Waterbury (pop. 114,403; met. area pop. 450,376) is one of the largest cities in Connecticut. It lies along the Naugatuck River. Products made in the Waterbury area include brass and copper products, buttons, watches, and machine-shop products. The city also has industries that provide health, financial, and insurance services.
In 1802, Waterbury began manufacturing products made of brass. It later became first among the cities of the United States in production of brass products. It came to be called the Brass Center of the World. It manufactured such brass products as sheeting, screws and rivets, and ammunition casings. After World War II ended in 1945, Waterbury’s production of brass goods began to decline dramatically. Brass products are now manufactured there only on a limited scale.
People in nearby Farmington bought the Waterbury area from Indians in 1674. They built a frontier outpost called Mattatuck there. The name became Waterbury when the town was incorporated in 1686. Waterbury received its city charter in 1853. A mayor and a board of aldermen head the government.
