Quick Facts: History

Connecticut has a rich and celebrated history. It is one of six New England states and was the fifth of the original thirteen states to ratify the Constitution. Nearly 400 years ago Dutch settlers began exploring the areas along the Connecticut River. The first settlements in the state date back to the 1620's in the area now known as Old Saybrook. The name Connecticut comes from an American Indian term Quinnehtukqut, meaning "beside the long tidal river." The state's official nickname is "The Constitution State" chosen to commemorate the adoption of the "Fundamental Orders Of Connecticut" in 1639, considered to be the first written constitution. Connecticut is a diverse state for its relative size. The majority of the urban centers have developed across the central part of the state in the Connecticut River Valley as well as the southern coastal area along Long Island Sound. The western and eastern reaches of the state are mainly rural and retain much of the charm of colonial New England.