Hartford is the capital city of the state of Connecticut and is located in Hartford County. The city has a population of about 124,500 and a median household income of $24,820. Located on the Connecticut River, Hartford is just twenty-four miles south of Springfield, Massachusetts. The Greater Hartford area is the largest in the state with an entire metropolitan population of about 1,188,800. This metropolitan area ranks 45th largest in the United States. Hartford is one of the oldest cities in the U.S., at almost four hundred years old, and was the wealthiest city in the country after the Civil War. Mark Twain resided in Hartford and in 1868 spoke highly of it with this quote: “Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see, this is the chief.” The city of Hartford is home to the headquarters of many of the world’s insurance companies. This has led to the city receiving the nickname of “Insurance Capital of the World”. Today, Hartford has undergone a major renovation and revitalization. The construction of a brand new convention center, residential apartments, commercial space, and hotels, as well as the ongoing construction of a science center, have brought new life to the city’s river front. Hartford is also home to many “nation’s oldest” honors. The Wadsworth Athenaeum is the nations oldest public art museum, the Hartford Courant is the nation’s oldest continually published newspaper, and Bushnell Park is the oldest public park.