City history
A journey through the timekeeping, colonial roots, and industrial evolution of Hartford, Connecticut.
Chapter one
Earliest documented name
"Place of the deer crossing"
No specific indigenous name for this settlement site is reliably documented; the city was established by English settlers in 1636.
Hart (deer) ford
Named after Hartford, England, by the original English colonial settlers.
Chapter two
The transition from local solar time to standardized time zones across the United States was implemented by the railroad industry.
The United States introduced daylight saving time to conserve energy during the First World War.
Chapter three
English settlers founded the settlement on the banks of the Connecticut River.
Hartford began its transformation into a global hub for the insurance industry.
The city experienced a major boom in manufacturing and industrial production.
Significant infrastructure and urban renewal projects reshaped the city center.