County government records

County government began in Connecticut in 1666 with the creation of four counties: Fairfield, Hartford, New Haven, and New London for the purpose of operating courts and jails. Eventually four additional counties were formed: Windham (1726), Litchfield (1751), Middlesex (1785), and Tolland (1785). Due to the importance of town government in Connecticut, however, the counties never acquired the significance that they did in other parts of the nation.

Originally, two commissioners and their assistant handled all court matters, including maintenance of the courthouse and jail. Changes to the county courts began shortly after their formation and in 1838 legal matters were separated from business operations. Under this change, only one of the three county officials was appointed judge of the county count instead of all three, as in the past. The other two officials were given the responsibility of managing the county affairs and property. A complete separation of the county's judicial and administrative activities was made in 1841, and all three county officials, now called commissioners and appointed by the General Assembly, devoted their full time to county matters.

Administration of the jails was turned over to the sheriff in 1799, an office that antedated the establishment of the counties. Originally the General Court appointed marshals, but after the formation of the first four counties, each county court appointed its own marshal, beginning in 1687. The title was changed to sheriff in 1724 and appointment was transferred to the governor, and later to the General Assembly after the adoption of the 1818 Constitution. A constitutional amendment in 1886 made the office elective. Still, the commissioners were required to supervise management of the jail, audit its accounts, control some of the expenditures, and prescribe general regulations.

The office of Treasurer was established in 1703 to keep an account of all fines and penalties issued by the county courts. Eventually the treasurer was appointed by the commissioners and kept accounts of the county's receipts and expenditures. The commissioners also appointed a sealer of weights and measures, who had broad inspecting duties, a clerk, courthouse employees, and approved the sheriff's appointment of deputy jailers.

The powers of the counties changed over the years. When the first four counties were formed in 1666, they were permitted to issue licenses for the sale of wines and liquors. In 1838, town authorities were authorized to nominate persons as tavern keepers, although the actual granting of licenses was made by the county courts. The county commissioners received the power to issue liquor licenses in 1854. In 1872, the procedure for handling licenses changed again and the county commissioners were given sole responsibility for granting the licenses. The counties also acquired two welfare functions. In 1883, counties began to operate temporary homes for neglected and uncared-for children. Prior to this, these children were kept in town almshouses, placed with pauper families, or placed in institutions. In 1919 the counties began to administer the Widow's Aid program financed by the state to provide financial assistance to widows with dependant children under sixteen.

A number of factors contributed to the demise of county government. New state agencies took over functions performed by the counties. After the repeal of Prohibition, the state's Liquor Control Commission began to grant liquor licenses, and in 1941 the state's Aid to Dependent Children program replaced the Widows' Aid program. The trend to place children in foster homes, coupled with changes in welfare laws in 1953 and disturbances in various county temporary homes paved the way for the closing of the homes in 1955. At that time all children under county care were placed under state jurisdiction. The operation of the jails, the last remaining major function of county government, came under criticism for the age of the structures, treatment of prisoners, and administration. Calls for reforms led to the abolition of county government effective October 1, 1960.

Source: Rosaline Levensen, County Government in Connecticut, Its History and Demise, (Storrs, Conn: Institute of Public Service, Extended and Continuing Education, University of Connecticut, 1966), especially chapters 5 - 8.