GEOGRAPHY

Hartford, Connecticut is a city located in the U.S. state of Connecticut, within Hartford County. The city shares boundaries with the towns of Wethersfield and Windsor. It sits on Long Island Sound just north of New Haven and Greenwich bordered by Westchester County, New York to the north across Long Island Sound. As of 2010, it had a population estimated at 154,860.

The city of Hartford was founded in 1635 by English colonists. The town was initially governed perpetually by its own General Assembly, later becoming a member of the Connecticut Colony and served as the state's capital for 70 years. The settlement soon became a center for manufacturing and trade, but it gained prominence during the 18th century, as one of the five seats of Connecticut's government. Prior to Hartford's incorporation as a city in 1849, it has been known as "Hartford Village". The city serves as the main governmental institution in Greater Hartford and is home to several key corporations, including Pratt & Whitney and American Express.

CLIMATE

Hartford lies on the boundary between northern coastal areas and southern continental areas. Hartford, like the rest of Connecticut, has a humid continental climate with four distinct seasons. It is marked by hot, muggy summers and cold winters with plenty of snowfall. The vegetation is made up of deciduous trees, including oaks and elms, mixed with evergreens in the northeastern part of the city.

DEMOGRAPHICS AND POPULATION

As of 2010, Hartford had an estimated population of 154,860. According to the census bureau's American Community Survey in 2009-2013 estimates, 97.7% were White alone or in combination with one or more races; 1.4% were Black or African American alone; 0.3% were American Indian and Alaska Native alone; 0.5% were Asian alone, 0.1% were Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, and 2.5% were of two or more races. Approximately 93.3% of the city's population was born in Connecticut, while 1.9% were born in Puerto Rico, U.S. Island areas, or born abroad to American parents; 1.1% of the total population was born in other parts of the world (including Europe) to two American parents; 0.9% were born abroad to American parents.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.9 square miles (129.5 km2), of which 49.4 square miles (128.4 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) is water, making it the second-largest city in Connecticut by area, after New Haven. The city has several large areas of parks and preserves scattered throughout the city, providing residents with access to more than 5,000 acres of open space and green space within 10 minutes walk of every part of Hartford.?

MAIN INDUSTRIES

The city of Hartford is home to the headquarters of Pratt & Whitney, American Express, and the University of Connecticut. At one time it was a center of manufacturing. These industries provided jobs for Hartford's residents and helped in the development of Downtown. Today, companies like GE Healthcare are headquartered in Hartford. This allows the city to maintain its employment levels while maintaining new growth from the industry. The city continues to see its share of manufacturing activity, with GE Healthcare recently opening a research campus Downtown. The City is also home to several new technology-based companies, such as Cognizant Technology Solutions and Obermatt Medical Group, which have been opening offices throughout downtown in recent years.?

INCOME LEVELS

According to the 2014 estimates from the American Community Survey, the median household income in Hartford, Connecticut was $32,216; the mean household income was $46,839. About 16.6% of families and 21.6% of individuals were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 35.4% of those under the age of 18 and 10.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.?

TYPES OF HOUSING

Hartford is home to a large number of historic homes. There are over 1,200 beautiful houses in the city itself, and about 8 million square feet of residential space. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority estimates that there are over 67,000 low-income households in the city. This shows that many residents are not able to afford their own housing needs. The vast majority of low- and mid-income housing is found throughout the city's neighborhoods.?