Cemeteries in Hartford County (Historical county)

Hartford County, established in 1666, is one of Connecticut’s original four counties and has long served as a central hub of government, commerce, and culture in the state.

The area was originally inhabited by the Podunk, Tunxis, and Wangunk peoples before English settlers established Hartford in 1636 under the leadership of Reverend Thomas Hooker. The county was formed through the consolidation of several early towns, including Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield. It played a pivotal role in colonial governance and the development of the Fundamental Orders of 1639, one of the earliest frameworks for self-rule in the American colonies. In the 19th century, Hartford County became an industrial and insurance center, with cities like Hartford and New Britain producing firearms, tools, and insurance services. Waves of Irish, Italian, Polish, and later Puerto Rican immigrants shaped the county’s demographics. Though Connecticut counties lost governmental function in 1960, Hartford County remains a key geographic and historical unit.

Cemeteries such as Cedar Hill, Old North, and Zion Hill preserve its colonial and industrial-era legacies.