Connecticut Information and Facts

Official Website: http://www.connecticut.com/

Income

The population of Connecticut in 2002 was 3,458,587. Its rank was 29th in the nation. (The District of Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)

Per Capita Personal Income

In 2002 Connecticut had a per capita personal income of $42,468. This per capita personal income ranked 2nd in the United States and was 137 percent of the national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected a decrease of 0.2 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income of Connecticut was $28,362 and ranked 2nd in the United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of per capita personal income was 4.1 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.

Total Personal Income

In 2002 Connecticut had a total personal income of $146,880,735. This total personal income ranked 22nd in the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of Connecticut was $93,615,183 and ranked 21st in the United States. The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 0.6 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3 percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate of total personal income was 4.6 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.

Components of Personal Income

Total personal income includes net earnings by place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent; and total personal current transfer receipts received by the residents of Connecticut. In 2002 net earnings accounted for 70.6 percent of total personal income (compared with 69.2 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were 17.7 percent (compared with 18.8 in 1992); and personal current transfer receipts were 11.6 percent (compared with 11.9 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings decreased 0.8 percent; dividends, interest, and rent increased 0.9 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased 8.7 percent. From 1992 to 2002 net earnings increased on average 4.8 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 4.0 percent; and personal current transfer receipts increased on average 4.4 percent.

Employment Earnings

Earnings of persons employed in Connecticut increased from $110,533,837 in 2001 to $110,879,335 in 2002, an increase of 0.3 percent. The 2001-2002 national change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth rate from the 1992 estimate of $68,187,239 to the 2002 estimate was 5.0 percent. The average annual growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.

Area - Connecticut is the third smallest state of the Union, with an area of only 14,359 sq km (5544 sq mi), including 417 sq km (161 sq mi) of inland water and 1393 sq km (538 sq mi) of coastal water over which it has jurisdiction. Connecticut is roughly rectangular in shape, except for a narrow strip of land in the southwest that projects westward to within about 19 km (about 12 mi) of New York City. The state has a maximum distance from east to west of 163 km (101 mi) and a greatest distance north to south of 117 km (73 mi). The mean elevation of Connecticut is approximately 150 m (about 500 ft).

Climate - Connecticut has long, hot summers and cold winters. The climate does not vary greatly from place to place, although the northwest corner generally experiences more severe winters. The southwestern coastal area is generally slightly warmer than the rest of the state in summer, and the Taconics are the coldest area in winter. Average July temperatures range from 20° to 22° C (68° to 72° F), but actual daytime temperatures can rise into the lower 30°s C (lower 90°s F). Average January temperatures range from about -4 ° C (about 24 ° F) in the Taconics to about -1 ° C (about 30 ° F) in the southeast. Precipitation (rainfall and snowfall) is evenly distributed throughout the year. Most places receive about 1000 to 1300 mm (about 40 to 50 in) a year. Severe droughts are uncommon. Thunderstorms and hailstorms are likely to occur in summer. In winter, snowfall is heavy, especially in the northwest.

State Flag

State Flower - Mountain Laurel

State Capitol - Hartford
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, a set of laws drawn up by the people of Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield in 1639, served as the colony's first constitution. In 1662 Connecticut received a royal charter. In 1818 the state adopted a new constitution. The state's present constitution was adopted in 1965. To become a law, a proposed constitutional amendment must receive at least a three- fourths majority vote in both houses of the state legislature or be approved by a majority in both houses in two consecutive legislative sessions and must be approved by a majority of voters.

Famous People

Annie Leibovitz photographer, Waterbury
Benedict Arnold American Revolutionary general, Norwich
Benjamin Spock pediatrician, New Haven
Charles Goodyear inventor, New Haven
Charles Ives composer, Danbury
Collis Potter Huntington financier, Harwinton
Dean Acheson statesman, Middletown
Edwin H. Land inventor
Eileen Farrell soprano, Willimantic
Ethan Allan American Revolutionary soldier, Litchfield
Frederick Law Olmsted landscape designer, Hartford
Harriet Beecher Stowe author, Litchfield
Henry Ward Beecher clergyman, Litchfield
John Brown abolitionist, Torrington
John Pierpont Morgan financier, Hartford
Katharine Hepburn actress, Hartford
Kenneth H. Olsen inventor, Stratford
Nathan Hale American Revolutionary officer, Coventry
Noah Webster lexicographer, West Hartford
Oliver Ellsworth jurist, Windsor
P. T. Barnum showman, Bethel
Robert N. Hall inventor, New Haven
Rosa Ponselle soprano, Meriden
Samuel Colt inventor, Hartford