New Haven

New Haven, the chief city and seaport of Connecticut, and capital of New Haven county, at the head of New Haven Bay, 4 miles from Long Island Sound, and 73 miles by rail ENE. of New York. Its broad streets are shaded with elms, and the public squares, parks, and gardens, with its handsome public and private edifices, make it one of the most beautiful of American cities. It is the seat of Yale College (q.v.), and contains also the Sheffield scientific school, the Hopkins grammar-school (1660), and thirty-four public schools. Its other public buildings include the former state-house, the city hall, United States government building, and about sixty churches. The harbour has a jetty and a breakwater surmounted by a lighthouse, and the port has a large coasting trade. But New Haven is of more consequence as a manufacturing town, employing many thousands of hands in its large works, and producing hardware, wire, locks, clocks, cutlery, firearms, corsets, india-rubber goods, carriages, furniture, paper, matches, musical instruments, &c. New Haven was settled in 1638 by a company from London, and the colony was not united to that of Connecticut until 1662; and till 1873 it was recognised as, jointly with Hartford, the capital of the state. It was incorporated as a town about 1665, and chartered as a city in 1784; and it retains a town as well as a city administration, choosing selectmen, &c., besides a mayor, aldermen, and council. Pop. (1850) 22,529; (1880) 62,882; (1890) 85,981.