Town #1: New Britain

The first town I lived in after moving to Connecticut was New Britain. I spent four years there and it will always remain as one of my favorite towns in Connecticut. Sure, it has its problems, and most state residents stigmatize it, but it felt the most "real" out of all the places I spent time.

There is a lot of really interesting history about New Britain. There is quite a bit of industrial history too. Stanley Tools was started in New Britain. The wire hanger was invented here. It's also where basketball dribbling was perfected and racquetball was born.

Some things we still we still intend intend to check it out eventually:
Hole in the Wall Theater
Avery Beverages
Industrial Museum

The town is quite diverse with the white population being about 68 percent. That's pretty unusual for a place in Connecticut. New Britain also has the largest Polish community in the state.

Some great things to see and do in New Britain:

Walnut Hills Park: My favorite park in the state. Great mix of steep hills, rolling meadows, and level ground with the walking path that is about a mile.

New Britain Museum of American Art: The oldest art museum in the country devoted to American art. It's one of the best museums in the state.

Great Taste: A Zagat rated Chinese restaurant. Considered the best place for Chinese food in the state. Very formal. Definitely won't be your usual Chinese food experience.

New Britain stats:
Population: 71,254
Size: 13.4 square miles
Villages/Other Communities: n/a
Historic Places: Burritt Hotel, City Hall Monument District, Commercial Trust Company Building, Erwin Home for Worthy and Indigent Women, First Lutheran Church of the Reformation, Francis H. Holmes House, Masonic Temple, New Britain Opera House, St. Mary's Parochial School, Sloper-Wesoly House, South Congregational Church, Tephereth Israel Synagogue, Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Walnut Hill District, Walnut Hill Park, Washington School, West End Historic District