National Connecticut Day
Despite what many people picture when they think of Connecticut it’s actually quite a bit of open land. National Connecticut Day is Near and dear to me. I have lived in the state on 2 separate occasions and it’s quite beautiful. When people picture Connecticut, they often just think of it as a metropolis (think New Haven of Hartford).
As mentioned in a previous post on National Georgia Day, back in 2017, National Calendar Day© began celebrating each state in the order they entered the Union. The fifth state was Connecticut. The state is very rich in history. Let’s take a look at some of that history, shall we?
Contents
Connecticut’s History
Connecticut takes its name from an Algonquian word meaning “land on the long tidal river.” “Nutmeg State,” “Constitution State” and “Land of Steady Habits” are all nicknames that have been applied to Connecticut.
Revolutionary
- Benedict Arnold, whose name has become synonymous with the word “traitor” after he conspired with the British to turn over the post at West Point in exchange for money and a command in the British Army, was born in Norwich, Connecticut. In 1781, he led British troops in the Battle of Groton Heights, which devastated New London, Connecticut.
- The Connecticut-born Revolutionary soldier and spy Nathan Hale, who was hanged by the British in 1776, became Connecticut’s official state hero in 1985. More info here.
Religion
The religion of colonial Connecticut was primarily Puritan. The Puritans were part of the Reform movement and wanted to purify the Anglican Church of corruption. They left Europe for the Americas in search of religious freedom.
The Connecticut Colony was founded in 1636 by Thomas Hooker, who led a group of Puritans to build the town that eventually become Hartford.
Hartford became the center of Connecticut Colony. One year later, John Davenport established New Haven. New Haven was later merged with Hartford in 1662 by King Charles II. Connecticut Colony followed strict moral laws based on the Bible, known as Blue Laws. The Congregational Church developed from the Puritan religion and became established in the colony. Today Connecticut is primarily Protestant. Follow this link for more.
Agriculture
Connecticut’s agricultural roots date back to the crop gardens planted by indigenous peoples who cultivated such staples as the Three Sisters (maize, beans, and squash), sunflowers, and Jerusalem artichokes. European settlers brought their own land-use practices, such as clearing large tracts of land for crops and grazing livestock, and learned new techniques from the region’s Natives. By the late 18th century farming was an economic mainstay for most residents, but by the middle of the 19th century the rise of industry changed the state’s agrarian landscape to an industrial one. Farmland acreage and the number of farms in the state steadily declined well into the 21st century, with recent tallies showing fewer than 5,000 farms. There is, however, a renewed interest in local farming and today’s small farms produce dairy, eggs, tobacco, fruits, and vegetables that contribute to the state’s economy. Follow this link for more.
A few great books on Connecticut
If you missed yesterday’s National Day you can read it here.
Other days to celebrate today:
