15 Surprising Firsts That Connecticut Can Proudly Claim

If you're a lover of all things Connecticut, you already know what a great state this is. Connecticut will always be first in our hearts, but it also stands true that there are quite a few things Connecticut did first. This tiny state often gets overlooked, but the truth is that we have a long-standing history in Connecticut. America has a lot of things to thank us for. The list of things invented in Connecticut is practically endless! Of course, that makes sense, as we're one of the oldest states. Without further ado, here's a list of Connecticut firsts that just might blow your mind.

1. We Were the First State To Establish a Constitution

Ever wondered where our nickname of the Constitution State came from? Although technically not a state at the time, Connecticut held the first written constitution, called the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut. Adopted in 1639, it established a representative government for the Colony of Connecticut.

2. Connecticut Was the First State To Establish a Free Public Library in America

The Scoville Memorial Library in Salisbury, Connecticut, started as a community collection run by a local furnace owner in 1771. He imported 200 books from London and allowed locals to borrow the books at no charge. In 1810, the town voted to use public funds to purchase more books, making this the first publicly funded free library in the country.

3. Connecticut Is Home to the Oldest Continuously Published Newspaper in the Country

Connecticut is one of the few states that can boast a newspaper older than the U.S. Constitution. The Hartford Courant has been published since October 29, 1764. Still published today, it recently experienced its 260th birthday.

4. The First Dictionary Was Published in Connecticut

Newspapers and constitutions aren't the only things published in Connecticut. A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language was published by Hartford native Noah Webster in 1806. But it was the 1828 edition that truly differentiated American English from British English. This version, published April 14, 1828, was titled An American Dictionary of the English Language.

5. Connecticut Was the First State To Establish a Law School

Litchfield Law School was established in 1784 by Tapping Reeve. It is considered to be the first proprietary law school in the country, although the College of William and Mary in Virginia is considered the first university-affiliated law school. Some of Litchfield's graduates include John C. Calhoun and Aaron Burr.

6. We Were the First To Start a Factory Town

Settled in the 1600s, the town of Seymour was eager to improve the area's wealth. Named Chusetown at the time, General David Humphreys established a factory in 1804 here, manufacturing the first domestically made woolen cloth in the U.S. The coming years saw more factories, manufacturing many industrial items like rubber, brass, and other textiles.

7. Connecticut Was the First State To Award a PhD

In 1861, Yale University bestowed a PhD in Philosophy to three of its students. Found in the small but stunning city of New Haven, Yale remains one of the most renowned colleges in the United States. It's changed quite a bit over the years, but it remains just as prestigious as ever.

8. The First To Have a Phone Exchange

Achieved in 1878, you can thank New Haven for the superior communication network we have today! Initiated by George W. Coy, this very first telephone exchange had a modest 21 clients, including the post office, the local police, and a drug store. Coy invented a switchboard that would allow anyone with a telephone to call or receive a call from anyone else who had one.

9. The First Place To Serve a Hamburger Was in New Haven

This one's actually a bit controversial, but according to the restaurant's owners (and the Library of Congress), Louis' Lunch in New Haven, Connecticut, invented the hamburger. An eatery that dates back to 1895, the restaurant began selling the culinary classic in 1900. It's just one of many Connecticut inventions that have changed the world.

10. Connecticut Was the First To Set up a Permanent Public Planning Body in America

When Hartford's Commission on the City Plan met in 1907, it made history. But the real goal was just to make a difference! Although these committees existed before, they always disbanded when the project was complete. Connecticut was the first to establish an official, permanent public planning body.

11. The First Folks To Throw a Frisbee Lived in Connecticut

One of the best things made in Connecticut is the Frisbee. Back in the 1940s, college kids would toss around metal pie tins that were made by the Frisbie Pie Company. The first plastic version was invented in 1948.

12. A Connecticut Resident Built the First Successfully Operating Helicopter

Connecticut resident Igor Sikorsky designed the first successful helicopter in 1939. It was the first in the whole Western Hemisphere. The first tethered flight took place on September 14, 1939, in Stratford, Connecticut, followed by an untethered flight in May 1940.

13. We Were the First State To Establish an FM Radio Station

Although multiple states began experimenting with FM radio stations around the same time, we know that Connecticut was first. WDRC-FM began broadcasting in Hartford back in 1939. Still broadcasting today, WDRC-FM continues to be one of the longest continuously operating radio stations in the country.

14. Connecticut Was the First To Launch an Ultra High-Frequency Television Station

Connecticut also lays claim to the first UHF television station in the United States. Starting in 1949, KC2XAK in Bridgeport operated every day. It operated for about two-and-a-half years before the equipment was relocated to Portland, Oregon, for the first commercial UHF station.

15. Connecticut Launched the First Nuclear Submarine

The U.S.S. Nautilus, the world's first nuclear-powered submarine, was built by General Dynamics in Groton, Connecticut, and launched into the Thames River in 1954. This is pretty interesting, as another Connecticut invention was the world's first combat submarine. Called the Turtle, it launched in 1775, changing warfare forever.

Connecticut sure is an inventive state, filled with innovative people and remarkable ideas. Did you know about all these things invented in Connecticut? Share this article with a fellow Connecticuter and see how many they knew. Planning a trip to the Constitution State soon? Be sure to download Only In Your State’s itinerary planner to plan a perfect trip with the power of AI.