Hartland

About Hartland

Tucked into the far northwest corner of Hartford County, Hartland is one of Connecticut's most beautifully remote small towns — a place where forests, reservoirs, and ridge lines set the tone for daily life. Split into two villages by a sprawling body of water, it's the kind of quiet, unhurried community that feels like a well-kept secret.

What to Know

• The town's two villages, East Hartland and West Hartland, are physically divided by the Barkhamsted Reservoir, one of the largest reservoirs in Connecticut — a dramatic and defining geographic quirk
• The Tunxis State Forest winds through the area, offering hiking, wildlife watching, and some of the most peaceful woodland scenery in the state
• A third village, Hartland Hollow (also known as Hartland Center), was submerged when the reservoir was completed in 1940 — one of Connecticut's quietly haunting "lost towns"
• Hartland sits within the Northwest Hills planning region, a stretch of the state known for its rolling terrain, open space, and small-town character
• Students attend school through a regional district, reflecting the close-knit cooperation common among Connecticut's smallest rural communities

History

Originally called the "Western Lands," the area was the subject of a 37-year territorial dispute between the Connecticut Colony and the towns of Hartford and Windsor before finally being settled in 1754 and incorporated in 1761. The town's most dramatic historical chapter came in 1940, when the completion of the Metropolitan District Commission's Barkhamsted Reservoir flooded Hartland Hollow, erasing a village center that had existed for nearly two centuries.

Community & Living

Hartland is the rare Connecticut town where the land still shapes the lifestyle — residents come for the space, the stillness, and the genuine small-town rhythms that are increasingly hard to find. It's a place where neighbors know each other, nature is always close at hand, and the pace of life feels intentional.