Geography

Connecticut Georgraphic Extremes, Oddities, and History
Oh… And Islands of Note

I’ve always been map-obsessed and I don’t have to tell you that I love lists. So here’s my own list of what I define as the interesting geographic points in Connecticut… and beyond.

Jump to:
Geographic Extremes
Geographic Oddities
Islands
Historical Geography Disputes, Questions and Relics

Fo’ real.

Geographic Extremes

Almost all of my lists are alphabetized by town name. That is not the case here for what should be fairly obvious reasons.

The Extreme Connecticut Geography Tour: In 2012, I was joined by two intrepid travelers to complete what was truly one of the more inspired things I’ve done for CTMQ: The Extreme Connecticut Geography Tour!

Connecticut’s 10 Highest Peaks: I put a lot of effort into creating this list, as no such thing existed previously – mostly because many of these aren’t trailed. They’re all in Salisbury, Canaan, and Norfolk and I call it The CT17ers – Connecticut’s 10 highest peaks.

Connecticut’s 8 County Highpoints: Yeah, this is a thing. Even if only one of our state’s county highpoints is worth seeking out. But I’m me, and I’ll get to them all, so here’s our state’s county highpoints!

Highest Point: S. Slope of Mt. Frissell, Salisbury
Highest summit, Bear Mountain, Salisbury
The Westernmost Point, Greenwich
The Northernmost Point, Salisbury
The Southermost Point, Greenwich
The Easternmost Point, Sterling
MA-RI-CT Tri-Point, Thompson
MA-NY-CT Tri-Point, Salisbury
CT-RI-NY Tri Point, Long Island Sound
Most remote point, Cornwall (info)
Geographic center of Connecticut, Berlin
Geographic center of Hartford, 151 Farmington Ave
The Highest elevation pond, Bingham Pond, Salisbury
The Largest Beach, Hammonasset Madison
Deepest Lake, Lake Wononscopomuc, Salisbury
Largest Natural Lake, Bantam Lake, Litchfield & Morris
Largest Lake, Candlewood Lake, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Sherman

Geographic Oddities

Odd Road names are here.

I wrote a jokey page about Connecticut’s Top 10 Fake Towns. People seem to enjoy it.

BER-lin vs. ber-LIN
Weekeepeemee River, Bethlehem
The Canaan Conundrum
Seldom Seen Pond, Canaan
Georgetown, What Up With Dat?
East Hampton/Hampton… Why?
Lakes Leakalot & Leakalot More, Eastford
The Ellington Panhandle, Ellington
Longmeadow Baby Jog, Enfield
The Southwick Jog, Granby & Suffield
Beetle Bung Pond, Middlebury
Oxoboxo Lake/River, Montville
Let’s Talk Mystic
Naugatuck: The Borough
New Haven Looks Like a Wallaby
Plymabama, Plymouth
Beer and Brewster Ponds, Prospect
Naromiyocknowhusunkatankshunk Brook, Sherman
Sandy Point, Stonington
Point-No-Point, Stratford
Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, Thompson (& Webster, MA)
The Wethersfield Triangle, Wethersfield
Crotch of the River, Windham
Mad Dam, Wolcott

Islands

I have spent far too much time reading about and looking at maps of every island in Connecticut. The following list are those that I feel are worthy of a visit and/or a story. Seriously.

The Thimble Islands, Branford

The state’s most famous islands, many are worthy of a visit. Or at least a paddle-by and a story. Others may be added as warranted.

The Norwalk Islands, Norwalk

Other Islands

Matthies Park Island, Beacon Falls
Kelsey Island, Branford
Lovers Island, Branford
Umbrella Islands, Branford
Fayerweather Island, Bridgeport
Cedar Island, Clinton
Wilcox Island, Cromwell, Middletown, Portland
Ned Island, Darien
Isle of Safety, East Windsor
Kings Island, Enfield & Suffield
Brockway Island, Essex
Thatchbed Island, Essex
Calf Island, Greenwich
Brush Island, Greenwich
Great Captain’s Island, Greenwich
Rich Island, Greenwich
Shell Island, Greenwich
Shore Island/Island Beach, Greenwich
Tweed Island, Greenwich
Barton Island, Griswold
Hobs Island, Groton
Pine Island, Groton
Sixpenny Island, Groton
Falkner Island, Guilford
Haddam Island State Park, Haddam
Governors Island, Hampton
Fox Island, Lebanon
Selden Neck State Park, Lyme
Tuxis Island, Madison
Charles Island & Tombolo, Milford
Minnie Island State Park, Montville & Salem
Candlewood Isle, New Fairfield
Grannis Island, New Haven
Calves Island, Old Lyme
Great Island, Old Lyme
Nott Island, Old Lyme
Gildersleeve Island, Portland
Green Island, Sherman
Greenway/Caritas Island, Stamford
Cuties/Vincent Island, Stamford
Elihu Island, Stonington
Enders Island, Stonington
Mason’s Island, Stonington
Ram Island, Stonington
Sandy Point, Stonington
Two Tree Island, Waterford
Duck Island NAP/WMA/IBA, Westbrook
Menunketesuck Island, Westbrook
Salt Island, Westport
Gorham Island, Westport
Sherwood Island, Westport

Crazy CT Historical Geography Disputes, Questions and Relics

I’ve become fascinated with Colonial border disputes. Like the one where Connecticut refused to give up land down in the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania. I’ll visit someday – since it used to be Connecticut after all.

Book Review: How the States Got Their Shapes, Mark Stein
Connecticut Oblong, Fairfield & Litchfield Counties
The Southwick Jog, Southwick, MA
Longmeadow Baby Jog, Longmeadow, MA
Historic Geography/Charter dispute in Pennsylvania (Info)
Pennamite-Yankee War (Info) in Pennsylvania
Case Western Reserve, Ohio
The Firelands, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Plum Island, NY
Fishers Island, NY

Comments

Jenny D says
October 24, 2010 at 8:49 pm

You are my hero of the week and possibly the year! Im such a history nerd, and am learning a lot from this site. I found it while doing a search on the institute of living, and sorry to say i didnt learn anything new in regards to that place…but I always did wonder about Pygmy village (been up there a few times, but never put two and two together as far as Nike is concerned) Anyways, besides me making you my new hero and me being super excited someone has the time and energy to get some awesome facts about good ole’ CT, I noticed that in this section of waterfalls and other geographical information that you didnt mention Mill Pond Falls in the center of Newington. Its the smallest natural running waterfall in the country and beautiful to all the senses. I am suprised you havent been, if im not mistaken you live W.H…you should def. check it out, its small but quite interesting like most things on your site.
I discrovered your site a few hrs ago, like i said in my search about IOL, needless to say my search has come to a halt and my eyes are dry and heavy from reading all your interesting facts and info about the state. I lived in CT for my first 25 yrs and have been in FL the past 3. Thanks for all the info and hrs of time I will spend finding out all the wonderful things about CT that either I always wondered about or didnt have a clue about! Thanks again
-Jenny
Don says
March 28, 2011 at 7:37 am

Steve, as you are the “expert” on all things Connecticut and a fellow map lover, I thought you would find this announcement from ConnDOT interesting. Especially since they use the word “Perambulation”.

“DOT to Begin State Boundary Marker Inspection

The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) is announcing that the DOT is preparing to perform the State Line Perambulation – a program to inspect state-line boundary markers — beginning April 1, 2011, in eastern Connecticut.”

How’s Damian doing?

-Don W.
Steve says
April 5, 2011 at 12:26 pm

oh man, I would take off work to traipse around with the DOT perambulation crew. I’m still not clear on exactly where CT’s easternmost point it, so perhaps that would help.

a boy can dream.
John Nesklada says
November 30, 2013 at 7:22 pm

Surprised you do not have Buttermilk Falls, Terryville, CT listed. It’s on the Tunxis Blue trail. I guess you can also call it a ramble. Kind of hard to find, I get to it off of Route 6 in Terryville, and it kind of butts up into Wolcott. Thanks
Elizabeth says
May 8, 2014 at 9:58 am

You shoukd come to see the Great Falls in Falls Village and at the same time visit the Falls Villsge – Canaan Historical Society. I’m the Town Historian and Archivist and Curator for the Hist. soc, so message me if you’d like to visit. Love your web site and fb posts.
Ed A. says
January 12, 2016 at 9:08 pm

Buttermilk falls is on the Mattatuck trail between Jack’s cave and S. Main st in the Terryville section of Plymouth, CT.

See pg. 119 in the Connecticut Walk Book west for the location/description of this beautiful terraced waterfall with a 60′ drop.