A Welcome Message...

MSM

Welcome to the Wonderful Town of Stonington!

Yes, we know that visiting this website is not the same as visiting Stonington in person. But we will use it to share some of the exciting details about our town.

Incorporated in 1649, Stonington was initially inhabited by members of the Plymouth Colony who claimed it for Massachusetts and called it Southertown. A trading post was established in Wequetequock where our first burial ground was established. There you find family names like Palmer, Miner, Stanton, Denison and Chesebough.

In 1662 Governor John Winthrop, Jr., obtained a crown charter for the Colony of Connecticut which set boundaries that included the town. The General Court changed the name to Mystic in 1665; and later to Stonington in 1666.

Today, Stonington is a thriving community with four separate villages: Old Mystic, Mystic, Pawcatuck and Stonington Borough which is the oldest continuously operating Borough in Connecticut dating back to 1803. Covering 42 square miles, the town has a varied and scenic coastline, pristine uplands, the Mystic and Pawcatuck Rivers, and sheltered anchorages in Stonington Harbor.  

Located half way between New York City and Boston, Stonington is a perfect place for business. Not only do we enjoy a high quality of life for our employees, but the attractions of two great cities are just hours away by car or train. Also, our state’s public and private universities, local public schools and private academies rival the best in the country. Our manufactured products have been to the deepest ocean depths as well as to the moon!

Our over 18,000 residents are joined in the summer months with a substantial seasonal population who come to enjoy our maritime activities, tourist attractions, some of the best restaurants in Connecticut and extensive recreational facilities. We also attract over a million tourists annually to the gates of the Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration with at least another million visiting our various villages.

Thanks to our Town's Economic Development Commision, you can virtually explore more of our community via the Stonington1649 website, which also has a dedicated Residents Guide and Investor Guide.

So come to Stonington – for a leisurely lunch, an event filled weekend, a rewarding career or a lifetime of positive living.

(Photo Credit: Burkhalter Photos)