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The town of Litchfield is a vibrant community of approximately 9,000 people centrally located in the scenic northwest hills of Connecticut. It is also the county seat of Litchfield County, which includes 26 towns and communities as far north as Salisbury and as far south as Woodbury and Roxbury. The town includes the boroughs of Bantam and Litchfield and the villages of Northfield and historic Milton.
 Founded in 1719, it has a rich history. The town was the home of the first law school in the United States, which is currently open to the public as The Tapping Reeve House & The Litchfield Law School. Its first and most notorious student was Aaron Burr, brother in law to the founder Tapping Reeve. Early Litchfield was also home to one of the first schools for girls, the Sarah Pierce.
At the end of the 19th century, its residents became leaders in the Colonial Revival movement leaving behind what Litchfield is most famous for today: its architecture. In 1872 the Shepaug Railroad opened a spur into Litchfield paving the way for the town’s re-emergence as a resort community. Industry had bypassed Litchfield’s hilltop location in favor of the Naugatuck Valley towns leaving the historic nature of its architecture and rural landscape intact. Wealthy New Yorkers arrived by rail, drawn to the town’s look of an earlier era, and began purchasing and renovating old homes. All one has to do today is drive onto North, South, East or West Streets in the center of town to see beautifully preserved, traditional architecture based on the most elegant styles of the colonial, federal and Victorian periods.
Today Litchfield’s traditional New England look, its size, its proximity to urban areas, especially New York and Boston, make it a popular choice for young families, retirees and people with weekend homes. It has plenty to offer by way of recreation and is home to the White Memorial Foundation www.whitememorialcc.org, which comprises 4,000 acres of fields, water and woodlands to explore by foot, boat, bike or horse. Also located in Litchfield is Bantam Lake, Connecticut’s largest natural lakewww.bantamlake.com.
The town of Litchfield’s Parks and Recreation has an extensive program for children and adults alike www.litchfieldparksandrecreation.org and there are several club sports available including Litchfield Soccer www.litchfieldsoccerclub.org and Litchfield Hills Lacrosse http://leagueathletics.com/?org=litchfieldlacrosse.com .
Please visit www.litchfieldct.com for more information about government, National School of Excellence Award school system, recreation and cultural events and businesses.
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