Quiet Corner

Northeastern Connecticut, better known as the Quiet Corner, is a region of the state of Connecticut, located in the northeastern corner of the state.[1] It is generally associated with Windham County, but also incorporates eastern sections of Tolland County and the northern portion of New London County. The most frequently cited boundary is the semi-rural town of Coventry, which is more rustic than the more suburban towns to the west.

Map of Connecticut showing the Northeastern Connecticut region in blue and the Windham region in yellow.

Eastern Connecticut is more rural than southern or central Connecticut, with large areas of farmland, rivers and lakes, and state forests. Its population centers are largely rural and semi-rural towns, many with populations below 5,000. It is one of the least-urbanized districts along the Northeast Megalopolis. Many of the towns are within a long commuting distance of Boston; none are considered a part of the Boston Metropolitan Area. Only the Interstate 395 freeway spur passes through the "Quiet Corner" as a nationally signed part of the Interstate Highway System, though Interstate 84 also passes near the western end of the region and cuts through the northwestern part. Much of the region is part of the Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor.

The region's largest town is Windham, including the borough of Willimantic, with a population of 25,000.[2]

Early industry in the area was powered by watermills set on fast rivers and streams such as the Willimantic River and the Quinebaug River.[3]

The region is popular with tourists for its traditional New England scenery, culture, locally produced foods and bed and breakfasts, and is noted for its many antique shops. Major attractions in Eastern Connecticut include the main University of Connecticut campus in Storrs; the birthplace of Samuel Huntington in Scotland; Route 169, a National Scenic Byway running north-and-south through the region; the Prudence Crandall House Museum in Canterbury; the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry; and the many antiques shops of Pomfret, Putnam, and Woodstock.

The region has seen a resurgence in the production of local foods, producing local wines, cheeses, ice cream, apples, maple syrup, beer, and a variety of heirloom crops.