Meriden silver-plated figural nut dish by the Meriden Silver Plate Company, Meriden, Connecticut, ca. 1875
Meriden, in New Haven County, is located in south-central Connecticut, with the Quinnipiac River cutting through its southwestern portion. Formerly known as North Farms, the area was incorporated as a town from parts of Wallingford in 1806, and became a city in 1867. Industrialization brought a manufacturing boom and Meriden began producing everything from ivory combs, buttons, tinware, and cutlery, to coffee grinders and organs—though Meriden would eventually become famous as the Silver City. In 1944, the War Manpower Commission named Meriden “The Nation’s Ideal War Community,” for its industrial and patriotic contributions during World War II. Today’s economy is primarily service-based.
Featured
Meriden’s Silver Lining
Despite large numbers of local industries going out of business by the start of the Civil War, Horace and Dennis Wilcox, helped establish a lucrative silver industry in Meriden. …[more]
Learn More
Find Meriden
