Middlesex County, Administrative county in south-central Connecticut, United States.
Middlesex County extends along the Connecticut River and encompasses varied terrain that ranges from flat coastal areas to more elevated inland regions. The county comprises several towns and municipalities connected by major highways that facilitate travel throughout the area.
The county was established in 1785 by combining parts of Hartford and New London counties. The territory was previously inhabited by the Western Nehantic people, and the English name was adopted from the original English county.
Middletown, the largest town in the county, serves as an educational hub shaped by Wesleyan University, which influences the character of daily life in the area. The presence of the university draws people from different backgrounds and creates a cosmopolitan environment within the region.
The county is traversed by three major highways that provide direct connections to New Haven and Hartford. The area includes multiple smaller towns that offer good opportunities to explore the river valley and surrounding communities.
The Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam is a Victorian theater building that has hosted performances since the 1800s. Gillette Castle, a stone fortress set on a hilltop in the same area, commands views of the river valley and features interconnected underground passages.
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