|
Real Estate & Homes in Hartford - Connecticut - Hartford, Connecticut homes and communites
Hartford
Photo credit: (1)
Hartford Background
Hartford is quite possibly the Northeastern ideal. Offering big-city amenities in a quaint New England setting, Hartford is only a two-hour drive from New York City and Boston, while providing a strong sense of community and neighborhood.
With four true seasons of living, there is limitless recreational activity, from hiking and skiing to boating and climbing. Capable of meeting the housing needs of every budget, Hartford has trendy urban apartments, beautiful Victorian homes and everything in between.
The city is located at the southern end of the Knowledge Corridor, a 30-mile geographical region that stretches to Springfield, Mass., and is home to 32 higher-education institutions. Connecticut’s students lead with the highest standardized test scores in reading, writing and math.
With two of the nation’s top 100 hospitals and acres of gorgeous parkland, Hartford is a great place to raise a family.
 
Hartford History
In 1614, Dutch explorer Adriaen Block sailed up the Connecticut River and claimed the area now known as Hartford for the Dutch. The Dutch settlers purchased a parcel of land from the Indians in 1633 and built a trading post called the “House of Hope.” In 1636, the towns of Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield united to form the Colony of Connecticut.
In May 1638, the Rev. Thomas Hooker delivered a memorable sermon that led to the creation of “The Fundamental Orders.” This was Connecticut’s first written constitution and the first in the world to create a government. It served as a prototype for the United States Constitution.
King Charles II of Great Britain sent a charter in 1662 to unite the Colony of Connecticut with the New Haven Colony. Hartford served as one of two capital cities (sharing the title with New Haven) until 1873, when the General Assembly voted that Hartford should be the sole capital.
Fun fact: Hartford has been home to many of the best-known figures in American history and popular culture, including:
- poet Wallace Stevens
- financier J.P. Morgan
- actress Katharine Hepburn
- author Mark Twain
- singer Gene Pitney
- author Harriet Beecher Stowe
 
Photo credits: (2) (2)
Hartford Fast Facts
Location: Hartford is 66 miles from Providence, 94 miles from Boston and 100 miles from New York City
*Population: 121,578
*Median age: 29.7
*Median household income: $24,820
*Total metro area: 18.5 square miles
*Total number of housing units: 50,644
*Median housing price: $113,000
Average temperatures: January, 26ºF; April, 49ºF; August, 72ºF
Average precipitation: approximately 4 inches per month
*Information obtained from the 2000 Census
Business and Employment Hartford has one of the nation’s most educated and productive work forces. A thriving economy and strong economic development initiatives have made Hartford:
- No. 1 in gross domestic product per capita in the world
- No. 2 in labor productivity worldwide
- No. 3 nationally in readiness for the knowledge-based New Economy, and for the number of patents held
- No. 5 in attracting venture capital
- No. 17 in the top 40 real estate markets for business expansion
Due to Hartford’s central location, the region offers access to 100 million consumers within an eight-hour drive. Ranked as one of the “Best Places for Business and Careers” by Forbes Magazine, the city reflects its positive outlook in its new marketing slogan: “Hartford: New England’s Rising Star.”
Headquartered in Hartford’s business district are St. Francis Hospital, Fleet Financial Services and ING Financial Services. Hartford is also home to several international giants, including Aetna Insurance, United Technologies (a diversified manufacturer), The Hartford Financial Group, Gerber Scientific and ESPN.
Hartford also offers a number of resources to assist businesses and professionals in the effort to strengthen Hartford’s role as a major economic center.
Organizations such as the Capital City Economic Development Authority, the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, the Hartford Economic Development Commission, and the Metro Hartford Alliance/ Metro Hartford Chamber provide economic incentives and strategic resources to nourish commercial and private industry and in turn strengthening the local economy.
The top five major employers of Hartford are the State of Connecticut, Aetna Life and Casualty, The Hartford Financial Group, Travelers Co. Insurance, and Hartford Hospital.
 
Photo credits: (3) (4)
Education Hartford’s primary and secondary schools rank among the best in the nation. Located at the base of the Knowledge Corridor, numerous colleges and universities are well within reach, and several noted institutions of higher education are located right in Hartford:
- Capital Community College: Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Greater Hartford Community College (founded in 1967) and the Hartford State Technical College (founded in 1946 as the CT Engineering Institute).
- St. Joseph College: Founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy.
- Trinity College: Founded in 1823 as one of the oldest independent, liberal arts colleges in the country.
- University of Hartford: Founded in 1877 and chartered in 1957 with the merger of the Hartford Art School, Hillyer College and the Hartt School of Music.
Hartford Firsts
The first automatic coin telephone was patented by William Gray of Hartford in 1889.
The first cookbook was published in Hartford in 1796, written by Amelia Simmons.
In 1975, Ella Grasso was sworn in as the first woman governor in the United States.
In 1836, Samuel Colt of Hartford invented the first revolving cylinder for firearms.
The first license was issued in Hartford for offshore whaling in 1647.
In 1898, Travelers Insurance Company was the first of many to use matchbooks to advertise.
 
Photo credits: (2) (2)
Community and Neighborhoods
Asylum Hill: Originally known as “Lords Hill,” the area was renamed in 1807, when the Connecticut Asylum for the Deaf was founded and relocated to West Hartford. The institution has since been renamed the American School for the Deaf. One of the most historic areas in Hartford, Asylum Hill was home to Mark Twain, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Calvin Day, James Goodwin and U.S. Sen. James Dixon. In the 1840s, the area became a prominent residential district for wealthy families with impressive homes.
Barry Square: The neighborhood was named after Father Michael Barry, whose catholic parish built St. Augustine’s church in 1902. This area was home to many Irish immigrants and laborers, and it served as a military campground in the Revolutionary and Civil wars. Trinity College moved to its current location, a site known as “Gallows Hill,” during previous centuries due to public executions held there. By mid-19th century, Gallows Hill became known as Zion Hill. Today Barry Square is a delightful mix of residential and commercial areas.
Behind the Rocks: Also known as “Charter-Oak Zion,” this area was named for the rocky outcropping that serves as the western border of Trinity’s campus. With the introduction of trolleys, the area became more residential. What was known in the 1890s as Rocky Hill Quarry (now Rocky Ridge) was by 1912 turned into a park known now as Thomas Hyland Memorial Park.
Blue Hills: This area was named for Blue Hills Avenue, a major north-south thoroughfare and the oldest road in the neighborhood. The trolley and Keney Park helped create more of a residential atmosphere. The north branch of the Park River runs through this neighborhood and has a two-mile nature trail. In 1990, the Jewish Mount Sinai Hospital merged with St. Francis Hospital. This is also the home of the University of Hartford.
Clay/Arsenal: One of the oldest neighborhoods in Hartford, it was mostly farmland prior to 1847. West of Main Street was named Clay Hill for the soil, and east of Main Street was named the Arsenal District after the 1812 Arsenal was constructed. It was later demolished in 1909, but the name remains. With mostly multifamily dwellings, this neighborhood has been home to working-class immigrants. In 1847, the Hartford-Springfield Railroad was constructed, which created a small commercial area, but today the area remains mostly residential.
Downtown: The Business District is home to City Hall, the Old State House, the Wadsworth Atheneum, Travelers Tower, Bushnell Park and Riverfront Plaza.
Frog Hollow: Named for the marshy lowland that is now Broad and Ward streets, this neighborhood was originally a multifamily residential area for factory workers. Lafayette is the neighborhood’s oldest street, appearing on a 1640 map of the area. Home to Pope Park, Frog Hollow remains ethnically diverse.
North East: Bordered by the Spring Grove Cemetery, a railroad and Keney Park, this neighborhood has remained a very upper-class residential area. Beautiful Victorian and Colonial homes are the standard here.
North Meadows: Primarily a center for business and industry, this is also the location of Riverside Park and the Meadows Music Theatre.
Parkville: Named for the Park River, this neighborhood was originally home to factories and residential areas for factory workers. The area remains multicultural today.
Sheldon/Charter Oak: The site of the original colonial settlement in 1623, this area became home to Samuel Colt, his factory and the villages he created for his workers. He also created Colt Park.
South Green: The location of Barnard Park, this neighborhood is primarily residential with beautiful historic buildings. The commercial area provides Hartford Hospital and the Children’s Medical Center. Washington Street was once called Governor’s Row because of the striking mansions that still stand today.
South Meadows: Adjacent to the Connecticut River, this area is industrial and commercial. Regional Market, a huge perishable-food distribution center; the Pump Station; and the Hartford Electric Light Company are all located here.
South End: This neighborhood has become known as “Little Italy.”
South West: A low-density, later developed residential area, this neighborhood remains a middle-income suburb. This is also the location of Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Upper Albany: Albany Avenue is one of the oldest roads in the state. It once ran from Providence to Albany, N.Y. A predominately ethnic area, Upper Albany remains a commercial and residential district.
West End: Home to Elizabeth Park, the Connecticut School of Law, many historic houses, local shops and boutiques, this neighborhood embodies a strong sense of community.
 
Photo credits: (5) (file)
Architecture and Landmarks
Travelers Tower: Completed in 1919 for Travelers Insurance Company, the building stands 527 feet above street level. At 34 stories, this was once the tallest structure in New England.
Isham Terry House: Built in 1854 for grocer Ebenezer Roberts, this Italian villa-style house is a glorious example of city life in antebellum Hartford. It is now open to the public as a museum.
Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Arch: Located in Bushnell Memorial Park. Construction began in 1884.
Connecticut State Capitol: Overlooking Bushnell Memorial Park. Construction began in 1871 and was completed in 1879. The builder was James G. Batterson, and the architect was Richard M. Upjohn. Created from New England marble and granite and crowned by a gold leaf dome, the structure originally cost $2.5 million. In 1972, the building was declared a National Historic Landmark.
Old State House: Constructed by Charles Bulfinch, the first nationally recognized American architect. This was his first public building, completed in 1796. It is the oldest state house in America, a prime example of Federal period architecture. In 1827, the cupola was added and painted white.
The Bulkeley Bridge: Located in Hartford over the Connecticut River, it is the largest stone arch bridge in the world. Completed in 1905, it spans 1,192 feet.
 
Photo credits: (2) (2)
Attractions
Minutes from some of the best ski slopes, mountain trails and seashore resorts, Hartford is also near Six Flags New England.
For those who enjoy a game of chance, Mohegan Sun and the Foxwoods Resort Casino are only a half-an-hour away.
For the sports enthusiast, the Hartford Civic Center provides Wolf Pack hockey and UConn basketball. Rentschler Field, an open-air stadium in East Hartford, is the home of UConn football.
The city also offers numerous museums and cultural centers including:
The Wadsworth Atheneum: Founded in 1842 by Daniel Wadsworth, it is America’s oldest public art museum. Its collection spans over 5,000 years and also boasts Chamber Music Plus, the resident ensemble.
The Mark Twain House: This 19-room Victorian mansion was the home of Samuel Clemens (AKA Mark Twain) and his wife, Livy. They had to sell the property in 1903, but in 1929, the Mark Twain Memorial and Library Commission was chartered by the state of Connecticut as a non-profit organization to purchase, restore and manage the Twain house. In 1963, it was designated a National Historic Landmark, and restoration was completed in 1974.
The Harriet Beecher Stowe House: In 1873, Harriet Beecher Stowe purchased the cottage on Forest Street. The house was modest by the standards of the Nook Farm neighborhood, with 17 rooms and halls. Beautiful gardens surround the house. Stowe lived here until her death in 1896 with Calvin Stowe, her husband, and their adult twin daughters, Eliza and Harriet. Best known for “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” she wrote more than 30 other books. Katharine Seymour Day, grandniece of Stowe, is the founder of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center.
Dinosaur State Park: One of the largest dinosaur track sites in the country, with more than 2,000 tracks.
Connecticut Opera: The nation’s sixth-oldest professional opera company.
Hartford Stage Company: Tony-award winning theater company located in Hartford’s central business district.
National Theater of the Deaf: The oldest continually producing touring theater company in the nation. Highly visual performances and visual language provide an enriching experience for all.
Cheney Hall: A National Historic Landmark, it is the oldest operating theater in Connecticut.
Meadows Music Centre: An indoor/outdoor amphitheater, it primarily serves as a rock venue.
Webster Theater: Hartford’s premier rock venue.
Festivals include the Bloomfield Drum Festival, Greater Hartford Festival of Jazz, Festival of Lights in Constitution Plaza, First Night Hartford, Hartford International Festival of Jazz, Podunk Music Festival and Sunken Garden Poetry Festival at the Hill-Stead Museum.
Parks include:
Bushnell Park: Located in the central downtown area, this park offers a playground, walking trails, rare exotic trees, a pond and a carousel.
Colt Park: Created by Samuel Colt, this park features baseball, football, soccer, tennis, playgrounds, spray and swimming pools.
Elizabeth Park: Located on Asylum Avenue in West Hartford, the park is divided by Prospect Avenue. The East Lawn is 19 acres of open space with a treed border. The West Section is 82 diverse acres that contains the first municipally-owned rose garden in the United States, with more than 900 varieties and 14,000 rose bushes displayed during the summer months. Outdoor concerts, ice skating, baseball, basketball and picnic areas, playgrounds, a pond, pond house, a greenhouse and gardens make this a local favorite.
Goodwin Park: This park provides a sports area, picnic area, a pond house, playground, spray and swimming pools, and a golf course.
Highland Park-Rocky Ridge: A sports and picnic area, playground, pond house and spray pool ensure hours of fun.
Keney Park: This park offers sports and picnic areas, a playground, pond house, spray and swimming pools, a golf course, cricket field, pond and food.
Riverside Park: This urban park provides sports and picnic areas and playgrounds.
Photo credit: (4)
Shopping In addition to the smaller, locally owned shops and boutiques in the different neighborhoods, Hartford also offers Avon Marketplace, an upscale mix of national retailers; The Shoppes at Buckland Hills, over 1 million square feet of shopping; Westfarms Mall; and West Hartford Center/Bishop’s Corner.
Dining Alchemy Juice Bar Café: A vegetarian and vegan restaurant offering organic foods.
Arch Street Tavern: An American pub located in an old carriage factory. The historic building features 50-foot beams and a 16-piece jazz band.
Bin 228: Wine bins line the walls of this upscale Italian restaurant.
Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ and Blues: This favorite offers traditional barbecue, Cajun and Creole specialties.
Casa Lisboa: A family-run Portuguese restaurant.
Chale Ipanema: This Brazilian and Portuguese restaurant features a romantic ambiance.
Costa Del Sol Restaurant: Spanish and Mediterranean restaurant specializing in elegant seafood dishes.
The Enchanted Garden: A casual-chic place boasting an exotic fish tank and leather couches, it moonlights as a nightclub on the weekends.
Island Cuisine: Jamaican home-style cooking makes this restaurant a local favorite.
Pastis Bistro: With the charming decor of a Parisian brasserie, this upscale French restaurant is very popular.
Where is Hartford?
Written by Erin Johncox exclusively for HomesParadise.com.
(1) Photo courtesy of the City of Hartford.
(2) Photo courtesy of the City of Hartford Health and Human Services Department.
(3) Photo courtesy of Greg Kriss, Riverfront Recapture.
(4) Photo courtesy of Michael D. Adams.
(5) Photo courtesy of www.see-ct.com.
(Uncredited photos are file photos.)
|
sign up for updates about this project or community |
Search similar Lifestyle :
Search similar Housing :
|
Beach Front
Condos