About Meriden

The City of Meriden is a thriving and growing community of approximately 59,107 population (as of 2004) and has an area of 23.7 square miles. It is located in the heart of the Central Connecticut Valley, 17 miles from Hartford, 18 miles from New Haven, 90 miles from New York and 120 miles from Boston. It is at the crossroads of routes 91, 15, 5 and I-691. Railroad, bus, air and trucking facilities are excellent. Meriden has its own Meriden-Markham Municipal airport. In the City's marketing campaign to attract additional new businesses, the theme of "Location.Location.Location." is obvious.

Important manufactured products are jewelry, aircraft products, electronics, biotech, filters, nuclear instrumentation, electrical signalling and communications equipment, tools, dies, molds and patterns, pewter products, auto fuel injection devices, automated buffing and deburring machines, women's apparel, filters, plastics, engine gaskets, corrugated boxes and candy.

A very significant industrial, research and development and office area, called Research Parkway, has been developed on the east side of town. The entire area consists of approximately 1,000 acres of land (half in Meriden and half in Wallingford) along a three mile section of Route 91. Already located in the area are Fortune 500 companies, like 3M / Cuno Incorporated, as well as a host of other important and diversified companies. The enterprise was developed by Connecticut's most successful industrial park developers, the FIP Corporation. The exceptional location; the availability of utilities and services; and Greater Meriden's excellent labor supply help explain the success of the area's development with its extraordinary benefits for Meriden and its environs.

To provide the industries of the Greater Meriden area with an ample supply of skilled workers, the Horace C. Wilcox Regional Vocational-Technical School was established many years ago. It enjoys an excellent reputation and is a source of great pride to the community. Middlesex Community College also offers courses in Meriden as part of their partnership in the Meriden Business & Learning Center. The Center provides specialized training for area workers through its various business partnerships including Meriden Adult, Career and Continuing Education.  In addition, Middlesex Community College recently moved its Meriden Center to Downtown Meriden.

The Meriden Public Schools consist of eight elementary schools, of which three are Blue Ribbon schools, two middle schools, two high schools and the Thomas Edison Middle School, a regional magnet middle school with an emphasis on science and technology.

Meriden is well supplied with progressive stores, commercial houses and fine banking facilities. It is currently a shopping center for more than one million people within a twenty mile radius. Regional banks, Castle Bank & Trust Company, credit unions and several finance companies comprise the financial institutions. In addition to downtown shopping, there are the following shopping malls: Townline Square, a recently expanded Westfield Shoppingtown-Meriden Square, Centennial Plaza, Lincoln Plaza and The Meriden Parkade.

The city has two daily newspapers, the "Record-Journal", and the "Hartford Courant". Both papers also publish a Sunday edition. It also has a radio station, WMMW (AM) and is the city of license for WKSS-FM.

Meriden has 16 public parks and 22 playgrounds with a total area of over 1,800 acres. Recreational facilities include tennis courts, ball fields, a public golf course, picnic grounds with fireplaces, public swimming pools and a music shell. The community boasts of a modern library, a community theater, a brand new Y.M.C.A., as well as its own symphony orchestra.

The largest and most widely known of the city's parks is Hubbard Park, about a mile and one-half from the business center and comprising 1,200 acres. It is noted both for its exceptional facilities and its scenic beauty. Located within Hubbard Park is West Peak, 1,007 feet above sea level. It is the highest land along the Atlantic seaboard from New Hampshire to Florida. The Castle Craig Tower atop the peak is a regional landmark and is the silhouette in The Greater Meriden Chamber of Commerce Logo.

To firms seeking a good location with an atmosphere friendly and cooperative with business and industry, Meriden affords superior facilities and excellent opportunities. The same is true for individuals seeking a desirable community in which to work and live.