Manchester occupies 27.6 square miles
ten miles east of the capital city Hartford, halfway between
New York City and Boston. The metropolitan area
is headquarters for major financial services companies (Travelers,
Cigna, Aetna, et al). Defense and aerospace industries, led by
United Technologies, are prominent among the high technology
and skilled industries of the region. Emerging industries include
precision machinery, health care, and information technology.
Manchester has evolved into a small city of 51,408 which is a
service, retail, employment and residential center for the eastern
part of the Hartford region. It has a central business district,
four shopping districts and three industrial parks. The Town
has a reputation for quality delivery of a full range of municipal
services and is attractive for businesses and living.
Manchester has a diversified economic base of small to medium
sized firms for manufacturing, research, and development and
distribution. These firms require a full range of occupational
levels and rely heavily on a highly skilled work force. Recently
improved interstate highways and rail freight services serve
Manchester.
A 1.1 million square foot super-regional shopping mall opened
in 1990. Mixed use development continues to be built on neighborhood
parcels. This development includes offices, housing, hotels and
entertainment facilities and has enhanced Manchester's role as
a regional center |