- Like it's the state where the famous Hamburger Helper was created?
There are so many fun facts about the state of Connecticut, there was enough for more articles! Like did you know that ESPN first started in Connecticut?
- The first American dictionary was made by Noah Webster in Connecticut. The first dictionary was published in 1806 and an expanded and comprehensive version was published in 1826.
- In Wethersfield, Connecticut, the is the oldest continuously planted municipal rose garden in the entire country. This town also played a big part in introducing onions to the United States in the 17th century.
- Connecticut is the third-smallest state by area, only larger than Rhode Island and Delaware.
- Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe were neighbors in Hartford.
- Connecticut means long tidal river and it comes from the Algonquian word quinetucket, translated to long tidal river, upon the long river or beside the long, tidal river.
- New Haven is filled with the most biking commuters on all of the East Coast, so much so that many of the old railroad tracks have been converted to bike trails throughout the years. Did you know this about the state of Connecticut?
- The longest river of New England flows through Connecticut and has traditionally been the way of trade and transportation for the state.
- Though Connecticut is one of the three smallest states, it’s one of the most densely populated states in the whole country, as the fourth most populated.
- The first of the witch trials happened in Windsor in 1662. (Which was before the Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts.
- Yankee Doodle is the official song of the state of Connecticut and different from the rest of the states songs because it doesn’t reference the state’s name. This is a funny fun fact about the state of Connecticut!
- Mark Twain wrote a lot of his novels in Connecticut like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Fin. The author lived in Hartford for 17 years.
- The state insect of Connecticut isn’t even a native insect to the state. Does this surprise you? The praying mantis has been the state insect since 1972, though it’s from Europe and Africa.
- There is a national park dedicated to painting in the state of Connecticut called Weir Farm National Historic Site in Wilton. It’s at the home of Julian Weir, a leader in American Impressionism.
- Dutch explorer Adriaen Block from the Netherlands first came to the area in 1614 to explore and travel up the Connecticut River.
- Norwich, Connecticut was home of the first lollipop-making machine. It happened in 1908 when George Smith invented it, automating the process of adding candy to a stick.
- ESPN first started in 1985 in Bristol, Connecticut.
- Hamburger Helper, the dinner dish itself, was invented in Seymour, Connecticut by General Mills in 1971.
- Litchfield County in Connecticut is thought to be the state’s UFO capital. During the 1960s and ‘70s, there were sightings and encounters in the area, making it somewhat of a hot spot.
- Connecticut was the first place to use anesthesia in 1847 and the first man to use it was Horace Wells from Hartford, Connecticut.
- Matches, or friction matches as they were first called, were invented in New
Haven. The friction match, which was considered a significant innovation in fire-starting, was invented in 1830 by Alpheus Hyatt and it revolutionized starting fires. - Connecticut used to have a state law restricting any public entertainment on Sundays. This included theater performances and sports games encouraging reflection and rest on Sundays.
- Mystic Seaport is the largest maritime museum in the United States, founded in 1929 and remains one of the most popular attractions in the state.
Which of these are your favorite fun facts about the state of Connecticut? Let me know in the comments!