The capital city of Connecticut is Hartford. Hartford is the second largest city in the state of Connecticut, Bridge port being ranked the first. Hartford features a population of 1,188,841 and is also the biggest metro of Connecticut. Because of the presence of a large range of insurance firms in this region, Hartford is likewise very commonly referred to as the Insurance capital of the world.
One of the oldest cities in the USA, Hartford is nearly 400 years old and it is probably among its wealthiest cities. Harford proceeded to go on to have a facelift after a long period of stagnation incorporating new commercial ventures through commercial and residential developments, a brand new convention centre, a hotel, a state of the art science centre along with a reclaimed riverfront. Most of these developments have happened in Hartfords downtown area. Hartford continues to be steeped in culture housing the countrys oldest museum of public art known as the Wadsworth Antheneum and its oldest public park known as the Bushnell Park. The news provider of this area, the Hartford Courant is one of the oldest publications.
Hartford is home to one professional sports team. Known as the Hartford Wolf Pack, this team plays professional ice hockey and it is a part of the American Hockey League. The Hartford Wolf pack was established in 1997 once the Hartford Whalers moved on to become the California Hurricane.
They were initially known as the Binghamton Rangers and proceeded to become known as the Binghamton Whalers and also the Providence Reds finally settling on Hartford Wolf Pack. They have made considerable sports news by making to the playoffs for each of their eleven playing seasons. They won the Calder Cup while in the 1999 -2000 season and consider it for being their finest season so far.
Hartford also houses a rugby union club known as the Hartford Wanderers. They were established in 1996 by a group from the University of Connecticut Law School. The groups main intention was to establish a structured social athletic club within the Hartford area. This club has gone onto producing four players that have gone onto play for the National Rugby Team named the United States Eagles. This club has also toured several countries including England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Bermuda, Scotland as well as the Bahamas.
Hartford is additionally very active in the field of college sports. They University of Connecticut has separate mens and womens basketball teams known as the UConn Huskies. They play in the XL Centre situated in Hartford. The XL Centre is amongst the largest college basketball arenas in the United Sates ranking 28th. Initially it was known by the name of Hartford Civic Centre however the naming rights were sold to the XL Capital Insurance Company in December 2007 incorporating the name change.
The Discover Hartford Bicycling and Walking Tour is a unique initiative that made news in Hartford and it has been taken by the Central Connecticut Bicycling Association as a way to promote cycling within the town and promote non-vehicular transport within the city.