Winsted

Winsted, city and principal community in the town (township) of Winchester, Litchfield county, northwestern Connecticut, U.S., at the confluence of the Still and Mad rivers. The area was settled in 1750. Winsted, named from a combination of Winchester and Barkhampsted (which borders it on the east), was incorporated as a borough in 1858 and as a city in 1917. Its site had an abundant supply of waterpower from Highland Lake, the site of a 150-foot (46-metre) waterfall, and Mad River, and in the 19th century a variety of metal, wooden, and leather goods (including clocks) were made there. The economy is now based on diversified engineering products. Northwestern Connecticut Community College was founded at Winsted in 1965. Pop. (2000) 7,321; (2010) 7,712.