Hartford County, Connecticut
On June 6, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau formally recognized Connecticut's nine councils of governments as county equivalents instead of the state's eight counties. Connecticut's county governments were disbanded in 1960, and the councils of governments took over some of the local governmental functions. Connecticut's eight historical counties continue to exist in name only, and are no longer considered for statistical purposes.
History
Hartford County was one of four original counties in Connecticut established on May 10, 1666, by an act of the Connecticut General Court. The act establishing the county states:
- This Court orders that the Townes on the River from y
- north bounds of Windsor w Farmington to y south end of
- y bounds of Thirty Miles Island shalbe & remaine to be one
- County w shalbe called the County of Hartford. And it
- is ordered that the County Court shalbe kept at Hartford on
- the 1st Thursday in March and on the first Thursday in September yearely.
As established in 1666, Hartford County consisted of the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, Hartford, Farmington, and Middletown. The "Thirty Miles Island" referred to in the constituting Act was incorporated as the town of Haddam in 1668. In 1670, the town of Simsbury was established, extending Hartford County to the Massachusetts border. In the late 17th to early 18th centuries, several more towns were established and added to Hartford County: Waterbury in 1686 (transferred to New Haven County in 1728), Windham in 1694 (transferred to Windham County in 1726), Hebron in 1708 (transferred to Tolland County in 1785), Coventry in 1712 (transferred to Windham County in 1726), and Litchfield in 1722 (transferred to Litchfield County in 1751).
In 1714, all of the unincorporated territory north of the towns of Coventry and Windham in northeastern Connecticut to the Massachusetts border were placed under the jurisdiction of Hartford County. Windham County was constituted in 1726, resulting in Hartford County losing the towns of Windham, Coventry, Mansfield (incorporated in 1702), and Ashford (incorporated in 1714). Northwestern Connecticut, which was originally placed under the jurisdiction of New Haven County in 1722, was transferred to Hartford County by 1738. All of northwestern Connecticut was later constituted as the new Litchfield County in 1751. In 1785, two more counties were established in what was now the U.S. state of Connecticut: Tolland and Middlesex. This mostly resulted in the modern extent of Hartford County. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the establishment of several more towns resulted in minor adjustments in the bounds of the county. The final adjustment resulting in the modern limits occurred on May 8, 1806, when the town of Canton was established.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010, the county had a total area of 751 square miles (1,950 km), of which 735 square miles (1,900 km) is land and 16 square miles (41 km) (2.1%) is water. It is the second-largest county in Connecticut by land area.
The county is divided into two unequal parts by the Connecticut River, and watered by Farmington, Mill, Podunk, Scantic, and other rivers. The surface is very diverse: part of the river valleys are alluvial and subject to flooding, while other portions of the county are hilly and even mountainous.
Adjacent counties
- Hampden County, Massachusetts (north)
- Tolland County (east)
- New London County (southeast)
- Middlesex County (south)
- New Haven County (southwest)
- Litchfield County (west)
Communities
In Connecticut, there is no county-level executive or legislative government; the counties determine probate, civil and criminal court boundaries, but little else. Each city or town is responsible for local services such as schools, snow removal, sewers, fire department and police departments. In Connecticut, cities and towns may agree to jointly provide services or establish a regional school system.
Cities
Towns
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 38,149 | — | |
1800 | 42,147 | 10.5% | |
1810 | 44,733 | 6.1% | |
1820 | 47,264 | 5.7% | |
1830 | 51,131 | 8.2% | |
1840 | 55,629 | 8.8% | |
1850 | 69,967 | 25.8% | |
1860 | 89,962 | 28.6% | |
1870 | 109,007 | 21.2% | |
1880 | 125,382 | 15.0% | |
1890 | 147,180 | 17.4% | |
1900 | 195,480 | 32.8% | |
1910 | 250,182 | 28.0% | |
1920 | 336,027 | 34.3% | |
1930 | 421,097 | 25.3% | |
1940 | 450,189 | 6.9% | |
1950 | 539,661 | 19.9% | |
1960 | 689,555 | 27.8% | |
1970 | 816,737 | 18.4% | |
1980 | 807,766 | −1.1% | |
1990 | 851,783 | 5.4% | |
2000 | 857,183 | 0.6% | |
2010 | 894,014 | 4.3% | |
2020 | 899,498 | 0.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2018 |
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 857,183 people, 335,098 households, and 222,505 families living in the county. The population density was 1,166 inhabitants per square mile (450/km). There were 353,022 housing units at an average density of 480 per square mile (190/km). The racial makeup of the county was 76.90% White, 11.66% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 2.42% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 6.43% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. 11.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 15.2% were of Italian, 11.2% Irish, 9.1% Polish, 6.5% English, 5.7% French and 5.3% German ancestry. 78.4% spoke English, 10.3% Spanish, 2.6% Polish, 1.9% French and 1.6% Italian as their first language.
There were 335,098 households, out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.60% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $50,756, and the median income for a family was $62,144. Males had a median income of $43,985 versus $33,042 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,047. About 7.10% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 7.60% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 894,014 people, 350,854 households, and 227,831 families living in the county. The population density was 1,216.2 inhabitants per square mile (469.6/km). There were 374,249 housing units at an average density of 509.1 per square mile (196.6/km). The racial makeup of the county was 72.4% white, 13.3% black, 4.2% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 7.1% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic origin made up 15.3% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.9% were Italian, 15.6% were Irish, 10.7% were Polish, 9.4% were English, 8.8% were German, and 2.5% were American.
Of the 350,854 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.0% were married couples living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.1% were non-families, and 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 39.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $62,590 and the median income for a family was $78,599. Males had a median income of $56,181 versus $44,273 for females. The per capita income for the county was $33,151. About 8.0% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Demographic breakdown by town
Income
Data is from the 2010 United States Census and the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.
Rank | Town | Per capita income |
Median household income |
Median family income |
Population | Number of households |
Pop. Density | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Glastonbury | Town | $73,020 | $127,237 | $145,321 | 34,427 | 12,866 | 670 |
2 | Avon | Town | $55,879 | $105,116 | $129,651 | 18,098 | 7,009 | 770 |
3 | Simsbury | Town | $54,571 | $113,224 | $135,772 | 23,511 | 8,776 | 685 |
4 | Farmington | Town | $50,541 | $85,417 | $106,885 | 25,340 | 10,522 | 881 |
5 | Granby | Town | $46,687 | $97,500 | $111,339 | 11,282 | 4,194 | 277 |
6 | Canton | Town | $46,401 | $87,643 | $101,793 | 10,292 | 4,150 | 412 |
7 | West Hartford | Town | $43,534 | $78,530 | $102,547 | 63,268 | 25,258 | 2,837 |
8 | Burlington | Town | $43,392 | $115,341 | $120,580 | 9,301 | 3,291 | 306 |
9 | Marlborough | Town | $41,669 | $108,232 | $110,527 | 6,404 | 2,292 | 272 |
10 | Suffield | Town | $41,098 | $90,023 | $99,855 | 15,735 | 5,155 | 366 |
11 | East Granby | Town | $40,698 | $77,596 | $97,174 | 5,148 | 2,062 | 291 |
12 | Bloomfield | Town | $39,738 | $68,372 | $84,583 | 20,486 | 8,554 | 779 |
13 | South Windsor | Town | $38,945 | $88,350 | $94,602 | 25,709 | 9,918 | 896 |
14 | Berlin | Town | $38,134 | $86,211 | $98,677 | 19,866 | 7,808 | 736 |
15 | Wethersfield | Town | $37,329 | $71,284 | $91,563 | 26,668 | 11,204 | 2,036 |
16 | Hartland | Town | $36,874 | $85,956 | $91,188 | 2,114 | 789 | 61 |
17 | Southington | Town | $36,053 | $77,673 | $102,186 | 43,069 | 16,814 | 1,177 |
18 | Rocky Hill | Town | $36,021 | $72,417 | $88,750 | 19,709 | 8,307 | 1,426 |
19 | Windsor | Town | $35,780 | $78,695 | $90,856 | 29,044 | 11,233 | 937 |
20 | Manchester | Town | $32,752 | $61,571 | $77,018 | 58,241 | 24,689 | 2,103 |
21 | Newington | Town | $32,561 | $69,085 | $80,597 | 30,562 | 12,550 | 2,333 |
22 | East Windsor | Town | $31,162 | $64,301 | $76,502 | 11,162 | 4,750 | 416 |
23 | Plainville | Town | $31,000 | $63,447 | $80,205 | 17,716 | 7,580 | 1,814 |
24 | Windsor Locks | Town | $30,436 | $59,369 | $70,439 | 12,498 | 5,223 | 1,330 |
25 | Bristol | City | $29,629 | $58,537 | $72,038 | 60,477 | 25,320 | 2,257 |
26 | Enfield | Town | $29,340 | $67,402 | $77,554 | 44,654 | 16,794 | 1,306 |
27 | East Hartford | Town | $24,373 | $48,613 | $57,848 | 51,252 | 20,195 | 2,741 |
28 | New Britain | City | $21,056 | $39,706 | $45,990 | 73,206 | 28,158 | 5,463 |
29 | Hartford | City | $16,798 | $28,970 | $32,820 | 124,775 | 45,124 | 6,932 |
Race
Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, "Race alone or in combination with one or more other races."
Rank | Town | Population | White | Black | Asian | American Indian |
Other | Hispanic | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hartford | City | 124,817 | 35.1% | 39.8% | 2.9% | 1.5% | 25.1% | 42.4% |
2 | New Britain | City | 73,055 | 68.2% | 15.3% | 2.7% | 0.5% | 17.2% | 34.8% |
3 | West Hartford | Town | 63,066 | 84.6% | 7.4% | 8.2% | 0.7% | 2.3% | 9.1% |
4 | Bristol | City | 60,473 | 90.0% | 5.1% | 2.3% | 0.8% | 4.9% | 9.5% |
5 | Manchester | Town | 57,897 | 77.0% | 11.7% | 7.8% | 0.6% | 5.6% | 12.5% |
6 | East Hartford | Town | 51,091 | 54.4% | 25.4% | 7.3% | 0.9% | 15.5% | 25.7% |
7 | Enfield | Town | 44,747 | 88.5% | 7.4% | 2.1% | 0.4% | 3.5% | 7.2% |
8 | Southington | Town | 42,731 | 96.3% | 1.2% | 1.8% | 0.2% | 1.0% | 3.4% |
9 | Glastonbury | Town | 34,171 | 87.7% | 4.1% | 7.0% | 0.4% | 2.2% | 4.6% |
10 | Newington | Town | 30,441 | 86.9% | 6.0% | 6.3% | 0.6% | 2.5% | 7.2% |
11 | Windsor | Town | 28,962 | 56.4% | 37.6% | 5.0% | 0.5% | 3.7% | 8.4% |
12 | Wethersfield | Town | 26,641 | 92.4% | 3.4% | 1.8% | 0.5% | 3.3% | 8.8% |
13 | South Windsor | Town | 25,577 | 84.7% | 5.2% | 8.4% | 0.4% | 2.9% | 5.3% |
14 | Farmington | Town | 25,186 | 90.0% | 3.0% | 7.8% | 0.4% | 0.3% | 1.3% |
15 | Simsbury | Town | 23,498 | 94.3% | 2.3% | 4.0% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 2.3% |
16 | Bloomfield | Town | 20,406 | 40.1% | 59.0% | 1.7% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 3.7% |
17 | Berlin | Town | 19,694 | 94.3% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.4% | 1.9% | 2.7% |
18 | Rocky Hill | Town | 19,533 | 78.7% | 4.9% | 13.9% | 1.6% | 3.2% | 6.5% |
19 | Avon | Town | 17,859 | 90.5% | 2.3% | 8.0% | 0.5% | 1.0% | 4.2% |
20 | Plainville | Town | 17,670 | 95.7% | 2.9% | 2.3% | 0.3% | 1.0% | 4.7% |
21 | Suffield | Town | 15,513 | 86.3% | 9.6% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 4.0% | 5.8% |
22 | Windsor Locks | Town | 12,466 | 89.1% | 4.2% | 6.0% | 1.1% | 1.2% | 3.6% |
23 | Granby | Town | 11,192 | 96.1% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.1% | 1.3% | 4.0% |
24 | East Windsor | Town | 11,024 | 83.2% | 10.2% | 6.9% | 0.6% | 0.9% | 5.5% |
25 | Canton | Town | 10,139 | 99.0% | 0.6% | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.4% | 2.6% |
26 | Burlington | Town | 9,191 | 97.8% | 1.1% | 1.5% | 0.1% | 0.3% | 2.5% |
27 | Marlborough | Town | 6,335 | 98.8% | 1.0% | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.5% | 1.6% |
28 | East Granby | Town | 5,055 | 89.9% | 2.4% | 6.9% | 0.2% | 1.3% | 4.3% |
29 | Hartland | Town | 2,158 | 97.5% | 0.9% | 2.1% | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Transportation
Major highways
- I-91
- I-84
- I-291
- I-384
- I-691
- US 5
- US 6
- US 44
- US 202
- Route 2
- Route 3
- Route 4
- Route 9
- Route 15
- Route 20
- Route 72
- Route 179
- Route 187
- Route 189
- Route 218
Public transportation
Politics
Prior to 1960, Hartford County was a Republican-leaning swing county in presidential elections. Since then, it has become solidly Democratic similar to most of New England, with the only Republicans to carry the county since then being Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan in their 49-state landslide victories of 1972 and 1984, respectively.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 162,572 | 37.87% | 259,366 | 60.41% | 7,387 | 1.72% |
2020 | 159,024 | 35.39% | 283,368 | 63.06% | 6,944 | 1.55% |
2016 | 148,173 | 36.42% | 240,403 | 59.09% | 18,288 | 4.49% |
2012 | 143,238 | 36.52% | 244,639 | 62.37% | 4,363 | 1.11% |
2008 | 138,984 | 33.67% | 268,721 | 65.11% | 5,023 | 1.22% |
2004 | 154,919 | 39.54% | 229,902 | 58.68% | 6,987 | 1.78% |
2000 | 127,468 | 34.68% | 221,167 | 60.17% | 18,921 | 5.15% |
1996 | 111,566 | 31.26% | 203,549 | 57.04% | 41,726 | 11.69% |
1992 | 132,591 | 31.96% | 195,495 | 47.13% | 86,718 | 20.91% |
1988 | 173,031 | 45.95% | 199,857 | 53.08% | 3,648 | 0.97% |
1984 | 208,210 | 55.02% | 168,609 | 44.56% | 1,586 | 0.42% |
1980 | 150,265 | 40.46% | 164,643 | 44.33% | 56,472 | 15.21% |
1976 | 175,064 | 47.51% | 191,257 | 51.90% | 2,173 | 0.59% |
1972 | 194,095 | 52.09% | 174,837 | 46.93% | 3,654 | 0.98% |
1968 | 131,740 | 38.78% | 190,865 | 56.19% | 17,096 | 5.03% |
1964 | 88,811 | 26.95% | 240,071 | 72.86% | 622 | 0.19% |
1960 | 136,459 | 41.12% | 195,403 | 58.88% | 2 | 0.00% |
1956 | 175,894 | 58.09% | 126,923 | 41.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 150,332 | 50.50% | 146,551 | 49.23% | 831 | 0.28% |
1948 | 105,262 | 44.74% | 124,874 | 53.07% | 5,157 | 2.19% |
1944 | 95,224 | 42.47% | 127,841 | 57.02% | 1,153 | 0.51% |
1940 | 88,155 | 43.44% | 114,336 | 56.34% | 462 | 0.23% |
1936 | 65,652 | 37.23% | 103,450 | 58.67% | 7,216 | 4.09% |
1932 | 72,611 | 48.36% | 72,322 | 48.17% | 5,220 | 3.48% |
1928 | 75,997 | 53.16% | 65,789 | 46.02% | 1,169 | 0.82% |
1924 | 61,381 | 61.93% | 28,139 | 28.39% | 9,591 | 9.68% |
1920 | 54,046 | 60.74% | 30,287 | 34.04% | 4,646 | 5.22% |
1916 | 23,265 | 46.75% | 24,398 | 49.03% | 2,102 | 4.22% |
1912 | 16,961 | 39.09% | 16,756 | 38.62% | 9,674 | 22.29% |
1908 | 24,781 | 61.36% | 12,967 | 32.11% | 2,637 | 6.53% |
1904 | 23,865 | 57.67% | 16,004 | 38.67% | 1,513 | 3.66% |
1900 | 22,425 | 59.25% | 14,490 | 38.29% | 931 | 2.46% |
1896 | 30,261 | 57.88% | 20,212 | 38.66% | 1,813 | 3.47% |
1892 | 20,038 | 43.51% | 24,633 | 53.48% | 1,387 | 3.01% |
1888 | 19,003 | 45.04% | 22,113 | 52.41% | 1,073 | 2.54% |
1884 | 16,317 | 44.48% | 19,324 | 52.67% | 1,046 | 2.85% |
Education
School districts include:
K-12:
- Avon School District
- Berlin School District
- Bloomfield School District
- Bristol School District
- Canton School District
- East Granby School District
- East Hartford School District
- East Windsor School District
- Enfield School District
- Farmington School District
- Glastonbury School District
- Granby School District
- Hartford School District
- Manchester School District
- New Britain School District
- Newington School District
- Plainville School District
- Regional School District 10
- Rocky Hill School District
- Simsbury School District
- South Windsor School District
- Southington School District
- Suffield School District
- West Hartford School District
- Wethersfield School District
- Windsor School District
- Windsor Locks School District
Secondary districts:
Elementary districts:
See also
References
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Hartford County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Hartford city, Connecticut". Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/06/06/2022-12063/change-to-county-equivalents-in-the-state-of-connecticut Federal Register: Change to County-Equivalents in the State of Connecticut
- ^ "CCR: Volume 02, Page 39". Archived from the original on April 28, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
- ^ "Haddam Historical Society - History of Haddam". haddamhistory.org. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
- ^ Newberry Library – Connecticut Atlas of Historical County Boundaries Archived November 10, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). The American Cyclopædia. .
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
- ^ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
- ^ "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hartford County, CT" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022. - Text list