Connecticut’s town names tell a story of both English roots and Indigenous presence. In the early years, founders chose names that often honored their old homes in England, like Windsor and Hartford. After 1700, the General Assembly began to formalize these communities, granting them the powers of incorporation. Unlike Massachusetts, where church membership defined political life, Connecticut towns developed a broader civic structure even as churches remained central to community identity. Many Native names—Housatonic, Quinebaug, and others—survive in rivers, hills, and valleys, reminders of the people who first named the landscape. Together these names trace the layered history of the colony and the state that followed.
In the earliest decades of Connecticut settlement, before 1700, the colonial government took little direct role in forming towns. The General Court typically confined itself to ratifying the name of a settlement, often chosen by a prominent founder who wished to preserve the memory of his English birthplace. Towns functioned without formal charters, but in October 1700 the General Assembly began granting collective powers in what amounted to incorporation. The record for Lebanon declared that its inhabitants would hold “all such immunities, privileges and powers, as generally other townes within this Colonie have and doe enjoy,” setting a precedent that endured.
This evolution reflected both English legal tradition and New England practice. In England, as Sir Edward Coke wrote in his Commentaries upon Littleton (1628), a town was not recognized in law unless it possessed a church and carried out the rites of Christian worship. In New England, entire congregations had migrated with their ministers, bringing with them not only religious identity but also the authority to govern local affairs. Massachusetts parishes transplanted to Connecticut became the nuclei of towns, though in Connecticut the political community was never restricted to church membership. From 1636 onward, the colony’s records show a distinctive pattern: towns assumed both civil and ecclesiastical roles, but suffrage remained broader than in Massachusetts, an early sign of separation between church and state.
At the same time, the landscape carried the imprint of Indigenous languages. The peoples of southern New England, largely speakers of Algonquian dialects, had left a dense network of place-names. Because their languages were oral, spellings varied widely when English settlers attempted to capture them in writing. A single name might appear in several forms within a few years, shaped by dialect differences, English pronunciation, or simple transcription errors. The original meaning often became obscured.
Colonists also freely repurposed Native words. A term that once described a specific hill or watercourse might be applied to a much broader area, or even to an entirely different feature, such as a pond or a tract of land. Consequently, while English settlers named their towns after familiar places in the Old World—Windsor, Hartford, Norwich—the Native vocabulary survived more often in the names of rivers, mountains, and other natural landmarks: Housatonic, Quinebaug, Naugatuck, and Moosup. These hybrid patterns of naming reflect the layered history of colonial Connecticut: an English framework of municipal government imposed upon a landscape already mapped in Native speech.
The Connecticut Colony in order of town establishment or incorporation
1. Windsor – First settled by a company from Plymouth Colony, who arrived on September 26, 1633, bringing with them the frame and materials for a trading house. They erected it about 80 to 100 rods below the mouth of the Farmington River, on land previously purchased from the Native proprietors. By the summer of 1635, they had acquired the Great Meadow north of the Farmington and placed cattle and servants on the property. In 1637–1638, these Plymouth men sold their holdings to settlers from Dorchester, Massachusetts, who had begun arriving in 1635. The new community was first called Dorchester but, in 1637, received the name Windsor, after Windsor in Berkshire, then a royal residence.
2. Wethersfield – First settled in 1634 under the name Watertown. Renamed Wethersfield in 1637 after the parish in Essex, England. The Indigenous name was Pyquag.
3. Hartford – Site of a Dutch trading post, the House of Hope, established in 1633. English settlement began in 1635 under the name Newtown. Renamed Hartford in 1637 after Hertford in Hertfordshire, England. The Indigenous name was Suckiag.
4. Deep River – Originated as part of Saybrook, where a fort was built in 1635 and a settlement soon followed. Named for Lord Say and Lord Brook in 1639. Renamed Deep River by act of the General Assembly, July 1, 1947. Indigenous name: Pattaquasset.
5. New Haven – Founded in April 1638. Formally named in August 1640 after Newhaven, a port town in Sussex, England. The Indigenous name was Quinnipiac.
6. Milford – Settled in early 1639. Officially named in November 1640. Indigenous name: Wepawaug.
7. Guilford – Established in 1639. Named in July 1643 after Guildford parish in Surrey, England. Indigenous name: Menunkatuck.
8. Stratford – Settled in 1639. Named in 1643, either for Stratford-le-Bow in Essex or more likely Stratford-upon-Avon. Indigenous name: Cupheag.
9. Fairfield – Settled in 1639. The name may reflect its “fair fields” or may derive from Fairfield in Kent. Indigenous name: Uncoway.
10. Greenwich – Settled and named on July 18, 1640, after Greenwich near London. Originally under New York jurisdiction, it was transferred to Connecticut in 1656. Indigenous name: Patuquapaen.
11. Stamford – Settled in 1641. Named in 1642 for Stamford in Lincolnshire, England. Indigenous name: Rippowam.
12. Farmington – Settlement began in 1640. Incorporated and named in December 1645. The record states: “Tunxis shall be called Farmington,” meaning “farming town.”
13. New London – Settled in 1646 as Pequot. Renamed New London in March 1658 after London, England. Earlier Indigenous name: Nameaug.
14. Norwalk – Settled in 1649. Incorporated in September 1651, when the record states: “Norwaukee shall bee a townee.” The name may come from the Algonquian noyank (“point of land”) or more likely from the Indigenous name Naramauke.
15. Stonington – Settlement began in 1649. Called Souther Towne by Massachusetts in October 1658; renamed Stonington by Connecticut in 1666. Indigenous names included Pawcatuck and Mistack.
16. Middletown – Incorporated in 1651. Named in 1653 for its position between the upper Connecticut River towns and Saybrook. Indigenous name: Mattabeset.
17. Norwich – Settled in 1659. Accepted as a legal township in May 1662. Named after Norwich in Norfolk, England. Indigenous name: Mohegan.
18. Lyme – Set off from Saybrook in 1665. Named in May 1667 for Lyme Regis in Dorsetshire, England. Earlier known as East Saybrook.
19. Killingworth – Named Kenilworth in May 1667 after the town in Warwickshire, England. Indigenous name: Hammonassett.
20. Haddam – Settled in 1662. Incorporated and named in October 1668 after Much Hadham parish in Hertfordshire, England.
21. Simsbury – Settled and named in May 1670, possibly for Sim (or Simon) Wolcott, a leading settler, or from Simondsbury in Dorset, England.
22. Wallingford – Set off from New Haven and named in May 1670 after Wallingford in Berkshire, England. Previously called East River or New Haven Village.
23. Woodbury – Named in May 1673 for its wooded landscape. Indigenous name: Pomperaug.
24. Suffield – Short for “Southfield.” Established in 1674 as part of Massachusetts. Annexed to Connecticut in May 1749.
25. Derby – Settled in 1651. Named in May 1675 after Derby, England. Indigenous names: Paugasset or Paugasuck.
26. Enfield – Granted as a township by Massachusetts in May 1683 under the name Enfield, from Enfield in Middlesex, England. Formerly known as Freshwater. Annexed to Connecticut in May 1749.
27. Branford – Settled in 1639. Named in 1653 for Brentford in Middlesex, England. Set off from New Haven in 1685. Indigenous name: Totoket.
28. Waterbury – Settled in May 1674. Incorporated and named in May 1686, the name reflecting its abundant streams. Indigenous name: Mattatuck.
29. Danbury – Settled in 1685. Named in October 1687 for Danbury parish in Essex, England, reportedly by Governor Robert Treat. Incorporated in May 1702. Its earliest English name was Swampfield. Indigenous name: Paquiage or Pahquioque.
30. Preston – Incorporated in 1686 and named in 1687, likely for Preston in Suffolk, in honor of the Parke family.
31. Woodstock – Originally settled as New Roxbury (Massachusetts) in 1686. Renamed Woodstock in March 1690 after Woodstock in Oxfordshire, England. Annexed to Connecticut in May 1749.
32. Windham – Settled in 1686. Incorporated in May 1692. Named either for Windham in Sussex or for Wymondham in Norfolk, England.
33. Glastonbury – Set off from Wethersfield in June 1692. Incorporated in May 1693 and named for Glastonbury in Somersetshire, England.
34. Colchester – Settlement began in 1699, initially called Jeremiah’s Farms. Named in October 1699 for Colchester, a borough and port in Essex, England.
35. Plainfield – Settled in 1689. Name was descriptive of its open lands. Authorized as a town in October 1700.
36. Lebanon – Named in 1697 for the biblical Lebanon (“white” in Hebrew, referring to snow-covered mountains). Incorporated in October 1700.
37. Mansfield – Settled in 1686. Set off from Windham and incorporated in October 1702. Named for Major Moses Mansfield of New Haven. Originally called Ponde-town. Indigenous name: Noubesetuck.
38. Canterbury – Settled in 1690. Set off from Plainfield and incorporated in October 1703. Named for Canterbury in Kent, England. Indigenous name: Peagscomsueck.
39. Durham – Settled in 1699. Named in May 1704 for Durham, town and county in England. Indigenous name: Cockingchaug or Coginchaug.
40. Groton – Incorporated from New London in May 1705. Named for Groton in Suffolk, England, the ancestral home of Governor John Winthrop.
41. Hebron – Settled in 1704. Named in 1707 after the biblical Hebron. Incorporated in May 1708. The Hebrew root has been variously translated as “association,” “league,” or “confederacy.”
42. Killingly – Settled in 1700. Incorporated in May 1708. Named for Killingly Manor near Pontefract, Yorkshire, England. Indigenous name: Aspinock.
43. Ridgefield – Settled in 1708. Incorporated in 1709. Named for the ridges that dominate its landscape. Indigenous name: Caudatowa.
44. Ashford – Settled in 1710, first called New Scituate. Named in October 1710, probably after Ashford in Kent, England. Incorporated in October 1714.
45. Newtown – Named in May 1708 simply as “a new town.” Incorporated in October 1711. Indigenous names: Pootatuck or Quonapague.
46. Coventry – Settled in 1709. Named in October 1711 for Coventry in Warwickshire, England. Incorporated in May 1712.
47. New Milford – Settled from Milford in 1707. Named in October 1703 but not incorporated until October 1712. Indigenous name: Weantinock or Weantinogue.
48. Pomfret – First settled in 1686. Named and incorporated in May 1713 for Pontefract (commonly pronounced Pomfret) in Yorkshire, England. Indigenous name: Mashamoquet.
49. Tolland – Named in May 1715 and incorporated in May 1722. The name came from Tolland in Somersetshire, England, home of Henry Wolcott, ancestor of Governor Roger Wolcott.
50. Litchfield – Named and incorporated in May 1719 after Lichfield in Staffordshire, England. Indigenous name: Bantam.
51. Stafford – Settled in 1719 and named for Stafford, a town in Staffordshire, England.
52. Voluntown – Granted in May 1708 to volunteers of the Narragansett War, hence “Volunteers’ Town.” Settlement began in 1719. Incorporated in May 1721.
53. Bolton – Settled in 1716. Named and incorporated in October 1720, either for Bolton in Lancashire, England, or for the Duke of Bolton.
54. Willington – Purchased in 1720 by a company led by Roger Wolcott. Originally named Wellington in May 1725 for Wellington in Somersetshire, birthplace of Wolcott’s grandfather Henry. Incorporated in May 1727 as Willington.
55. East Haddam – Began as Haddam East Society. Incorporated and named in May 1734. Indigenous name: Macki-moodus.
56. Somers – Set off from Enfield by Massachusetts in July 1734 and named for Lord Somers. Annexed to Connecticut in May 1749. Formerly called East Enfield.
57. Union – First settled in 1727 as the Union Lands. Named in 1732 and incorporated in October 1734, reflecting the union of East Stafford and the State Lands.
58. Harwinton – Settled in 1731. Named in May 1732 from Har(tford) and Win(dsor), the homes of its original proprietors. Incorporated in October 1737.
59. New Hartford – Named in May 1733 after Hartford, from which many proprietors came. Incorporated in October 1738.
60. Canaan – Named in May 1738 after the biblical land of Canaan, “the lowland.” Incorporated in October 1739.
61. Goshen – Named in May 1738 for the biblical land of Goshen in Egypt. Incorporated in October 1739.
62. Kent – Named in May 1738 for Kent County, England. Incorporated in October 1739. Indigenous name: Scatacook.
63. Sharon – Named and incorporated in October 1739 after the biblical plain of Sharon.
64. Cornwall – Named in May 1738 for the southwestern county of Cornwall, England. Incorporated in May 1740.
65. New Fairfield – Settled in 1728 as an offshoot of Fairfield. Named and incorporated in May 1740.
66. Torrington – Named in May 1732 for Torrington in Devonshire, England. Incorporated in October 1740.
67. Salisbury – Named in May 1738 by Rev. Thomas Noyes for Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Incorporated in October 1741. Indigenous name: Weatogue.
68. Norfolk – Named in May 1738 for Norfolk County, England. Incorporated in October 1758.
69. Hartland – Name first recorded in 1733 as Hartford Land, since it was owned by men of Hartford. Incorporated in May 1761.
70. Redding – Originated as a parish called Reading in May 1729, named for Colonel John Read. Incorporated as Redding from Fairfield in May 1767.
71. East Hampton – Originally named Chatham in 1767 for its shipbuilding, recalling Chatham, England. Incorporated from Middletown in October 1767. Renamed East Hampton by act of the General Assembly on May 4, 1915.
72. East Windsor – Settled by 1680. Incorporated from Windsor in May 1768 as East Windsor.
73. Winchester – First surveyed and named in May 1733 for Winchester in Hampshire, England. Incorporated in May 1771. Known locally as the Green Woods.
74. Washington – Incorporated in January 1779 from parts of Kent, Litchfield, New Milford, and Woodbury. Named in honor of George Washington. Formerly the parishes of Judea and New Preston.
75. Barkhamsted – Named in May 1732 for Berkhamstead in Hertfordshire, England. Incorporated in October 1779.
76. Colebrook – Named in May 1732 for Colebrooke in Devonshire, England. Settlement began in 1765. Incorporated in October 1779.
77. Southington – Originated as the South Society of Farmington in October 1726. Incorporated from Farmington in October 1779.
78. Cheshire – First called New Cheshire in May 1724 after Cheshire, England. Incorporated from Wallingford in May 1780. Earlier known as West Farms on Mill River.
79. Watertown – Formerly called Westbury. Incorporated from Waterbury in May 1780, with its name suggested by the parent town.
80. East Hartford – Incorporated from Hartford in October 1783. Indigenous name: Podunk.
81. Woodbridge – Set off from New Haven and Milford in January 1784. Named for Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge, its pastor. Earlier known as the parish of Amity.
82. Berlin – Incorporated in May 1785 from parts of Farmington, Middletown, and Wethersfield. Named after Berlin, Prussia. Previously called Kensington.
83. Bristol – Incorporated from Farmington in May 1785. Named after Bristol, England. Earlier called New Cambridge.
84. East Haven – Originally Iron Works Village. Named in May 1707 and incorporated from New Haven in May 1785.
85. Thompson – Named as a parish in 1728 after its chief proprietor, Sir Robert Thompson. Incorporated from Killingly in May 1785.
86. Bozrah – Incorporated from Norwich in May 1786. Given the Hebrew name Bozrah (“enclosure”). Previously New Concord.
87. Brooklyn – Named in 1752 for the “brook line” of the Quinebaug River. Incorporated from Canterbury and Pomfret in May 1786. Earlier known as Mortlake.
88. Franklin – Incorporated from Norwich in May 1786. Named for Benjamin Franklin.
89. Ellington – Name first recorded in 1735, possibly from Ellington in Yorkshire or Huntingdonshire. Incorporated from East Windsor in May 1786. Originally called the Great Swamp.
90. Hamden – Incorporated from New Haven in May 1786. Named for John Hampden, noted English patriot.
91. Lisbon – Incorporated from Norwich in May 1786. Named after Lisbon, capital of Portugal. Earlier known as Newent Parish.
92. Warren – Incorporated from Kent in May 1786. Named in honor of General Joseph Warren, killed at Bunker Hill.
93. Granby – Incorporated from Simsbury in October 1786. Name may honor the Marquis of Granby (Charles Manners) or may derive from Granby, Massachusetts.
94. Hampton – Incorporated in October 1786 from Brooklyn, Canterbury, Mansfield, Pomfret, and Windham. Named for Hampton in Middlesex, England. Previously called Kennedy or Windham Village.
95. Montville – Incorporated from New London in October 1786. The name, French in form, means “mount town.”
96. North Haven – Established as a parish in 1739. Incorporated from New Haven in October 1786.
97. Bethlehem – Organized as a society in October 1739. Named from the biblical Bethlehem (“house of bread”). Incorporated from Woodbury in May 1787.
98. Southbury – First recognized in May 1731 as the south part of Woodbury. Incorporated from Woodbury in May 1787.
99. Weston – Formerly Northfield. Incorporated from Fairfield in October 1787. Name means “west town.” Indigenous name: Aspetuck.
100. Brookfield – Incorporated in May 1788 from portions of Danbury, New Milford, and Newtown. Named in honor of Rev. Thomas Brooks, first pastor. Earlier called Newbury.
101. Shelton – Originally the parish of Ripton. Incorporated from Stratford in January 1789 as Huntington, named for Governor Samuel Huntington. Renamed Shelton on April 15, 1919, in honor of Edward N. Shelton, a leader in the Housatonic Dam project. Indigenous name: Quorum.
102. Sterling – Incorporated from Voluntown in May 1794. Named for Dr. John Sterling, a local resident.
103. Plymouth – Incorporated from Watertown in May 1795. Named by Hezekiah Cook after Plymouth, Massachusetts, where his grandfather had settled. Formerly called Northbury.
104. Wolcott – Incorporated from Southington and Waterbury in May 1796. Named for Governor Oliver Wolcott.
105. Roxbury – First designated in May 1743 as the “rocky part” of Woodbury. Incorporated as a separate town in October 1796.
106. Trumbull – Formerly the parish of Unity and later North Stratford. Incorporated from Stratford in October 1797 and named for Governor Jonathan Trumbull.
107. Oxford – Established as a parish in 1741, named for Oxford, England. Incorporated from Derby and Southbury in October 1798.
108. New Canaan – Originated in 1731 as Canaan Parish. Incorporated from Norwalk and Stamford in May 1801.
109. Waterford – Incorporated from New London in October 1801. The name is descriptive of its setting.
110. Wilton – Organized as a society in 1726 and named for Wilton in Wiltshire, England. Incorporated from Norwalk in May 1802.
111. Sherman – Incorporated from New Fairfield in October 1802. Named for Roger Sherman, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
112. Marlborough – Established as New Marlborough in 1747, possibly named for the Duke of Marlborough or Marlborough, Massachusetts. Incorporated from Colchester, Glastonbury, and Hebron in October 1803. Earlier known as Eastbury.
113. Columbia – Incorporated from Lebanon in May 1804. Given the poetic name Columbia for the United States.
114. Burlington – Formerly called West Woods or West Britain. Incorporated from Bristol in May 1806. The name follows that of Burlington, Vermont, itself derived from the 3rd Earl of Burlington.
115. Canton – Incorporated from Simsbury in May 1806. Name proposed by Ephraim Mills, said to reflect a likeness to a Swiss canton. Previously known as Suffrage.
116. Meriden – First named in a 1664 deed as Meriden Farms, recalling Meriden near Dorking, Surrey. Incorporated from Wallingford in May 1806.
117. Middlebury – Settled as early as 1790 and named for its location between neighboring towns. Incorporated from Southbury, Waterbury, and Woodbury in October 1807.
118. North Stonington – Established as a parish in 1724. Incorporated from Stonington in May 1807.
119. Vernon – Originally North Bolton. Incorporated from Bolton in October 1808 and named for Mount Vernon, Virginia, home of George Washington. Town of Vernon and City of Rockville consolidated, July 1, 1965.
120. Griswold – Incorporated from Preston in October 1815. Named for Governor Roger Griswold.
121. Salem – Hebrew word meaning “peace.” Initially called New Salem, set off from Colchester, Lyme, and Montville. Incorporated in May 1819.
122. Darien – Formerly the parish of Middlesex. Incorporated from Stamford in May 1820 and named for the Isthmus of Darien (Panama).
123. Bridgeport – Originally known as Stratfield and later Newfield. Incorporated from Fairfield and Stratford in May 1821. The name is descriptive of its location on the Pequonnock River. Indigenous name: Pequonnock.
124. Chaplin – Named in 1809 for Deacon Benjamin Chaplin. Incorporated from Windham, Mansfield, and Hampton in May 1822.
125. Orange – Formerly North Milford. Incorporated from Milford and New Haven in May 1822. Named for William of Orange (King William III of England).
126. Manchester – Originated as Orford Parish. Incorporated from East Hartford in May 1823. Named for Manchester, England, reflecting its textile industries.
127. Monroe – Formerly the parish of New Stratford. Incorporated from Huntington in May 1823 and named for President James Monroe.
128. Madison – Originally East Guilford. Incorporated from Guilford in May 1826 and named for President James Madison.
129. Prospect – Formerly Columbia Parish. Incorporated from Cheshire and Waterbury in May 1827. The name reflects its elevated situation and fine views.
130. Avon – Originally Northington. Incorporated from Farmington in May 1830. Named for the Avon River in England.
131. North Branford – Organized as a society in 1768. Incorporated from Branford in May 1831.
132. Bethany – Established as a parish in 1762. Named from the biblical Bethany (“house of dates”). Incorporated from Woodbridge in May 1832.
133. Bloomfield – Formerly Wintonbury. Incorporated from Windsor in May 1835. Name said to honor a Hartford family.
134. Westport – Incorporated from Fairfield, Norwalk, and Weston in May 1835. The name is descriptive. Indigenous name: Saugatuck.
135. Chester – Parish founded in 1640, named for Chester in Cheshire, England. Incorporated from Saybrook in May 1836. Indigenous name: Pattaquonk.
136. Ledyard – Formerly North Groton. Incorporated from Groton in May 1836 and named for Colonel William Ledyard, commander killed at Fort Griswold in 1781.
137. Clinton – Incorporated from Killingworth in May 1838. Named for Governor DeWitt Clinton of New York.
138. East Lyme – Recognized as a parish in 1816. Incorporated from Lyme and Waterford in May 1839.
139. Westbrook – Parish formed in 1810 as the west part of Saybrook. Incorporated in May 1840. Indigenous name: Pochaug.
140. Portland – Originally named Conway. Incorporated from Chatham in May 1841. Renamed for Portland, Dorsetshire, noted for its stone quarries.
141. Rocky Hill – Known earlier as Stepney Parish (named 1826 for a local hill). Incorporated from Wethersfield in May 1843.
142. Naugatuck – Originally part of Waterbury’s South Farms and later Salem Parish or Salem Bridge. Incorporated from Bethany, Oxford, and Waterbury in May 1844. Indigenous Algonquian name meaning “one tree.”
143. Easton – Incorporated from Weston in May 1845. The name reflects its position as the eastern part of Weston.
144. South Windsor – Formerly Windsor Farms. Incorporated from East Windsor in May 1845.
145. Eastford – Originated as the east parish of Ashford (1777). Incorporated in May 1847.
146. Andover – Parish established in 1747, possibly named after Andover, Massachusetts. Incorporated from Coventry and Hebron in May 1848.
147. New Britain – Parish formed in 1754, named for Great Britain. Incorporated from Berlin in May 1850.
148. Seymour – Early names included Rimmon (1670), Chusetown (1735), and Humphreysville (1805). Incorporated from Derby in May 1850 and named for Governor Thomas H. Seymour. Indigenous name: Naugatuck.
149. Cromwell – Formerly Upper Middletown. Incorporated from Middletown in May 1851. Named for Oliver Cromwell.
150. Essex – Organized as a parish in 1820. Incorporated September 13, 1852, as Old Saybrook from Saybrook. Renamed Essex on July 8, 1854. Indigenous name: Patapoug.
151. Old Saybrook – Incorporated from Essex (then called Old Saybrook) on July 8, 1854, and given the name Old Saybrook.
152. West Hartford – Originally known as the West Division of Hartford. Named in 1806. Incorporated from Hartford in May 1854.
153. Windsor Locks – First called Enfield Falls. Named for the canal locks constructed there in 1833. Incorporated from Windsor in May 1854.
154. Bethel – Parish established in 1759. Name from Hebrew Beth-El (“house of God”). Incorporated from Danbury in May 1855.
155. Old Lyme – Incorporated as South Lyme from Lyme in May 1855. Name changed to Old Lyme in 1857.
156. Putnam – Incorporated in May 1855 from Pomfret, Thompson, and Killingly. Named for General Israel Putnam. Indigenous name: Quinebaug.
157. Bridgewater – First named in 1803. Incorporated from New Milford in May 1856. The name is descriptive.
158. Scotland – Named by its first settler, Isaac Magoon, a Scot, in 1706. Set off as a parish in 1732. Incorporated from Windham in May 1857.
159. East Granby – Parish established in 1822. Incorporated from Granby and Windsor Locks in June 1858.
160. North Canaan – Name first recorded in 1813. Incorporated from Canaan in May 1858.
161. Morris – Incorporated from Litchfield in June 1859. Named for James Morris, a prominent citizen.
162. Sprague – Incorporated from Lisbon and Franklin in May 1861. Named for William Sprague, who established a village there.
163. Middlefield – Recognized as a parish in 1744. Incorporated from Middletown in June 1866.
164. Plainville – Earlier called Great Plain (1831). Incorporated from Farmington in July 1869.
165. Beacon Falls – Name adopted in 1856, descriptive of local falls. Incorporated from Bethany, Oxford, Naugatuck, and Seymour in June 1871.
166. Newington – Parish established in 1721, named after Newington in Kent or Stoke-Newington in Middlesex. Incorporated from Wethersfield in July 1871.
167. Thomaston – Incorporated from Plymouth in July 1875. Named in 1866 for Seth Thomas, clock manufacturer.
168. Ansonia – Founded in 1843 as a manufacturing village. Incorporated from Derby in April 1889. Named for Anson G. Phelps.
169. West Haven – Originated about 1720 as the west parish of New Haven. Incorporated from Orange in June 1921.
Here’s a simple text list of the current 169 cities and towns in Connecticut or you could view a list of the 134 names previously used in alphabetical order for these same towns and cities.
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