Bristol, CT

Bristol is located in central Connecticut, approximately 20 miles west of Hartford.  According to 2000 Census, Bristol's  population is 60,062, and is the 11th. largest city in Connecticut.  It is approximately 26.8 square miles.   Bristol is steeped in both tradition and history. It was the nation's headquarters of the clock and watch industry, a leader in brass (hence the nickname "Bell City"), and a booming mill town which today is a stable residential community.  Bristol has beautiful landscaped parks,  as well as an architectural heritage (see the many homes on Federal Hill).  With this strong connection to the past, Bristol has one of the largest number of structures of any town in Connecticut listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Bristol is now home to ESPN which needs to introduction, and Lake Compounce Family Theme Park, which is the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States, featuring over 20 exciting rides.  The American Clock & Watch Museum, Bartlett Giamatti Regional Little League Center, The New England Carousel Museum, and The Harry C. Barnes Memorial Nature Center also all call Bristol home.  Bristol has many attractions and hidden treasures worth exploring.   The annual Mum Festival and Balloons over Bristol are two annual events in town worth checking out.

Gary Burghoff from the show M*A*S*H is a native of Bristol.  Jim Rice and Fred Lynn started in their baseball careers playing for the Boston Red Sox Eastern League AA minor league franchise from 1973 to 1982 (currently the Portland Sea Dogs) at Muzzy Field, a depression-era built ballpark in Bristol.

I like Bristol, and have lived there.  It offers affordable homes, a good sized town, but not a "City" feel.

Check out wikipedia's page on Bristol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol,_Connecticut