New Britain, city, Hartford County, central Connecticut; settled 1686, incorporated as a city 1870. It is known for the production of hardware, including tools, machine parts, and bearings. Central Connecticut State College (1849) and the New Britain Museum of American Art are here. Small industries began to replace farming in the late 18th century. Industrial development subsequently was rapid, and in the late 19th century many immigrants settled in New Britain. The city's name was chosen (1754) because of the British ancestry of many of its citizens. Population 73,840 (1980); 75,491 (1990); 71,538 (2000).
