town (township), Hartford county, central Connecticut, U.S., on the Quinnipiac River. Settled as early as 1696 by pioneers from Farmington, it became the South Society of Farmington in 1726 and was incorporated as a separate town in 1779. The borough of Southington (incorporated 1889), the town's central community, was consolidated with the town in 1947. Since the early 19th century Southington has been both an agricultural and a manufacturing community, and bolts, nuts, hardware, and tools have long been industrial mainstays. Area 36 square miles (93 square km). Pop. (1990) 38,518; (2000) 39,728.