Meriden is located at the Crossroads of Connecticut, being bisected by two of the State’s major freeways - Interstate Highways 91 and 691, major north/south and east/west arterials.  Meriden is situated midway between the cities of New Haven and Hartford, located about 20 miles to the north and south, respectively. The city is in New Haven County.

Meriden was settled in 1661. The town was incorporated from Wallingford in 1806; in 1867 the city of Meriden was incorporated, and in 1922 the town and city were consolidated. Known as "The Silver City of the World", it was the Meriden Britannic Company that became today's International Silver Company, which is still in town and now the world's largest manufacture of silver tableware products. Other companies in town specialize in silver decorated glass products and jewelry, preserving the silver trade as the foundation of the town's economy.

Meriden has several world-class educational institutions located within less than a one-half hour drive, including Yale University, Wesleyan University, Trinity College, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (at Hartford), the University of New Haven, the University of Hartford, Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), Southern Connecticut State College, Albertus Magnus College, and St. Joseph College.

Castle Craig, located on East Peak in the Hanging Hills, is constructed of traprock and is 32 feet (10 m) in height and has a base 58 feet (18 m) in circumference . A metal interior stairway is used to get up to the observation area on top. It stands 976 feet (297 m) above sea level and provides an expansive view of the greater Meriden, Connecticut area.

Meriden is the showcase for one of the finest Traprock Ridges in all of New England.  The Ridges frame the City, from Mount Lamentation along the easterly boundary to West Peak along the westerly boundary.  These mountain ridges were recently protected by the City Council for future generations to enjoy.

Meriden is the home of Hubbard Park, the largest municipal park in all of New England.  Hubbard Park consists of 1,800 acres and was designed by the famed architect Frederick Law Olmsted.  The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Meriden is located about one hour from major tourist and recreation areas, such as Sturbridge Yankee Village to the north and Mystic Seaport to the southeast.

Meriden is traversed by one of the State’s major rivers, the Quinnipiac River, and is located only a few miles to the west of the state’s largest waterway, the Connecticut River.

Meriden is the home of Hunter Golf Course, one of the finest public golf courses in New England.  It was rated as one of the top ten municipal courses in the State by Connecticut Magazine and was recently named the number 7 public golf course in the state by Pub Links magazine.

Meriden has a growing cluster of biotech companies located in and around Research Parkway, one of the City’s newest industrial areas including Protein Sciences.

Meriden is also a major retail center with its newly-rehabilitated downtown and mall recently expanded over one-million square feet which features such major retailers as Macy's, J.C. Penney, Sears, Borders Books and Music, Dick's Sporting Goods and over 150 specialty shops and restaurants.

A full-service medical center, MidState Medical Center, offers world class medical care to the residents of central Connecticut.  The Emergency Department capacity will double from 26 to 52 treatment spaces following a major expansion and the hospital's in-patient bed count will be 162.

Housing Cost

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $220,886

Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $230,770; Detached houses: $248,958; Townhouses or other attached units: $170,739; In 2-unit structures: $219,491; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $189,950; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $122,396; Mobile homes: $58,462.

Demographics

Population in July 2007: 59,225. Meriden covers 23.7 square miles. It sits at an elevation 140 feet above sea level.

Zip codes: 06450, 06451, 06454 - Area code: 203

Weather

Meriden, CT climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20's.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 84.20 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 20.30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 21 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Meriden is 52.35 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is October with an average rainfall of 4.81 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com