Farmington, Connecticut

Farmington is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 23,641. It is home to Carrier Corporation and Carvel.

Related Topics:
Hartford County, Connecticut - 2000 - Carrier Corporation - Carvel

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Farmington was settled in 1640 and incorporated in 1645. It is often considered an affluent suburb of Hartford and it is linked to the state capital by public transit. The town of Farmington is located in Central Connecticut, in Hartford County and is the oldest inland settlement west of the Connecticut River. It was first settled in 1640 by residents of Hartford. The town and the river were given their present names in 1645, and that year is considered the incorporation date of the town. The boundaries were enlarged several times after that date, making the town by far the largest in the Connecticut Colony. It has been called the "mother of towns" because its area has been divided to produce nine central Connecticut towns. It is home to the University of Connecticut Health Center, where over 4,000 people work, making it the largest employer in the town.

Related Topics:
1640 - 1645 - Hartford - University of Connecticut

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Farmington is a very historic town. Main Street is lined with many historic and architecturally significant buildings, some dating back to the 17th century. At one point, during the revolutionary war, George Washington stayed in Farmington calling it, "the village of pretty houses." Furthermore, French troops under General Rochambeau camped in Farmington on their way to the Battle of Gettysburg. During the Civil War Farmington was an active abolitionist community. Many homes in the historic village section were safe houses on the underground railroad. Farmington was on one of several routes to the free north and fugitive slaves going north through Connecticut had to pass through Farmington earning the town the nickname "Grand Central Station." In 1841, 38 Mendi Africans and Cinque, the leader of their famous Amistad slave revolt, were housed and educated in Farmington while they awaited their return to Africa. The Hill-Stead Museum, completed in 1901 and designed by Theodate Pope Riddle, is known for its colonial revival architecture. Its 19 rooms hold a nationally-recognized collection of Impressionist paintings by such masters as Manet, Monet, Whistler, Degas and Cassatt. It is a National Historic Landmark. Also, Miss Porter's School, an exclusive college preparatory school for girls, is in Farmington. The school, whose buildings occupy much of the village center, is a significant historic and cultural institution in its own right. Founded in 1843 by educational reformer Sarah Porter, Miss Porter?s has long been considered one of the finest preparatory schools for girls in the country. Famous alumni include Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis and Lilly Pulitzer.

Related Topics:
1901 - Theodate Pope Riddle - National Historic Landmark - Miss Porter's School

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Farmington was once a prosperous city until the destruction of the Farmington Canal, at which point it became a small suburb of Hartford. The town also includes the entirety of the borough of Unionville.

Related Topics:
Farmington Canal - Hartford

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The rapper 50 Cent purchased a home in Farmington in 2004. At 56,000 square feet (5,200 m²), it is one of the largest private residences in the Connecticut. The mansion formerly belonged to heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson and was handed over to his ex-wife in a divorce settlement for one dollar.

Related Topics:
50 Cent - Mike Tyson

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Interstate 84 passes through the eastern edge of the town. The sprawling Westfarms mall is also located on this end of town. The mall houses anchor stores Nordstrom, Filenes, Lord and Taylor, and JCPenney as well as a number of high end retailers.

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