New Haven is governed via the mayor-council system. Connecticut municipalities (like those of neighboring states Massachusetts and Rhode Island) provide nearly all local services (such as fire and rescue, education, snow removal, etc.), as county government has been abolished since 1960. New Haven County merely refers to a grouping of towns and a judicial district, not a governmental entity. New Haven is a member of the South Central Connecticut Regional Council of Governments (SCRCOG), a regional agency created to facilitate coordination between area municipal governments and state and federal agencies, in the absence of county government.New Haven is located on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, and is part of the New York metropolitan area. With a population of 134,023 (2020 United States Census), it is the 3rd largest city in Connecticut. New Haven is the principal municipality of the Greater New Haven Area.New Haven was the first planned city in America. A year after it's founding by English Puritans in 1638, eight streets were laid out in a four-by-four grid, creating what is commonly known as the "Nine Square Plan." The central common block is the New Haven Green, a 16-acre square at the center of Downtown New Haven, now a National Historic Landmark. New Haven is the home of Yale University, Albertus Magnus College, Southern Connecticut State University, and Gateway Community College. Yale serves as an integral part of the city's economy. Health care (hospitals and biotechnology), professional services (legal, architectural, marketing, engineering), financial services, and retail trade also contribute to the city's economic activity. The city has numerous theaters & production houses, museums & musical venues, including Yale Repertory Theater, Long Wharf Theater, the Shubert Theater; the Peabody Museum of Natural History; Toad's Place, & Cafe Nine. New Haven is home to dozens of Zagat-rated restaurants.