Mer′iden, a city of Connecticut, 19 miles north of New Haven. It was made a town in 1806 and a city in 1867. It is a manufacturing place, principally of metal wares, cutlery, cut glass, lamps, chandeliers, novelties, firearms and woolen goods. The Britannia Company, founded in 1852, covers ten acres of floor space with its factories. It manufactures silver-plated ware, and is the largest establishment of the kind in the world. Its well-known trade mark, “1847, Rogers Bros. — Ai,” is a guarantee of good material and honest work. The International Silver Company, incorporated in 1898, has numerous factories, and because of Meriden's silverwork it is known as Silver City. The Connecticut State Reformatory for boys is here. Population 27,265.