Editing Southington, Connecticut (section)

==Geography==

Southington is situated about {{convert|20|mi}} southwest of [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], about {{convert|80|mi}} northeast of [[New York City]], {{convert|105|mi}} southwest of [[Boston]] and {{convert|77|mi}} west of [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]]. It includes the areas of [[Plantsville, Connecticut|Plantsville]], [[Marion, Connecticut|Marion]] and [[Milldale (Southington)|Milldale]], each of which has its own post office and distinct architecture. The town rests in a valley, with two mountains on its east and west sides. The town is located along exits 28 through 32 of [[Interstate 84 in Connecticut|Interstate 84]], exit 4 of [[Interstate 691]], and bisected by [[Connecticut Route 10]]. Southington has the nickname of "The Apple Valley", due to the many orchards that still dot its landscape. The [[Quinnipiac River]] flows through the town. It is home to [[Mount Southington]] ski area, which has drawn visitors since the 1960s.

Southington is located at [[geographical coordinates]] 41° 35′ 48" North, 72° 52′ 40" West (41.596588, −72.87767). According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|94.9|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|93.0|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|1.9|km2|order=flip}}, or 1.99%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US0900370550| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212151148/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US0900370550| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Southington town, Hartford County, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 28, 2012}}</ref>

The [[Metacomet Ridge]], a rugged [[trap rock]] mountain ridge that extends from [[Long Island Sound]] to the [[Massachusetts]]/[[Vermont]] border, passes through Southington. Notable peaks along the ridge form the eastern edge of town: [[Bradley Mountain]], [[Ragged Mountain (Connecticut)|Ragged Mountain]], [[Short Mountain (Connecticut)|Short Mountain]], and part of the [[Hanging Hills]]. The ridge is traversed by the {{convert|51|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} [[Metacomet Trail]].

Southington's west ridge is rich with many [[geological formation]]s. These include North Hamlin Brook, Roaring Brook, and Soltys Pond.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rdsmediallc.com/town-magazines/southington-magazine/|title=Southington Magazine {{!}} Print Advertising in Southington CT {{!}} RDS Media|work=RDS Media, LLC|access-date=August 3, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>  Soltys Pond was named after Alexander Soltys, who settled in the area in 1713.  The most well-known geological formation in the area is one of several in the world known as the Great Unconformity.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}

Located less than one mile northwest of the Great Unconformity on Southington Mountain is Hushak Rock, which has been known informally for decades as White Rock. The overlook has expansive views of the region and can be seen from much of Route 229 and area neighborhoods. The state of Connecticut officially named Hushak Rock in 2017 for longtime Southington civic leader and World War II pilot Walter J. Hushak (b. 1923).