[ProudFairfielder]

To Start,

This is one of those "Is CT Really in New England" threads. Many times people say, "hey, let the people FROM there decide." So, being from Fairfield and having lived here for 11 years now, I'd thought I'd give my say.

My Ideas:
New York has influence on the SW part of the state. Period. No place in the world isn't influenced by it at this point. Likewise, the rest of New England has an influence on the area as well. Both are very heavy and the real question to be asked is where does one lead over the other. Also, it's a gradient. I hate people who draw sharp lines, even though it is a pretty severe gradient in this case it is still indeed a gradient. (Will show evidence after my line)

The Great, Great Moment we've all Been Waiting For: My Line* **
* See first Image
** Sorry about the colors in the gradient not being PERFECT, it's just to give you an idea of what's happening here.

The Evidence:
I have concluded this not only with my experiences in the region but also with outside data.

#1: Shows *roughly* my line coinciding with the wealthy towns but I add Stamford since its success is due to New York http://web2.uconn.edu/ctsdc/Reports/..._OP2004-01.pdf

#2: Fairfield and anything east is the Central Coast, which revolve around BPT and New Haven. The YMCAs also have this grouping. Interestingly enough Central CT YMCAs (All the way down to Fairfield) embraced the fact that you can now to to any Y in New England with a Y membership a New England Y yet anything further SW didn't Connecticut Economic Development | Our Region - Connecticut Towns & Municipalities
Also, notice how all top employers in FFLD are all located in the town, it definitely has a college town feel.

#3: The Planning Regions of the State, where NY dominance corresponds to SW CT *roughly*. These have MORE power than counties as these actually regulate stuff whereas counties in all of CT (and RI!) don't even have governments...
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr4IdtKgn9...ng.regions.GIF

[BPt111]

New Haven is border line for NYC influence, it start to pick up around Bridgeport, Norwalk and westward it very heavy

[kidyankee764]

The NY Influence extends well into New Haven County, right up to New Haven, IMO. Milford is way more influenced by NY than Bethel.

[Robert137]

The Darien YMCA participates in the New England Reciprocity Program as well, according to their website.

[hvexpatinct]

No. The dividing line is route 8 and the sphere of influence goes way north of the Fairfield County line.

[ProudFairfielder]

Originally Posted by Robert137

The Darien YMCA participates in the New England Reciprocity Program as well, according to their website.

Thanks, I wasn't certain if that was the case or not. I don't travel over there often.

[ProudFairfielder]

Originally Posted by BPt111

New Haven is border line for NYC influence, it start to pick up around Bridgeport, Norwalk and westward it very heavy

That's pretty similar to what I said, although if you look at the New Haven commuter data in source 2 NYC doesn't even appear.

[ProudFairfielder]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

The NY Influence extends well into New Haven County, right up to New Haven, IMO. Milford is way more influenced by NY than Bethel.

There will still be some all the way up Metro North yes. Remember it's a gradient. Anyway, do you have evidence to support this claim?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by ProudFairfielder

There will still be some all the way up Metro North yes. Remember it's a gradient. Anyway, do you have evidence to support this claim?

Wasn't aware I needed evidence to have an opinion.

[ProudFairfielder]

Originally Posted by hvexpatinct

No. The dividing line is route 8 and the sphere of influence goes way north of the Fairfield County line.

Interesting why you chose that, would you like to share your explanation?