THE
COMMUNITY
Middletown is a small city on the west bank of the Connecticut River 15
miles south of Hartford, the state capital. New Haven is 24 miles to the
southwest; New York City and Boston are two hours away by automobile.
Settled in 1650, Middletown had become the wealthiest port in New England by
the middle of the 18th century. By 1831, the year of Wesleyan's founding,
Middletown had declined in importance as a port, in part because of the
disruption of shipping caused by the War of 1812. Today, diversified
commercial activities provide employment for many residents of Middletown
and vicinity.
Wesleyan plays a large role in the cultural and
economic life of the community, but Middletown is by no means a mere
"college town". Because there is no other community of significant size
between Middletown and the mouth of the Connecticut River, Middletown's small
but busy commercial district along its wide Main Street serves as the
trading center for some 100,000 persons.
The surrounding region has a vibrant scientific
community. Wesleyan students regularly attend seminars and symposia at Yale
University and The University of Connecticut. In addition, there are many
collaborations between faculty at these institutions and Wesleyan faculty.
Leading pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer, Bayer, Bristol Meyers, and
Boehinger Ingelheim are nearby, as well as innovative smaller software and
biotech companies at which many Wesleyan students find employment after
graduating.
Click here to view the Wesleyan campus map.
Click here for driving directions
to the Department of Chemistry.
Click here to view the Main Street, Middletown, CT. |
