Clinton, town located on Long Island Sound in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States
Clinton is a town on the Long Island Sound coast in southern Connecticut with roots reaching back centuries. The community features a quiet streetscape with old buildings mixed with small homes, a harbor area where boats anchor, and a layout that keeps most activity near the waterfront while residences spread inland.
The area was originally called Hammonasset and was officially established as a town in 1667, taking its current name in 1838. It became known for shipbuilding and maritime trade, particularly producing cargo vessels that transported stone from nearby Portland down the Connecticut River.
The town's name comes from a New York governor when it was officially established as Clinton in 1838. The harbor area and old buildings reflect how fishing and maritime trade shaped daily life here, and this connection to the water remains visible in how the community uses its waterfront today.
The town is easily accessible by train with connections to New Haven and New London, and buses also serve the area. Most activity centers around the harbor and beaches where visitors walk, fish, or watch boats, making the town manageable on foot with a relaxed pace.
Pond's Extract, a witch hazel product made in Clinton during the late 1800s, became so popular that it helped launch the global beauty and skincare company Chesebrough-Pond's into worldwide success. This small local factory had an outsized impact on an international business that still exists today.
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