List of counties in Connecticut

Last updated

Counties of Connecticut
Connecticut-counties-map.gif
Location State of Connecticut
Number8
Populations116,418 (Windham) – 957,419 (Fairfield)
Areas369 square miles (960 km2) (Middlesex) – 920 square miles (2,400 km2) (Litchfield)
Government
  • County government (abolished in 1960, except for County Sheriffs, which were abolished by an act of the state legislature effective in 2000)
Subdivisions
Map of the counties of colonial Connecticut, 1766. Plan of the Colony of Connecticut, Moses Park, 1766.jpg
Map of the counties of colonial Connecticut, 1766.

There were eight counties in the U.S. state of Connecticut.

Contents

Four of the counties – Fairfield, Hartford, New Haven and New London – were created in 1666, shortly after the Connecticut Colony and the New Haven Colony combined. Windham and Litchfield Counties were created later in the colonial era, while Middlesex and Tolland Counties were created after American independence (both in 1785). Six of the counties are named for locations in England, where many early Connecticut settlers originated; Fairfield County was named after the salt marshes that bordered the coast, while New Haven County was named for the New Haven Colony. [1]

Although Connecticut is divided into counties, there are no county-level governments, and local government in Connecticut exists solely at the municipal level. [2] Almost all functions of county government were abolished in Connecticut in 1960, [3] except for elected county sheriffs and their departments under them. Those offices and their departments were abolished by an act of the state legislature effective in December 2000. The functions the county sheriffs' departments played were assumed by the newly organized State Marshal Commission and the Connecticut Department of Corrections. [4]

These counties are used in legacy geography, such as identifying land, national statistics and firmly within personnel rostering and court jurisdictions in the state's judicial and state marshal system. However, the three most populous—Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven—are as to many types of jurisdiction subdivided. [5]

In 2019 the state recommended to the United States Census Bureau that the nine Councils of Governments replace its counties for statistical purposes. According to the Census Bureau, "Connecticut's COGs/Planning Regions have the authority to carry out administrative functions that are typically found among counties in other states." [6] This proposal was approved by the Census Bureau in 2022, and will be fully implemented by 2024. [7]

CT Counties by Population, with darker colors indicating a higher population, from the 2020 census CT Counties by Population (2020 census).png
CT Counties by Population, with darker colors indicating a higher population, from the 2020 census

U.S. Census Bureau

Comparison of county boundaries to planning regions CT Planning vs County Census.png
Comparison of county boundaries to planning regions

The United States Census Bureau formally recognized the planning regions/councils of government as county equivalents in the Federal Register on June 6, 2022. A draft notice of potential recognition would have adapted the existing FIPS codes for the eight "legacy counties", however in response to submitted comments, the bureau retired the codes and assigned new ones to more clearly illustrate the break in geographic continuity. The Census noted that there is substantial correlation between the historic county borders and planning regions, however planning regions may incorporate towns from several counties. The bureau notes that the recognition of planning regions as county equivalents was unique to the specific conditions in Connecticut, and would not constitute a binding precedent on similar conditions in other states. [9]

Alphabetical listing

County
FIPS code [10] Seat [lower-alpha 2] [12] Est. [12] Origin [1] Etymology [13] Population [14] Area [12] Map
FairfieldCounty 001 Bridgeport 1666original countyFrom the hundreds of acres of salt marsh that bordered the coast.959,768626 sq mi
(1,621 km2)		 Map of Connecticut highlighting Fairfield County.svg
HartfordCounty 003 Hartford 1666original countyAfter Hertford, England (still said Hartford)896,854736 sq mi
(1,906 km2)		 Map of Connecticut highlighting Hartford County.svg
LitchfieldCounty 005 Litchfield 1751From parts of Fairfield, Hartford and New Haven CountiesCity of Lichfield, Staffordshire, England185,000920 sq mi
(2,383 km2)		 Map of Connecticut highlighting Litchfield County.svg
MiddlesexCounty 007 Middletown 1785From parts of Hartford and New London CountiesFormer county of Middlesex, England164,759369 sq mi
(956 km2)		 Map of Connecticut highlighting Middlesex County.svg
New HavenCounty 009 New Haven 1666original countyAfter New Haven Colony, founded as a haven in which Puritans could be free from persecution.863,700606 sq mi
(1,570 km2)		 Map of Connecticut highlighting New Haven County.svg
New LondonCounty 011 New London 1666original countyAfter London, England268,805666 sq mi
(1,725 km2)		 Map of Connecticut highlighting New London County.svg
TollandCounty 013 Rockville 1785From parts of Hartford and Windham CountiesHamlet of Tolland, Somerset, England150,293410 sq mi
(1,062 km2)		 Map of Connecticut highlighting Tolland County.svg
WindhamCounty 015 Willimantic 1726From parts of Hartford and New London CountiesEither after Windham (now Wineham) in Sussex or Windham (now Wymondham, still said Windham) in Norfolk, England116,418513 sq mi
(1,329 km2)		 Map of Connecticut highlighting Windham County.svg

Former counties

Both were extraterritorial:

Notes

  1. ↑ All land in Connecticut is covered by an incorporated city or town. County borders match constituent city and town borders. See Local government in Connecticut
  2. ↑ Officially, Connecticut has no county seats. [11] The listed communities are instead historical county seats.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connecticut</span> U.S. state

Connecticut is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to its east, Massachusetts to its north, New York to its west, and Long Island Sound to its south. Its capital is Hartford, and its most populous city is Bridgeport. Historically, the state is part of New England as well as the tri-state area with New York and New Jersey. The state is named for the Connecticut River which approximately bisects the state. The word Connecticut is derived from various anglicized spellings of Quinnetuket, a Mohegan-Pequot word for "long tidal river". As of the 2020 United States census, Connecticut was home to over 3.6 million residents, its highest decennial count ever, growing every decade since 1790.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairfield County, Connecticut</span> County in Connecticut, United States

Fairfield County is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is the most populous county in the state and was also its fastest-growing from 2010 to 2020. As of the 2020 census, the county's population was 957,419, representing 26.6% of Connecticut's overall population. The closest to the center of the New York metropolitan area, the county contains four of the state's top 7 largest cities—Bridgeport (1st), Stamford (2nd), Norwalk (6th), and Danbury (7th)—whose combined population of 433,368 is nearly half the county's total population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Litchfield County, Connecticut</span> County in Connecticut, United States

Litchfield County is in northwestern Connecticut, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,186. The county was named after Lichfield, in England. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut and is the state's largest county by area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Haven County, Connecticut</span> County in Connecticut, United States

New Haven County is a county in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 864,835, making it the third-most populous county in Connecticut. Two of the state's top 5 largest cities, New Haven (3rd) and Waterbury (5th), are part of New Haven County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County (United States)</span> Subdivision used by most states in the United States

In the United States, a county or county equivalent is an administrative or political subdivision of a U.S. state or other territories of the United States which consists of a geographic area with specific boundaries and usually some level of governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 states, while Louisiana and Alaska have functionally equivalent subdivisions called parishes and boroughs, respectively. The specific governmental powers of counties vary widely between the states, with many providing some level of services to civil townships, municipalities, and unincorporated areas. Certain municipalities are in multiple counties; New York City is uniquely partitioned into five counties, referred to at the city government level as boroughs. Some municipalities have been consolidated with their county government to form consolidated city-counties, or have been legally separated from counties altogether to form independent cities. Conversely, those counties in Connecticut, Rhode Island, eight of Massachusetts's 14 counties, and Alaska's Unorganized Borough have no government power, existing only as geographic distinctions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Fairfield, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

New Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,579 at the 2020 census. New Fairfield is one of five towns that surround Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut. The town is located 55 miles (89 km) northeast of New York City, making it part of the New York metropolitan area. The town is part of the Western Connecticut Planning Region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Bridgeport</span> Metropolitan statistical area in Connecticut, United States

Stamford-Bridgeport-Norwalk is a metropolitan area in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The area is located in Southwestern Connecticut. In its most conservative form the area consists of the city of Bridgeport and five surrounding towns—Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford, and Trumbull. This definition of the Stamford area has a population of more than 305,000 and is within the Stamford -Bridgeport-Norwalk-Danbury metropolitan statistical area, which consists of all of Fairfield County, Connecticut. The estimated 2015 county population was 948,053. The area is numbered as part of the New York-Newark Combined Statistical Area NY-NJ-CT-PA by the United States Census Bureau.

Connecticut shares with the five other New England states a governmental structure known as the New England town. From 1666 to 1960, Connecticut had a system of county governments, which each had limited powers given to it by the General Assembly. They were abolished by Public Act 152 in 1960. Connecticut also had a system of sheriffs' offices until October 2000, when those were also abolished.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Councils of governments in Connecticut</span> Subdivision of Connecticut, United States

In Connecticut, councils of governments, also known as COGs, are regional planning organizations that bring together the chief elected officials or professional managers from member municipalities in Connecticut. Since 2015 and 2022, the Connecticut planning regions served by COGs have been recognized as county equivalents under state and federal law respectively, superseding the eight legacy counties in the state for most federal funding and statistical purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (NECCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The Capitol Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, Connecticut</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The Greater Bridgeport Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The Naugatuck Valley Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The Northwest Hills Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut, United States. It is served by the coterminous Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Central Connecticut Planning Region</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The South Central Connecticut Planning Region is a planning region in the Councils of governments in Connecticut and a county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous South Central Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments (SCCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Connecticut Planning Region</span> Planning region in Connecticut

The Western Connecticut Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG), one of nine regional councils of governments in Connecticut. Within the region, there are two Metropolitan Planning Organizations, South Western CT MPO and the Housatonic Valley MPO.

References

  1. 1 2 Clark, George Larkin (1914). A History of Connecticut: Its People and Institutions. G. P. Putnam's Sons. p.  1. a history of Connecticut.
  2. ↑ An Overview of County Government Archived July 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , National Association of Counties website, accessed January 5, 2008
  3. ↑ https://www.cga.ct.gov/PS98/rpt%5Colr%5Chtm/98-R-0086.htm#:~:text=Because%20the%20state%20and%20local,a%20viable%20source%20of%20government. "Because the state and local governments had historically wielded substantial authority within Connecticut, county governments never achieved the authority needed to gain a stronghold as a viable source of government."
  4. ↑ "State Marshals Directory - CT Judicial Branch".
  5. ↑ "Connecticut Judicial District Map". jud.ct.gov. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Proposed Change to County Equivalents in Connecticut" (PDF). US Census Bureau.
  7. ↑ https://portal.ct.gov/Office-of-the-Governor/News/Press-Releases/2022/06-2022/Governor-Lamont-Announces-Census-Bureau-Approves-Proposal-for-Planning-Regions Governor Lamont Announces U.S. Census Bureau Approves Proposal for Connecticut's Planning Regions To Become County Equivalents
  8. ↑ "Change to County-Equivalents in the State of Connecticut". Federal Register . June 6, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Change to County-Equivalents in the State of Connecticut". Federal Register . June 6, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ "EPA County FIPS Code Listing". EPA.gov. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2008.
  11. ↑ "Connecticut State Register and Manual, Section VI: Counties". Connecticut Official State Website (Office of Secretary of State).
  12. 1 2 3 National Association of Counties. "NACo – Find a county". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 30, 2008.
  13. ↑ Beatty, Michael (2001). County Name Origins of the United States . McFarland Press. ISBN   0-7864-1025-6.
  14. ↑ "Connecticut QuickFacts". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2022.

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