[ByebyeVegas]

Wat is the aproximate population in this area? Does this area have a rural, suburban, or urban kind of feel? How are the schools? Do they feel isolated from the major citys? How are these citys for small children? What about family activities and shopping? Any information in appreciated.

[skytrekker]

New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States. It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut.

New London was founded in 1646. Population 2005 was 26,700.

By land, New London is practically midway between New York City and Boston. The major seaboard interstate highway, I-95, passes through the city, and New London's Amtrak station is on the passenger rail Northeast Corridor. The city of Worcester, Massachusetts is 74 miles northward, principally via Interstate 395, and the Connecticut capital, Hartford, is 53 miles to the northwest via a sequence of state highways. Providence Rhode Island is 50 some miles to the northeast via I 95. While Boston is about 95 miles to the northeast.

New London hosts Connecticut College, Mitchell College, and the United States Coast Guard Academy, as well as the small private secondary school The Williams School. The Connecticut College Arboretum is a fine, 750 acre arboretum and botanical garden.


The city has many historic areas, and recently has seen a new amount of development. For years the city suffered from a faded image, with economic problems and under performing schools.

Groton, across the Thames river via the Gold star bridge, is home to Electric boat and the US Sub Base. It has a large military population (Navy). It's 2000 population was about 40,000.

Nearby towns offer much charm, they include Mystic, Gales Ferry and Stonington.

A little further afield Old Lyme and Waterford both on the shoreline; Colchester (inland halfway between Hartford and New London) Are New England towns 10-15K in population. That newcomers seem to enjoy; Colchester great location, nice center and affordable housing are its main draw.

Preston and North Stonington, near the Rhode Island border are smaller towns with many rural areas.

Shopping is mostly around New London and Groton. The Crystal Mall in Waterford is a decent inside type conventional Mall with Macy's and more.
Colchester has limited shopping for basics and a bit beyond. It has some good restaurants, a nice Movie theater, and a nice town green.

Family activities are many. The beaches in the summer, both in Connecticut and nearby Rhode Island. The renowned and very interesting Sea life Aquarium, Mystic Seaport, both in Mystic; The center of Mystic itself is very charming. There are several wineries, located in eastern and southeastern CT taking advantage of the regions mild micro climate.

For adults the entertainment offered at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun are legendary.

[bluecountry]

Is this are affiliated with both New York and Boston or more Boston and which sports teams are most popular and covered by TV?

[ByebyeVegas]

Thanks for the information.


Does anyone here live in this area? Can you tell me more about the "feel" of the area?

Originally Posted by bluecountry

Is this are affiliated with both New York and Boston or more Boston and which sports teams are most popular and covered by TV?

Please tell me you can get the Boston Sports channel here. Is it NESN?

[BogieOrangeman]

Originally Posted by ByebyeVegas

Thanks for the information.


Does anyone here live in this area? Can you tell me more about the "feel" of the area?



Please tell me you can get the Boston Sports channel here. Is it NESN?

NESN is the broadcast channel for the Red Sox and the Bruins, and I believe in the New London/Groton area, you should receive this channel.

[ctman1987]

This is a very interesting area of the state to say the least and this is NOT a bad thing. New London was once the second busiest whaling port in the country after New Bedford, MA. This allowed the city to become very prominent and famous but as ports became less needed the city lost its claim to fame.

However New London and the greater New London area (Groton, Norwich, Waterford, etc) never really hit rock bottom. To this day New London has a very quaint downtown with a New England town feel and is still home to tiny streets and historic buildings that are near the water that were not knocked down in the 60's for redevelopment.

A huge asset to the New London area is the US Submarine Base which was almost closed by in 2004 or 2005 but the state fought the closure and won. Nearby the base is also Electric Boat which makes subs and would have been doomed if the base closed. New London is also home to the US Coast Guard Academy.

Southeastern CT's anchor in the 21st century though that is a concrete anchor is the casino industry. Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun Casino - the two largest casino's in the world are located in southeastern CT within a short drive from New London, Groton and Norwich. These two establishments combine gambling with world class accomodations, shopping, restaurants, golf and theaters. Big name acts come to perform at the casinos and upscale stores that are found on 5th Ave in Manhattan have shops at the casinos. There are mixed feelings on the casinos in the area but as the northeast continues to lose ground in the economic sector to sunbelt states the casinos continue to expand and draw jobs to the area.

[bluecountry]

Is New London and the region more affiliated with Boston, New York, or both?
Which do people asscioate themselves with and which teams are most popular and followed?

[Nextdutystop]

Hi, There is a good chance (yet not final) my family will be moving there in Feb/Mar (military transfer not surprisingly). What are the average home prices there? I don't know if we are going to buy for only being there for 3 years. Also, we probably won't have our equity from our current home to put down as the market here (Virginia) is depressed as it is everywhere. But we do have 2 dogs so I don't know if a rental woudl work either. Of course we have base housing which is an option for us and they allow dogs.

Anyone know what people are paying for daycare?

There seem to be a ton of jobs in my field in the bigger cities (New Haven, Hartford), is there a location that would be half way between Groton and either of those cities?

Even though there are good and bads about military towns, I think CT would be a good experience. I'm looking forward to the (hopefully) quaint towns and quaint seafood restaurants, and hockey.

[skytrekker]

nextdutystop

housing in Connecticut is undergoing a slowdown like everywhere.Median home price for a single family home in New London/Groton is about 250K
That may drop in the year ahead by at least 8%. Colchester would be roughly halfway between Hartford and New London- a very nice town of 15,000. That has a nice town green, some good restaurants, and is very quiet.
The towns adjacent to Groton and New London; Mystic, Gales Ferry and Stonington are very charming and offer much.

[mels]

Originally Posted by bluecountry

Is New London and the region more affiliated with Boston, New York, or both?
Which do people asscioate themselves with and which teams are most popular and followed?

Both. I am 30 minutes from New London and I get YES and NESN on TV.