The capital city of Connecticut is Hartford. Hartford is the second largest city within the state of Connecticut, Bridge port being ranked the first. Hartford has a population of 1,188,841 and it is the largest metro of Connecticut. Because of the presence of a large range of insurance firms in this area, Hartford is likewise very commonly called the Insurance capital of the world.
One of the oldest cities in the United States, Hartford is nearly 400 years old and is also probably one of its wealthiest cities. Harford has gone onto take a facelift following a long period of stagnation incorporating new commercial ventures through residential and commercial developments, a 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 has been 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 the area, the Hartford Courant is among the oldest publications.
Hartford is home to one professional sports team. Known as the Hartford Wolf Pack, this team plays professional ice hockey and is an integral part of the American Hockey League. The Hartford Wolf pack was established in 1997 after the Hartford Whalers moved on to become the California Hurricane.
They were initially called the Binghamton Rangers and proceeded to be called the Binghamton Whalers as well as 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 in the 1999 -2000 season and consider it to be their best season so far.
Hartford also houses a rugby union club known as the Hartford Wanderers. They were established in 1996 by a group in the University of Connecticut Law School. The groups main intention was to establish a structured social athletic club in the Hartford area. This club has gone onto producing four players that have gone on to play with the National Rugby Team called the United States Eagles. This club has additionally toured several countries including England, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, Bermuda, Scotland and 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 participate in the XL Centre located in Hartford. The XL Centre is amongst the largest college basketball arenas in the United Sates ranking 28th. Initially it had been known by the name of Hartford Civic Centre but 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.