Bethany is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States.

The town is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region.

This slightly remote, sparsely populated, residential town retains its rural character.

The first European settlers arrived in the area around April 1638, creating the towns of Milford and New Haven, with their boundary split down the middle of what is now Bethany.

The area of the boundary was settled in 1678, twelve years after New Haven County was organized.

In 1717, the Amity Parish was accepted by the General Assembly of the Connecticut Colony and in 1832, Bethany was incorporated as a town.

On the bottom of the seal also bordering the inner aspect of the rope circle appear the words INCORPORATED 1832.

A roadway bisecting the seal and extending from bottom to center is pictured within the innermost circle.

This along with the State Police Troop I station serve to protect the town and local area.

In a span of two years (1997–1999), the town purchased 165 acres (0.67 km2) of land for the new Veterans Memorial Park.

In 1999, the man-made Hockanum Lake at Veterans Memorial Park was opened for swimming.