CCSU was founded in 1849, under the name of New Britain Normal School, becoming the Teachers College of Connecticut, in 1933. The current name was settled in 1983, when the institution's continuous development in aspiration and mission was recognized.

Central Connecticut State University is today the "oldest publicly supported institution of higher education", valuing the development of knowledge, being nationally recognized as a moral, civic and professional educational institution.

CCSU is offering a total of 100 majors, covering more than 80 fields of study to 65 000 students that are living on campus, granting over 50 honorary doctoral degrees, since it became a university.

It has been highly ranked by numerous important magazines such as the Princeton Review that placed the university among "The Best Northeastern Colleges", including The Association of American Colleges & Universities, selecting it as one of the "Leadership Institutions" in the nation and the only one in Connecticut, as well as by The Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education, designating the School of Technology and the Center of International Studies from CCSU as "Centers of Excellence".

The Blue Devils teams are representing the university in various intercollegiate championships, covering sports areas that include (women's and men's) basketball, volleyball, football, as well as (women's and men's) soccer.

Among the notable alumni from CCSU there are names such as: Eileen Albrizio (poet and author), Andrew Baylock (former varsity baseball coach at University of Connecticut), Douglas Powers (know as Dr. Evil), Corsley Edwards (NBA player with the New Orleans Hornets), Richard Grieco (actor), John "Corky" Mazurek (Connecticut State Representative and Assistant Majority Whip, 80th District) and S. Michael Scalise (PA ESPN INC).

The City of New Britain has a diverse population, and a rich history. Tucked into our many neighborhoods are 1,200 acres of the best park system in the state, sporting complexes and a treasure-trove of cultural attractions waiting to be discovered.

New Britain was founded in 1687, being incorporated in 1754 as a new parish, under the name of New Britain Society, and being first settled, in 1680, as a part of Berlin.

In the early 20th century, the city was known as "Hardware City" or as the "Hardware Capital of the World", due to the fact that it was one of the busiest manufacturing centers in the States.

New Britain, CT has a total area of 13.4 square miles, according to the United States Census Bureau, of which a major part of the area is land and 0.1 square miles is covered with water.

The city has the largest Polish population in the state, the entire population being estimated at a number of over 70 000 culturally diverse inhabitants.

Visitors can enjoy a hotdog while watching New Britain's Double-A baseball team, the Rock Cats, play a game at the friendly confines of the Willow Brook Park Sports Complex; play a round of golf at the newly redesigned, 27 hole, Stanley Golf Course; or simply take a quiet stroll through historic Walnut Hill Park and you will get a taste of the many different recreational activities New Britain has to offer.

New Britain's business community is a rich mix of manufacturing, medical, high-tech industry and small to mid-sized businesses, which fuel our regional economy. Central Connecticut State University also has proved to be a fantastic partner for business development and support through their main campus and CCSU's Institute for Technology and Business Development, located in the heart of downtown.

The best time to visit New Britain is considered to be in July, when the temperatures are as high as 83°F. During winter, the weather is cold and the temperatures tend to be as low as 16°F (January). The average rainfall, during the wettest month of the year, which is October, is 4.57 inches.