Morris

About Morris

Tucked into the rolling hills of Litchfield County, Morris is a gem of a small New England town — quiet, scenic, and anchored by the shimmering waters of the largest natural lake in Connecticut. With a classic village green, a white Congregational church, and thousands of acres of protected open space, Morris strikes a rare balance between timeless rural charm and a lively, engaged community.

What to Know

• Bantam Lake — covering nearly 947 acres — is Connecticut's largest natural lake and a centerpiece of town life, beloved for fishing, boating, and swimming.
• The White Memorial Conservation Center, a sprawling 4,000-acre nature preserve, offers hiking, birding, camping, and some of the best wildlife watching in the state.
• Morris is home to both one of the oldest and one of the newest state parks in Connecticut — a distinction few towns can claim.
• Camp Washington, a scenic spiritual retreat operated by the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, sits within town borders.
• The town is named after James Morris, a Yale graduate, Revolutionary War officer, and founder of one of the first co-educational secondary schools in the United States.

History

Europeans first settled this area around 1723, when it was known as South Farms — a nod to its location five miles south of Litchfield center. It was designated a separate Congregational parish in 1767 and officially incorporated as its own town in 1859, taking the name of its most celebrated native son, James Morris.

Community & Living

Morris feels like the kind of place where people put down real roots — farming families, artists, professionals, and weekend visitors from the New York metro area all find something to love here. The outdoor recreation, preserved landscapes, and small-town warmth make it a deeply appealing place to call home in the Northwest Hills region of Connecticut.