Danbury, formerly known as the Hat Capital of the World and official supplier of silk top hats to presidents, is perhaps best known today as the headquarters of Union Carbide and other industries that have moved out of metropolitan areas. Danbury is located near the beautiful rural area of Connecticut known as Litchfield Hills, an affluent region where per capita income is among the highest in the country. The creation of the city's historic downtown district in 1988 has helped to bring about an upswing in downtown development. The resurgence can be witnessed by continued population growth fueled by a high quality of living that residents enjoy.