By mid-century, White River Junction, one of Hartford’s many diverse villages, was the region’s most important railroad center. Within other areas of Hartford, abundant waterpower allowed for substantial development of manufacturing at Quechee, Dewey’s Mills, Hartford Village, and Wilder. Like other towns in the Connecticut River valley, agriculture flourished in the town’s rural areas. By the mid-20th century, two of the Northeast’s most important new interstate highways crossed within Hartford’s borders.
Background Information
The Connecticut River flows south through New England, dividing Vermont and New Hampshire before flowing into Long Island Sound. First settled in 1637, Hartford is the largest inland city in Connecticut and the second largest city on the Connecticut River.