New Haven is a city located in New Haven County, Connecticut along the Long Island Sound. With a population of 130,418 as of 2019, it is Connecticut’s second largest city behind Bridgeport.
Population
According to the Wikipedia page for New Haven, the city had a population of 130,418 as of 2019, making it the 2nd largest city in Connecticut behind Bridgeport. The racial makeup of the city is 42.6% White, 35.4% Black or African American, 0.5% Native American, 4.6% Asian, 12.9% from other races, and 3.9% from two or more races. 27.5% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race.
New Haven has seen its population decline since its peak of 164,443 in 1950. Suburbanization post-World War II led many middle class residents to move to surrounding communities. The city has also suffered from industrial and economic decline. However, initiatives to revitalize downtown New Haven in recent decades have helped stabilize the population.
Economy
Historically an industrial city, New Haven was home to arms maker Winchester and rubber goods producer Goodyear. However, deindustrialization in the mid-20th century led to economic decline. Efforts to diversify the economy since led to expansions in sectors such as financial services, biotechnology, and retail.
According to the New Haven Economic Development page, major employers today include Yale University, Yale-New Haven Hospital, St. Raphael Campus of Yale-New Haven Hospital, Southern Connecticut State University, Assa Abloy, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, United Illuminating, and Stop & Shop.
The largest employers are in education and health services, trade transportation and utilities, and manufacturing. The city’s growing biotech sector has helped offset manufacturing declines.
In 2021, New Haven had an unemployment rate of 8.5%, higher than the national average of 5.3%, but lower than some nearby cities like Hartford and Bridgeport according to CTPost.
Attractions and Landmarks
As Connecticut’s second largest city, New Haven offers numerous cultural, historic, and entertainment attractions. Some highlights include:
- Yale University – founded in 1701, the historic campus includes art galleries, museums, and architecture.
- Peabody Museum of Natural History – Part of Yale, contains artifacts and exhibits on anthropology, archeology, astronomy, and the natural world.
- Yale Center for British Art – Museum with largest collection of British art outside the UK.
- Shubert Theater – Opened in 1914, hosts Broadway shows and other performances.
- Knights of Columbus Museum – Features exhibits on Catholic art and history.
- Grove Street Cemetery – Historic cemetery with graves of notables like Eli Whitney and Walter Camp.
- East Rock Park – large park with hiking trails, cliffs, and views of the city.
In the downtown area, visitors can enjoy shopping and dining on Broadway or the pedestrian shopping district along Chapel Street. The Ninth Square district also offers restaurants, nightlife, and historic architecture.
For families, attractions like the Peabody Museum, Beardsley Zoo, and Stony Creek Brewery offer learning opportunities as well as fun.
Sports
New Haven is home to several professional and collegiate sports teams. The New Haven Ravens are a minor league baseball team that plays at Yale Field. The New Haven Chargers are a soccer team in the Premier Development League that plays at Reese Stadium.
On the collegiate level, the Yale Bulldogs field several Division I sports teams in the Ivy League, including football at the Yale Bowl. The Southern Connecticut State University Owls compete in Division II sports.
For ticket information and schedules for the New Haven Ravens or Chargers, check out the teams’ official websites.
The city government of New Haven maintains an active Facebook page to connect with residents and visitors. The page shares news, events, job openings, contest announcements, and more. Fans can also post questions and comments to interact with city officials.