Hartford by the Numbers

Culture
Two people run through a snowy field

RANDOM FACTS ABOUT OUR FAVORITE HARTFORD THINGS

A barista holds a freshly made latte

3

The number that represents a “third space,” as coined by Ray Oldenburg, an American urban sociologist, for a social gathering place, unlike home or work, that provides a sense of place. J.Renee Coffee, an artisanal and culturally-rooted coffee shop in West Hartford, Conn., prides itself on being just that. The cafe maintains a core belief “that coffee can serve as a social bridge that fosters creative, cultural, and community development.”

Hartford skyline

4.5

The number of miles of wooded trails that meander along the Connecticut River and connect east and west banks via the Charter Oak Bridge. Good news for your non-running days—the trails are mountain-bike friendly.

Fleet Feet West Hartford Staff

500

The number of people that participated in Fleet Feet West Hartford’s training programs last year. The store offers fun, social, and professionally-designed programs for everything from walking fitness to marathon training (and more!). Fun runs also take place regularly, so check in with the staff when you arrive in town.

Heublein Tower

600

The amount of elevation, in feet, you’ll gain while climbing two lung-busting miles up the Heublein Tower from the summit of Talcott Mountain (close to Penwood State Park). Hill repeats, anyone?

The Tower is one of many historical sights along the Metacomet Trail—a 62.7-mile challenging hiking trail—that traverses the Metacomet Mountain Ridge just outside the city. You'll also see waterfalls, swampland, sharp cliffs and, if you go the whole way, two mountain summits. Connect with the CT Trailmixers, who often lead runs here.

Mark Twains table

17

The Number of years Mark Twain (aka Samuel Clemens) and his family lived in Hartford, Conn. It was in his Hartford home that Twain wrote Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, the Prince and the Pauper, and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, arguably his life’s greatest literary works. Yep, that's really his desk.

Watch the Hartford episode of Run This Town here.

BONUS FOOTAGE: ASHLEY IN MARK TWAIN'S HOUSE