The Great Migration in Hartford

Today, the city of Hartford in central Connecticut is a diverse urban center, with inhabitants of vastly different hues and backgrounds. While there have been non-European inhabitants since it was established in 1635, Hartford has not always been quite so diverse. Demographic diversity in Hartford can be attributed to a variety of causes and a series of event. For instance, the decade encompassing World War I saw a rapid increase in those of African descent in the city. African Americans* came to Hartford during this time for many reasons. It was the beginning of what historians call the Great Migration, when thousands of African Americans left the Southern States for Northern cities. Once in Hartford, newly arriving African Americans interacted with earlier inhabitants, experienced a range of challenges and triumphs, and contributed to civilian and military life. 

*The term African American is used most frequently in this exhibit to describe those of African descent living in the United States. Warning: Some documents, products of their time, use the term “colored” or “negro.”

The Great Migration in Hartford