Hartford is the capital of the State of Connecticut. It is located in Hartford County on the Connecticut River, near the center of the state. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 121,578, but a July 1, 2005 Census estimate puts the city's population at 124,397. It is currently the third largest city in the state, after Bridgeport and New Haven. Greater Hartford is also the 44th largest metro area in the country (2004 census estimate) with a population of 1,184,241.

Sometimes referred to as the "insurance capital of the world," Hartford houses many of the world's insurance company headquarters, and insurance is one of the region's major industries. Hartford and its environs are also known as "the land of steady habits." The region has a relatively low population of adults between the ages of 18 and 25, although Hartford itself has a relatively young population. Hartford's West End is home to Elizabeth Park, the oldest and largest municipal rose garden in the country. With Springfield, Massachusetts.