The town of Cromwell comprises 13.5 square miles near the geographic center of the state. It is 14 miles south of Hartford and 28 miles north of New Haven. The Connecticut River forms Cromwell's eastern boundary.

Cromwell Town Hall

    The first settlers arrived in what is now Cromwell in 1651. It was then known as the Upper Houses section of Middletown. For 200 years, Cromwell remained part of Middletown until incorporating as a separate town in 1851.
    Cromwell operates under a town charter, which became effective in 1975. The town's system of government consists of a board of selectmen, made up of a first selectman and six other selectmen, and a board of finance. The board of selectmen approves ordinances only after a town meeting. The board of finance is responsible for presenting operating budgets for town meeting approval.
    Cromwell is a growing suburban community. Condominiums have been part of the landscape since the 1960s and account for about 20 percent of the housing stock.
    The town has several shopping centers, restaurants and office complexes, and two major hotels: the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center and the Holiday Inn.
Plants and nursery stock continue to be an important industry.
    Cromwell is home to the Travelers Championship golf tournament, which is held at the Tournament Players Club at River Highlands.

Regional Overview and Economics

Cromwell is uniquely located in Middlesex County yet still considered part of the Greater Hartford Metropolitan Region. Below are some characteristics of the county and metro-region.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY

The Economy
Through a tough Connecticut economy, Middlesex County has continued to expand and develop. The county is ranked third in the state in per capita income at $28,251, behind only Fairfield County ($38,350) and Litchfield County ($28,408.) The Median Household Income and Median Family Income, $59,175 and $71,319 respectively, are also ranked third. More importantly, Middlesex County boasts the highest percentage increase in Median Family Income since 1979 with an improvement of 120%, and the second highest percentage increase in Per Capita Income with a gain of 145%.

Location
Conveniently located close to major metropolitan areas and connected to major transportation arteries, Middlesex County makes the perfect place to live, work and visit. Middletown, the hub of Middlesex County, is located only 15 miles south of Hartford and 20 miles north of New Haven, making access to either city only a short commute away.

Climate
Middlesex County weather is relatively mild compared to the rest of New England. The changing seasons can be enjoyed in a much less drastic manner as relatively mild winters and warm summers make for a very comfortable climate. One can also enjoy the fall foliage that is characteristic of New England. The following is an average of the highs and lows in the region by month:

• January - 35°/18°
• February - 36°/19°
• March - 46°/28°
• April - 59°/38°
• May - 70°/48°
• June - 79°/57°
• July - 84°/63°
• August - 81°/61°
• September - 74°/53°
• October - 64°/42°
• November - 51°/33°
• December - 38°/23°
  

Appreciable precipitation (.01"+) is experienced about 127 days a year, and is divided evenly among the months.

GREATER HARTFORD METROPOLITAN REGION

Transportation
Bradley International Airport is located just 15 minutes north of downtown Hartford. Bradley has ranked within the top 10 fastest growing airports in the United States for the past 2 years. The airport is well known for being first in the northeast for reliability, is easily accessible, and congestion-free. With over 330 flights per day, any nationwide destination can easily be reached. 12 major passenger airlines, 6 regional airlines and 10 air cargo carriers serve the region.
One of MetroHartford's greatest advantages is its first class highway system. Two major interstates, I-91 and I-84 intersect in Hartford. Both I-84 and I-91 link the region to I-90, which extends east to Boston and west through upstate New York. I-91 stretches north into Canada and south to New Haven. I-95 ventures east and west from New Haven, providing access to Rhode Island and New York City.

Quality of Life
Standard of living is not the same as quality of life. The MetroHartford Region, however, enjoys both a very comfortable standard of living and a vibrant quality of life. You and your employees can take advantage of a wide array of entertainment and cultural activities: spectator sports, theatres, museums, galleries, parks, water sports, skiing, golf and more. Quaint New England villages dot the landscape and offer scenic charm throughout the seasons.

Highly Educated Population
MetroHartford is known for its highly educated and skilled population. With productivity 6% above the national average, continued productivity gains will help keep your business competitive. Our strong educational rankings-1st in the nation in writing, reading and math; 2nd highest in the nation for high school graduation attainment and 3rd highest in the nation for college attainment. We are proud of our community technical college system and of our strong network of prestigious four-year colleges and universities.

Business Environment
The MetroHartford Region boasts a strategic location poised for growth. We have an exceptional telecommunications, fiber and power infrastructure, the 2nd largest airport in New England, and a highly educated and productive workforce. Recognizing the need for a prepared, available workforce, the Growth Council has been instrumental in developing demand driven training modules to support and help our businesses grow.
    Public officials throughout the MetroHartford region have participated in the Growth Council's nationally recognized "Economic Development for Public Officials" education program to increase their knowledge of the business development process. They understand the importance of working with you on your business needs and are ready to facilitate your relocation or expansion efforts.
Low-Cost Office Environment
    The cost of operating in MetroHartford competes favorably with other major metropolitan areas. Based on your company's preference, office space to satisfy a diversity of needs can easily be found throughout the region. Office lease rates and operating expenses are below the average rates found in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore, Boston and New York.

Basic Tax Information

• Sales Tax is 6%
• The State Corporate Income Tax rate is 7.5%
• Occupancy Tax for rental of hotel rooms for 30 days or less is 12%.
• Property Tax-Real and Personal-Connecticut has no state property tax. Each municipality assesses property at 70% of value and sets its own tax rate.
• Depreciation Schedule on Personal Property. Connecticut has a standard depreciation schedule for personal property, however, the State allows each town the flexibility to modify the schedule on a site and project basis.

Energy Reliability and Efficiency
We are proud of our power reliability and you will hear that even in the 1960's blackout, Hartford's lights were on!
    Connecticut's conservative bent has never fluctuated when it comes to using energy. According to a recent University of Connecticut study, the state's energy consumption is now 28% below the national average. Not only does Connecticut use less energy than most states, it uses that energy more efficiently. Connecticut produces $18.56 in output for every $1 of energy input. That's far better than the national average of $14.28.
    The State is a big player when it comes to saving energy. Connecticut Light and Power's energy efficiency budget in 2000 was $67 million and United Illuminating was $17 million. Connecticut's total energy efficiency budget of $84 million was approximately 8% of the nation's total utilities' conservation spending in 2000.
Since your business can have more efficient uses of energy, look beyond the per unit cost-your overall cost of energy may be lower.

Read 2002 Census data
   Part 1
   Part 2
   Part 3