Hartford, Connecticut, USA
1854 - Hartford

Hartford, a city, seat of justice of Hart ford county, and semi-capital of Connecticut, is situated on the right bank of the Connecticut river, at the head of sloop navigation, 60 miles from Long Island sound, 30 miles by railroad N. N. E. from New Haven, 124 miles W. S. W. from Boston, and 112 miles N. E. from New York. Lat. 41° 45' 59" N. ; lon. 72° 40 45" W. It is connected with East Hartford, on the opposite side of the river, by a covered bridge 1000 feet long. The chartered limits of the city extend along the W. bank of the river upwards of a mile, and three-quarters of a mile back, including an area of about 700 acres. The site is considerably elevated, and the surface some what broken. There are upwards of 70 streets and alleys, some of which run parallel with the river, and are intersected at right angles by those passing from E. to W.; while others are very irregular. Main street reaches from the northern to the southern extremity of the city, dividing it into two nearly equal parts. On this street, which is broad, and more than a mile in length, are many of the public buildings and churches, and also a large number of the retail stores. State street extends from Maine street to the river ; on it is done most of the wholesale business : near its junction with Main street it divides into two parts, enclosing the state house and public square. Asylum street passes westward to the principal railroad station, and is the seat of an important business, consisting chiefly of cotton and woollen goods of home manufacture. The city is, for the most part, compactly built, principally of brick and freestone, and exhibits much taste and elegance. Among the public buildings the state house, erected in 1792, may be mentioned as the most remarkable. It is a fine structure of the Doric order, 114 feet by 76, with walls 54 feet high. Be sides the legislative halls, it contains apartments for the several courts of the state and county, and numerous public offices. The edifice is adorned with two porticos and a dome, the top of which affords a magnificent view of the city, the river, and the surrounding country. The legislature meets alternately here and at New Haven — the odd years at Hartford. The city hall, fronting on market square, is a handsome building of Grecian architecture, containing the police court room, a large hall for public purposes, and the city market. There are also 2 extensive railroad depots. In 1852 the city contained 21 churches of the various denominations, many of them large and elegant edifices...

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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