Communities
Hartford is comprised of 17 neighborhoods including Asylum Hill, Barry Square, Behind the Rocks, Blue Hills, Clay/Arsenal, Downtown, Frog Hollow, North East, North Meadows, Parkville, Sheldon/Charter Oak, South Green, South Meadows, South End, South West, Upper Albany, and West End.
Asylum Hills was a prominent residential district in the 1840's as wealthy families sought more spacious homes outside of the city. Throughout the 19th century, impressive homes were constructed, many of which remain today.
Barry Square has a good mix of residential and complimenting commercial properties. The residents of Barry Square are a multicultural mix who enjoy the community atmosphere of their community.
Also known as Charter Oak-Zion, Behind the Rocks was named for the rocky outcropping that serves as the western border of the Trinity College campus. At the turn of the 20th century, trolley lines first opened up this neighborhood for residential development.
Located in the northeast corner of Blue Hills is a large percentage of the campus of the University of Hartford. The University is an active and important member of the neighborhood.
Clay Arsenal is one of Hartford's oldest neighborhoods, developed in the middle and late 19th century. After World War II, the area became popular with working-class Puerto-Rican families who had come to work in the tobacco fields.
Frog Hollow takes its name from the marshy conditions in the low land areas. Ethnic groups calling the neighborhood home have been diverse. They have included Swedish, Danish, German, Irish, French Canadian, Greek and Puerto Rican.
The North East neighborhood is bounded by Spring Grove Cemetery to the south, the railroad yards to the east, and Keney Park to the north and west. Since the 1890s the neighborhood has been primarily residential, with small trades people.
The North Meadows has become a center for business and industry, with large parcels of land, and convenient access to Interstate 91 and Downtown Hartford. The Sheldon/ Charter Oak neighborhood is significant to Hartford's history as it was the site of the original colonial settlement in 1623.
The early population of Park Hallow was mainly comprised of working class Irish, French Canadian, Scandinavian and German. Today, the neighborhood has of a large population of Portuguese.
The South Green neighborhood is adjacent to Downtown's southern border. Congress Street is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Greek Revival and Italianate buildings line both sides of the street, accommodating both residential and commercial uses.
The South Meadows is an industrial and commercial area in the southeast section of Hartford. Adjacent to the Connecticut River, it has a variety of private industrial, commercial, and wholesale businesses.
The South End neighborhood grew rapidly after World War I. The area along Franklin Avenue also became known as Little Italy, with restaurants, bakeries, markets and social clubs. The annual Italian Feast continues here to this day.
Housing booms following each World War contributed to the growth of the South West neighborhood. Today, the community is a low density residential area, inhabited by middle income households who own their own homes.
From colonial days until the end of the 19th century, Upper Albany was primarily farmland. Today, the neighborhood is predominantly comprised of African American, Puerto Rican, and West Caribbean residents.
Five sections of the West End neighborhood are listed on the National Register of Historic Districts. Single, two, and three-family homes comprise much of the neighborhood's residences. The community is also home to the University of Connecticut School of Law and the Hartford Seminary.