There are plenty of famous people from Connecticut. Scroll through a list of celebrities who were born here and you’ll find a diverse list that includes Katharine Hepburn, George W. Bush, J.P. Morgan, and more internationally-renowned people from a variety of fields. Many of these celebrities were born in our larger cities, like New Haven and Hartford. That makes sense, since, of course, more people are born in larger cities to begin with. However, we have quite a few people with roots in our smaller towns, as well. Did you know that one of the biggest names in politics grew up in a small town in Connecticut? Ralph Nader is a well-known political activist, lawyer, and author who was born in Winsted, Connecticut, a small city in Litchfield County. He has been a major player in the political world for over half a century, and he got his start right here in the Nutmeg State.

Winsted has around 6,500 people as of 2020, though it was much smaller in 1934, when Ralph Nader was born to Lebanese immigrants.
Sarah E. Harvey/Princeton University Art Museum/Wikimedia Commons
Nader would eventually attend Princeton University and Harvard Law School, but first, he attended the prestigious private Gilbert School in Winsted.
StaleCupcakes/Wikimedia Commons
Upon graduating college, Nader began practicing law in Hartford. In 1965, he published "Unsafe at Any Speed," a best-selling exposé that claimed many American cars did not have adequate safety features.
Thomas J. O'Halloran/Wikimedia Commons
The book was so influential that it led to the creation of the United States Department of Transportation in 1966.

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Nader continued his illustrious career throughout the 1960s and 1970s, working with environmental groups and consumer rights groups.
Don LaVange/Wikimedia Commons
His work would enact the Freedom of Information Act, the Clean Water Act, the Whistleblower Protection Act, and other important laws.
Nader ended up running for United States President on four separate occasions: on the Green Party ticket in 1996 and 2000, the Reform Party ticket in 2004, and independently in 2008.
Wikimedia Commons
Even today, Nader still has roots to the Nutmeg State. In 2002, he founded the Winsted Citizen, a local newspaper in his hometown.
The American Museum of Tort Law, 654 Main St, Winsted, CT 06098, USA
American Musuem of Tort Law
He also founded the American Museum of Tort Law (pictured), the first law museum in the country. It's located in Winsted and can also be toured virtually.

Did you know that Ralph Nader was from Winsted, Connecticut? What other celebrities from small towns in Connecticut do you know of? Share your thoughts in the comments!

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Winsted, CT 06098, USA