charms and splendors of the New England countryside: sparkling rivers and shoreline, centuries of history and culture, and an endless array of interesting sights to enjoy.

Nicknames:

The Constitution State (informally, Nutmeg State or Land of Steady Habits)

Native American Name:

Quinnehtukqut (Beside the Long Tidal River)

State Motto:

Qui Transtulit Sustinet (He who transplanted still sustains)

State Gem:

Garnet

State Flower:

Mountain Laurel

State Tree:

Charter Oak

State Bird:

American Robin

State Animal:

Sperm Whale

State Insect:

Praying Mantis

State Shellfish:

Eastern Oyster

State Fish:

Shad

State Song:

"Yankee Doodle"

State Ship:

USS Nautilus (SSN571)

State Hero:

Nathan Hale

State Heroine:

Prudence Crandall

State Parks:

107, comprising 34,314 acres

State Forests:

32, comprising 170,636 acres

Length of Shoreline:

216 miles

Miles of Rivers & Streams:

12,148 miles

Number of Lakes & Ponds:

Approx. 3,568

Principal Rivers:

Connecticut, Housatonic, Thames, Naugatuck, Farmington

Highest Altitude:

Mt. Frissel, Salisbury at 2,380 ft.

Geographic Center:

East Berlin

Annual Precipitation:

42.85 inches

Number of Farms:

Approx. 4,200

Air Service:

60 commercial and private airports, scheduled service from Bradley International in Windsor Locks, 15 miles north of Hartford; also from airports in New Haven, Groton/New London and Bridgeport.

Commercial Heliports:

9

Rail Service:

AMTRAK’s Northeast Regional runs along the coast with links to New Haven and Hartford lines, and includes the
AMTRAK Acela high-speed service; and Metro-North, with branches serving New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury

Interstates:

Principal routes - I-84 (East and West), I-91(North and South), I-95 (East and West) and I-395 (North and South)

Principal Industries:

Insurance (95 companies); manufacturing (jet engines, nuclear submarines, helicopters, plastics); tourism; electronics, high technology, pharmaceuticals and biotech

Universities:

48, including the University of Connecticut, Yale University, Wesleyan University, Trinity College and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy