New Haven, Connecticut, USA (Westville)
1854 - New Haven

New Haven, a city, port of entry, seat of justice of a county of its own name, and semi- capital of Connecticut, is situated in a beautiful plain, at the head of New Haven bay, 4 miles from its entrance into Long Island sound. It is 160 miles S. W. from Boston, and 76 miles N. E. from New York, being in a direct line between the two cities. The plain on which New Haven stands inclines gently towards the water, and is environed on all by an amphitheatre of hills, two of which, presenting ragged and perpendicular precipices from 300 to 400 feet in height, are called East and West rocks. These eminences consist principally of greenstone trap, and are conspicuous objects in the landscape. Three small streams, the Quinepiack on the E., with Mill river flowing into it about half a mile from its mouth, and the West river on the right, intersect this plain, discharging their waters into the bay. Of the two former, the first forms the eastern limit of the town, and the other of the city. Several bridges have been thrown across these streams, ope of which, at the mouth of the Quinepiac, is a covered drawbridge, leading from the steam boat landing to East Haven. The chartered limits of the city extend 3 miles from E. to W., and 2 miles back from the harbor. This area is regularly laid out with streets, usually 4 rods broad, intersecting each other at right angles. Chapel street, the fashionable promenade, extends from Mill river in a W. N. W direction, throughout the entire length of the city, and, with State street, is the seat of the principal business. New Haven is one of the handsomest cities in the United States. Nearly every portion exhibits a uniform neatness and elegance. The private residences are mostly detached, standing in court-yards, beautifully adorned with fruit-trees, gardens, and shrubbery. In Hill- house avenue, a delightful suburb on the N., the dwellings are nearly concealed from view, amid the profusion of foliage and flowers. Probably in no other city are to be found bo many and such lofty elms. Temple street and several others are so thickly shaded as al most entirely to shut out the sun. From the great abundance of these trees, New Haven has been familiarly denominated the "city of elms." Another scarcely less prominent or attractive feature are the public squares, the principal of which, commonly called the "Green," and lying about 1 1/ 2 miles N. W. from the steamboat landing, is, with its ornaments, one of the finest in New England. It includes an area of about 16 acres, bordered on all sides with majestic elms. Wooster square is a beautiful enclosure in the eastern part of the city, comprising 5 acres of ground, handsomely laid out and ornamented. Besides these, there are York square, and others of less prominence. The city burial-ground lies opposite the northern angle of the old town plot, and contains about 18 acres, divided by avenues and alleys into family lots, 31 feet long and 18 broad. It is beautifully adorned with various kinds of trees and shrubs, and in the summer season flowers are cultivated along the borders of the walks, and on many of the graves. The entire grounds are securely enclosed on three sides by a high wall of stone masonry, and in front by a massive iron fence. There are also three or four other cemeteries in different sections of the city...

New Haven was settled as an independent colony in April, 1638, by a company from London, of whom Theophilus Eaton and the Rev. John Davenport were the leaders. In 1784 it was incorporated as a city. Population of the town in 1830, 10,678; in 1840, 14,390; in 1850, 22,529; of whom 20,341 resided in the city. Population of the city, September, 1853, about 23,000.

A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.

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