Cromwell is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States located in the middle of the state. The population was 14,225 at the 2020 census. The town was named after a shipping boat that traveled along the Connecticut River, which runs along Cromwell. The ship was named after Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. Other theories are that the town was named after the 1776 warship Oliver Cromwell, or named directly after the Lord Protector Cromwell. The Roman Catholic Padre Pio Foundation of America is located in Cromwell. The Evangelical Covenant Church's regional East Coast Conference offices are located in Cromwell. Points of interest On the National Register of Historic Places: Main Street Historic District – roughly bounded by Nooks Hill Rd., Prospect Hill Rd., Wall and West Sts. and New Ln., and Stevens Ln. and Main St.; since October 24, 1985 Middletown Upper Houses Historic District – on Connecticut Route 99; since July 27, 1979 Sage-Kirby House – 93 Shunpike Road; since April 29, 1982 TPC River Highlands – location of the Travelers Championship, PGA Tour event Long-time home of hardware manufacturing company Horton Brasses, Inc. Pierson park, Cromwell's very own park History Settlers first arrived in the area that is now Cromwell in 1651 Cromwell was originally a part of Middletown known as the Upper Houses, likely due to the fact that the Mattabesset River separated it from the rest of Middletown. In 1703, Cromwell formed a separate parish from the rest of Middletown due to the inconvenience of crossing the floodplains of the Mattabesset during certain seasons. From that point on, the schools and churches of the Upper Houses (population about 250) were administered (and taxed for) separately from the rest of Middletown. In 1850, the town began talks of splitting off into a separate town from Middletown. Possible new names included: Upper Middletown, North Middletown, Glenwood, and, the eventual choice, Cromwell, which was put forth by Senator Levi Heaton. The Connecticut General Assembly approved the incorporation on June 18, 1851. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, is land and (4.03%) is water. A major north–south highway, Interstate 91, with two Cromwell exits, runs through the Town. The Central Connecticut Expressway (Route 9), opened at the end of 1989, enhances the Town's location as it connects I-95 in Old Saybrook, I-91 in