5 Facts About Connecticut's Capital: How Well Do You Know Hartford?

The city of Hartford, Connecticut, is the capital of the state of Connecticut and the state's third largest city. As one of the oldest cities in the U.S., there are plenty of historical facts about Hartford. The city is trying to revitalize its image with the “Hartford Has It” campaign in order to leverage new development in the city's downtown.

1. Insurance Capital of the World

Hartford is home to many of the country's oldest and largest insurance carriers. Aetna, The Hartford, Travelers, United Healthcare, and Lincoln National are either headquartered or have large bases of operation in the city. The industry's focus on the city and state led to Connecticut having the highest number of insurance professionals per capita in the U.S., according to Connecticut Departement of Economic and Community Development.

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2. Oldest Continuously Operating Newspaper

The Hartford Courant started as a weekly publication in 1764. It was purchased by Tribune Company in 2000. The decline of print publishing nationwide has impacted the paper. Reduction in newsroom staff and number of pages have been announced several times since the 2008 recession.

3. Economic Divide Among Residents

Connecticut as a whole has the third-lowest poverty rate in the U.S. However, Hartford has a 33 percent poverty rate, the second highest of any city with more than 100,000 residents, according to U.S. Census Bureau data reported by Hands On Hartford.

4. Art and Literature

Mark Twain lived in a large home in Hartford for 17 years, during which he wrote many of his most known works including “Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” and “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.”

The mansion is now a popular museum. The Wadsworth Atheneum is one of the oldest continuously operating museums in the country. The castle-like building is also the largest art museum in Connecticut.

5. War of 1812 Almost a Civil War

A month of meetings in 1814 to early 1815 were held in Hartford among federalists in New England who were considering secession from the U.S. and negotiating peace with Great Britain to end the War of 1812. The idea didn't receive much support, and Andrew Jackson's victory in the Battle of New Orleans soon made the issue moot.

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