New Haven

About New Haven

Known as the Elm City, New Haven is one of New England's most dynamic and culturally rich cities — a place where world-class universities, legendary pizza, and a thriving arts scene collide in the most wonderful way. It hugs the northern shore of New Haven Harbor and pulses with the energy of students, artists, chefs, and lifelong locals who all call it home. Few Connecticut cities pack this much personality into one place.

What to Know

• Yale University, one of the world's most prestigious universities, anchors the city's identity and opens its stunning gothic campus — including the iconic Harkness Tower — to the public
• New Haven is widely considered the birthplace of the American hamburger and is a serious pilgrimage destination for pizza lovers, home to legendary spots like Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
• The New Haven Green, a 16-acre historic common at the city's center, has been the heart of civic life since the 1600s
• The Yale Peabody Museum and the Yale University Art Gallery — the oldest college art museum in the Western Hemisphere — offer world-class collections, free to the public
• East Rock Park rewards hikers with sweeping views of Long Island Sound from its dramatic 400-foot traprock ridge

History

New Haven was settled in April 1638, making it one of the oldest planned cities in the United States — its original nine-square grid layout still shapes downtown today. It became Connecticut's first incorporated city in 1784 and served as one of the state's two co-capitals alongside Hartford until 1873.

Community & Living

New Haven rewards curious, engaged residents with a remarkable density of culture, food, and ideas for a city of its size. Neighborhoods like Wooster Square and East Rock have devoted followings, each with their own distinct character and community pride. It's a city where deep roots and fresh energy coexist beautifully.