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Connecticut County Map: 8 Historic Counties and 9 Current Planning Regions [CT, US]

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    Connecticut County Map: 8 Historic Counties and 9 Current Planning Regions [CT, US]

    Connecticut County Geography

    Connecticut County Map: 9 Current Planning Regions and 8 Historic Counties [CT, US]

    Connecticut has two county-level map systems that serve different purposes. The U.S. Census Bureau now uses nine planning regions as county-equivalent geographic units for current data collection, tabulation, mapping, and publication. The familiar eight-county map is historical: county governments ended in 1960, and those boundaries were replaced in current Census geography after the 2022 change. Historic counties remain useful for older records, genealogy, cultural references, and legacy maps, but current ACS, population-estimate, and federal county-level work should normally use the nine planning regions.

    Current Census Units9 planning regions
    Historic Map Units8 former counties
    Connecticut FIPSState code 09
    County GovernmentEnded in 1960

    Connecticut County Map

    Historic Connecticut county map showing eight former counties with major cities and towns
    This image shows Connecticut’s eight historic counties. It does not show the nine planning regions used as current Census county equivalents.
    Download Historic County Map PDF
    Open the Current Census Planning Region Map
    Boundary type matters: Connecticut’s historic counties and current planning regions do not share a one-to-one border pattern. A city or town may have one historic county association and a different planning region for current Census reporting.

    Current Census County Equivalents: Connecticut’s 9 Planning Regions

    The Census Bureau adopted Connecticut’s nine Councils of Governments and planning regions as county-equivalent units in 2022. The final federal notice was published on June 6, 2022, and the geographic update was completed during that year. These regions are made from whole cities and towns and are the current county-level geography in Census products.

    The change did not create nine conventional county governments. Each council of governments is a regional body formed by member municipalities. The regions are used for Census geography, regional coordination, planning, transportation, shared services, and access to programs that refer to counties or county equivalents.

    Current view: 9 planning regions
    Legacy view: 8 historic counties
    Current GEOIDs: 09110–09190
    Municipal coverage: 169 towns
    Interactive Connecticut Planning Region and City Reference


    Current Planning Region GEOID Council of Governments Municipalities Selected Cities and Towns Region Center
    Capitol Planning Region 09110 Capitol Region Council of Governments 38 Hartford, New Britain, Manchester, Tolland 41.8185, -72.5722
    Greater Bridgeport Planning Region 09120 Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments 6 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull 41.1850, -73.2085
    Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region 09130 Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments 17 Middletown, Clinton, Old Saybrook, East Hampton 41.4206, -72.4920
    Naugatuck Valley Planning Region 09140 Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments 19 Waterbury, Bristol, Naugatuck, Shelton 41.5230, -73.0861
    Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region 09150 Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments 16 Putnam, Killingly, Plainfield, Woodstock 41.8268, -71.9768
    Northwest Hills Planning Region 09160 Northwest Hills Council of Governments 21 Torrington, Litchfield, Winchester, Salisbury 41.8468, -73.2213
    South Central Connecticut Planning Region 09170 South Central Regional Council of Governments 15 New Haven, Milford, Meriden, Wallingford 41.2944, -72.8337
    Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region 09180 Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments 19 New London, Norwich, Groton, Windham 41.4847, -72.1006
    Western Connecticut Planning Region 09190 Western Connecticut Council of Governments 18 Stamford, Danbury, Norwalk, Greenwich 41.2805, -73.4472
    Municipalities in Each Planning Region
    Counts cover Connecticut’s 169 towns using the state municipality-to-planning-region list.


    Historic Connecticut Counties

    Connecticut’s eight county names remain common in historical records, local identity, genealogy, older maps, and legacy datasets. Their former county GEOIDs identify the historical geography and should not be substituted for the current planning-region codes.

    Historic County Legacy GEOID Established General Area Current Status
    Fairfield County 09001 1666 Southwestern Connecticut and the western Long Island Sound coast Historic geography; split among three current planning regions
    Hartford County 09003 1666 North-central Connecticut and the Hartford area Historic geography; split among three current planning regions
    Litchfield County 09005 1751 Northwestern Connecticut Historic geography; split among three current planning regions
    Middlesex County 09007 1785 Central Connecticut River communities and the central coast Historic geography; its towns map to one current planning region
    New Haven County 09009 1666 South-central Connecticut Historic geography; split between two current planning regions
    New London County 09011 1666 Southeastern Connecticut Historic geography; split among three current planning regions
    Tolland County 09013 1785 North-central and northeastern interior Connecticut Historic geography; split between two current planning regions
    Windham County 09015 1726 Northeastern Connecticut Historic geography; split between two current planning regions

    Historic County to Planning Region Crosswalk

    The crosswalk follows Connecticut’s 169 towns from their former county parent to their current county-equivalent planning region. The numbers in parentheses are town counts. A historic county total cannot be converted by changing its label because several former counties are divided across multiple planning regions.

    Historic County Current Planning Region Allocation Boundary Split Notes
    Fairfield County Greater Bridgeport (6); Naugatuck Valley (1); Western Connecticut (16) Shelton moved to the Naugatuck Valley geography; most western and southwestern towns are in Western Connecticut.
    Hartford County Capitol (26); Naugatuck Valley (1); Northwest Hills (2) Bristol is in Naugatuck Valley; Burlington and Hartland are in Northwest Hills.
    Litchfield County Naugatuck Valley (5); Northwest Hills (19); Western Connecticut (2) Bridgewater and New Milford are in Western Connecticut; five southeastern Litchfield towns are in Naugatuck Valley.
    Middlesex County Lower Connecticut River Valley (15) All 15 historic Middlesex County towns are in the same current planning region.
    New Haven County Naugatuck Valley (12); South Central Connecticut (15) The former county is divided between the inland Naugatuck Valley and the south-central coastal and New Haven area.
    New London County Lower Connecticut River Valley (2); Northeastern Connecticut (1); Southeastern Connecticut (18) Lyme and Old Lyme are in Lower Connecticut River Valley; Voluntown is in Northeastern Connecticut.
    Tolland County Capitol (12); Northeastern Connecticut (1) Union is in Northeastern Connecticut; the other 12 historic Tolland County towns are in the Capitol region.
    Windham County Northeastern Connecticut (14); Southeastern Connecticut (1) Windham town is in Southeastern Connecticut; the other 14 towns are in Northeastern Connecticut.

    Major Cities and Their Current Planning Regions

    City references should identify the current planning region when the purpose is Census, demographic, economic, or federal county-level analysis. The historic county remains useful when the source record or map uses the older boundary system.

    City Historic County Current Planning Region Latitude Longitude Map Role
    Bridgeport Fairfield County Greater Bridgeport Planning Region 41.1792 -73.1894 Regional center on Long Island Sound
    New Haven New Haven County South Central Connecticut Planning Region 41.3083 -72.9279 South-central urban center
    Stamford Fairfield County Western Connecticut Planning Region 41.0534 -73.5387 Southwestern coastal center
    Hartford Hartford County Capitol Planning Region 41.7658 -72.6734 State capital
    Waterbury New Haven County Naugatuck Valley Planning Region 41.5582 -73.0515 Inland Naugatuck Valley center
    Norwalk Fairfield County Western Connecticut Planning Region 41.1177 -73.4082 Southwestern coastal city
    Danbury Fairfield County Western Connecticut Planning Region 41.3948 -73.4540 Western inland center
    New Britain Hartford County Capitol Planning Region 41.6612 -72.7795 Central urban center
    Bristol Hartford County Naugatuck Valley Planning Region 41.6718 -72.9493 Crosswalk example between old and current geography
    Meriden New Haven County South Central Connecticut Planning Region 41.5382 -72.8070 Central corridor city

    Data Transition and Boundary Use

    Use the 9 planning regions forCurrent Census county-level tables, ACS products that use the new geography, population estimates, current TIGER files, regional comparisons, and new statistical maps.
    Use the 8 historic counties forGenealogy, older court and land records, historical maps, local heritage, legacy datasets, and documents that explicitly retain pre-2022 county geography.
    Check the data vintage: The 2022 ACS generally adopted the nine planning regions, but some 2018–2022 ACS five-year summary levels that combine county and metropolitan geography retained the former county boundaries. Previously released datasets are not automatically redrawn. The geography name, GEOID, release year, and summary level should be checked before comparing values over time.

    Map Data Notes

    • Current boundary source: Census Bureau county-equivalent planning-region geography and Connecticut Office of Policy and Management municipality assignments.
    • Historic boundary source: The eight former counties and their legacy GEOIDs, retained for older geographic reference.
    • Coordinates: Planning-region centers use Census TIGER geographic center values. City coordinates are approximate center points, not street addresses.
    • Municipality counts: Counts cover all 169 Connecticut towns and assign each town to one current planning region.
    • Best map use: Use the official planning-region map for current boundaries and the MapCounty image for the historical eight-county view.

    Official Maps and Sources

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How many counties does Connecticut have?

    Connecticut has eight historic counties. Current Census county-level geography uses nine planning regions as county equivalents.

    Does Connecticut still have county governments?

    No. County governments ended in 1960. Cities, towns, state agencies, and regional councils of governments perform the public and regional functions used in the state today.

    When did the Census Bureau replace the eight counties?

    The Census Bureau adopted the nine planning regions as county equivalents in 2022. Current geospatial and statistical products began moving to the new geography through the 2022 data cycle.

    Are historic county names still useful?

    Yes. They remain useful for historical research, genealogy, older records, local identity, and legacy maps. They are not the default county-equivalent units for current Census reporting.

    Can old county data be renamed as planning-region data?

    No. The boundaries differ, and several historic counties are divided among two or three planning regions. Town-level crosswalks or re-tabulated data are needed.

    Why do some recent datasets still show the old counties?

    Some products preserve earlier geographic definitions or combine county geography with metropolitan areas built from an older vintage. The release notes and GEOIDs identify which boundary system is being used.