History of Connecticut in Timeline

Connecticut is a state located in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. Bordered by Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York, it also has a coastline along Long Island Sound. Hartford is the capital, while Bridgeport is the most populous city. Situated along the Northeast Corridor between New York City and Boston, Connecticut is the third-smallest state by area but ranks fourth in population density, with over 3.6 million residents. Four of its seven largest cities are part of the New York-Newark Combined Statistical Area.

1912: New Haven Railroad Operations

By 1912, the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad operated over 2,000 miles of track and had 120,000 employees.

1914: Connecticut becomes a major weaponry supplier

In 1914, with the start of World War I, Connecticut became a major supplier of weaponry to the U.S. military.

June 21, 1916: Groton Becomes Submarine Base

On June 21, 1916, the U.S. Navy designated Groton as the site for its East Coast submarine base and school.

1917: Connecticut supports American war effort

In 1917, Connecticut enthusiastically supported the American war effort with war bonds, industrial expansion, and increased food production.

1918: Connecticut industries produce for the war effort

By 1918, 80% of Connecticut's industries were producing goods for the war effort. Remington Arms produced half the small-arms cartridges used by the U.S. Army.

1918: Connecticut supports American war effort

In 1918, Connecticut enthusiastically supported the American war effort with war bonds, industrial expansion, and increased food production.

1918: Native-born Americans population in Connecticut

In 1918, native-born Americans had accounted for 35% of the state's population.

1919: Connecticut Light & Power Co. founded

In 1919, J. Henry Roraback started the Connecticut Light & Power Co., which became the state's dominant electric utility.

1925: Pratt & Whitney Creation

In 1925, Frederick Rentschler spurred the creation of Pratt & Whitney in Hartford to develop engines for aircraft.

1926: Hartford Blues in NFL

In 1926, Hartford had a franchise in the National Football League known as the Hartford Blues.

September 21, 1938: New England Hurricane Strikes Connecticut

On September 21, 1938, the most destructive storm in New England history struck eastern Connecticut, killing hundreds and causing extensive damage.

1938: 1938 New England hurricane impacts Connecticut

In 1938, the New England hurricane impacted the state.

May 13, 1940: First Practical Helicopter Flight

On May 13, 1940, Igor Sikorsky made an untethered flight of the first practical helicopter.

1940: Non-Hispanic whites population in Connecticut

In 1940, non-Hispanic whites were 98% of the population in Connecticut.

February 16, 1943: Record low temperature observed in Falls Village

On February 16, 1943, the lowest temperature recorded in Connecticut was −32 °F (−36 °C) in Falls Village.

1952: Prescott Bush in U.S. Senate

In 1952, Prescott Bush began representing Connecticut in the U.S. Senate.

1952: PGA Tour Golf Tournament Started

Since 1952, a PGA Tour golf tournament has been played in the Hartford area, originally called the "Insurance City Open" and later the "Greater Hartford Open".

1954: Hurricane Carol impacts Connecticut

In 1954, Hurricane Carol impacted the state.

1959: Connecticut "The Constitution State"

In 1959, Connecticut officially adopted the nickname "The Constitution State", based on its colonial constitution of 1638–1639.

1960: County Governments Mostly Eliminated

In 1960, Connecticut county governments were mostly eliminated, with the exception of sheriffs elected in each county.

January 22, 1961: Record low temperature observed in Coventry

On January 22, 1961, the lowest temperature recorded in Connecticut was −32 °F (−36 °C) in Coventry.

1963: Prescott Bush leaves U.S. Senate

In 1963, Prescott Bush completes his time representing Connecticut in the U.S. Senate.

1965: Current State Constitution Implemented

In 1965, Connecticut implemented its current state constitution. This constitution absorbed a majority of the 1818 predecessor but incorporated a handful of important modifications to the government structure.

1965: Connecticut Ratifies New Constitution

In 1965, Connecticut ratified its current constitution, replacing the document that had served since 1818.

1968: Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant Opens

In 1968, commercial operation began for the Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in Haddam.

1970: Millstone Nuclear Power Station Begins Operations

In 1970, the Millstone Nuclear Power Station began operations in Waterford.

1973: Southern New England Ice Storm

In 1973, the Southern New England ice storm occurred.

1974: Ella Grasso Elected Governor

In 1974, Ella Grasso was elected as the governor of Connecticut, marking the first time in United States history a woman was a governor without her husband being governor first.

1975: Hartford Whalers Arrive

In 1975, the Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League started playing in Hartford.

1982: Unemployment Rate Tracking

Connecticut began tracking unemployment rate in 1982.

1988: Last Republican Presidential Victory

In 1988, George H. W. Bush was the last Republican presidential candidate to win Connecticut's votes in the Electoral College.

1988: Toll Removal

In 1988, tolls were removed from I-95 and Route 15 in Connecticut due to a series of major crashes at toll plazas.

1990: Lowell Weicker Elected Governor

In 1990, the budget crisis resulting from Connecticut's dependence on the defense industry helped elect Lowell Weicker as governor.

1990: Shore Line East Commuter Line

Since 1990, coastal cities and towns between New Haven and New London are served by the Shore Line East commuter line.

1991: Investment-Only Income Tax System

Before 1991, Connecticut had an investment-only income tax system where income from investments was taxed at 13%, the highest rate in the U.S., while income from employment was untaxed.

1991: Tax System Change

In 1991, under Governor Lowell P. Weicker Jr., Connecticut's tax system was changed to equalize taxes on employment income and investment income at a maximum rate of 4%.

1992: Foxwoods Casino Opens

In 1992, construction was completed on Foxwoods Casino at the Mashantucket Pequots reservation in eastern Connecticut.

1993: Webster's Defines Connecticuter

According to Webster's New International Dictionary in 1993, a person who is a native or resident of Connecticut is a "Connecticuter".

July 15, 1995: Record High Temperature in Connecticut

On July 15, 1995, Connecticut's record high temperature of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in Danbury.

1997: Hartford Whalers Depart

In 1997, the Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League departed to Raleigh, North Carolina, after disputes with the state over the construction of a new arena.

2000: Languages spoken in Connecticut

As of 2000, 81.69% of Connecticut residents age 5 and older spoke English at home and 8.42% spoke Spanish.

2000: Lowest Unemployment Rate

Connecticut recorded its lowest unemployment rate between August and October 2000, at 2.2%.

2000: Jewish congregations in Connecticut

In 2000, Jewish congregations in Connecticut had 108,280 (3.2%) members.

2000: Al Gore Chose Joe Lieberman as his running mate

In 2000, presidential candidate Al Gore chose Senator Joe Lieberman as his running mate.

2000: Hartford FoxForce Founded

In 2000, the city of Hartford became home to the Hartford FoxForce of World TeamTennis.

2000: County Sheriff Abolished

In 2000, the county sheriff position in Connecticut was abolished and replaced with the state marshal system.

2000: Rural Population in Connecticut

In the 2000 census, only 12.3% of Connecticut's population was considered rural.

September 11, 2001: Connecticut Residents Killed in 9/11 Attacks

On September 11, 2001, 65 Connecticut residents were killed in the terrorist attacks, mostly Fairfield County residents working in the World Trade Center.

2001: Sales Tax Holiday

In 2001, Connecticut instituted an annual sales tax "holiday" each August lasting one week, during which retailers do not have to remit sales tax on certain items and quantities of clothing.

2002: UConn Football Joins FBS

In 2002, the UConn Huskies football team began playing in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

2004: Foreign-born population in Connecticut

As of 2004, 11.4% of Connecticut's population (400,000) was foreign-born.

2004: Governor John G. Rowland Resigns

In 2004, Republican Governor John G. Rowland resigned during a corruption investigation.

2004: UConn Wins Both Basketball Titles

In 2004, UConn became the first school in NCAA Division I history to have its men's and women's basketball programs win the national title in the same year.

2006: Bicycling Commuters

According to the U.S. Census 2006 American Community Survey, New Haven had the highest percentage of commuters who bicycle to work of any major metropolitan center on the East Coast.

2006: Hartford FoxForce Disbanded

In 2006, the Hartford FoxForce of World TeamTennis disbanded after playing in Hartford since 2000.

July 2009: SustiNet Passed

In July 2009, the Connecticut legislature overrode a veto by Governor M. Jodi Rell to pass SustiNet, which was the first significant public-option health care reform legislation in the nation.

December 2010: Unemployment Rate

The highest unemployment rate since 1982 occurred in November and December 2010, reaching 9.3% in Connecticut.

2010: Christian Denominations

In 2010, the largest Christian denominations in Connecticut by number of adherents were the Catholic Church with 1,252,936, the United Church of Christ with 96,506, and non-denominational Evangelical Protestants with 72,863.

2010: Largest ancestry groups in Connecticut

Since 2010, the largest ancestry groups in Connecticut were: Italian, Irish, English, German, Polish, French, French Canadian, American, Scottish, and Scotch Irish.

2010: Connecticut Population

The 2010 United States census recorded Connecticut's population.

April 2011: Marlin Closure

Marlin, owned by Remington, closed in April 2011.

July 1, 2011: Repeal of Clothing Sales Tax Exemption

As of July 1, 2011, a provision excluding clothing under $50 from sales tax was repealed in Connecticut.

2011: Minorities in Connecticut

As of 2011, 46.1% of Connecticut's population younger than age 1 were minorities.

2011: Hurricane Irene Strikes Connecticut

In 2011, Hurricane Irene struck Connecticut on August 28, causing $235 million in damage.

April 2012: Capital Punishment Abolished for Future Crimes

In April 2012, both houses of the Connecticut state legislature passed a bill that abolished capital punishment for all future crimes, while 11 inmates on death row at the time could still be executed.

December 14, 2012: Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting

On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza killed 26 people at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, spurring renewed efforts for gun control.

December 2012: Gun Manufacturing Firms

As of December 2012, Connecticut had four operating gun-manufacturing firms: Colt, Stag, Ruger, and Mossberg.

2012: State and Local Taxes

As of 2012, Connecticut residents had the second-highest rate in the nation of combined state and local taxes after New York, at 12.6% of income, compared to the national average of 9.9%, as reported by the Tax Foundation.

2012: Halloween Nor'easter and Hurricane Sandy Hit Connecticut

In 2012, Connecticut was hit by the "Halloween nor'easter" and Hurricane Sandy, causing extensive damage and power outages. Damage from Sandy totaled over $360 million.

2012: Hurricane Sandy impacts Connecticut

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy impacted the state.

2014: Religious affiliations in Connecticut

A 2014 Pew survey showed the following distribution of religious affiliations among Connecticut residents: Protestant 35%, Roman Catholic 33%, non-religious 28%, Jewish 3%, Mormonism 1%, Orthodox 1%, Jehovah's Witness 1%, Hinduism 1%, Buddhism 1% and Islam 1%.

2014: UConn Wins Both Basketball Titles Again

In 2014, UConn repeated the feat of 2004 and once again had its men's and women's basketball programs win the national title in the same year.

2014: Pew Survey

The 2014 Pew survey found Connecticut to be 40% Protestant and 28% Catholic. In contrast to the 2020 PRRI survey, it also found Jewish citizens to be 2% of the population and Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims to be 1% each.

March 28, 2015: CTfastrak Bus Rapid Transit Opens

On March 28, 2015, Connecticut Transit opened CTfastrak, a bus rapid transit service, to the public. This service operates between New Britain and Hartford and is an important part of the transportation system in Connecticut.

2015: COGs Recognized as County Equivalents

By 2015, the State of Connecticut recognized COGs (Councils of Government) as county equivalents, allowing them to apply for funding and grants made available to county governments in other states.

November 15, 2016: Severe Drought

As of November 15, 2016, 45% of Connecticut was listed at Severe Drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor.

2017: Property Taxes

According to the Tax Foundation, Connecticut residents paid the 3rd highest average property taxes in the nation on a per capita basis in the 2017 fiscal year.

2017: Agricultural Production

Connecticut's agricultural production totaled $580 million in 2017, with nursery stock production accounting for just over half of that revenue.

2017: UConn Women's Winning Streak Ends

In 2017, the UConn women's basketball team's record for the longest consecutive winning streak in NCAA college basketball ended at 111 games.

2017: Tourism Spending

Tourists spent $9.3 billion in Connecticut in 2017, with Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun being the biggest tourist draws.

June 2018: Hartford Line Commuter Rail Service

In June 2018, the Hartford Line commuter rail service began operating between New Haven and Springfield on Amtrak's New Haven-Springfield Line.

2018: Millionaires Per Capita

According to a 2018 study by Phoenix Marketing International, Connecticut had the third-largest number of millionaires per capita in the United States, with a ratio of 7.75%.

2018: Home Sales

In 2018, Connecticut had more single-family home sales than in 2019.

2018: Educational Performance Ranking

In 2018, Connecticut ranked third in the nation for educational performance, according to Education Week's Quality Counts report, with an overall score of 83.5 out of 100 points.

2018: Largest Industry

In 2018, finance, insurance, and real estate was Connecticut's largest industry as ranked by gross domestic product, generating $75.7 billion.

2018: Other Large Economic Components

In 2018, other large components of the Connecticut economy included wholesale trade, information services, retail, arts, entertainment and food services, and construction.

2018: Second Highest GDP

In 2018, the broad business and professional services sector had the second-highest GDP total in Connecticut at an estimated $33.7 billion.

2018: Top countries of origin for Connecticut immigrants

In 2018, the top countries of origin for Connecticut's immigrants were India, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Poland, and Ecuador.

July 2019: Valley Flyer Launch

In July 2019, Amtrak launched the Valley Flyer, which runs between New Haven and Greenfield, Massachusetts.

December 2019: Unemployment Rate

As of December 2019, Connecticut's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.8%, compared to the U.S. unemployment rate of 3.5% that month.

2019: Income Tax Rates

As of 2019, Connecticut's income tax rates on individuals were divided into seven tax brackets, ranging from 3% to 6.99% depending on income level.

2019: Hedge Fund Headquarters

As of 2019, Fairfield County was home to the headquarters for 16 of the 200 largest hedge funds in the world due to the tax policy change that drew investment firms to Connecticut.

2019: Largest Industry by Employment

At the end of 2019, the combined educational, health, and social services sector was the largest single industry as ranked by employment, with a workforce of 342,600 people.

2019: Home Foreclosure Activity

In 2019, Connecticut had the seventh-highest rate of home foreclosure activity in the country, with 0.53 percent of the total housing stock.

2019: Hartford Athletic Began Play

In 2019, Hartford Athletic began play in the USL Championship, marking a new addition to Connecticut's soccer scene.

2019: Single-Family Home Sales

In 2019, sales of single-family homes in Connecticut totaled 33,146 units, a decline from 2018. The median home sold for $260,000, an increase from 2018.

2019: State Recommends COGs Replace Counties for Statistics

In 2019, the state recommended to the United States Census Bureau that the nine Councils of Governments replace its counties for statistical purposes.

January 1, 2020: Gasoline Taxes and Fees

As of January 1, 2020, gasoline taxes and fees in Connecticut were 40.13 cents per gallon, the 11th highest in the United States.

January 2020: Diesel Taxes and Fees

As of January 2020, diesel taxes and fees in Connecticut were 46.50 cents per gallon, ninth highest nationally.

March 2020: Raytheon Technologies Merger

Raytheon Technologies was formed in March 2020 through the merger of Hartford-based United Technologies and Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon Co.

2020: Public Religion Research Institute Survey

According to a 2020 Public Religion Research Institute survey, 71% of Connecticut's population identified as some form of Christian, 21% as non-religious, 19% as white mainline Protestant, 19% as white Catholic, 9% as white evangelical Protestant, 7% as black Protestant, and 7% as Hispanic Catholic. The survey also found Jewish citizens to be 2% of the population, with Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims at 1% each.

2020: Gini Coefficient

As of 2020, Connecticut was tied with California and Massachusetts for the second-highest Gini coefficient, at 0.50, indicating a large disparity in incomes throughout the state.

2020: Ned Lamont and Susan Bysiewicz in Office

As of 2020, Ned Lamont serves as the Governor of Connecticut, and Susan Bysiewicz holds the position of Lieutenant Governor.

2020: Richard A. Robinson Chief Justice

As of 2020, Richard A. Robinson is the Chief Justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court.

2020: Connecticut Population Increase

As of the 2020 United States census, Connecticut had a population of 3,605,944.

2020: Non-Hispanic whites population in Connecticut

As of the 2020 census, non-Hispanic whites were 63% of the population in Connecticut.

2020: Hurricane Isaias impacts Connecticut

In 2020, Hurricane Isaias impacted the state.

2020: Expected Layoffs

In the spring of 2020, economists expected record new levels of layoffs in Connecticut due to business closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

2021: Matthew Ritter Speaker of the House

As of 2021, Matthew Ritter is the Speaker of the House of Connecticut's General Assembly.

2021: Connecticut's U.S. Senators

As of 2021, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy are the United States Senators representing Connecticut.

2021: Infill Stations Planned

As of 2021, several infill stations were planned to be added in the near future to the Hartford Line.

2022: Homeless Population in Connecticut

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 2,930 homeless people in Connecticut.

2022: Voter Registration Statistics

As of 2022, around 58% of registered voters in Connecticut are enrolled in a political party, with the Democratic Party having the largest share at 36%, followed by the Republican Party at 21%.

2022: Per Capita Personal Income

In 2022, Connecticut's adjusted per capita personal income was estimated at $77,940, which was the third-highest among all states.

2022: Census Bureau Approves COGs for Statistics

In 2022, the Census Bureau approved the state's proposal to use Councils of Government instead of counties for statistical purposes.

2022: Gross State Product

In 2022, the total gross state product for Connecticut was $321.7 billion.

2023: Gross State Product

In 2023, the total gross state product for Connecticut was $345.9 billion, an increase from the previous year.

2024: Connecticut Population

As of 2024, Connecticut has more than 3.6 million residents, making it the 29th most populous state in the U.S.

2024: Democratic Party Dominance

As of 2024, Connecticut's U.S. Senators, all five U.S. House representatives, as well as its Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State, are members of the Democratic Party.