Hamden, CT

Hamden, Connecticut, is an average-sized city of around 58,000 in the south-central region of the state between New York and Boston. Hamden is a mix of urban, suburban and rural areas and is known for its New England charm. Hamden's origins date back to 1638 and the town is nicknamed the "Land of the Sleeping Giant." This nickname refers to the series of hills whose forested contours depict the head, chest, legs and feet of a giant.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

The neighborhoods in Hamden can be divided into three regions. Those include downtown, suburban Hamden and north Hamden.

Hamden Memorial Town Hall is at the center of downtown Hamden, and its entrance is supported by regal-looking Corinthian columns. A clock tower sits atop the Hamden Memorial Town Hall. There are plans to renovate the town hall as well as to build a connecting police station. Also in the works is a parking structure that will provide one level for police and city vehicles and one level for public use.

Freedom Park, adorned with a fountain and a memorial calling for world peace in multiple languages, is right across the street from the town hall.

Spring Glen is a popular family-oriented neighborhood in suburban Hamden with a highly rated school system. Westwood, Whitneyville, Centerville, Augerville and Highwood form a network of suburban neighborhoods in Hamden.

North Hamden is much more rural than the rest of the town where Sleeping Giant National Park is located. The Mill River flows through the northern section of town and into Lake Whitney Dam, which runs out into the Long Island Sound.

Mount Carmel is the area where Quinnipiac University is located. The hill that earned the town the name "The Sleeping Giant" is located in the rural part of this neighborhood.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The city of Hamden enjoys a fairly stable economy. The number of jobs in Hamden has more than doubled since 2007. The unemployment rate in the city is 7.1 percent.

Hamden is home to the four-year college Quinnipiac University, which makes education the leading industry in town.

Health care is another prominent industry, and Harborside Health Care is another of the town's largest employers.

FOR VISITORS

• Eli Whitney Museum, once a factory of the eponymous inventor, celebrates and teaches the art of invention and design. The museum offers educational opportunities for children and teachers. After inventing the cotton gin, Whitney built a factory in Hamden, as a waterfall he had spotted there looked like a good source of energy. He brought his revolutionary idea of interchangeable parts to the factory and changed the production of goods forever. The inventor built homes for his workers in a community that was called Whitneyville. This is thought to be the first time in American history an employer constructed housing for his own workers. The neighborhood of Whitneyville still exists today.
• Sleeping Giant National Park has a great number of hiking trails that lead to a stone tower observatory, which gives a wonderful view of the New England landscape. The all-volunteer staff maintains the more than 1,500 acres of federally protected land. The Sleeping Giant Mountain (also known as Mount Carmel) has a peak of 739 feet and from the north and south, the mountain can be imagined to be a slumped, sleeping figure. The mountain is popular among hikers for its breathtaking views and rugged terrain. Other activities such as fishing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, rock climbing and picnicking take place regularly. The park is protected as a National Park by the government, which has held off attempts at economic expansion that would threaten the welfare of the land.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

The Hamden Symphony Orchestra has 50 volunteer members who perform in a number of concerts a year. The orchestra is affiliated with Quinnipiac University and the faculty and students are invited to participate. Performances are held at Southern Connecticut State University.

EDUCATION

• Quinnipiac University is a private college that offers undergraduate, graduate and professional classes, enrolling 8,000 students annually. The university is also home to the nationally renowned Quinnipiac polling station that is often cited as a highly credible source by news media outlets. The college has a tremendous effect on the town of Hamden. More than 8,000 students, faculty and staff bring revenue to the town's stores, restaurants and businesses. Because the college is there, the town benefits from extra tax revenues from the state as well as extra employment in its city government for Quinnipiac students. The university has awarded 12 scholarships a year to students in the Hamden area who excel academically, and the law school gives free legal assistance to the elderly and economically disadvantaged. Because the university is Hamden's biggest employer, the town is highly invested in the school's success.
• Paier College of Art is a four-year college for the study of the arts - including fine arts, illustration, photography and more. The school combines a focus on both traditional art and graphic design in the belief that the fundamentals must be mastered by its students in order for them become successful artists in their desired fields. The school also encourages the study of literary arts, providing classes beyond the paintbrush and into literature. The school has a history of producing successful, well-trained artists.

LOCAL MEDIA

• Hamden Chronicle
• Hamden Daily News (online only)