New Canaan

New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County in western Connecticut that spreads across rolling terrain between 97 and 105 meters in elevation. Residential streets wind through wooded slopes and open meadows, broken by commercial districts and public squares.

The settlement began in 1731 as Canaan Parish and shifted from rural farms to a residential suburb after the railroad arrived in 1868. Commuters started traveling daily to New York at that time, changing the pattern of building and character of the place.

Postwar residential design shaped the look of this town through the work of Marcel Breuer and four fellow architects who built homes as experiments in glass and steel. Their designs appear on street corners and wooded lots across the community.

The train station offers regular connections to Manhattan, making it easy to reach from New York City. Walking trails and parks scatter across the town and are accessible on foot or by car.

A transparent house made of glass sits on an estate with outdoor artworks, designed by architect Philip Johnson. The building reveals its entire interior through its see-through walls.

Location: Western Connecticut Planning Region

Location: Fairfield County

Inception: 1731

Elevation above the sea: 97 m

Shares border with: Darien, Stamford, Norwalk, Lewisboro, Pound Ridge, Wilton

Website: https://newcanaan.info

GPS coordinates: 41.14680,-73.49490

Latest update: December 4, 2025 19:04