Established in 1674 and incorporated in 1686, Waterbury has become Connecticut's fifth largest city. It is a community filled with architectural beauty, history, culture, and opportunity.

As one of the nation's most important wartime and post-World War II metal manufacturing centers Waterbury was nicknamed The Brass City. It continues to retool to meet the demands and needs of the era after heavy industry.

Today career opportunities in health care abound in Waterbury. Both Waterbury Hospital and Saint Mary's Hospital, operate here. A regional cancer care center, skilled nursing facilities and other health care services are also located here.

A historic downtown venue, the newly refurbished Palace Theater, once again draws audiences to the city center. Large town green, flourishing restaurants, beautiful churches and other architectural landmarks are all part of the downtown area.

Away from the center, long-time families, including many from ethnic backgrounds, continue to live in close knit neighborhoods. These diverse ethnic communities also support and maintain all kinds of cultural centers, places of worship, schools and social clubs.

Affordable housing opportunities exist in abundance. There is a wide variety of single-family homes, apartments and condominiums to meet diverse needs and tastes. Many neighborhoods are graced with historic parks. Rounding out the city's lifestyle offerings are two municipal golf courses, a private golf course, museums, a municipal stadium, Seven Angels Theater, movie houses and bustling shopping districts, including the Brass Mill Center Mall.

The city's residents are taking full advantage of Connecticut's significant initiatives in public education. Waterbury's school system is comprised of inter-district magnet schools, charter schools, a vocational high school as well as traditional neighborhood schools. Magnet school offerings include a school with a performing arts focus near the Palace Theater, an elementary school program with Japanese language instruction and the award -winning Rotella Interdistrict Magnet School for integrated arts.

For higher education, Waterbury is also home to the new University of Connecticut Waterbury Branch, Post University and Naugatuck Valley Community College. Many other Connecticut universities and colleges also offer ancillary programs in the city.