Every one of Connecticut's 169 towns has a story shaped by its geography and its people—the first inhabited the state more than 10,000 years ago, the Dutch traders, English settlers, and Africans—enslaved and free—who settled towns as one of the original 13 colonies, and successive waves of immigrants who moved its story forward. It's a small state with amazing variety that makes the 169 Club a fun and rewarding adventure. You'll experience historic town greens and new city centers, revitalized mills sprouting microbreweries and local farms offering local farm-to-table foods, and maritime villages and rural upland communities. Connecticut has it all! This guide, written by town historians and other local boosters, offers the backstory to your discovery of what makes Connecticut so special. - Elzabeth J. Normen, publisher, Connecticut Explored