[FoxFox]

Would like to know a little bit about Torrington. Schools, Shopping, Medical, ice skating rinks closest to Torrington. Housing with property and taxes. Thanks

[sun]

I don't know a whole lot about Torrington, but I've been there enough over the years to say that it has a clean "small city-like" atmosphere. It's has more than adequate shopping, a hospital & medical facilities[ Charlotte Hungerford Hospital ], motel, and some nice state forest land in and around the outskirts of town. It's hilly in places, with one of the main commercial strips going up & on top of a steep hill. The last I saw, the downtown seemed to be somewhat sparse & empty. But there's a nice Walmart and there may still be a Kmart there, if it's still open. There's fairly good highway access on Routes 8, 4 & 202. They usually always get more than their fair share of snow each winter compared to the rest of the state.
Torrington has a nice indoor gun club, one of my favorite clothing chain stores recently closed down (Eb-lens clothing which was like a smaller Bob's Stores), and there's plenty of nice scenery and land in the area. People who live in the small towns out that way probably consider either Torrington or Bristol the main shopping destinations, with Waterbury located south on Route 8.

[JayCT]

The east side of Torrington (called Torringford) is growing pretty fast. There are a lot of affordable homes being built there and it is becoming a suburb of western Hartford County. In addition to the WalMart and Price Chopper Supermarket there, there is a Target going up and a new Stop & Shop that will be starting constuction soon. I will say commuting to Hartford though is difficult. Routes 4 and 44 are congested when you get to Avon and Farmington and getting over Avon Mountain or through Farmington Center is a real problem. The schools in Torrington are considered to be okay. It would be a short drive from the east side of Torrington to the Connecticut Skating Center in Simsbury. There is also a nice public skating rink in West Hartford. Not sure where else there are rinks near Torrington. Good luck, Jay

[JiminCT]

I've always thought Torrington could be the potential reniassance town. Located right next to Litchfield (which attracts a large NYC contigent), the city has some centerpieces that may attract a bohemian set. The Warner Theatre is an absolute gem (Willie Nelson was there last week). It still has the remnants of the blue-collar manufacturing years, which left some scars as the industry has largely left the area. It's near some great hiking and fishing. UCONN and NCCC have campuses nearby.

Winsted is another one (right up route 8). Small manufacturing town in a metamorphasis.

[JayCT]

I agree with JiminCT, Torrington may be on the verge of a reniassance. They elected one of the youngest Mayors in the country (he is like 23 years old) and he has big plans for the city. The state will be building a new courthouse downtown and there should be a lot of new development due to this. Jay

[minbari]

The few positive posts by people who know little about Torrington make me laugh. I have lived in this rotten town for 51 years, and I can assure you it is truly a city in decline. It used to be a Norman Rockwell town, with a low population and surrounded by farmland. Now, thanks to short-sighted city officials, it is an ugly, decaying, over-populated city overrun with urban sprawl, blight and crime, and it is looking more and more like Connecticut's urban ghetto cities of Hartford, Bridgeport, and Waterbury.

Torrington's young and very inexperienced mayor, Ryan "Lyin" Bingham, has done little to improve this city in decay. For anyone considering moving here, my advice is, "STAY AWAY!"

[Rocklin]

I agree with Minbari. I just spent 3 days in Hartford thinking about relocating to CT from Sacramento CA and I have to say it looks like the slums. Pretty sad to say as I heard it was so beatiful. I compare Hartford with a little city in Southern CA (Sanbernardino, CA). I think the few people who have positive things to say are realtors trying to make a quick buck to sell you a house.

[KH02]

rocklin - just so you know this thread is about torrington NOT hartford. Hartford is like every other major city in the US. But Connecticut is beautiful outside of Hartford, the seasons changing are wonderful and the scenery is great too. I love living here.
And FYI it's all about opinion because if i had to move to another state of the entire 50 my last choice would be CA.

[Rocklin]

Yeah it's pretty hard to look at a tree and say it is ugly.

At some point you have to go to the city to get food, gas, etc......

[JayCT]

Rocklin - You have your opinion, we have ours. No I am not a realtor trying to sell homes either. I am sorry that you did not find our State to your liking. Sacamento is hardly the garden spot of the universe. I do not know where you visited but you obviously missed a lot. Also, three days hardly makes you an expert on the area though. JMHO, Jay