New Britain, Connecticut (pop. 74,135), often called the Hardware City, has long been a producer of builders’ hardware and carpenters’ tools. New Britain lies in central Connecticut, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southwest of Hartford. Today, many factories in New Britain still focus on the production of small hardware items.
The New Britain Museum of American Art is known for its extensive collection of American paintings. Central Connecticut State University, founded in 1849, is in the city. It includes the Copernican Observatory and Planetarium. New Britain was settled in 1687 and became a city in 1870. It has a mayor-council government.
