About the Tolland, Connecticut Area 

A thriving, modern community that values its history, Tolland, incorporated as a town all the way back in 1722, was named one of the “Best Places To Live In The US” in 2005. Located in northeastern Connecticut’s picturesque Tolland County, the Town of Tolland covers forty-one squares miles with ponds, rivers and 15,000 friendly residents, providing a place where you can truly settle down to generations of making happy family memories. A classic New England village, the charming town center known as Tolland Green, is now part of a national historic district which includes many of Tolland's unique attractions. Restored historic sites such as the Tolland County Courthouse, Old Jail Museum and the Hicks-Stearn Family Museum compliment quaint shops and restaurants with old-fashioned ambiance. The white steeples of churches and the colonial architectural styles on display are reminiscent of a picture-postcard scene, most appreciated during the fall foliage season in October. Tree-lined residential neighborhoods have many Victorian homes that offer buyers all the traditional design elements of yesteryear fabulously upgraded with today’s conveniences. Tolland's oldest house dating back to 1720 is now the Daniel Benton Homestead Museum which is currently in the process of being restored and will faithfully demonstrate what home life was like all the way back before the Revolutionary War. A desirable enclave for almost 300 years, Tolland is a wonderful place to raise a family with safe streets and blue-ribbon schools. The natural environment is conducive to healthy living for residents of all ages and the Parks and Recreation department operates three parks as well as sponsoring classes, fitness programs and teams that encourage you to work out while you meet your neighbors. At Crandall Park, with its pond, hiking trails, pavilion, playground, and athletic fields, you’ll enjoy an attractive and fun location for all your recreational activities. The park was even recently expanded by 146 acres thanks to the efforts of a committed citizenry working in concert with responsive local government. Heron Cove Park and River Park include additional athletic fields and recreational amenities to serve town residents. Two state forests within Tolland’s borders provide additional opportunities for enjoying the scenic landscape. Both the Nye Holman Forest and Kohler Forest along the Willimantic River are popular sites for hiking, biking and fly-fishing. The Arts Center at the Hicks-Stearns Museum programs cultural offerings and special events throughout the year while the entertainment and sports attractions at the nearby University of Connecticut Campus in Storrs as well as in Hartford means something exciting and interesting is always going on. Summer is everyone’s favorite time when each Saturday local farmers sell their delicious, just-picked produce at the farmer’s market on Tolland Green. That serene and scenic spot where you always dreamed of settling down really does exist and it’s called Tolland. Come take a tour because your home sweet home is waiting!

Useful Links: Tolland Chamber of Commerce

LOCATION 

Tolland is conveniently located just north of I-84, 19 miles east of the state capital at Hartford and 21 miles south of the Massachusetts border. Set in northeastern Connecticut’s Tolland County, it is 80 miles south of Boston and 130 miles north of New York City. The University of Connecticut at Storrs is 10 minutes south and Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks is twenty-five minutes east. Nearby towns include Coventry, Ellington, Mansfield, Stafford and Vernon. 

TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORTS  

Situated just off the I-84, about half way between New York City and Boston, Tolland is conveniently set within a modern and well maintained web of highways that includes the I-395, I-95 and Route-91 making it easy to get where you’re going near or far.  

Tolland is served by Bradley International Airport, located off Route 91 in Windsor Locks, about a twenty-five minute drive west. Also referred to as the Hartford-Springfield Airport, it is one of New England’s most hassle-free and easy to use with twenty airlines offering direct flights to primary pleasure and business destinations both domestic and international. Additional flights and travel flexibility are provided by Boston’s Logan Airport, less than a two-hour drive away.  

Bonanza Bus Lines provides intra-city service between nearby Mansfield/Storrs and many East Coast cities and airports including Hartford, Providence, Boston and New York. 

A BRIEF HISTORY 

Originally a part of the Town of Windsor, Tolland began to be settled in 1713. Some citizens felt Windsor had become overcrowded and that their growing families were in need of new homesteads. People began moving east onto lands that they purchased from the Native Americans. 

A committee was appointed to lay out a settlement on these lands and the General Assembly was petitioned to charter it as a town. The Charter was obtained in 1715 and the town named Tolland, either after an English village in Somerset or because it was a stop on a toll road (there’s some dispute), was incorporated as Connecticut’s 49th town in May of 1722. 

In 1785, Tolland County was organized by action of the General Assembly with the Town of Tolland designated the county seat. Public buildings were erected befitting the town’s new status including a town hall, courthouse and jail. The existing stone jail was erected in 1856 and served the county until 1968 when the state decided to discontinue its use. In 1969, the jail and adjacent 1893 jailer’s home became town property and were leased to The Tolland Historical Society, which now uses them as a museum. The 1822 vintage courthouse, which still stands at the center of the town green, is recognized as one of five examples of early civic architecture still extant in Connecticut. 

As the county seat, Tolland’s history is rich in political lore. The Tolland Green Historic District, which was placed on the National Register in June 1997, provides an overview of the history of the town through its architecture. While several of the important buildings within the District have been adapted to serve modern needs, they still retain the flavor of the past.  

The Hicks Municipal Building was built as the Ratcliffe Hicks Memorial School in 1908 while the Hicks - Stearns Homestead is now a museum that interprets the town history. The Tolland Board of Education building started life in 1830 as Tolland County Bank. Directly across from the Municipal Building, the town’s original 1879 Town Hall has become the Tolland Arts Center. The Courthouse recently became a museum of the Tolland Historical Society with the first floor dedicated to the French Canadian Genealogy Library. 

Always a desirable place to call home, Tolland’s tree-lined residential neighborhoods feature many Victorian residences that transport you to yesteryear. Tolland's oldest house, dating back to 1720, is now the Daniel Benton Homestead Museum which is currently in the process of being restored and will faithfully demonstrate what home life was like all the way back before the Revolutionary War. 

Now approaching its 300th anniversary, Tolland’s quality of life has stood the test of time.