The first people arrived in what is now Connecticut over 10,000 years ago. A few thousand years later, Indian tribes lived in this region, including the Mohegan, Pequot, and Niantic. Dutch traders arrived in 1614 and established Connecticut’s first European settlement in 1633. Both Dutch and English settlers established settlements in Connecticut in the early 1630s, and the land soon became a British colony. Over time, the colonists became dissatisfied with British rule. In 1776, representatives from Connecticut signed the Declaration of Independence along with representatives from other American colonies. This led to the American Revolution, which lasted until 1783, when the colonies officially won their freedom from British rule. Five years later, Connecticut ratified or signed the US Constitution, becoming the fifth state of the US.
The name “Connecticut” comes from the Native American word quinatucquet, which roughly means “by a long tidal river.” This refers to the Connecticut River, which runs through the center of the state. Connecticut gets its nickname “The Constitutional State” because it is home to what some consider to be the first written constitution of the United States: the Basic Ordinances of Connecticut, enacted in 1639.
Geography of Connecticut
According to itypetravel.com, this New England state is bordered by Massachusetts to the north, Rhode Island to the east, a body of water called Long Island Sound to the south, and New York to the west. Connecticut can be divided into three geographic regions. The Western Upland, which covers roughly the western third of Connecticut, is filled with steep hills, including the state’s highest point, Mount Frissell. The central lowlands in the center of the state are known for their ranges and valleys, which were created by volcanic eruptions between 150 and 200 million years ago. Due to this volcanic activity, the area has many volcanic or lava rocks such as basalt. The longest river in the state, the Connecticut, also flows here. The eastern highlands in the east are full of hills, rivers and dense forests.
Wildlife of Connecticut
Black bears, bobcats, fishermen, muskrats, and white-tailed deer are among Connecticut’s many mammals. Look up into the trees and you might see bald eagles, eastern bluebirds, red-headed woodpeckers, or rare Connecticut warblers. Reptile watchers can keep an eye out for colorful oriental-styled turtles, garter snakes, and five-line skins. Amphibians such as northern redback salamanders and the endangered mud pups call Connecticut home. The most common tree in Connecticut is the red maple, but black birch, eastern hemlock, and sugar maple are also common. Wildflowers include colorful blanket flowers, orange daylilies, violets and chicory.
STAMFORD
Population: 118.475 thousand people (2007)
Area: 134.9 sq. km
Time zone: UTC-5, summer UTC-4
Altitude: 7 m
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The first European settlers originally called this city Rippovam, later in view of certain historical events, the name of the city was changed to Stamford in honor of the English city of Stamford. In 1637 a group of London merchants and their families moved to Boston with the intention of creating a new settlement. In 1640, a confederation was formed which called itself the “United Colonies of New England”. John Davenport (an English Puritan priest and founder of the American colony of New Haven ), together with London merchants, entered into an agreement to include the New Haven colony in Connecticut. See Connecticut cities.
In 1692, Stamford was famous for its witch trials. The witch hunt consisted of finding and executing people who were suspected of witchcraft. Beginning in the late 19th century, when the city was booming economically, New Yorkers began to actively build summer houses on the waterfront, and even then there were those who moved to Stamford permanently. Stamford is now a center of education, hosting affiliates of the University of Connecticut, the University of Bridgeport, several public universities, private schools, and an information technology academy.
In the city you can visit a large number of parks, one of them is Cummings Park – a public beach. The park was founded in 1906 and named after the mayor of the city. It is known for its exotic beaches and exotic picnic areas. The park is a small wildlife sanctuary, which may be of particular interest to ornithologists. Stamford is also famous for its specially designed parks where you can practice various sports, even ice hockey. For example, Jackie Robinson Park is named after baseball legend Jackie Robinson, who lived in Stamford.
The famous historical museum attracts the attention of tourists in the city, where you can get acquainted not only with the history of the city, but also with its art. Stamford is known for its luxurious golf courses, for example, the popular Sterling Farms Golf Course in America was opened in 1972 and is a favorite destination for tourists. Also in the city you can visit the yacht club and the exotic botanical garden, which contains unique plants from around the world.
