1) On January 17, 1781, the Battle of Cowpens took place during the American Revolutionary War. Connecticut troops played a significant role in the battle, led by Colonel William Butler.

2) In 1819, the first savings bank in the United States, the Savings Bank of New Haven, was founded. It later became known as the New Haven Savings Bank and is still in operation today.

3) On January 17, 1917, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to pass a law requiring all cars to have license plates. Prior to this, license plates were optional and often made by the car owner themselves.

4) In 1971, the Connecticut Huskies basketball team played their first game in their new home arena, the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion. The team continues to play their home games there to this day.

5) On January 17, 1991, a severe winter storm struck Connecticut and much of the Northeast, causing widespread power outages and transportation disruptions. The storm, which came to be known as the "Great Blizzard of '91," resulted in over 30 inches of snowfall in some areas.