In 1650, Middletown earned its name due to its location halfway between the mouth of the Connecticut River and the first Connecticut settlement of Windsor. The town grew from a key Native American village to become a major seaport and the wealthiest town in Connecticut by the mid-1700s. In the early 1800s, as international disputes adversely affected Middletown's seafaring trade, manufacturing prospered. Factories turned out everything from ship hardware and textiles to sleigh bells and sidearms for Union army officers. Trolleys encouraged suburban expansion while railroads and highways...

While evidence of Native American habitation in the area dates back to ancient times, Glastonbury was first settled by the English in 1636. Situated across the Connecticut River from its mother settlement of Wethersfield, Glastonbury became a shipbuilding center and later a manufacturer of gunpowder, ship anchors, cotton products, soap, and aircraft. One of the largest towns by area in the state, its rich soil led to the establishment of extensive orchards and a large poultry business. Today, Glastonbury is a prosperous residential community, boasting over 150 homes built prior to the 19th...