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Jewett City, Connecticut

2025-11-02T18:30:18Z

2601:183:4B82:710:352F:152D:6C76:19E0: /* Education */

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Jewett City, Connecticut
|official_name = Borough of Jewett City
|settlement_type = [[Borough (Connecticut)|Borough]]
|image_skyline = JewettCityCT Center.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = The center of Jewett City
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|nickname =
|motto =
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:New London County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Jewett City Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Jewett City's location within New London County and Connecticut]]| [[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Southeastern Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas, Jewett City borough highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Jewett City's location within the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
| image_map1 = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q753995}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|36|26|N|71|58|47|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:12;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q753995;Q779;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1|switch=Jewett City;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|36|26|N|71|58|47|W|region:US-CT|display=inline}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[New London County, Connecticut|New London]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern CT]]
| subdivision_type4 = [[Administrative divisions of Connecticut#Town|Town]]
| subdivision_name4 = [[Griswold, Connecticut|Griswold]]
|established_title =
|established_date =
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title = Borough Warden
|leader_name = Timothy Sharkey (D)
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019" />
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 1.92
|area_total_sq_mi = 0.74
|area_land_km2 = 1.83
|area_land_sq_mi = 0.70
|area_water_km2 = 0.10
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.04
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 47
|elevation_ft = 154
|population_total = 3328
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes =
|population_density_km2 = 1840.96
|population_density_sq_mi = 4765.96
|population_est =
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code = 06351
|area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
|website = {{URL|https://jewettcity.org/}}
|footnotes =
|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 09-39940
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 0208160
}}

'''Jewett City''' is a [[borough (Connecticut)|borough]] in [[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]], [[Connecticut]], United States, in the town of [[Griswold, Connecticut|Griswold]]. The borough is part of the [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region]]. The population was 3,328 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], down from 3,487 in 2010.<ref name="Census 2010" /> The borough was named for [[Eliezer Jewett]], who founded a settlement there in 1771.<ref name="Borough" />

==Geography==
[[File:Jewett City, Conn. (2675179287).jpg|thumb|Print of Jewett City from 1889 by [[L.R.. Burleigh]] with listing of landmarks]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}}, or 4.00%, is water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1890 = 1934
|1900 = 2224
|1910 = 3023
|1920 = 3196
|1930 = 4436
|1940 = 3682
|1950 = 3702
|1960 = 3608
|1970 = 3372
|1980 = 3294
|1990 = 3349
|2000 = 3053
|2010 = 3487
|2020 = 3328
|estyear =
|estimate =
|estref =
|footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus" />
}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,053 people, 1,337 households, and 743 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|4,213.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,464 housing units at an average density of {{convert|2,020.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 92.07% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.46% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.88% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.44% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.07% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.97% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.85% of the population.

There were 1,337 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.92.

The population in the borough was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 34.8% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $42,318, and the median income for a family was $45,826. Males had a median income of $31,919 versus $22,463 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the borough was $19,083. 9.2% of the population and 8.8% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. 12.7% of those under the age of 18 and 12.2% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==''The Daily Show''==
Jewett City was featured on ''[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]'' after being at the center of a church bell controversy. The episode, which aired on March 6, 2007, held a segment called "Sam on Your Side" with the main focus on the ringing of the Jewett City bells.<ref group=note name="daily show" /><ref name="DS" /><ref name="jon stewart" />

==Education==
The borough, along with the rest of Griswold Town, is in Griswold School District.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st09_ct/schooldistrict_maps/c09011_new_london/DC20SD_C09011.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: New London County, CT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-10-17}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st09_ct/schooldistrict_maps/c09011_new_london/DC20SD_C09011_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*[[Jewett City Vampires]]

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="145">
File:PostcardSlaterLibraryEtcJewettCity1908.jpg|[[Slater Library]] and a bank, 1908
File:PostcardMainStJewettCityCT1907.jpg|Main Street, 1907
File:PostcardJewettCityHotel1909.jpg|Jewett City Hotel, {{circa}} 1909
</gallery>

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=note|refs=
<ref name="daily show">"Sam on Your Side" was a segment in which Sam Bee, one of the Daily Show's news reporters, would "side up" with a select person on an item of debate and argument. Sam sided with Bill Russell, a light bulb salesman and atheist, who was upset that the taxpayer money was used to buy a sound system that, as he put it, is "currently playing Christian music." As the segment continues, the viewer finds out that Bill has a weak argument as he doesn't live in Jewett City, is only exposed to the chimes about once or twice a month, the chimes, which have a small variety of songs to play, barely plays Christian music, and everyone in town loves it. Bill says that he is looking for someone in the town that is upset with the chimes as he is, but Sam goes around talking to the locals (one of them being Phil-Anthony, former co-owner of Anthony's hardware, during which Sam opens and closes his shop door causing it to emit a "chime," which alerts that someone is entering the store, and attempts to see if the chimes are antagonizing towards him. Phil-Anthony responds by telling her that it doesn't bother him and that she can keep opening and closing the door "till your arm falls off.") She finds that no one in the town seems upset by the chimes. Upon receiving no results she confronts Ron Ward, Borough Warden Candidate and JCP founder, telling him that this "is a clear violation of the separation of the Church and state." Ron, who had sent a message to Mr. Russel telling him to "leave us alone," says that the church has nothing to do with picking the songs in the first place. Bee asks if they play Christian music, and he says, "They do play ''Onward Christian Soldiers''. That's probably the only one right now that might be considered religious." Later Sam Bee returns to Mr. Russell and asks if he were in her place, would he take his side? He doesn't respond.</ref>
}}

==References==

{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_09.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 2, 2020}}</ref>

<ref name="Borough">{{cite web|url=http://www.griswold-ct.org/borough.html|title=Borough of Jewett City|publisher=[[Griswold, Connecticut|Town of Griswold]]|access-date=December 7, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121124065230/http://www.griswold-ct.org/borough.html|archive-date=November 24, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Jewett City borough, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=October 29, 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

<ref name="DS">"Sam on Your Side: Bill Russell | The Daily Show | Comedy Central." The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Official Website | Current Events & Pop Culture, Comedy & Fake News | Comedy Central. March 6, 2007. The Daily Show. May 9, 2009 <http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=83312&title=Sam-on-Your-Side:-Bill-Russell>.</ref>

<ref name="jon stewart">Dunn, Ed. "Jewett City residents appear on 'The Daily Show with Jon Stewart'" Jewett City Party. March 8, 2007. Jewett City Party. May 9, 2009 <https://jewettcityparty.blogspot.com/2007/03/jewett-city-residents-appear-on-daily.html>.</ref>
}}

==External links==
* [http://www.griswold-ct.org/about-our-town.html Town of Griswold official web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117143040/http://www.griswold-ct.org/about-our-town.html |date=November 17, 2017}}

{{Connecticut}}
{{New London County, Connecticut}}
{{Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}}

{{Coord|41|36|24|N|71|58|51|W|type:city_region:US-CT|display=title}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Boroughs in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Populated places in New London County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Griswold, Connecticut]]

Scotland, Connecticut

2025-11-02T18:24:03Z

2601:183:4B82:710:352F:152D:6C76:19E0: /* On the National Register of Historic Places */

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Scotland, Connecticut
|official_name = Town of Scotland
|settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
|image_skyline = ScotlandCT Center.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = The center of Scotland
|image_seal = ScotlandCTseal.png
|image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Windham County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Scotland highlighted.svg|230px|frameless|alt=Scotland's location within Windham County and Connecticut]]| [[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Northeastern Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Scotland highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Scotland's location within the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
|image_map1 = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q2446275}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|42|01|N|72|04|59|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:11;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2446275;Q779;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1|switch=Scotland;Connecticut;the United States}}
|coordinates = {{coord|41|42|01|N|72|04|59|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern CT]]
|established_title = Incorporated
|established_date = 1857
|government_type = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
|leader_title = [[First selectman]]
|leader_name = Dana Barrow (R)
|unit_pref =Imperial
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_km2 = 48.4
|area_total_sq_mi = 18.7
|area_land_km2 = 48.2
|area_land_sq_mi = 18.6
|area_water_km2 = 0.1
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.0
|elevation_m = 83
|elevation_ft = 272
|population_total = 1576
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_density_km2 = auto
|population_density_sq_mi =
|postal_code_type = ZIP code
|postal_code = 06264
|area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
|website = {{URL|https://www.scotlandct.org/}}
|footnotes =
|leader_title2 = Selectman
|leader_name2 = Michael Gurnack (R)
|leader_title3 = Selectman
|leader_name3 = M. Barton Laws (D)
|timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 09-67400
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 0213501
}}
'''Scotland''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. The town is part of the [[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the town population was 1,576. Scotland is a predominantly rural town, with agriculture being the principal industry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scotlandct.org/about.htm|title=Town of Scotland, Connecticut {{!}} Welcome to Scotland, CT|website=www.scotlandct.org|language=en|access-date=October 6, 2018}}</ref> Scotland is the least populous town in Windham County.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 18.7 square miles (48.3 km{{sup|2}}), of which 18.6 square miles (48.2 km{{sup|2}}) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.1 km{{sup|2}}) (0.27%) is water. It was incorporated in 1857.

==History==
In 1700, Isaac Magoon purchased {{convert|1950|acre|km2}} of land from then [[Windham, CT|Windham]] and thus began Scotland's History. He named the town Scotland as a way of commemorating his ancestral home. Scotland was incorporated in May 1857.<ref>[http://www.scotlandct.org/about.htm About Scotland, CT], ScotlandCT.org. Retrieved March 2, 2014.</ref>

==Government==
The town still maintains the [[town meeting]] as its form of government with a board of selectmen. The town also has eight boards & commissions, including Inlands & Wetlands, Planning & Zoning and Board of Education.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotlandct.org/boards.html |title=Town of Scotland, CT - Boards and Commissions |website=www.scotlandct.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214154955/http://www.scotlandct.org/boards.html |archive-date=February 14, 2008}}</ref>

=== Education ===
Scotland Elementary School, located on Brook Road, serves grades Pre-K–6 for the town, which is part of Regional School District 11.

==Attractions==
Scotland is home to the D'Elia Antique Tool Museum,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hours & Directions: D'Elia Antique Tool Museum: Scotland, CT |url=http://www.deliatoolmuseum.com/hours.html |access-date=August 28, 2023 |website=www.deliatoolmuseum.com}}</ref> a museum established in 2005 in the Scotland Public Library building. It holds more than 1,200 antique woodworking [[Plane (tool)|planes]] dating to the mid-18th century.

The [[Samuel Huntington Birthplace]], birthplace of [[Samuel Huntington (Connecticut politician)|Samuel Huntington]], a [[Founding Father of the United States|Founding Father]], is on Huntington Road ([[Connecticut Route 14|CT Route 14]]).

== Transportation ==
[[Connecticut Route 14|CT Route 14]] passes east–west through the town. [[Connecticut Route 97|Route 97]] goes north–south through the town. The [[Providence and Worcester Railroad]] runs through the southwestern part of the town, but doesn't stop.

==On the National Register of Historic Places==
* [[March Route of Rochambeau's Army: Palmer Road]]: Palmer Road, from intersection with Miller Road to east of junction with Pudding Hill Road (added July 6, 2003)
* [[Samuel Huntington Birthplace]]: [[Route 14 (Connecticut)|Route 14]], {{convert|2|mi|km}} west of [[Route 97 (Connecticut)|Route 97]] (added December 11, 1971)
* [[Edward Waldo House]]: Waldo Road, intersects with [[Route 97 (Connecticut)|Route 97]] (added 1978)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 720
|1870= 643
|1880= 590
|1890= 506
|1900= 471
|1910= 476
|1920= 391
|1930= 402
|1940= 478
|1950= 513
|1960= 684
|1970= 1022
|1980= 1072
|1990= 1215
|2000= 1556
|2010= 1726
|2020= 1576

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/all?q=scotland%20ct|title=2020 Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=December 12, 2021}}</ref>
}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] there were 1,576 people, 553 households, and 425 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|83.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 577 housing units at an average density of {{convert|31.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 97.69% White, 0.45% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.31%.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>

Of the 553 households 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.0% were non-families. 15.7% of households were one person and 4.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.16.

The age distribution was 28.2% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The median household income was $56,848 and the median family income was $60,147. Males had a median income of $40,871 versus $29,830 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,573. About 4.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable person==
[[Image:Samuel Huntington - Charles Willson Peale.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Samuel Huntington (statesman)|Samuel Huntington]] depicted in a 1783 portrait by [[Charles Willson Peale]]]]
* [[Samuel Huntington (statesman)|Samuel Huntington]] (1731–1796) a leading [[Patriot (American Revolution)|American Patriot]] during the [[American Revolutionary War|American Revolution]] and a [[Founding Father of the United States|Founding Father]] and delegate to the [[Second Continental Congress]] in [[Philadelphia]], where he signed the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Portal|Connecticut}}

==External links==
*[https://www.scotlandct.org/ Official Scotland website]

{{Geographic location
| Centre = Scotland, Connecticut
| North = [[Hampton, Connecticut|Hampton]]
| Northeast = [[Brooklyn, Connecticut|Brooklyn]]
| East = [[Canterbury, Connecticut|Canterbury]]
| Southeast = [[Sprague, Connecticut|Sprague]]
| South = [[Sprague, Connecticut|Sprague]]
| Southwest = [[Franklin, Connecticut|Franklin]]
| West = [[Windham, Connecticut|Windham]]
| Northwest = [[Chaplin, Connecticut|Chaplin]]
}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{Windham County, Connecticut}}
{{Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1857 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Scotland, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Scottish-American history]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Windham County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Somers, Connecticut

2025-11-02T18:22:35Z

2601:183:4B82:710:352F:152D:6C76:19E0: /* Neighborhoods */

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Somers, Connecticut
| official_name = Town of Somers
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline = Free Public Library, Somers CT.jpg
| image_caption = Free Public Library
| image_flag =
| image_seal = SomersCTseal.JPG
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Tolland County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Somers Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Somers' location within Tolland County and Connecticut]]| [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Capitol Region incorporated and unincorporated areas Somers highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Somers' location within the Capitol Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
| image_map1 = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q608360}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|59|N|72|27|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:11;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q608360;Q779;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1|switch=Somers;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|59|N|72|27|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Region]]
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 1689
| established_title1 = Named
| established_date1 = 1734
| established_title2 = Annexed by Connecticut
| established_date2 = 1749
| government_type = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title = First selectman
| leader_name = Timothy Keeney ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title1 = Selectman
| leader_name1 = William Meier III ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title2 = Selectman
| leader_name2 = Robert Schmidt ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 73.8
| area_total_sq_mi = 28.5
| area_land_km2 = 73.4
| area_land_sq_mi = 28.3
| area_water_km2 = 0.3
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
| elevation_m = 73
| elevation_ft = 240
| population_total = 10255
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi =
| timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code = 06071
| area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-69220
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0212346
| website = {{URL|http://www.somersct.gov/}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Somers''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ʌ|m|ɚ|s}} {{respell|SUM|ərss}}) is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. The town is part of the [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]]. The population was 10,255 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0901369220|title=Census - Geography Profile: Somers town, Tolland County, Connecticut|access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref> The [[Somers (CDP), Connecticut|town center]] is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a [[census-designated place]] (CDP). In 2007, ''[[Money Magazine]]'' listed Somers 53rd on its "100 Best Places to Live", based on "economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community."

Bordering [[Massachusetts]], Somers is considered part of the city of [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] [[New England city and town area|NECTA]]. Somers is {{convert|13|mi|0}} southeast of Springfield and considered more oriented toward it {{Citation needed|date=April 2021}} than the city of [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], which lies {{convert|22|mi}} to the southwest.

==History==
Somers was originally part of the Agawam Plantation in the 17th century. Agawam Plantation became [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], in 1641 and in 1682, the Enfield Parish broke off from the Springfield settlement. In 1689, the first settler, Benjamin Jones, came to Somers in what was then East Enfield about a half mile from the current town center, it was only a summer house and in the winter, he and his family returned to Enfield.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~nyterry/genealogy/towns/enfield/enfieldhis.html | title=Historical sketch of the town of Enfield }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.geni.com/people/Benjamin-Jones-of-Somers-Enfield/6000000002073508375 | title=Benjamin Jones, of Somers & Enfield | date=March 28, 2020 }}</ref> In 1711, several more families settled the Somers area to help start a village. The families of Kibbe, Pease, Root, and Megregory were the first to settle the area. The Village was given the name Wallop but was changed to East Enfield shortly after. In the year 1734, East Enfield became a town and was renamed Somers, after [[John Somers, 1st Baron Somers]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA334|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=334}}</ref> In the year 1749, Somers joined the [[Connecticut Colony]].

The Four Town Fair, which is usually held after the third weekend in September, is one of the oldest fairs in the country.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://4townfair.com/?page_id=288 | title=Four Town Fair History }}</ref>

[[Stonewall Jackson#Horsemanship|Little Sorrel]], the favorite horse of Confederate general Stonewall Jackson, was born at a farm in Somers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.somersct.gov/somersabout.cfm |title=City of Somers, CT |accessdate=April 27, 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404113845/http://www.somersct.gov/somersabout.cfm |archivedate=April 4, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://connecticuthistory.org/little-sorrel-connecticuts-confederate-war-horse/ |title=Little Sorrel, Connecticut's Confederate War Horse |publisher=ConnecticutHistory.org |access-date=September 12, 2013}}</ref>

==Geography==
Somers is at {{Coord|41|59|N|72|27|W}}.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|28.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|28.3|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (0.49%) is water. The town center CDP has a total area of {{convert|2.1|sqmi|km2}}, all land.

The town's highest point, Bald Mountain, at {{convert|1121|ft|m}} is the highest point along the [[Connecticut River]] Valley in Connecticut. The rounded hill summit was recently purchased by the town and can be seen for many miles around.

===Neighborhoods===
*[[Somers (CDP), Connecticut|Somers Center]], location of [[Somers Historic District]]
*[[Somersville, Connecticut|Somersville]]
*North Somers
*Hall Hill
*Gulf Road
*Billings Road
*Woodcrest Village
*Osborn Place

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 1306
|1850= 1508
|1860= 1517
|1870= 1247
|1880= 1242
|1890= 1407
|1900= 1593
|1910= 1653
|1920= 1673
|1930= 1917
|1940= 2114
|1950= 2631
|1960= 3702
|1970= 6893
|1980= 8473
|1990= 9108
|2000= 10417
|2010= 11444
|2020= 10255
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 10,417 people, 2,925 households, and 2,337 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|367.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,012 housing units at an average density of {{convert|106.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 82.97% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 9.82% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.55% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.62% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.00% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.98% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 8.10% of the population.

There were 2,925 households, out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.1% were non-families. 16.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 20.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 35.6% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 154.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 171.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $65,273, and the median income for a family was $71,757. Males had a median income of $49,766 versus $35,329 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $23,952. About 3.7% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.3% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

===Town center===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 1,626 people, 628 households, and 457 families living in the [[Somers (CDP), Connecticut|town center CDP]]. The population density was {{convert|777.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 645 housing units at an average density of {{convert|308.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.15% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.18% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.55% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.06% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.12% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.92% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.05% of the population.

There were 628 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% were non-families. 23.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05.

The town center CDP age distribution was 24.3% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $54,625, and the median income for a family was $64,107. Males had a median income of $45,893 versus $31,736 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $24,874. About 4.0% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 7.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==
Two [[Connecticut Department of Corrections]] prisons, [[Northern Correctional Institution]] and [[Osborn Correctional Institution]],<ref name="NorthernCI">"[https://portal.ct.gov/DOC/Facility/Northern-CI Northern Correctional Institution]." [[Connecticut Department of Correction]]. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref><ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20121015175936/http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1499&Q=265440&docNav= Osborne Correctional Institution]." [[Connecticut Department of Correction]]. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref> are in Somers.<ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=06000US0901369220&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Somers town, Connecticut] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608215742/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=06000US0901369220&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-06-08 }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref> Northern housed the state's death row for men.<ref name="NorthernCI"/> Osborn housed the state's execution chamber.<ref>"[https://www.ct.gov/doc/LIB/doc/PDF/AD/ad0615.pdf Administration of Capital Punishment Directive Number 6.15]." [[Connecticut Department of Correction]]. October 19, 2004. 1/9. Retrieved on August 16, 2010. "Execution Area. A series of four (4) contiguous rooms in the Osborn Correctional Institution ..."</ref>

===Education===
The Town of Somers is served by three schools, all located within the Somers Public School District. Somers Elementary School serves grades Pre-K through 5, Mabelle B. Avery Middle School, named CAS 2024 Middle School of the Year,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cas.casciac.org/?p=22403 | title=Connecticut Association of Schools - Serving Students » CAS Names 2024 Schools of the Year }}</ref> serves grades 6 through 8, and [[Somers High School (Connecticut)|Somers High School]] serves grades 9 through 12. The district also houses the town's public library.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.somers.k12.ct.us/home |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=www.somers.k12.ct.us |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Recreation===
The Town of Somers maintains several recreation facilities, the largest being the facility on Field Road which features a pavilion, playscape, tennis courts and ball fields.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://somers.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/Facilities/tabid/1723/Default.aspx|title = Town of Somers Recreation - Somers Recreation Department}}</ref> The [[Shenipsit State Forest]] along with the [[Shenipsit Trail]] is also partially in Somers, along with Soapstone Mountain, the highest point in the state forest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?A=2716&Q=332506|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726130414/http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=332506|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 26, 2014|title=Shenipsit State Forest}}</ref> The [[Scantic River State Park]] is also partially in Somers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=445284|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217133124/http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2716&q=445284|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2013|title=Other State Parks and Forests}}</ref> The Northern Connecticut Land Trust also has several properties in town.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.northernctlandtrust.org/Properties/SomersCTProperties/tabid/346/Default.aspx |title=Somers CT Properties |website=www.northernctlandtrust.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120427081115/http://www.northernctlandtrust.org/Properties/SomersCTProperties/tabid/346/Default.aspx |archive-date=April 27, 2012}}</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[George Abbe]] (1911–1989), [[poet]] and winner of [[Shelley Memorial Award]]
* [[S. Prestley Blake]] (1914–2021), long time resident, co-founder of the [[Friendly's]] restaurant chain<ref>{{cite web |last1=Associated Press |title=S. Prestley Blake, Co-founder of Friendly's, dies |url=https://digital.olivesoftware.com/Olive/ODN/DanburyNewsTimes/Default.aspx |website=Danbury News-Times |publisher=Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC |access-date=February 13, 2021}}</ref>
* [[William O. Collins]] (1809–1881), American Attorney General, Civil War general
* [[Christopher Houlihan]] (born 1987), professional organist
* [[Claire Labine]] (1934–2016), writer and producer
* [[Gene Pitney]] (1940–2006), internationally famous singer/composer, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, was a longtime resident of Somers
* [[William Strong (Pennsylvania judge)|William Strong]] (1808–1895), [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]] from Pennsylvania and [[Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States]] was born in Somers
* [[Loren P. Waldo]] (1802–1881), [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]]
* [[Hannah Soar]] (born 1999), American freestyle skier

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*[http://www.somersnow.com/ The Town of Somers Home Page]
*[http://www.somersct.gov/ The Town of Somers Government Page]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101205052125/http://www.cslib.org/jog.htm Connecticut's "Southwick Jog"]

{{Connecticut}}
{{Tolland County, Connecticut}}
{{Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Somers, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Tolland County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Springfield metropolitan area, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Greater Hartford]]
[[Category:Towns in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Ellington, Connecticut

2025-11-02T18:20:38Z

2601:183:4B82:710:352F:152D:6C76:19E0: /* Infrastructure */

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ellington, Connecticut
| official_name = Town of Ellington
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline = Town Green, Ellington CT.jpg
| image_caption = The town green
| image_flag = Flag of Ellington, Connecticut.png
| image_seal = US-CT-Ellington-Seal.PNG
| motto = "A Great Place to Grow"<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ellington-ct.gov/Plugs/homepage.aspx |title=Town of Ellington Connecticut |publisher=Town of Ellington Connecticut |access-date=September 22, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718155540/http://www.ellington-ct.gov/Plugs/homepage.aspx |archive-date=July 18, 2012 }}</ref>
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Tolland County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ellington Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Ellington's location within Tolland County and Connecticut]]| [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Capitol Region incorporated and unincorporated areas Ellington highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Ellington's location within the Capitol Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
| image_map1 = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q1332224}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|55|00|N|72|27|28|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q1332224;Q779;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1|switch=Ellington;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|55|00|N|72|27|28|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Region]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1786
| government_type = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title = [[First Selectman]]
| leader_name = Lori Spielman (R)
| leader_title1 = Selectmen
| leader_name1 = David Stavens (R) Melinda Ferry (D) James Prichard (R) Ronald Stomberg (R) John Turner (R) Michael Madru (D)
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 89.6
| area_total_sq_mi = 34.6
| area_land_km2 = 88.2
| area_land_sq_mi = 34.1
| area_water_km2 = 1.4
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.6
| elevation_m = 75
| elevation_ft = 246
| population_total = 16426
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = 186.2
| population_density_sq_mi =
| timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset = −5
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST = −4
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code = 06029
| area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-25360
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0212330
| website = {{URL|http://www.ellington-ct.gov/}}
}}

'''Ellington''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. Ellington was incorporated in May 1786, from [[East Windsor, Connecticut|East Windsor]]. The town is part of the [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]]. As of the [[United States Census, 2020|2020 census]], the town population was 16,426.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0901325360|title=Census - Geography Profile: Ellington town, Tolland County, Connecticut|access-date=December 15, 2021}}</ref>

==History==
The land that became Ellington was named by the natives as “Weexskashuck” which translates to “Great Marsh”. The earliest settlers called the area Great Marsh or Goshen. In 1671, the town of [[Windsor, Connecticut|Windsor]], purchased the land of [[East Windsor, Connecticut|East Windsor]] and Ellington from the Native Americans to recover land loss from the Connecticut-Massachusetts border dispute. Though no one attempted to settle the fertile lands for another 50 years. Samuel Pinney was the first settler in today's Ellington (Pinney Road bears his name in town). In 1733, Ellington was established as a Parish of the town of Windsor. East Windsor then split off from Windsor and held land in what is today's East Windsor, South Windsor and Ellington in May 1768. Ellington split off twenty years later and incorporated itself in May 1786. Mostly known as an agricultural community, the [[Crystal Lake, Connecticut|Crystal Lake]] section of town was for a while a popular summer resort location.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ot-ellington,0,4341641.story?page=1 |title=Staff; "Ellington Town Information"; ''The Hartford Courant''; August 16, 2006 |access-date=November 26, 2006 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929103005/http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ot-ellington,0,4341641.story?page=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ellington still has a significant amount of property dedicated to agriculture including cattle and corn farming.

Ellington's sole representative to the voting on the adoption of the [[United States Constitution]] by Connecticut was [[Ebenezer Nash]]. Nash was an anti-federalist and voted against the ratification, which passed 128–40.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hollister |first=Gideon Hiram |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-mkBAAAAYAAJ&dq=%22ebenezer+nash%22+%22Connecticut%22&pg=PA612 |title=The History of Connecticut, from the First Settlement of the Colony to the Adoption of the Present Constitution |date=1855 |publisher=Durrie and Peck |pages=612 |language=en}}</ref>

Ellington is home to one of America's oldest [[roadside memorial]]s, remembering a boy killed in a road accident. A stone in the southwest corner of the town marks the site where Samuel Knight was killed "by a cartwheel rolling over his head in the 10th year of his age, Nov 8, 1812". The Christian [[hymn]], "[[I love to steal awhile away]]" was written by [[Phoebe Hinsdale Brown]] in Ellington based on a personal experience in August 1818.

During the late 19th century and early 20th century, Ellington became the center of a community of Jewish immigrant farmers who were settled there by the philanthropist [[Baron Maurice de Hirsch]]'s [[Jewish Colonization Association]]. They built a synagogue, [[Congregation Knesseth Israel (Ellington, Connecticut)|Congregation Knesseth Israel]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ellingtonshul.org/ourcommunityshistory.htm |title=Raider, Mark; ''Jewish Immigrant Farmers in the Connecticut Valley: The Rockville Settlement'' |access-date=November 26, 2006 |archive-date=December 8, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208111823/http://www.ellingtonshul.org/ourcommunityshistory.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> that is still standing and in use by an active [[Modern Orthodox]] congregation today and is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref>[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/CT/Tolland/state.html The National Register of Historic Places listings in Tolland County, Connecticut]</ref>

[[File:EllingtonSupermarketExterior.JPG|thumb|The Ellington Supermarket in May 2006, which has closed now.]]

On January 1, 1967, Ellington made national news when its residents assisted the city fire department in rescuing a pilot whose plane was having engine trouble and was unable to locate a runway in a fog that cut visibility to 200 feet. Under the direction and quick thinking of Resident State Trooper, Lionel Labreche, [[Connecticut State Police]], dozens of people assembled at the town's unlit [[airstrip]], Hyde Field, and illuminated the runway with their headlights, allowing the pilot to land safely.<ref>[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1967/01/02/page/22/article/town-guides-lost-plane-to-safe-landing "Town Guides Lost Plane to Safe Landing— Light Small Airstrip with Cars, Trucks"], ''Chicago Tribune'', January 2, 1964, p1A-2</ref>

In 1991, Ellington was proposed as a potential site for a [[Radioactive waste#Types of radioactive waste|low-level nuclear waste dump]]. Strong dissent from area residents forced the state to abandon the plan.<ref>[http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?RCED-93-81 "NUCLEAR WASTE Connecticut’s First Site Selection Process for a Disposal Facility";''Report to Congressional Requesters'' U.S. General Accounting Office; April 1993]</ref>

As it enters the 21st century, Ellington has had the 6th fastest growth rate of all the towns in Connecticut,<ref name=newsletter>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ellington-ct.gov/docs/ellington/Administration/Town%20of%20Ellington%20Newsletter%20September%202004.pdf |title=''Coming to Terms with Growth''; Town of Ellington Newsletter; September 2004; p2 |access-date=December 6, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923190247/http://www.ellington-ct.gov/docs/ellington/Administration/Town%20of%20Ellington%20Newsletter%20September%202004.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and has been experiencing changes in growing from a rural farming town into a suburban community. Exemplative of this change was the displacement of the locally owned Ellington Supermarket by competition from the regional [[Big Y]] [[Supermarket|supermarket chain]] when a new Big Y was built adjacent to the older supermarket.<ref>[http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16897010&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=569426&rfi=6 "Customers Bemoan The Imminent Closing Of Ellington Supermarket"; Journal Inquirer; July 8, 2006]</ref> An independent film entitled ''The Supermarket'', was made about the incident.<ref>[http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=17452900&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=569380&rfi=8 "Former Employee Turns Ellington Supermarket Into Film Icon"; Journal Inquirer; November 10, 2006]</ref><ref>[http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-trade/food-stores/4262708-1.html "Former Supermarket Worker Makes Film At Old Store"; Progressive Grocer; November 15, 2006]</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|34.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|34.0|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.6|sqmi|km2}} (1.59%) is water.

Ellington is bordered by the towns of [[East Windsor, Connecticut|East Windsor]], [[South Windsor, Connecticut|South Windsor]], [[Vernon, Connecticut|Vernon]], [[Tolland, Connecticut|Tolland]], [[Willington, Connecticut|Willington]], [[Stafford, Connecticut|Stafford]], [[Somers, Connecticut|Somers]], and [[Enfield, Connecticut|Enfield]].

The town has a [[Salient (geography)|panhandle]] extending east to the [[Willimantic River]] and encompasses [[Crystal Lake, Connecticut|Crystal Lake]]. A large portion of the town's eastern portion is occupied by the [[Shenipsit State Forest]] which is bounded on the south by [[Shenipsit Lake]] and on the north by [[Soapstone Mountain]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/maps/shenipsitgis.pdf |title=''Map of Shenipsit State Forest''; Connecticut DEP |access-date=November 26, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206133045/http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/maps/shenipsitgis.pdf |archive-date=December 6, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Neighborhoods===
*[[Crystal Lake, Connecticut|Crystal Lake]]
*[[Ellington Center, Connecticut|Ellington Center]]
*Sadd's Mill
*Highland Ave
*Windermere
*Woodside Acres
*Mosley Plains
*Gasek Farms
*Crystal Ridge

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1820= 1196
|1850= 1399
|1860= 1510
|1870= 1452
|1880= 1569
|1890= 1539
|1900= 1829
|1910= 1999
|1920= 2127
|1930= 2253
|1940= 2479
|1950= 3099
|1960= 5580
|1970= 7707
|1980= 9711
|1990= 11197
|2000= 12921
|2010= 15602
|2020= 16426
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 12,921 people, 5,195 households, and 3,470 families residing in the town. Ellington's population increased 20.8% between 2000 and 2010, making one of just four municipalities in Connecticut to achieve a growth rate of at least 20% for that period.<ref>https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/cph-2-8.pdf "Connecticut: 2010 Population and Housing Unit Counts," U.S. Census Bureau, June 2012, page 32. Retrieved May 18, 2014.</ref> The population density was {{convert|379.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,417 housing units at an average density of {{convert|159.1|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.23% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.99% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.16% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.29% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.44% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.87% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.40% of the population.

There were 5,195 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.0% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.3 males.

The [[Median household income|median income]] for a household in the town was $62,405, and the median income for a family was $77,813. Males had a median income of $47,334 versus $32,460 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $27,766. About 2.7% of families and 3.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005<ref>{{cite web|title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005 | publisher = Connecticut Secretary of State | access-date = October 2, 2006 | url = http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/lists/2005OctRegEnrollStats.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060923151511/http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/lists/2005OctRegEnrollStats.pdf  |archive-date = September 23, 2006}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active Voters
! Inactive Voters
! Total Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 1,926
| align = center | 67
| align = center | 1,993
| align = center | 22.61%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 1,905
| align = center | 55
| align = center | 1,960
| align = center | 22.23%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align = center | 4,679
| align = center | 177
| align = center | 4,856
| align = center | 55.09%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Minor parties
| align = center | 5
| align = center | 1
| align = center | 6
| align = center | 0.07%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 8,515
! align = center | 300
! align = center | 8,815
! align = center | 100%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Presidential Election Results<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|url-status=live|access-date=May 2, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514171359/https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922 |archive-date=May 14, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|url-status=live|access-date=May 2, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428192536/http://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|archive-date=April 28, 2016}}</ref>
|-
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.4%''' ''4,787''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.6% ''4,515''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.0% ''189''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.2% ''3,531''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.4%''' ''4,199''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.4% ''437''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.3% ''3,598''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.2%''' ''3,894''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.5% ''114''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.9%''' ''4,236''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.8% ''3,519''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''99''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.7% ''3,467''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.9%''' ''3,700''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.4% ''104''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.9%''' ''3,113''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.7% ''2,910''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.4% ''339''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.7%''' ''2,643''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.9% ''2,152''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|13.4% ''737''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.8% ''2,173''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''35.3%''' ''2,205''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|29.9% ''1,858''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.7% ''2,171''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.5%''' ''2,873''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.8% ''39''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.9% ''1,538''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.5%''' ''3,246''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.6% ''23''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.5% ''1,599''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''46.9%''' ''2,172''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|18.6% ''860''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.4% ''1,995''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.1%''' ''2,376''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.5% ''20''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.7% ''1,432''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.6%''' ''2,242''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.7% ''23''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.6% ''1,328''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.3%''' ''1,377''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.1% ''146''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''69.0%''' ''1,795''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.0% ''806''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.2% ''1,246''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.8%''' ''1,340''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.5% ''753''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.5%''' ''1,311''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

==Economy==
Ellington is a rapidly growing community, and is going through the process of [[suburbanization]],<ref name=newsletter/><ref>{{cite journal |author=Sacks, Michael P. |title=Suburban Sprawl, Urban Decline and Racial/Ethnic Segregation: Shifting Dimensions of Inequality in a U.S. Metro Area |publisher=The Office of Population Research at Princeton University |date=September 2004 |url=http://iussp2005.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=50818 |format=PDF |access-date=January 30, 2007 |archive-date=June 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070610145631/http://iussp2005.princeton.edu/download.aspx?submissionId=50818 |url-status=dead }}</ref> which is related to the phenomenon of [[urban sprawl]].

Top employers in Ellington according to the town's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report<ref>{{cite web|url=https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1699383957/ellingtonctgov/vvslh82fxi1ea4fu5hne/PDFSigendFinalReportandFinancialStatements.pdf|title=Town of Ellington Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Fiscal Year July 1, 2022- June 30, 2023|publisher=Town of Ellington|access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|Town of Ellington
|543
|-
|2
|Country Pure Foods
|196
|-
|3
|Indian Valley Faily YMCA
|118
|-
|4
|[[Big Y]]
|112
|-
|5
|Kloter Farms Country Store
|100
|-
|6
|Earthlight
|84
|-
|7
|LuAnn's Bakery
|75
|-
|8
|Barn Yard/Great Country Garage
|68
|-
|9
|Dymotek
|63
|-
|10
|Oakridge Dairy
|56
|}

==Education==
Ellington Public Schools belong to the [[Ellington Public Schools]] school district.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ellingtonpublicschools.org/page.cfm?p=2138|title= Ellington Public Schools|publisher= Ellington Public Schools |access-date= September 22, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.greatschools.org/connecticut/ellington/Ellington-School-District/|title= Ellington School Districtn School District|publisher= Great Schools, Inc |access-date= September 19, 2012}}</ref> The district has five public schools:

===Elementary schools===
*Center School (K–6)
*Crystal Lake School (K–6)
*Windermere School (K–6)

===Middle school===
*Ellington [[Middle school|Middle School]], formerly Longview Middle School (7–8)

===High school===
*[[Ellington High School]]

==Infrastructure==

===Roads===

Though no [[Interstate Highway System|Interstate Highways]] pass through Ellington it is approximately equidistant from both [[Interstate 84 (east)|Interstate 84]] and [[Interstate 91]], each being approximately a ten- to fifteen-minute drive from most parts of town.

Several Connecticut State Roads run through town:
* [[Connecticut Route 30]] – (Stafford Road) The north–south arterial in the [[Crystal Lake, Connecticut|Crystal Lake]] section of town.
* [[Connecticut Route 32]] - (River Road) Passes north-south through the very eastern edge of town, connects Willington to Stafford. No direct connections to the rest of town (Though CT 140 in [[Stafford Springs, Connecticut|Stafford Springs]] intersects with it)
* [[Connecticut Route 83]] – (West Road & Somers Road) The main north–south arterial running through the middle of the town.
* [[Connecticut Route 74]] – (Wapping Wood Road & Windsorville Road) On the Southern edge of town, a major road in Ellington's Five corners.
* [[Connecticut Route 140]] – (Sadds Mill Road, Maple Street, Crystal Lake Road, & Sandy Beach Road) The town's main East/West arterial, running the complete width of town.
* [[Connecticut Route 286]] – (Pinney Street & Main Street) An arterial running North from Five Corners to the center of town where it turns East and becomes Ellington's Main Street

===Rail===
Ellington was formerly served by a seven-mile-long [[Rail transport|rail line]] built in 1876 running from [[Vernon, Connecticut|Vernon]] to [[Melrose, Connecticut|Melrose]], that roughly paralleled Pinney St. and Sadds Mill Rd. The rail line became defunct in the middle part of the 20th century.<ref>[http://www.vernondepot.com/ ''Vernon Depot/The Hartford, Providence & Fishkill Railroad/Vernon, Connecticut'']</ref> The [[New England Central Railroad]] (following the Willimantic River) also briefly clips through the very eastern edge of Ellington, though has no stops.
[[File:Sandy Beach, Crystal Lake, Ellington Connecticut USA.JPG|thumb|Ellington's town beach, Sandy Beach, located on [[Crystal Lake (Ellington)|Crystal Lake]]]]

===Airports===

* [[Ellington Airport (Connecticut)|Ellington Airport]] – A [[General aviation]] airport located adjacent to the town's [[Industrial park]] on [[Connecticut Route 83|Route 83]]. In addition to private aviation, a [[Flight training]] school and a [[helicopter]] school operate there. [[Parachuting]] is a common weekend activity from the airport.<ref>[http://www.airnav.com/airport/7B9 Airnav.com summary for Ellington Airport (7B9)]</ref>
* [[Skylark Airpark]] – A General aviation airport located in the neighboring town of [[East Windsor, Connecticut|East Windsor]].
* [[Bradley International Airport]] – Connecticut's main [[Airport|commercial airport]], is located approximately ten miles West of town in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut|Windsor Locks]].

===Water===
Crystal Lake, in the eastern section of town, is used by many for [[Recreational boating|boating]].

==Residents==
* [[John H. Brockway]] (1801–1870), [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. Representative]]
* [[Henry Billings Brown]] (1836–1913), US Supreme Court justice
* [[Orlow W. Chapman]] (1832–1890), politician; [[Solicitor General of the United States]]
* [[Stephen Jenks]] (1772–1856), composer of music
* [[Mike Massaro]], [[NASCAR on NBC]] pit reporter and journalist{{citation needed|2025|date=September 2025}}
* [[Mike McGuirl]] (born 1998) - player for [[Hapoel Haifa B.C.|Hapoel Haifa]] in the [[Israeli Basketball Premier League]]{{citation needed|2025|date=September 2025}}
* [[Frank Mozzicato]] (born 2003), 7th overall pick of the 2021 MLB draft, signing with the Kansas City Royals{{citation needed|2025|date=September 2025}}
* [[Steve Park]] (born 1967), winner in the [[NASCAR Cup Series]] on multiple occasions{{citation needed|2025|date=September 2025}}
* [[Henry Weston Smith]] (1827–1876), [[Methodist]] preacher
* [[Mike Vranos]] (born 1961), founder of the [[hedge fund]] Ellington Management Company

==See also==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*[[Congregation Knesseth Israel (Ellington, Connecticut)|Congregation Knesseth Israel]]
*[[Crystal Lake, Connecticut|Crystal Lake]], [[Connecticut]]
*[[Country Pure Foods]]

==References==

<references/>

==External links==
{{Commons category}} 
{{wikivoyage|Ellington}}
*[http://www.ellington-ct.gov/ Town of Ellington Connecticut] Portal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more

{{Connecticut}}
{{Tolland County, Connecticut}}
{{Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Greater Hartford}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ellington, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1786]]
[[Category:Towns in Tolland County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Greater Hartford]]
[[Category:Towns in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Wauregan, Connecticut

2025-11-02T18:14:31Z

2601:183:4B82:710:352F:152D:6C76:19E0:

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Wauregan Historic District
| nrhp_type = hd
| nocat = yes
| image = Wauregan Mill Village.JPG
| image_size = 300px
| caption =
| location = Roughly bounded by CT 12, CT 205, Third Street, Quinebaug River, and Chestnut Street, [[Plainfield, Connecticut]]
| coordinates = {{coord|41|44|38|N|71|54|38|W|display=inline,title}}
| district_map = Windham County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Wauregan highlighted.svg
| map_width = 300px
| map_caption = Location in [[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham County]] and the state of [[Connecticut]].
| architecture = Greek Revival, Late Victorian
| added = August 24, 1979
| area = {{convert|90|acre}}
| refnum = 79003789<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>
}}
'''Wauregan''' is a [[Administrative divisions of Connecticut#Village, neighborhood, section of town|village]] located in the northwestern corner of the [[New England town|town]] of [[Plainfield, Connecticut|Plainfield]], [[Connecticut]], United States. Originally a [[mill village]], Wauregan was established around a [[cotton mill]] powered by the [[Quinebaug River]]. Wauregan and West Wauregan, across the Quinebaug in the town of [[Brooklyn, Connecticut|Brooklyn]], together comprise the Wauregan [[census-designated place]], with a population of 1,205 at the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=1600000US0980630&tid=DECENNIALSF12010.P1| title=Total Population: 2010 Census DEC Summary File 1 (P1), Wauregan CDP, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=data.census.gov| accessdate=April 16, 2021}}</ref>

A {{convert|90|acre|m2|adj=on}} portion of the original village area is listed as a [[Historic district (United States)|historic district]], the '''Wauregan Historic District''', encompassing structures that are directly related to the economic and social activities of the mill. The district was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1979.<ref name="nris"/> Extant buildings in the Wauregan historic district include the Wauregan Mill, an H-shaped building built from local [[fieldstone]]; James Atwood's home; the two boarding houses; the company store; and over one hundred workers' houses.<ref name=milltowntour/> Architectural styles represented include [[Greek Revival]] and Late Victorian architecture.<ref name=nrhpnom/>

==History==
Named for a [[Mohegan]] word meaning "Pleasant Valley"<ref>Chamberlain, Alexander F. "Algonkian Words in American English: A Study in the Contact of the White Man and the Indian." ''The Journal of American Folklore'', Vol. 15, No. 59. (Oct. - Dec., 1902), pp. 240-267; Chamberlain's source appears to have been: Hodge, Frederick Webb, ed. ''Handbook of American Indians North of Mexico'', v. 2. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1910. p. 923.</ref> Wauregan has a long history as an [[industrial district|industrial village]]. In 1850, [[Amos D. Lockwood]], who was involved with the [[Quinebaug Mill]] in [[Danielsonville, Connecticut|Danielsonville]], bought the water privileges and surrounding land at Wauregan. After the Wauregan Mills Company charter was approved by the Connecticut legislature in 1853, the first mill was constructed circa 1853-1854. Wauregan Mills was well known for its woven [[cotton]] goods, including various types of [[flannel]].<ref name=milltowntour>[http://www.thelastgreenvalley.org/publications/brochures/mill_town_tour_07.pdf The Mill Village Tour] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612053922/http://www.thelastgreenvalley.org/publications/brochures/mill_town_tour_07.pdf |date=June 12, 2009 }}, The Last Green Valley, Inc., 2007</ref><ref name=WQrecords>[http://doddcenter.uconn.edu/findaids/Wauregan_Quinebaug/MSS19810010.html#d0e67 Wauregan and Quinebaug Company Records], Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut, 2004</ref> Lockwood became the mill's first agent and recruited James S. Atwood as his superintendent, who became responsible for setting up all machinery and starting production. The principal product of Wauregan was cotton sheeting.

James S. Atwood, who purchased the mill from Lockwood in 1858,<ref name=milltowntour/> took particular interest in the village surrounding the mill, making it what he considered to be a "model hamlet" where his factory's employees "could find attractive and comfortable homes near their daily tasks."<ref name=WQrecords/> Under James S. Atwood's leadership, Wauregan began to prosper. The mill was expanded, workers' houses were built, and several amenities to Wauregan village life were added. Worker housing in the village included 104 company-owned buildings containing 255 [[apartment|tenement apartment]]s for rental to workers, plus two [[boarding house]]s for unmarried workers. A [[railroad station]] was built in 1859 and a [[post office]] was established in 1860. A company store was built in 1875 and operated with [[subsidy|subsidies]] from the company. Another building in the mill village housed a [[fire station|firehouse]], clubhouse, [[jail]], and a reading room and [[library]]. A [[dairy farm]] and nearby woodlands were also part of the mill operation.<ref name=WQrecords/> Atwood quadrupled the size of the factory, adding the south mill of the front block in 1859 and the entire rear block in 1867-68. The mill's labor force was around 750 people, with most living within the village. The mill would eventually reach a capacity of 56,616 spindles and 1,464 looms, with an annual output of eleven million yards.

When James S. Atwood died, management of Wauregan Mills was passed on to his twin sons, James Arthur and John Walter Atwood. The Atwood brothers continued to expand and improve the mill, which employed 325 men and 160 women and children as of 1917.<ref name=WQrecords/> The Atwood brothers successfully responded to the competition of the newer, steam-powered mills by producing finer quality cotton goods such as shirting for the [[U.S. Marine Corps]], and later [[rayon]], instead of the traditional cotton sheeting. Wauregan Mills had a close working relationship with [[DuPont]] and was one of the pioneers of [[synthetic fabric]]. This partnership led to the development of the technology to produce fabric made of a blend of [[wool]] and rayon. In contrast to many larger, corporate-owned mills that were wedded to a particular product, the economic organization of Wauregan Mills enabled its owner/managers to easily diversify and change its product mix to meet new demands resulting from competition from newer textile centers, allowing them to stay profitable through [[World War II]], much longer than many other larger mills.

After World War II, Wauregan Mills entered a period of decline from which it never recovered. In the 1950s, free trade policies with Japan, which had modern equipment shipped to them by the U.S. as part of post-war reconstruction enabling them to produce fine cotton goods much more cheaply, resulted in the death of the New England textile industry as cheap cotton goods flooded the U.S. market. Wauregan Mills tried to emphasize their capabilities in synthetic blend output and also to reduce labor costs by negotiating with the labor unions to eliminate certain fringe benefits. In August 1955, torrential rains from [[Hurricane Connie|Hurricanes Connie]] and [[Hurricane Diane|Diane]] caused many dams along the Quinebaug River to break, including the one at Wauregan. The mill was flooded to the level of the first floor ceilings. Workers tried to salvage as much cloth, raw materials and machinery as they could but ultimately the company lost more than $1,500,000. The company borrowed a large sum of money in order to be able to resume production but they didn't have enough working capital to repair and modernize their facilities. In 1957, James Arthur Atwood III, grandson of James S. Atwood, and the rest of the company directors decided to cease all operations resulting in the company's final closing.

James Arthur Atwood III was responsible for disposing of the company's assets to pay off their creditors. Land, the water company, and other properties were sold, and the mill rented to various tenants over the next decade. [[American Standard Brands|American Standard]] was one of the early buyers and built a manufacturing facility in Wauregan soon after the Wauregan company closed.<ref>[http://doddcenter.uconn.edu/findaids/Amerstan/MSS19890084.html American Standard Company, Wauregan, CT Plant Records], Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut, 2005</ref> All the debts of Wauregan Mill were eventually paid off in 1970. In 1974, C&M Corporation, a vertically integrated manufacturer of [[electrical cable]], owned and occupied the former Wauregan Mills complex, where it operated as a production facility and as its [[corporate headquarters]].<ref>[http://www.cm-corp.com/FolderID/82/SessionID/%7B49758CBD-7D38-4441-9A7D-B41971F72545%7D/PageVars/Library/InfoManage/Guide.htm C&M History], C&M Corporation website], accessed July 18, 2009</ref><ref>Town of Plainfield Plan of Conservation and Development (2008), Section XIII. Village Redevelopment [http://www.plainfieldct.org/index_files/Page27800.htm]</ref> In 2014, the Wauregan Mill was sold to a real estate management company.

The village is described as looking "much as it did in the 1850s."<ref name=milltowntour/> The Wauregan Historic District was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1979.<ref name="nris"/>

==Geography==
The village is centered on the former site of the mill on the east bank of the [[Quinebaug River]], near where modern [[Route 205 (Connecticut)|Route 205]] crosses the river. The village extends eastward from the river up a gently rising slope towards [[Route 12 (Connecticut)|Route 12]] located at the crest of a ridge. The mill workers' houses are located along Walnut and Chestnut streets just east of the mill site, while the supervisor's houses and the company store are located further east (and further up in elevation). The mill owners' houses and the church are even further up and east. The historic district covers an area of about {{convert|90|acre|m2}}, roughly bounded on the east by Grove Street, Fountain Street, [[Route 12 (Connecticut)|Route 12]], [[Route 205 (Connecticut)|Route 205]], and South Chestnut Street; on the south by Third Street; on the west by South Walnut Street, a westward extension of First Street, and the [[Quinebaug River]]; and on the north by the extension of the east-west portion of North Chestnut Street. The boundaries of the historic district exclude a large tract of open land to the north that the Wauregan company once owned. The district includes 114 buildings and structures.<ref name=nrhpnom>{{Citation|last=Keiner|first=Harry|title=National Register of Historic Places nomination, Wauregan National Register District|publisher=Connecticut Historical Commission|date=March 1979}}</ref><ref>[http://www.plainfieldhistory.org/Special_Places.html Special Places], Town of Plainfield website, accessed July 17, 2009</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the Wauregan CDP has a total area of {{convert|4.3|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|0.05|sqkm|order=flip|2}}, or 1.25%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web |title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files – Connecticut |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_09.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 16, 2021}}</ref> The CDP includes, in addition to the original village, the village of West Wauregan across the Quinebaug River in the town of Brooklyn, as well as tracts of open land to the north, newer residential development to the south, and modern commercial properties along Route 12.

==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,085 people, 378 households, and 288 families residing in the CDP. The population density was {{convert|1,211.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 410 housing units at an average density of {{convert|457.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.56% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.29% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.46% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.55% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.65% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.49% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.87% of the population.

There were 378 households, out of which 50.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 19.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.15.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 34.0% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 7.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,846, and the median income for a family was $30,795. Males had a median income of $33,224 versus $24,821 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $15,311. About 3.6% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.2% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

==Notable buildings==
{{Expand section|date=August 2010}}
{|class=wikitable
|[[File:Wauregan Mill.jpg|left|150px]]||width=150px|'''Wauregan Mills'''||The main mill building, which is currently vacant, is H-shaped, with the first section (northern half of front mill) first constructed in 1853. This section has four stories and is about 250 by {{convert|50|ft|m}} with a hoist tower topped with an Italianate belfry. In 1858, the southern half of the front mill was built with an identical tower. The rear or western mill was built after the Civil War in 1867-68. The two buildings are connected by a center section spanning the wheel pits in the power canal. The rear mill has five stories and also has two towers on its eastern facade but without belfries. One the ends of each building are smaller structures originally used as picker houses, where raw cotton bales are first opened.<ref name=nrhpnom/>
|-
|[[File:Wauregan CT Mop Manufacturing.jpg|left|150px]]||'''Company Store'''||The former company store, now occupied by the Connecticut Mop Manufacturing Company, was built in 1875. The 2½-story building was designed with a combination of Italianate and Greek Revival styles and has a clapboard-covered, asphalt-shingled roof. The Greek revival style is highlighted by the paneled corner pilasters while the Italianate detailing is shown by the cornice brackets and bracketed door hoods. The company store enabled workers to buy fresh food and milk that were produced in the company farm north of the village.<ref name=nrhpnom/>
|-
| ||'''Former Congregational Church''' || The Wauregan Congregational Church was built in 1873 in the [[Gothic revival|High Victorian Gothic]] style with its wooden trim worked to look like stone buttresses and corbelling. The church has since been demolished. The main facade had double entry doors under an arched portico. Above the portico was a [[stained glass window]]. A bell tower also stood on the east of the main facade.<ref name=nrhpnom/>
|-
| ||'''Former firehouse and clubhouse''' || The former Wauregan firehouse and clubhouse on Front Street is a two-story structure that was originally used by the Atwood Hose Company, which was organized in 1898. The upper floor was used as a reading room and the village jail was attached to this building. The building is now used as a coffee shop.<ref name=nrhpnom/>
|-
|[[File:Wauregan Atwood Firehouse.jpg|left|150px]] ||'''Atwood Hose Fire Company''' || The modern fire house now used by the Atwood Hose Company was built in 1981 and is located on Route 205 further east from the original fire house. It is a two-bay cement block structure with brick front facade.<ref name=nrhpnom/>
|-
| ||'''Wauregan Post Office'''||
|-
| ||'''Mill workers' housing'''||
|-
| ||'''Supervisors' houses'''|| There are eight extant duplex supervisors' houses in the village that are located further uphill from the mill from the workers' houses. These supervisors' houses were built in two distinct time periods. The earliest houses were built with [[Greek revival]] elements with three of the surviving supervisor's houses exhibiting this style. The later houses (five surviving structures) are plainer-looking with some Victorian detailing. These houses have fieldstone foundations and gable roofs. The main facade has a central double entrance under a wide, flat-roofed portico and is six bays wide.<ref name=nrhpnom/>
|-
| ||'''Boarding houses'''||
|-
| ||'''J.W. Atwood residence''' (Putnam Road)||
|-
| ||'''J.S. Atwood residence''' (Brooklyn Road)||
|-
|
|'''Frank Barber & Son Livery'''
|Francois Bombardier and son Joseph's livery was at the end of S. Walnut Street. The livery rented out horses and carriages as well as supplied two hearses, one black and one white, for local funerals.
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Windham County, Connecticut]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

{{Windham County, Connecticut}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Plainfield, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Windham County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:History of the textile industry]]
[[Category:Villages in Windham County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Historic districts in Windham County, Connecticut]]