If you’re looking at a counties in CT map and trying to figure out where the county seat is or who the county sheriff is, I’ve got some news for you. You won’t find them. Honestly, Connecticut is a bit of a rebel when it comes to geography. Most people assume that because every other state has a "county government," Connecticut does too. But that hasn't been true for decades.
In fact, if you’re looking at a map of Connecticut today, you’re actually looking at two different things layered on top of each other: the historical ghosts of eight counties and the new, legally recognized "planning regions" that the federal government now treats as counties. It's confusing, right? Basically, the Nutmeg State decided back in 1960 that county governments were a waste of time and money, so they just... deleted them.
The Eight Original Counties (The Ghosts)
For over 300 years, Connecticut was divided into eight main counties. You’ve probably heard the names: Fairfield, Hartford, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London, Tolland, and Windham.
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Fairfield, Hartford, New Haven, and New London are the "Original Four," established way back in 1666. If you look at a traditional map, these are the boundaries you see. But here is the catch—they don't do anything. There is no Fairfield County courthouse where a county-specific judge sits. There is no New Haven County jail run by a county board.
Everything in Connecticut happens at the town level. We have 169 towns, and they are the kings of the hill. They handle the schools, the local police, and the property taxes. When the state abolished county government in 1960, they kept the names and the lines on the map just so the U.S. Census Bureau wouldn't have a heart attack trying to track data.
Why the Map Just Changed (The Big 2024 Shift)
Here is where it gets really interesting for anyone looking at a counties in CT map in 2026. As of late 2024, the federal government officially stopped using those eight old counties for statistical data.
The state realized that since those eight counties didn't actually do anything, they were missing out on federal grants. If there's no county government to apply for a "County Infrastructure Grant," the money just goes somewhere else. So, Connecticut petitioned the Census Bureau to replace the eight legacy counties with nine Planning Regions.
These regions are governed by Councils of Governments, or COGs. They are basically groups of towns that work together on things like transportation and emergency planning.
The Nine New "County Equivalents"
If you're looking at a modern, data-driven map, you aren't going to see "Tolland County" anymore. You’re going to see these nine regions:
- Capitol Planning Region (centered around Hartford)
- Greater Bridgeport Planning Region
- Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region
- Naugatuck Valley Planning Region
- Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region
- Northwest Hills Planning Region
- South Central Connecticut Planning Region (New Haven area)
- Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region
- Western Connecticut Planning Region
This isn't just a name change. These new regions actually have different borders than the old counties. For example, the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region takes towns that used to be split between New Haven and Litchfield counties and lumps them together. It makes more sense for the people living there, but it makes the old maps look totally wrong.
A Quick Tour of the Traditional Map
Even though the "COGs" are the new legal standard, most people still use the old county names when they talk about where they live. Here's a quick breakdown of what those old lines represented.
Fairfield County is basically the "Gold Coast." It’s the southwestern corner, packed with commuters who head into New York City every morning. It’s wealthy, it’s dense, and it’s got cities like Stamford and Bridgeport.
Litchfield County is the opposite. It’s the Northwest corner, full of rolling hills, covered bridges, and tiny towns where people go to escape the city. It’s the largest county by land area but has one of the smallest populations.
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Hartford County is the heart of the state. It’s got the capital, obviously, but it’s also the "Insurance Capital of the World." It’s a mix of gritty urban centers and surprisingly rural tobacco farms just a few miles north.
New London County is where the coast gets rugged. You’ve got the naval base in Groton, the casinos (Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods), and the historic Mystic Seaport. It’s got a very different vibe than the New York-centric Fairfield County.
Windham County is often called "The Quiet Corner." It’s in the northeast and feels like you’ve stepped back in time. Lots of agriculture, very few highways, and a lot of peace and quiet.
Misconceptions About the Map
People often get confused about who "runs" these areas. I’ve seen tourists get pulled over by a State Trooper and ask if they can talk to the "County Sheriff."
Spoiler: You can't.
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Connecticut abolished the office of County Sheriff in 2000. They were replaced by State Marshals, who are mostly focused on serving legal papers, not patrolling the streets. If you need help, you call the local Town Police or the State Police. There is no "in-between" layer.
Another big one? The "County Seat." On an old counties in CT map, you might see a star next to a city like Litchfield or Tolland. Those were the county seats centuries ago. Today, they are just beautiful towns with old buildings that used to be courthouses. They hold no administrative power over the neighboring towns.
How to Use This Information
If you are a business owner or someone looking at demographic data, you have to be careful. If you pull "County Data" for Connecticut from a source that hasn't updated since 2023, you’re looking at the old eight-county system. If you pull from the newest Census releases, you’re looking at the nine planning regions.
The data won't match.
You can't just "add up" the old Litchfield County data to get the new Northwest Hills data. Some towns moved. To get an accurate picture, you have to look at the data at the town level and then group them yourself.
Practical Next Steps
- Check your data source: If you're using a map for a presentation or business plan in 2026, ensure it specifies whether it's using "Legacy Counties" or "Planning Regions."
- Look for COGs: If you need regional services or help with a local project, search for your town's "Council of Governments" rather than a county office.
- Update your GIS layers: For map makers, the old FIPS codes (the numbers the government uses to identify counties) for Connecticut were retired. Make sure you are using the new codes (09110 through 09190) for the planning regions.
- Visit the "Quiet Corner": If you're just traveling, forget the maps for a second. Head to Windham or Litchfield for the best views, regardless of what the federal government calls them.