MID'DLETOWN. A city and the county-seat of Middlesex County, Conn., 14 miles south of Hartford; on the Connecticut River, and on the New York, New Haven and Hartford IZailroad (Slap: Connecticut, E 3). It is connected with the opposite town of Portland, known for its brownstone quarries, by an unusually long drawbridge. Middletown is the seat of Wesleyan University (q.v.) ; the Berkeley Divinity School (Protestant Episcopal), opened in 1854; the State Hospital for the Insane; and the State Industrial School for Girls. Other features are the municipal building, and the Russell Free Li brary of about 14,000 volumes. The city has considerable trade, as the river is navigable as far as Hartford for light-draught steamers, thus increasing the transportation facilities. :Middle town is also an important industrial centre, with manufactures of cotton webbing, hammocks, pumps, marine hardware, locks, harness trim mings, silver-plated ware, and rubber, bone, and silk goods. There are valuable mineral deposits
in the vicinity. Middletown is governed, under a charter of 1882, by a mayor, elected biennial ly, and a city council, chosen on a general ticket. The water-works are owned and operated by the municipality. Population, in 1890,9013; in 1900, 9589.
Founded in 1650. and incorporated as a town under the name Mattabeseek in 1651, 'Middle town received its present name in 1653, and was incorporated as a city in 1784. Previous to the Revolution and for some time thereafter it was a very important commercial port, a large num ber of its citizens being engaged in the West Indian trade. For many years prior to 1886, when the Custom House was moved to Hartford, it was a port of entry. Consult an article on "Middletown" in The Connecticut Quarterly (11artford, 1598) ; also Whittemore, History of lliddlescx County, Connecticut (New York, 1884).