Middletown, Connecticut

Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the south-central part of the state, 16 miles (26 km) south of Hartford. It was founded in 1650 and incorporated the town of Mattabeseck in 1651. It received its present name in 1653 and was incorporated as a city in 1784. Originally a busy sailing port and then an industrial center, it is now largely a residential city and college town, the home of Wesleyan University. In 1910, 11,851 people were residents of the city. In 1940, 26,495 people lived here. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 43,167.

Middletown today

In recent decades, Middletown has focused on balancing the needs and comforts of its residents with the industrial development required to help fund services. These efforts date at least to 1931, when the city was one the first in America to establish a planning board. Progress continues under the leadership of the current mayor, Domenique S. Thornton. Currently the Main Street Market development continues to revitalize the downtown area. In addition to Pratt and Whitney, Aetna Life and Casualty is a major employer, while both Middlesex Community and Technical College and the Wilcox School of Nursing support the town's reputation as an educational center. Meanwhile, Sunshine Dairy continues to represent Middletown's agricultural heritage. Adjacent to the town is Powder Ridge Ski Resort, on Powder Hill.

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Located on the western border of the city, in an area known as Westlake, is an 84 house community known as The Farms. This architectural award winning community was developed in 1969 by George Achenbach and was one of the first communities in Connecticut designed for cluster living, with open areas designated as common land.

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