👉 When Norwich Was America’s Gun Mecca - Norwich, CT Cool History Facts — Norwich, Connecticut 11/23/2025 Most people have no idea how big Norwich once was in the world of firearms manufacturing. In the 1800s, the city had over 100 gun makers operating within just a few square miles, the highest density in Connecticut. The driving force behind it? Water. The industrial district around Yantic Falls powered huge machine shops, foundries, and assembly floors that pushed Norwich into national promi