Connecticut State Flower - Mountain Laurel
The area of Connecticut was part of the original territory of the United States. It was chartered as a colony in 1662. In 1786, it ceded area to the United States’ government that became part of the Northwest Territory in 1787. Connecticut ratified the U.S. Constitution on January 9, 1788; it was the fifth of the original 13 states to join the Union. Its boundary was generally the same as the present state (excluding the Connecticut Western Reserve), although the boundary between Connecticut and Massachusetts was changed slightly in 1804.
Census data for Connecticut are available beginning with the 1790 census.
See: Geographic Terms & Concepts
Counties & County Equivalents
Interactive Map of Connecticut Counties | Static Overview Map of Connecticut Counties
There are eight counties in Connecticut. All counties are non-functioning legal entities. In 1960, Connecticut county governments were abolished and county functions were transferred to the state government. The former county boundaries were retained for election of county sheriffs and for judicial purposes.
There are 173 county subdivisions in Connecticut known as minor civil divisions (MCDs). These county subdivisions serve as the fundamental local subdivision in the state. There are 169 towns and 4 county subdivisions not defined that consist solely of water (the portions of counties that extend into Long Island Sound). Twenty towns are coextensive with an incorporated place and have a single set of officials. The remaining 149 towns are actively functioning governmental units. Milford city and Milford town in New Haven County governmentally consolidated as the Milford consolidated city.
Places (Incorporated Cities, Towns & Census Designated Places (CDPs))
Connecticut State Bird - American Robin
Connecticut has 142 places; 30 incorporated places and 112 census designated places (CDPs). There is one consolidated city, Milford city. The incorporated places consist of 19 cities, 10 boroughs and one balance of town representing the portion of the Milford consolidated city that is outside of the incorporated place of Woodmont borough. Incorporated places are dependent within county subdivision.
Alphabetical List of Cities, Towns, CDPs and Other Populated Places
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q, R | S | T | U, V | W, X, Y, Z
Connecticut Civil Features
Connecticut Civil Features: Political Subdivisions, Native Areas, Land Grants, etc. - sorted by Census Class Codes.
Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas
There are 4 Metropolitan and 1 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in Connecticut. CT Metopolitan & Micropolitan Areas
Connecticut ZIP Code Tabulation Areas
There are 282 ZIP Code tabulation areas in Connecticut. View Connecticut ZIP Codes and ZIP Code Maps.
Connecticut has 44 elementary school districts, 8 secondary school districts, and 115 unified school districts. View Connecticut Public and Private Schools.
Connecticut has 6 congressional districts. An interactive map shows the contact information for each Representative as well as the boundaries for each Connecticut district. View Map of Connecticut Congressional Districts.
State Legislative Districts
There are 36 state senate districts and 151 state house districts in Connecticut. There is also one state house district not defined and one state senate district not defined which are comprised solely of water.
American Indian Areas
Connecticut has two federally recognized American Indian area reservations and off-reservation trust lands. There are also three state recognized American Indian area reservations.
Other Information Of General Geographic Interest
The irregularity of the boundary in southwestern Connecticut where it abuts New York State, called the Connecticut Panhandle, is the result of territorial disputes in the late 17th century. New York gave up its claim to this area in exchange for an equivalent area extending northwards from Ridgefield, Connecticut to the Massachusetts border and an undisputed claim to Rye, New York. The two British colonies negotiated an agreement in November 1683 establishing the New York-Connecticut border as 20 miles east of the Hudson River, north to Massachusetts.