Danbury, Manufacturing city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, US
Danbury sits in the foothills of the Berkshire Hills along the Still River, serving as a major commercial center in southwestern Connecticut. The city spreads over hilly terrain, with the downtown area clustering around Main Street and White Street while residential neighborhoods fan out across surrounding hills and valleys.
British forces under Major General William Tryon burned and looted the town in April 1777 when it functioned as a military supply depot. This action triggered the Battle of Ridgefield, where American militias attempted to intercept the retreating British units.
Hatters Park and several city squares still show traces of the hat-making industry that once shaped life here. The downtown core reveals its industrial roots through old factory buildings, while newer neighborhoods take on a more suburban character.
The city offers information on municipal services and current events through the myDanbury app, which can be helpful for longer stays. The downtown area is walkable, while a car proves useful for trips to outer neighborhoods since distances between districts tend to be wider.
The hat manufacturing industry produced around five million hats per year by 1887, earning the city the nickname Hat City of the United States. Some factories later converted into residential and commercial spaces, so today lofts and shops stand where hats were once crafted.
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