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Farmington, Connecticut

2025-11-02T14:10:22Z

2601:183:4B82:710:F84B:8E22:E4D9:9930: /* Locations listed on the National Register of Historic Places */

{{Short description|Town in Connecticut, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Farmington, Connecticut
| official_name =
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline = File:Farmington, Connecticut.png
| image_caption = Aerial view of the [[Farmington Historic District (Farmington, Connecticut)|Farmington Historic District]]
| image_seal = FarmingtonCTseal.png
| motto = "Respecting History, Planning The Future"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.farmington-ct.org/|title= Town of Farmington Connecticut|publisher= Town of Farmington Connecticut|access-date= September 22, 2012|archive-date= May 3, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090503071747/http://www.farmington-ct.org/|url-status= dead}}</ref>
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Farmington CT lg.PNG|230px|frameless|alt=Farmington's location within Hartford County and Connecticut]]| [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Capitol Region incorporated and unincorporated areas Farmington highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Farmington'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=Q743287}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|43|40|N|72|50|25|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q743287;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=Farmington;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|43|40|N|72|50|25|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 = [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Region]]
| parts_type = Communities
| parts = Farmington Bensted Corner East Farmington Heights Farmington Station Oakland Gardens River Glen Unionville
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = June 1640
| established_title1 = Incorporated
| established_date1 = December 1645
| established_title2 = Consolidated
| established_date2 = 1947
| government_type = [[Council-manager]]
| leader_title = Town Council
| leader_name = C.J. Thomas (R), Chm Rafeena Bacchus Lee (D) Joseph Capidoferro (R) Edward Giannaros (D) Johnny Carrier (R) Brian Connolly (D) Keith Vibert (R)
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 74.5
| area_land_km2 = 72.6
| area_water_km2 = 2.0
| elevation_m = 49
| elevation_ft = 161
| population_total = 26712
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| 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]]s
| postal_code = 06032, 06085
| area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-27600
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0213430
| blank3_name = Interstates
| blank3_info = [[File:I-84.svg|25px|link=Interstate 84 in Connecticut]]
| blank4_name = U.S. Highways
| blank4_info = [[File:US 6.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut]]
| blank5_name = State Routes
| blank5_info = [[File:Connecticut Highway 4.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 4]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 9.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 9]][[File:Connecticut Highway 10.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 10]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 177.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 177]]
| website = {{URL|www.farmington-ct.org}}
}}

'''Farmington''' is a town in [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]] in the [[Farmington Valley]] area of central [[Connecticut]] in the United States. The town is part of the [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]]. The population was 26,712 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900327600| title=Census - Geography Profile: Farmington town, Hartford County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 15, 2021}}</ref> It sits 10 miles west of Hartford at the hub of major I-84 interchanges, 25 miles south of [[Bradley International Airport]] and two hours by car from [[New York City]] and [[Boston]]. It has been home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including [[Otis Elevator Company]], [[United Technologies]], and [[Carvel (franchise)|Carvel]]. The northwestern section of Farmington is a suburban neighborhood called Unionville.

==History==
===Eighteenth and nineteenth centuries===
{|
!Town
!Date of separation
|-
|[[Harwinton, Connecticut|Harwinton]] (portion)
|1737
|-
|[[Southington, Connecticut|Southington]]
|1779
|-
|[[Berlin, Connecticut|Berlin]]
|1785
|-
|[[Bristol, Connecticut|Bristol]]
|1785
|-
|[[Wolcott, Connecticut|Wolcott]] (eastern part)
|1796
|-
|[[Burlington, Connecticut|Burlington]] (from Bristol)
|1806
|-
|[[Avon, Connecticut|Avon]]
|1830
|-
|[[Bloomfield, Connecticut|Bloomfield]]
|1835
|-
|[[New Britain, Connecticut|New Britain]] (from Berlin)
|1850
|-
|[[Plainville, Connecticut|Plainville]]
|1869
|}

Farmington was originally inhabited by the [[Tunxis]] [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] tribe. In 1640, a community of English immigrants was established by residents of Hartford, making Farmington the oldest inland settlement west of the [[Connecticut River]] and the twelfth oldest community in the state. Settlers found the area ideal because of its rich soil, location along the floodplain of the [[Farmington River]], and valley geography.

The town and river were given their present names in 1645, which is considered the incorporation year of the town. The town's boundaries were later enlarged several times, making it the largest in the [[Connecticut Colony]]. The town was named "Farmington" on account of its location within a farming district.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA332|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=332}}</ref>

Farmington has been called the "mother of towns" because its vast area was divided to produce nine other central Connecticut communities. The borough of Unionville, in Farmington's northwestern corner, was once home to many factories harnessing the [[water power]] of the Farmington River.

Farmington is steeped in [[New England]] history. Main Street, in the historic village section, is lined with [[American colonial architecture|colonial]] estates, some of which date back to the 17th century. On May 19, 1774, in response to the adoption of the [[Boston Port Act]], the people of Farmington assembled, held a mock trial for the bill, found the bill guilty of "being instigated by the devil," and subsequently had a copy of the bill hung and then set on fire.<ref>{{cite web|title=Proceedings of Farmington, Connecticut, on the Boston Port Act; May 19, 1774|url=https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/proc_farm_ct_1774.asp|access-date=July 4, 2021|publisher=Avalon Project}}</ref> During the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], [[George Washington]] passed through Farmington on several occasions and referred to the town as "the village of pretty houses."<ref>{{cite news |first=Eve |last=Glasberg |title=A 'Village of Pretty Houses,' Where Women's Lives Were Reshaped |url=http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/travel/03trip.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1146283463-YKay2YVq+ebGHCcNTtHgUA/ |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=March 3, 2006 |access-date=March 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313210323/http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/03/03/travel/03trip.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1146283463-YKay2YVq+ebGHCcNTtHgUA%2F |archive-date=March 13, 2007 }}</ref> In addition, French troops under General [[Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau|Rochambeau]] encamped in Farmington en route to [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]] to offer crucial support to General Washington's army.

===Nineteenth century===
[[File:John Warner Barber - Northwest View of Farmington from Round Hill.jpg|thumb|left|''Northwest View of Farmington from Round Hill'', by [[John Warner Barber]], 1836]]
[[File:PostcardPO&StageCoachFarmingtonCT1906.jpg|thumb|right|Post office and stage coach, 1907 postcard]]

The majority of Farmington residents were [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionists]] and were active in aiding escaped [[slavery in the United States|slaves]]. Several homes in the town were "safe houses" on the [[Underground Railroad]]. The town became known as "Grand Central Station"<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.charteroaktree.com/farmingtonamistadtour.html | access-date=September 20, 2010 | title=Underground Railroad, Black History Freedom Trail and Amistad Sites Tour in Farmington | publisher=Heritage Trails Sightseeing Tours | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925013335/http://www.charteroaktree.com/farmingtonamistadtour.html | archive-date=September 25, 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.farmingtonhistoricalsociety-ct.org/fh_farmhist_pg4.html | publisher=Farmington Historical Society | access-date=September 20, 2010 | title=History of Farmington | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109080759/http://www.farmingtonhistoricalsociety-ct.org/fh_farmhist_pg4.html | archive-date=November 9, 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref> among escaped slaves and their "guides".

Farmington played an important role in the famous [[United States v. The Amistad|''Amistad'' trial]]. In 1841, 38 [[Mende people|Mende]] [[Ethnic groups of Africa|Africans]] and [[Joseph Cinqué|Cinqué]], the leader of the revolt on the ''Amistad'' [[slave ship]], were housed and educated in Farmington after the U.S. government refused to provide for their return to Africa following the trial. The Mende were educated in English and [[Christianity]] while funds were raised by residents for their return to Africa.

The [[Farmington Canal]], connecting [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] with [[Northampton, Massachusetts]], passed through the Farmington River on its eastern bank and was in operation between 1828 and 1848. The canal's [[Right-of-way (transportation)|right of way]] and [[towpath]] were eventually used for a railroad, portions of which were active up to the 1990s. Part of the canal and railroad line has now been converted to multi-use paved trails, called the [[Farmington Canal Heritage Trail]] and the Farmington River Trail, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Trail System {{!}} Town of Farmington, CT|url=https://www.farmington-ct.org/community/trail-system|access-date=December 9, 2020|website=www.farmington-ct.org}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Ct rattle west.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Rattlesnake Mountain]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|74.5|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|72.6|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|2.0|km2|order=flip}}, or 2.65%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US0900327600| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212144550/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US0900327600| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Farmington town, Hartford County, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 26, 2012}}</ref>

After its founding, Farmington gave up territory to form [[Southington, Connecticut|Southington]] (1779), [[Bristol, Connecticut|Bristol]] (1785), [[Avon, Connecticut|Avon]] (1830), [[Plainville, Connecticut|Plainville]] (1869), and parts of [[Berlin, Connecticut|Berlin]] (1785) and [[Bloomfield, Connecticut|Bloomfield]] (1835).<ref>Barry, Ann P. “Connecticut Towns and Their Establishment.” Hartford, CT: Connecticut State Library, Archives, History, and Genealogy Unit, 1985.</ref> Farmington presently borders the towns of [[Avon, Connecticut|Avon]], [[Burlington, Connecticut|Burlington]], [[Newington, Connecticut|Newington]], [[West Hartford, Connecticut|West Hartford]], and [[Plainville, Connecticut|Plainville]], and the cities of [[New Britain, Connecticut|New Britain]] and [[Bristol, Connecticut|Bristol]].

Farmington is mostly wooded, but there are also meadows and hills in the east and southeast. There are also numerous ponds and lakes. The [[Farmington River]] runs through the town from the northwest from Burlington, enters Unionville, then takes a sharp turn near Farmington Center and flows north towards Avon. The [[Metacomet Ridge]], a {{convert|100|mi|km|adj=on}} range of low [[basalt|traprock]] mountain ridges, occupies the east side of Farmington as [[Pinnacle Rock (Connecticut)|Pinnacle Rock]], [[Rattlesnake Mountain (Connecticut)|Rattlesnake Mountain]], [[Farmington Mountain]], and [[Talcott Mountain]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type = USA
| footnote = Source: [http://www.sots.state.ct.us/RegisterManual/regman.htm Interactive Connecticut State Register & Manual] and [http://eire.census.gov/popest/data/cities.php U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division]
|1756 |3707
|1774 |6069
|1782 |5542
|1790 |2696
|1800 |2809
|1810 |2748
|1820 |3042
|1830 |1901
|1840 |2041
|1850 |2630
|1860 |3144
|1870 |2616
|1880 |3017
|1890 |3179
|1900 |3331
|1910 |3478
|1920 |3844
|1930 |4548
|1940 |5313
|1950 |7026
|1960 |10813
|1970 |14390
|1980 |16407
|1990 |20608
|2000 |23641
|2010 |25340
|2020 |26712
}}

{{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 2010, there were 25,340 people, 9,496 households, and 6,333 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|879.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 11,072 housing units at an average density of {{convert|351.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 85.92% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 9.59% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 2.98% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race, 2.43% from two or more races, 2.21% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.49% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.04% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=06000US0900327600&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US09%7C05000US09003%7C06000US0900327600&_street=&_county=Farmington&_cityTown=Farmington&_state=04000US09&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y|title=Farmington, Connecticut fact sheet|year=2010|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=March 6, 2007|work=American Fact Finder|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203214833/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=&geo_id=06000US0900327600&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US09%7C05000US09003%7C06000US0900327600&_street=&_county=Farmington&_cityTown=Farmington&_state=04000US09&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=060&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y|archive-date=December 3, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

There were 10,522 households, out of which 29.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. Of all households, 29.6% were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

In 2018, the median household income was $94,606 and the [[per capita income]] for the town was $56,571.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Farmington town, Hartford County, Connecticut|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/farmingtontownhartfordcountyconnecticut/PST045219|access-date=July 8, 2020|website=www.census.gov|language=en}}</ref> About 3.1% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Farmington town vote by party in presidential elections<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|title = General Elections Statement of Vote 1922}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=May 2, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! 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}}|'''59.95%''' ''9,616''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.41% ''6,160''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.64% ''261''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.37%''' ''7,634''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.79% ''5,977''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.84% ''692''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.89%''' ''7,013''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.97% ''6,611''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.15% ''158''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.48%''' ''8,088''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.38% ''5,822''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.14% ''161''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.62%''' ''7,209''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.97% ''6,298''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.41% ''193''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.49%''' ''6,374''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.97% ''5,443''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.55% ''563''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.48%''' ''5,415''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.56% ''4,739''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.96% ''1,250''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''39.74%''' ''4,917''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.54% ''4,893''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|20.72% ''2,564''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.12% ''4,847''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.02%''' ''5,803''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.86% ''92''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.25% ''3,542''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''62.37%''' ''5,931''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.38% ''36''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.91% ''3,173''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''47.47%''' ''4,314''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|17.62% ''1,601''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.63% ''3,536''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.01%''' ''4,927''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.35% ''30''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.56% ''3,087''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''59.54%''' ''4,646''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.90% ''70''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.80% ''2,942''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.75%''' ''3,333''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.45% ''292''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''63.04%''' ''3,568''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.96% ''2,092''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.44% ''2,545''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.56%''' ''3,056''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.71% ''1,434''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''69.29%''' ''3,236''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of February 22, 2023<ref>{{cite web | title = Election Data - Town of Farmington | publisher = Town of Farmington | access-date = April 28, 2023 | url = https://www.farmington-ct.org/departments/registrar-of-voters/election-data }}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 6,684
| align = center | 33.10%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 4,513
| align = center | 22.35%
|-
| {{party color cell|Unaffiliated (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align = center | 8,693
| align = center | 43.05%
|-
| {{party color cell|Other Minor Parties (United States)}}
| Minor parties
| align = center | 301
| align = center | 1.49%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 20,191
! align = center | 100%
|}

==Economy==
Top employers in Farmington according to the town's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.farmington-ct.org/home/showpublisheddocument/32152/638741686112670000|title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Town of Farmington, Connecticut For the Year Ended June 30, 2024 |publisher=Town of Farmington|access-date=April 30, 2025}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|[[UConn Health]]
|7,664
|-
|2
|[[Otis Worldwide]]
|4,077
|-
|3
|Companions & Homemakers
|3,000
|-
|4
|[[Trumpf]]
|1,700
|-
|5
|Town of Farmington/Board of Education
|830
|-
|6
|[[ConnectiCare]]
|750
|-
|7
|[[Tunxis Community College]]
|500
|-
|8
|[[American Red Cross]]
|428
|-
|9
|Connecticut Spring and Stamp
|375
|-
|10
|[[Jackson Laboratory]]
|370
|}

[[United Technologies]] was headquartered on Farm Springs Road along with its subsidiary [[Otis Worldwide]]. In 2019 it was announced that United Technologies would relocated its headquarters to [[Waltham, Massachusetts]] after the merger with [[Raytheon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/under-the-radar-utc-moved-carrier-hqs-out-of-ct|title=Under the radar, UTC moved Carrier HQs out of CT|publisher=Hartford Business Journal|access-date=April 6, 2024}}</ref>

[[McKesson Corporation|McKesson]] had a location in Farmington before departing in 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/pharmaceutical-distributor-mckesson-to-vacate-farmington-location-150-jobs-lost|title=Pharmaceutical distributor McKesson to vacate Farmington location; 150 jobs lost|publisher=Hartford Business Journal|access-date=April 6, 2024}}</ref>

[[Carvel (restaurant)|Carvel]], [[ConnectiCare]], Farmington Displays, and [[Horizon Technology Finance]], all maintain corporate headquarters in Farmington. Other prominent employers include the American Red Cross, Bank of America, [[Farmington Sports Arena]], [[Stanley Black & Decker]] and [[Trumpf|TRUMPF Inc]].

[[Farmington Bank]] was headquartered in town until it was acquired by [[People's United Bank]] in 2018.

The [[Jackson Laboratory]] of [[Bar Harbor, Maine]], is building a new facility on the grounds of the University of Connecticut Health Center, which specializes in the research and development of [[genome|genomic]] medicine. The project is part of BioScience Connecticut, an initiative designed to launch Connecticut into the forefront of [[biomedical research]]. A growing collection of doctor's offices and medical practices is concentrated in the vicinity of the [[University of Connecticut Health Center]].

Farmington is unique in that more people work within the town lines than actually live there, a characteristic atypical of a traditional suburb.

==Arts and culture==

===Locations listed on the National Register of Historic Places===

{{unreferenced section|date=May 2018}}
[[File:1stChurchofChrist FarmingtonCT.jpg|thumb|right|upright|First Church of Christ. Photo by [[Jack Boucher]].]]

* [[Austin F. Williams Carriagehouse and House]] – 127 Main Street (added 1998)
* [[Farmington Historic District (Connecticut)|Farmington Historic District]] – Porter and Mountain Roads., Main and Garden Streets., Hatter's and Hillstead Lanes, and Farmington Avenue (added 1972)
* [[First Church of Christ, Congregational (Farmington, Connecticut)|First Church of Christ]] – 75 Main Street (added 1975)
* [[Gen. George Cowles House]] – 130 Main Street (added 1982)
* [[Gridley-Parsons-Staples Homestead]] – 1554 Farmington Avenue (added 1981)
* [[Hill-Stead Museum]] (added 1991). The estate, completed in 1901 and designed for [[Alfred Atmore Pope]] by his daughter [[Theodate Pope Riddle]], one of the first woman American architects, is known for its [[Colonial Revival architecture]]. Now a museum, its 19 rooms hold a nationally recognized collection of [[Impressionism|Impressionist]] paintings by such masters as [[Édouard Manet|Manet]], [[Claude Monet|Monet]], [[James Abbott McNeill Whistler|Whistler]], [[Edgar Degas|Degas]] and [[Mary Cassatt|Cassatt]]. It is the site of the annual Sunken Garden Poetry Festival and is a [[National Historic Landmark]].
* [[Pequabuck Bridge]] – Meadow Road at Pequabuck River (added 1984)
* [[Shade Swamp Shelter]] – US 6 East of New Britain Avenue (added 1986)
* [[Stanley-Whitman House]] – 37 High Street (added November 15, 1966)
* [[West End Library]] – 15 School Street, Unionville (added 2000)

==Education==
{{See also|Farmington Public Schools (Connecticut)}}

Farmington's seven public schools are highly regarded, ranking among the top in the state and nationally.
<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.niche.com/k12/d/farmington-school-district-ct/
|title=Farmington School District Overview
|website=www.niche.com
|access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref> The district's four pre-K to 4 elementary schools are Union School, West District School, Noah Wallace School, and East Farms School. West Woods Upper Elementary School houses grades 5 and 6. Irving A. Robbins Middle School houses grades 7 and 8. [[Farmington High School (Connecticut)|Farmington High School]] serves grades 9–12. In 2005, Farmington High School was ranked 125 on ''Newsweek'' magazine's list of the best schools in the United States, in 2006 it was ranked 269, and in 2007, 298.<ref>{{cite web |first=Halley |last=Bondy |author2=Brillman, Dan |author3=Kaufman, Becca |title=The Top of the Class |work=[[Newsweek]] |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/?sort=Rank&count=1327&Search=&start=200&limit=100&year=2007& |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 8, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070608095734/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18757087/?sort=Rank&count=1327&Search=&start=200&limit=100&year=2007& }}</ref>

[[Miss Porter's School]], a [[college preparatory school|private college preparatory school]] for girls, is located in Farmington's Historic District. The day and boarding school occupies much of the village center. Founded in 1843 by educational reformer [[Sarah Porter]], the school has played a significant part in Farmington's history since its founding. As of the mid-2010s, the school owned over 90 buildings in Farmington center, approximately 70% of which were historic. Since then, Miss Porter's has been concentrating its footprint around its core buildings at the center of Main Street. [[List of Miss Porter's School alumnae|Famous alumni]] include [[Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis]], [[Princess Anastasia of Greece and Denmark]], [[Lee Bouvier|Lee Bouvier Radziwill]], [[Lilly Pulitzer]] and members of the [[Bush family|Bush]], [[Vanderbilt family|Vanderbilt]], and [[Rockefeller family|Rockefeller]] families.

[[Tunxis Community College]] is in the southwest part of the town.

==Infrastructure==
[[File:UConn Health Center.jpg|thumb|UConn Health Center]]

The [[University of Connecticut Health Center]] in Farmington employs approximately 4,600 full-time employees as of 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://health.uconn.edu/finance/wp-content/uploads/sites/80/2022/01/2021-STATE-FS-12-21-21-.pdf|title=UConn Health Annual Report 2021|access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref> The Health Center also houses John Dempsey Hospital. The hospital provides the only full-service emergency department in the Farmington Valley and a Level III [[Neonatal Intensive Care Unit]] (NICU), one of only two in Connecticut.

===Transportation===
[[Connecticut Transit Hartford]] provides local bus service.

==Notable people==



* [[Tim Abromaitis]], professional basketball player
* [[Steve Addazio]], college football coach<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bceagles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/steve_addazio_833257.html |title=Steve Addazio |publisher=Official Site of The Boston College Eagles |access-date=March 7, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131218104501/http://www.bceagles.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/steve_addazio_833257.html |archive-date=December 18, 2013 }}</ref>
* [[Richard M. Bissell Jr.]], [[Central Intelligence Agency]] officer responsible for the [[Lockheed U-2|U-2 spy plane]] project and the [[Bay of Pigs Invasion]]<ref name="Binder">{{cite news |last=Binder |first=David |date=February 8, 1994 |title=Richard M. Bissell, 84, Is Dead; Helped Plan Bay of Pigs Invasion |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9803EED81638F93BA35751C0A962958260 |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York |access-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Nick Bonino]], NHL hockey player<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.anaheimcalling.com/2009/10/19/1091964/put-down-the-cigarette-and-drop|title= Put Down The Cigarette . . . And Drop Out of BU.|date= October 19, 2009|publisher= SB Nation|access-date= March 7, 2014|archive-date= March 7, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140307221530/http://www.anaheimcalling.com/2009/10/19/1091964/put-down-the-cigarette-and-drop|url-status= dead}}</ref>
* [[Anna Roosevelt Cowles]], eldest sister of President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] and aunt of [[Eleanor Roosevelt]]<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.courant.com/2013/05/31/green-garden-with-roosevelt-ties-part-of-farmington-tour-2/|title='Green' Garden with Roosevelt Ties Part of Farmington Tour|date=May 31, 2013 |publisher =The Courant|access-date= March 7, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Ron Francis]], NHL hockey player, former Farmington resident
* [[Kevin Galvin]], business and health care advocate<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.courant.com/1996/11/21/handyman-at-work-on-a-booming-business/|title= Handyman at Work on a Booming Business|date= November 21, 1996|publisher =The Courant|access-date= March 7, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Michael Gladis]], actor, raised in Farmington and graduated from [[Farmington High School (Connecticut)|Farmington High School]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.courant.com/community/farmington/hc-famous-folks-with-a-farmington-connection-2-002,0,5952091.photo|title= Michael Gladis|work= The Courant|access-date= March 7, 2014|archive-date= March 7, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140307224049/http://www.courant.com/community/farmington/hc-famous-folks-with-a-farmington-connection-2-002,0,5952091.photo|url-status= dead}}</ref>
* [[George Gleason (politician)|George Gleason]], Wisconsin state assemblyman<ref>{{cite book|title=THE LEGISLATIVE MANUAL OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN|edition=15th|location=Madison, Wis.|year=1876|page=475}}</ref>
* [[Joab Hoisington]], one of the founders of [[Vermont]], militia leader on the Patriot side in the [[American Revolution]]<ref name="Society">{{cite book |date=1901 |title=Register of the California Society of the Sons of the American Revolution |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mAsRAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA90 |location=San Francisco, CA |publisher=California Society, Sons of the American Revolution |page=90 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref name="Dana">{{cite book |last=Dana |first=Henry Swan |date=1889 |title=History of Woodstock, Vermont |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y4EUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA17 |location=Boston, MA |publisher=Houghton, Mifflin and Company |pages=17–19|via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Orville Hungerford]], U.S. congressman<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000968|title= HUNGERFORD, Orville, (1790 - 1851) |dictionary =Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= March 7, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Curtis Jackson]], hip hop rapper and entrepreneur, more commonly known as [[50 Cent]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.courant.com/business/real-estate/hc-50-cents-farmington-mansion-still-on-the-market-20120815,0,4756891.photogallery|title= 50 Cent's Farmington Mansion Still On The Market|publisher= The Courant|access-date= March 6, 2014|archive-date= March 7, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140307224045/http://www.courant.com/business/real-estate/hc-50-cents-farmington-mansion-still-on-the-market-20120815,0,4756891.photogallery|url-status= dead}}</ref>
* [[Tebucky Jones]], former [[New England Patriots]] football player{{Citation needed|date = March 2014}}
* [[Chauncey Langdon]], U.S. congressman from [[Vermont]], born in Farmington<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=L000066|title= LANGDON, Chauncey, (1763 - 1830)|dictionary =Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= March 7, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Timothy Merrill]], [[Secretary of State of Vermont]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Daniel. P. |date=1860 |title=History of the Town of Montpelier |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XjrM-mA4Uo8C |location=Montpelier, VT |publisher=E. P. Walton |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XjrM-mA4Uo8C/page/n214 211]–213}}</ref>
* [[Mary Jane Osborn]], biochemist and microbiologist, died in Farmington in 2019 at the age of 91.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asbmb.org/asbmbtoday/201905/Retrospective/Osborn/|title=Retrospective: Mary Jane Osborn (1927–2019)|website=www.asbmb.org|access-date=May 19, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Erin Pac]], U.S. Olympic Women's [[bobsled]] team and [[Bobsleigh at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Two-woman|two-woman bobsled event]] bronze medalist at the 2010 Winter Olympics<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.courant.com/2010/03/13/erin-pac-returns-home-with-olympic-medal/|title= Erin Pac Returns Home With Olympic Medal|date= March 13, 2010|publisher =The Courant|access-date= March 7, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Alfred Atmore Pope]], industrialist and art collector, resided at [[Hill-Stead]] from 1901 to 1913; father of Theodate Pope Riddle<ref>{{cite book|last=Linebaugh|first=Donald|title=The Springfield Gas Machine: Illuminating Industry and Leisure, 1860s–1920s|year=2012|publisher=Univ. of Tennessee Press|page=302|isbn=9781572338357|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uHVQVJknYnMC&q=Alfred+Atmore+Pope+Farmington+ct&pg=PA302}}</ref>
* [[Theodate Pope Riddle]], noted architect and founder of [[Hill–Stead Museum]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Joan Marter|author-link=Joan Marter|title=The Grove Encyclopedia of American Art, Volume 1|year=2011|publisher=Oxford University Press|page=147|isbn=9780195335798|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sPGdBxzaWj0C&q=Alfred+Atmore+Pope+Farmington+ct&pg=RA3-PA147}}</ref>
* [[Aric Rindfleisch]], professor of [[business administration]] and department head at the College of Business at Illinois<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://business.illinois.edu/profile/aric-rindfleisch/|title = Profile}}</ref>
* [[Kathleen Rubins]], NASA astronaut and 60th woman in space; born in Farmington<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2015 |title=Kathleen (Kate) Rubins (PH.D.) NASA Astronaut |url=https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/rubins-k.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151129104530/https://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/rubins-k.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2015 |access-date= |website=NASA |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Amir Satvat]], video game executive known for efforts helping jobseekers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |author-link=Dean Takahashi |date=2023-08-18 |title=How one man found game jobs for at least 450 people in the downturn |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/how-one-man-found-game-jobs-for-at-least-450-people-in-the-downturn-the-deanbeat/ |access-date=2024-12-16 |work=[[VentureBeat]]}}</ref>
* [[Pawel Szajda]], actor, born and raised in Farmington, graduated from [[Farmington High School (Connecticut)|Farmington High School]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.courant.com/community/farmington/hc-pawel-szajda-20130123,0,4524402.photo|title= Pawel Szajda|publisher= The Courant|access-date= March 7, 2014|archive-date= March 7, 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140307224043/http://www.courant.com/community/farmington/hc-pawel-szajda-20130123,0,4524402.photo|url-status= dead}}</ref>
* [[Kristen Taekman]], model and cast member of ''[[The Real Housewives of New York City]]'', born and raised in Farmington
* [[Eli Todd]], pioneer in the [[treatment of mental disorders]]
* [[John Treadwell]], fourth governor of the state of Connecticut<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_connecticut/col2-content/main-content-list/title_treadwell_john.html |title=Connecticut Governor John Treadwell |publisher=National Governors Association |access-date=May 24, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Mike Tyson]], former resident. In 2004, 50 Cent bought Tyson's {{convert|18|acre|m2|adj=on}} compound, which is located about {{convert|2|mi|km}} southeast from the town center<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/50-cent-shows-off-mansion-on-cribs/ | work=CBS News | title=50 Cent Shows Off Mansion On 'Cribs' | date=November 29, 2007}}</ref>
* [[Suzy Whaley]], the first female golfer to qualify for a PGA event; currently the president of the LPGA<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.pga.com/professionals/suzy-m-whaley-pga|title= Suzy M. Whaley, PGA|publisher =PGA|access-date= March 7, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Wilford Woodruff]], fourth [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|president]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church), born in Farmington<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/presidents-of-the-church-teacher-manual-religion-345/wilford-woodruff-fourth-president-of-the-church?lang=eng|title= Wilford Woodruff-Fourth President of the Church|publisher =The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints|access-date= March 7, 2014}}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{Portal-inline|Connecticut}}
* [[Hartford Connecticut Temple]] of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website|https://www.farmington-ct.org/}}
* [http://www.farmingtonchamber.com/ Farmington Chamber of Commerce]

{{Connecticut}}
{{Hartford County, Connecticut}}
{{Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Greater Hartford}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Farmington, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:1645 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Greater Hartford]]
[[Category:Underground Railroad in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Hartford County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Southbury, Connecticut

2025-11-02T14:03:14Z

2601:183:4B82:710:F84B:8E22:E4D9:9930: /* Parks */

{{redirect|Southbury|other uses of the name|Southbury (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Southbury, Connecticut
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| official_name = Town of Southbury
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline = Southbury, CT Town Hall.jpg
| image_caption = Southbury Town Hall
| image_seal = SouthburyCtTownSeal.png
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Southbury CT lg.PNG|230px|frameless|alt=Southbury's location within New Haven County and Connecticut]]| [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Naugatuck Valley incorporated and unincorporated areas Southbury highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Southbury's location within the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley 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=Q917350}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|28|25|N|73|14|03|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q917350;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=Southbury;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|28|25|N|73|14|03|W|region:US-CT_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{US}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_name2 = [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1787
| government_type = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title = First selectman
| leader_name = Jeff Manville (R)
| leader_title1 = Selectmen
| leader_name1 = Jason Buchsbaum (R)
Justin Bette (D)
Gregory Kuehn (R)
Holly Sullivan (R)
Tim O'Neil (D)
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 103.8
| area_land_km2 = 101.0
| area_water_km2 = 2.8
| elevation_m = 102
| elevation_ft = 335
| population_total = 19879
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code = 06488
| area_codes = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203/475]]
| website = {{URL|www.southbury-ct.org}}
| footnotes =
| 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 = 09-69640
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0213507
}}
'''Southbury''' is a [[New England town|town]] in western [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. It is north of [[Oxford, Connecticut|Oxford]] and [[Newtown, Connecticut|Newtown]], and east of [[Brookfield, Connecticut|Brookfield]]. Its population was 19,879 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900969640| title=Census - Geography Profile: Southbury town, New Haven County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref> The town is part of the [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley Planning Region]].

Southbury comprises sprawling rural country areas, suburban neighborhoods, and historic districts. It is a short distance from major business and commercial centers. It is 67 miles (107 km) north of New York City, and 34 miles (54 km) west of Hartford.

Southbury is the only community in the country with the name "Southbury", which is why the town seal reads ''Unica Unaque'', meaning "The One and Only."

==History==

[[File:Southbury town history sign.jpg|thumb|right|Town historical sign on Main Street South]]
The town of Southbury was one of several towns formed out of parcels of land purchased from the [[Pootatuck]] Native Americans. Southbury was originally part of [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]], which was settled in 1673. A meetinghouse for the Southbury Ecclesiastical Society was built in 1733, and in 1787 the town of Southbury was incorporated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Website of the Town of Southbury |url=http://www.southbury-ct.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809121317/http://www.southbury-ct.org/ |archive-date=August 9, 2022 |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Town of Southbury, Connecticut}}</ref> After two decades within [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]], Southbury was transferred to [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]] in 1807.<ref>{{ Cite journal | last = Palmer-Skok | first = Virginia | title = Southbury | pages = 11 }}</ref>

In the 1800s, water power became essential to the growth of Southbury's industries, which included mills, tanneries, and distilleries.<ref>{{ Cite journal | last = Palmer-Skok | first = Virginia | title = Southbury | pages = 7 }}</ref> The power for these industries came primarily from the [[Pomperaug River]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct-fea--rivershistor0126jan26,0,378398.story | title = Pomperaug River offers history lesson to region | work = Newsday | date = July 22, 2023 }}</ref> and the [[Housatonic River]]. As the industrial revolution progressed, many of these businesses left for [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]].

In the 1920s, Russian expatriates Count [[Ilya Tolstoy]] (son of the author [[Leo Tolstoy]]) and [[George Grebenstchikoff]] founded an artists' colony at one end of Main Street, known as ''[[Russian Village Historic District|Churaevka]]'' (or "Russian Village"). At its peak, Churaevka had a printing press used by [[Russia]]n and [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] scholars and novelists. Visitors to the colony included the composer [[Sergei Rachmaninoff]]. Most of its immigrant population is now gone; however, St. Sergius Chapel, designed by [[Nicholas Roerich]] and built in 1932–1933, remains. Churaevka is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

In November 1937, residents of the farming outpost got word that a man by the name of Wolfgang Jung had purchased {{convert|178|acre|km2}} in the town. Residents looking into his plans discovered that he was a member of the [[German American Bund]], an organization of ethnic Germans living in the United States who supported [[Adolf Hitler]] and Nazi [[Germany]]. Its leader, [[Fritz Julius Kuhn|Fritz Kuhn]], was considered the leading [[anti-Semite]] in the country. Word soon got out that they were, in fact, planning to build their largest training facility in the country. Residents objected by calling a town meeting and set up a [[zoning]] department with one simple rule, no military activity excluding the United States Army. The law was adopted December 14 and the Bund stopped work and eventually sold the land.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/11/23/news/doc474637a8b6dcb817342319.txt | title = Southbury whipped pro-Nazi group 70 years ago this month (started by Yakoben Reuben) | work = [[Republican-American]] | access-date = November 27, 2007 | archive-date = July 17, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110717065251/http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/11/23/news/doc474637a8b6dcb817342319.txt | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Southbury was a rural farming town for most of its history. However, with the development of the [[Interstate Highway System]], that changed. With the opening of [[Interstate 84 (east)|Interstate 84]] through Southbury by 1963,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/i84.html | title = Connecticut Interstate 84 | work = [[Kurami]] }}</ref> the town gained easy access to New York and Hartford, also improving its access to [[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]] and Waterbury. [[Heritage Village, Connecticut|Heritage Village]] opened in 1967, on a {{convert|1000|acre|km2|adj=on}} site.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DEFDE1439F931A35755C0A963948260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=3 | title = If You're Thinking of Living in Southbury | work = [[The New York Times]] | first=Eleanor | last=Charles | date=June 2, 1985 | access-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref> In 1987, [[IBM]] built an extensive office and research building in Southbury, employing over 2,500 workers. Southbury transitioned from a primarily rural community into the varied town it is today, with the commercial downtown and residential neighborhoods sharing the town with farming communities and extended rural acreage. Today, Southbury has approximately 17% open space, with a goal of 20%.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19142817&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | title = At Southbury Town Meeting Open Space Land Purchase Approved | work = Voices }}</ref>

In the early 1990s, Southbury was the subject of a lawsuit by the [[Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation]]. The 100-member tribe sought to take the land of roughly 1,200 property holders in the town. The lawsuit was thrown out in 1993 based on the fact that the man who brought the suit was not a chieftain, contrary to his claims, and had no standing to bring the suit.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7D7113EF93AA15753C1A965958260 | title = Judge Dismisses Suit By Indian for Land | work = [[The New York Times]] | date=October 29, 1993 | access-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], Southbury has a total area of {{convert|103.8|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|101.0|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|2.8|km2|order=flip}}, or 2.69%, is water.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Southbury town, New Haven County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=September 28, 2012}}</ref>

Towns that border Southbury are [[Middlebury, Connecticut|Middlebury]] to the northeast, [[Oxford, Connecticut|Oxford]] to the east and southeast, [[Newtown, Connecticut|Newtown]] to the southwest, [[Bridgewater, Connecticut|Bridgewater]] to the west, and [[Roxbury, Connecticut|Roxbury]] and [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]] to the north.

South Britain and Southford are included in the incorporated township of Southbury.

==Demographics==
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
{{historical populations|align=left
| source = <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/SecVIITOC.htm | title = Connecticut State Register and Manual | work = [[Connecticut Secretary of the State]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080216021023/http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/SecVIITOC.htm | archive-date = February 16, 2008 }}</ref>
| 1800|1,757
| 1850| 1,484
| 1900| 1,238
| 1950| 3,828
| 1960| 5,186
| 1970| 7,852
| 1980| 14,156
| 1990| 15,818
| 2000| 18,567
| 2010| 19,904
| 2020| 19,879
}}
As of the 2000 [[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> there were 18,567 people comprising 7,225 households, including 4,833 families residing in Southbury. The population density was {{convert|475.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,799 housing units at an average density of {{convert|199.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.45% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.15% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.35% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.62% from multiple races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.59% of the population.

Of Southbury's 7,225 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41, and the average family size was 3.02.

Southbury's population consisted of 22.8% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.

The median income for a household in Southbury is $75,970 in 2007, compared to $61,919 in 1999; the median income for a family in 1999 was $81,109. In 1999, males had a median income of $87,365 versus $68,657 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $62,731. About 1.9% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those 65 or over. The median home value was $532,650.

In July 2008, it was estimated that there were 19,702 (+6.1% from 2000) people in Southbury. The estimated median household income was $75,970 (+22.7% from 2000). The estimated median home (or [[Condominium (living space)|condominium]]) value was to $374,178 (+92.6% from 2000).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.city-data.com/city/Southbury-Connecticut.html | title = Southbury, CT Detailed Profile | work = [[CityData.com]]}}</ref>

===Heritage Village===
Southbury is home to a variety of retirement facilities, including [[Heritage Village, Connecticut|Heritage Village]], one of New England's largest retirement communities. Heritage Village sits on {{convert|1000|acre|km2}} and includes approximately 2,580 homes with 4,000 people.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.heritagevillagect.org/villagetoday.htm | title = The Village Today | work = HeritageVillageCT.org}}</ref> It is billed as being an "active retirement" community, offering many activities.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.villagers.com/activities.html | title = Villagers Activities Page | work = [[Villagers.com]]}}</ref> Heritage Village was planned in the 1960s, as I-84 was completed in the area.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.heritagevillagect.org/ | title = Heritage Village The Dream That Came True | work = HeritageVillageCT.org}}</ref> Potential Heritage Village residents must be 55 years of age or older.<ref>{{cite web |title=Heritage Village, Southbury |url=https://activeadultliving.com/CT/connecticut/55-plus-communities/southbury/06488/heritage-village |work=Active Adult Living}}</ref>

By 2013, about 30% of the population of Southbury is expected to be 60 years of age or older. By 2020, about 40% will be 60 or older.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/12/16/newsblog/304851.txt | title = Southbury to look at needs of town's senior set | work = [[Republican-American]] | access-date = December 18, 2007 | archive-date = September 28, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110928085215/http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/12/16/newsblog/304851.txt | url-status = dead }}</ref> Southbury has developed a three-phase plan to increase services for the aging population. The former Southbury Library was converted into a senior center; it also houses the new home of the area Parks & Recreations Department.

In addition to the "active living" area of Heritage Village, Southbury contains several "assisted living facilities", including:
* The Hearth at Southbury
* Lutheran Home of Southbury
* River Glen Health Care Center

Other "active senior living" options that provide independent living, assisted living, and memory care in Southbury includes:
* Pomperaug Woods
* Watermark at East Hill

==Government and voting==
Southbury has a six-member [[Board of Selectmen]], including First Selectman, Jeff Manville (R).<ref name="http">{{cite web|url=http://southbury-ct.org/content/994/276/437/default.aspx|title=Current Board of Selectmen|work=Voices|access-date=December 14, 2016|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220145334/http://southbury-ct.org/content/994/276/437/default.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Method of voting===
Southbury used mechanical voting machines until 2007 when it switched to [[Optical scan voting system|optical scanning machine]]s. The new system has been criticized for several reasons, including a lack of privacy.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}}

Southbury utilizes up to three polling stations.<ref name="zwire.com">{{cite web|url=http://southbury-ct.org/content/992/121/151/1693.aspx|title=voting district|access-date=December 14, 2016|work=town of southbury website|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220145345/http://southbury-ct.org/content/992/121/151/1693.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> for machine vote as required by a town meeting or per charter, only the firehouse is used.

Consistent with Connecticut law, citizens have the ''option'' of choosing a party when they register to vote. A citizen may join or change, their affiliation later. Primary voting is limited to members of that party.

===Voting results for Connecticut and federal elected officials===

In 2006, veteran [[U.S. House]] [[Congresswoman|Representative]] [[Nancy Johnson]] was ousted in favor of [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Chris Murphy]], who carried Southbury, 51–49%. Junior U.S. Senator [[Joseph Lieberman]] dropped his Democratic party affiliation, but was re-elected as an independent, carrying Southbury with 57% of the vote; his closest opponent, Democrat [[Ned Lamont]], had only 32% of Southbury's support.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2006/pages/results/states/CT/S/01/county.005.html | title = Senate Election 2006 Connecticut County Results | work = CNN | access-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref>

In the [[2008 United States Presidential Election|2008 Presidential Election]], Southbury supported [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[John McCain]] over [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Spaulding |first=Ben |date=November 13, 2008 |title=Connecticut Election 2008 - Presidential Results |url=http://magic.lib.uconn.edu/election_2008/presidential_marg_of_vic.pdf |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=UCONN Map and Geographic Information Center}}</ref> For the U.S. House, the town narrowly supported Republican [[David Cappiello]] over Murphy, the Democratic incumbent who ultimately won in a landslide.

In 2010, Southbury voted in favor of Republican candidates [[Thomas C. Foley|Tom Foley]] for [[Governor of Connecticut|Governor]] and [[Linda McMahon]] for [[U.S. Senate]]. Though neither of the Republicans won statewide, they carried Southbury with 61% and 56% of the vote, respectively. Southbury again supported the Republican for U.S. House, voting for [[Sam Caligiuri]] over the Democrat Murphy by a 56–44% margin.

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Southbury town vote by party in presidential elections<ref>{{cite web |title=General Elections Statement of Vote 1922 |url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922 |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=The Office of the Secretary of State}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! 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]]<ref name="authoring.ct.gov">{{Cite web|title=Statement of Vote General Election 2016|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2020-SOV.pdf|date=November 8, 2016}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.58%''' ''6,570''<ref name="authoring.ct.gov"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.19% ''6,260''<ref name="authoring.ct.gov"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.23% ''155''<ref name="authoring.ct.gov"/>
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|title=Statement of Vote General Election 2012|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2016StatementofVotepdf.pdf|date=November 6, 2012}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.35% ''5,013''<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.75%''' ''6,100''<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.90% ''450''<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]<ref name="ReferenceB">{{Cite web|title=Statement of Vote General Election 2008|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2012StatementofVoteBookpdf.pdf|date=November 4, 2008}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.10% ''4,936''<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.80%''' ''6,134''<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.10% ''123''<ref name="ReferenceB"/>
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]<ref name="ReferenceC">{{Cite web|title=Statement of Vote General Election 2004|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2008SOVpdf.pdf|date=November 2, 2004}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.44% ''5,458''<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.52%''' ''6,172''<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.04% ''122''<ref name="ReferenceC"/>
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]<ref name="ReferenceD">{{Cite web|title=Statement of Vote General Election 2000|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2004SOVpdf.pdf|date=November 7, 2000}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.92% ''4,830''<ref name="ReferenceD"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.66%''' ''6,528''<ref name="ReferenceD"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.42% ''164''<ref name="ReferenceD"/>
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]<ref name="ReferenceE">{{Cite web|title=Statement of Vote General Election 1996|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2000SOVpdf.pdf|date=November 5, 1996}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.78% ''4,306''<ref name="ReferenceE"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.14%''' ''5,477''<ref name="ReferenceE"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.08% ''523''<ref name="ReferenceE"/>
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]<ref name="ReferenceF">{{Cite web|title=Statement of Vote General Election|url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/1996SOVpdf.pdf|author-first=Denise W.|author-last=Merrill}}</ref>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.64% ''3,741''<ref name="ReferenceF"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.20%''' ''4,737''<ref name="ReferenceF"/>
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.16% ''959''<ref name="ReferenceF"/>
|-
|}

Current Federal Elected Official for U.S. Congress:

* U.S. Senators: [[Chris Murphy]],<ref name="Public Reporting">{{Cite web|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/home|title=Public Reporting|website=ctemspublic.pcctg.net|access-date=April 21, 2019}}</ref> [[Richard Blumenthal]]
* U.S. Congressman: [[Jahana Hayes]]<ref name="Public Reporting"/>

Current State Elected Official for [[Connecticut General Assembly]]

* State Senator: [[Eric Berthel]] (32)
* State Representatives: [https://www.cthousegop.com/Harrison/ Cindy Harrison] (69), David Labriola (131)

===Political parties===

*Southbury Democratic Town Committee, 2,967 members (+283 from previous totals)<ref name="Clinton, McCain Win in Southbury">{{cite web | url = http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19277851&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608015753/http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19277851&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 8, 2011 | title = Clinton, McCain Win in Southbury | work = Voices }}</ref>{{update inline|date=December 2016}}
*Southbury Republican Town Committee, 4,583 members (+57 from previous totals)<ref name="Clinton, McCain Win in Southbury"/> – Members are elected to serve two-year terms on the RTC.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19220391&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608015632/http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19220391&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 8, 2011 | title = Southbury GOP Picks New Members of RTC | work = Voices }}</ref>{{update inline|date=December 2016}}

==Education==
[[File:Southbury, CT. I.JPG|thumb|Southbury Training School greenhouse]]
Southbury is part of the [[Regional School District 15|Pomperaug Regional School District]], region 15, a school system that includes the towns of Southbury and Middlebury. The system contains four elementary, two middle and one high school.

There has been a debate between the two towns over the amount each pays towards the system.<ref>{{cite web |last=O'Rourke |first=Matthew |date=December 18, 2007 |title=Middlebury to hire consultant to review Region 15 battle |url=http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/12/18/newsblog/305321.txt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717070051/http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/12/18/newsblog/305321.txt |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |access-date=August 10, 2022 |work=[[Republican-American]]}}</ref>

Schools located in Southbury include:
*Gainfield Elementary School
*Pomperaug Elementary School
*Rochambeau Middle School
*[[Pomperaug High School]]

Students from Region 15 also have the option to attend:
*W.F. Kaynor Technical High School (Waterbury)
*[[Henry Abbott Technical High School]] (Danbury)
*[[Nonnewaug High School]] (Region 14, Woodbury, accessible as an agricultural school for Region 15 students)

== Recreation ==
The Southbury Parks & Recreations Department moved into the old Southbury Library in 2007. Southbury town sports include:
* Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken baseball
* Basketball
* Pop Warner football
* Soccer
* Lacrosse

Controversy has arisen over town sports since the Parks and Recreation Department began enforcing a policy banning out-of-town players from participating in town-sanctioned sports in 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19241480&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | title = Town Playing Policy Opposed by Sports Leagues' Officials | work = Voices | access-date = January 31, 2008 | archive-date = June 8, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608015723/http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19241480&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | url-status = dead }}</ref> This policy stems from the fact of overcrowding at town fields, a problem which is plaguing Southbury.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19286915&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | title = At Schools in Southbury Fire Marshal Tells Board of Traffic Issues | work = Voices}}</ref>

==Local media==

* [[Waterbury Republican-American]] – A Waterbury-based independent daily newspaper
* [[The News-Times|The Danbury News-Times]] – A Danbury-based daily newspaper
* ''Voices'' – A local newspaper serving Southbury, Middlebury, Oxford, Seymour, Naugatuck, Woodbury, Bethlehem, New Preston, Washington, Washington Depot, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Monroe, Sandy Hook, and Newtown
* WTCH – A local student & staff run television station broadcast by Pomperaug High School in Southbury. Channel 17 in Southbury, Channel 16 in Middlebury.

==Infrastructure==
Only a small area of Southbury is covered by water or sewer systems, with the vast majority left to wells and septic. Southbury is generally concerned with its water table, to the point where the only car wash in town is required to recycle all of their water used, an expensive process.

The town water provider is Aquarion. The gas provider is [[Yankee Gas Company]]. The cable (TV, internet, and, phone) provider is [[Charter Communications]]. The electric provider is [[Eversource Energy]] (a [[Northeast Utilities]] Company). The phone provider (POTS & DSL) is [[Frontier Communications]].

==Notable features==

[[File:Southbury Audubon Society V.jpg|thumb|Audubon Center Bent of the River trail]]
[[File:Southbury Audubon Society VII.jpg|thumb|Audubon Center Bent of the River]]

===National Historic Registry===
* [[Aaron Bronson House]] – 846 Southford Road
* [[Adin Wheeler House and Theodore F. Wheeler Wheelwright Shop]] – 125 Quaker Farms Road
* [[Bullet Hill School]] – Main Street. and Seymour Road
* [[Hurley Road Historic District]] – 6 and 17 Hurley Road.
* [[Little Pootatuck Brook Archeological Site]]
* [[Plaster House]] – 117 Plaster House Road
* [[Reuben Curtiss House]] – 1770 Bucks Hill Road
* [[Russian Village Historic District]] – Roughly Kiev Drive and Russian Village Road between US 6 and the Pomperaug River
* [[Sanford Road Historic District]] – 480 and 487 Sanford Road
* [[South Britain Historic District]] – East Flat Hill, Hawkins, Library, and Middle Roads., and 497-864 South Britain Road
* [[Southbury Historic District No. 1]] – Main Street from Woodbury Town Line to Old Waterbury Road
* [[Southbury Training School]] – 1484 South Britain Road., a {{convert|1600|acre|km2|adj=on}} section of Southbury developed as a facility for mentally handicapped adults.
*[[William Hurd House]] – 327 Hulls Hill Road[[File:Lenore H. Davidson Administration Building at Southbury Training School.jpg|thumb|Lenore H. Davidson Administration Building at Southbury Training School]]

[[File:Temple II.JPG|thumb|B'nai Israel Synagogue. Southbury, CT.]]

[[File:Temple I.JPG|thumb|Overview of the B'nai Israel Temple. 444 Main Street North, Southbury, CT.]]

=== [[Southbury Training School]] ===
The Southbury Training School is a residential facility for individuals with developmental disabilities and other mental handicaps. The 1,400-acre campus contains a mix of large acreages of farmland still occasionally used by patients and 125 residential cottages.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.homeandschoolsts.org/sts-history.html|title=STS History|website=STS Home and School Assn.}}</ref> Southbury Training School's future is strongly contested, with some<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.courant.com/opinion/op-ed/hc-op-simoes-close-southbury-training-school-0109-20160108-story.html|title=Malloy Wrong On Southbury Training School Residents|last=SIMOES|first=LESLIE M.|work=courant.com|access-date=April 13, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> advocating the complete closure of the facility, and others suggesting expanding the facility's population to house more patients.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.homeandschoolsts.org/sts-recommendations-considerations-for-determining-the-future-of-southbury-training-school.html|title=STS Recommendations: Considerations for Determining the Future of Southbury Training School|website=Home and School Association of Southbury Training School|access-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> [[File:Church of the Epiphany, Southbury, CT.jpg|thumb|Church of the Epiphany]]

===Southbury Public Library===
The Southbury Public Library is a department of the town, with its own 9-member Board of Directors.<ref name="americantowns.com">{{cite web | url = http://www.americantowns.com/ct/southbury/organization/southbury_public_library | title = Southbury, CT: Southbury Public Library | work = [[AmericanTowns.com]]}}</ref> On May 1, 2006, Southbury officially opened its new library (its 3rd, though no two have ever been in use concurrently) at 100 Poverty Road. This $6 million project was the first public building constructed in Southbury in 30 years. It is a {{convert|32000|sqft|m2|adj=on}}, 2 floor, state-of-the-art facility. It contains around 90,000 books. It has computers, audiobooks, DVDs, recording rooms for recording books for the blind, meeting rooms, internet, a fireplace and a coffee bar.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sydneyschwartz.com/SouthburyLibrary_4.30.06.pdf | title = $6M Public Library to Open | work = [[Republican-American]] | access-date = December 19, 2007 | archive-date = July 16, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716173554/http://www.sydneyschwartz.com/SouthburyLibrary_4.30.06.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref> Selections recorded for the blind at the Southbury Public Library become part of the National Library Service catalog.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.housegop.ct.gov/%5Cpressrel%5CO%27NeillA069%5C2007%5C20070808_O%27NeillA069_02.pdf | title = Rep. O'Neill Secures Grant For Southbury Library | work = House Republican Press Release's}}{{dead link|date=July 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Planning for the library began in 1998, with an original projected bond issue of $7.35m. The planning committee solicited donations from the public, which resulted in two single donations of $100,000 or more, and five more of between $25,000 and $99,000, in addition to smaller donations.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.actforlibraries.org/campaign_southbury.php| title = The House That Volunteers Built | work = [[ActForLibraries.org]]}}</ref>

The old library building, at 561 Main Street South, has been converted to hold offices for the Parks and Recreation Department, as well as a new senior center. The old library was built in 1969 and expanded in 1979.<ref name="americantowns.com"/>

The oldest library building was located in South Britain (a section and [[Historic District]] of Southbury) and was replaced in 1969.<ref name="americantowns.com"/> It was built in 1904 and contained approximately 1,000 volumes.<ref>{{ Cite journal | last = Palmer-Skok | first = Virginia | title = Southbury | pages = 15 }}</ref>

===Shepaug Dam and eagle observation area===

The [[Shepaug Dam]] on the Housatonic River is part of a hydroelectric power plant, operated by FirstLight Power Resources, capable of a peak power output of 42,600 kW.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.firstlightpower.com/generation/hydro.asp | title = Hydroelectric Power Generation | work = [[FirstLight Power Resources]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120724002359/http://www.firstlightpower.com/generation/hydro.asp | archive-date = July 24, 2012 }}</ref> This dam is a popular nesting and feeding ground for wintering eagles and hawks, including [[bald eagle]]s. Near the power station, FirstLight also operates an eagle observation area first opened by the utility's predecessor, Northeast Utilities, in the mid-1980s.<ref name=ap1207>Associated Press, "Popular eagle-watching spot set to welcome visitors today", [[The Advocate (Stamford)|The Advocate]]'' of [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Connecticut]], December 26, 2007, page A13</ref> Access is free, and some telescopes are provided. Utility company employees and volunteers from the Connecticut Audubon Society and other groups are at the observation area to assist visitors.<ref name=ap1207/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rep-am.com/articles/2007/12/27/news/307048.txt | title = Eagles are main attraction at Southbury observation area | work = [[Waterbury Republican-American]]}}</ref> Advanced reservations are required.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thevoicenews.com/News/2002/1220/Arts_And_Amusements/A03.html | title = Shepaug Bald Eagle Observation Area | work = [[The Voice (Connecticut)|Voices]] | access-date = December 19, 2007 | archive-date = November 21, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081121121209/http://www.thevoicenews.com/News/2002/1220/Arts_And_Amusements/A03.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> Eagles are attracted to the spot because the water churning through the dam's hydroelectric turbine keeps the surface from icing over, allowing the birds to fish. [[Red-tailed hawks]], [[goshawks]], [[great blue herons]] and other waterfowl are also attracted to the spot.<ref name=ap1207/> The dam flooded an area now known as [[Lake Lillinonah]].

FirstLight Power Resources has submitted a plan to the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control to build a new peak-power plant next to the existing hydroelectric facility.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.courant.com/business/hc-peaking0305.artmar05,0,3620647.story | title = State Targets Power Peaks | work = The Hartford Courant }}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Parks===
[[File:Southford Falls.JPG|thumb|right|Southford Falls]]
*[[Kettletown State Park]], a state park on the Housatonic River that includes campgrounds located off I-84 Exit 15
*[[Southford Falls State Park]], a state park off I-84 Exit 15 and I-84 Exit 16
*[[George Waldo State Park]], a state park located on the Housatonic River, off Purchase Brook Road
*Ballentine Park, a town park with fields, basketball courts and a public pool (town residents only)
*George Ewald Park, a town park consisting of little league baseball fields
*[[Audubon Center at Bent of the River]], a {{convert|700|acre|km2|adj=on}} nature sanctuary with about {{convert|15|mi|km}} of hiking trails, an extensive nature library, and a bird-watching balcony
*Community Hose (Southbury, Connecticut)|Community House, a park consisting of newly renovated basketball courts, soccer field, football field, baseball field, and multiple tennis courts

==Businesses==

===IBM Southbury===

The largest corporate complex in Southbury is that of [[IBM]].{{citation needed|date=December 2016}} IBM located its facilities between Kettletown Road and Bullet Hill Road, up a hill from Main Street on a {{convert|230|acre|km2|adj=on}} site. Access to the site is restricted to authorized personnel only. Its original design and construction allowed for {{convert|1100000|sqft|m2}} of office space, intended for 2,500 people (later increased as around-the-clock operations began).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ldparch.com/Portfolio-IBM.htm | title = LDP Portfolio - IBM Southbury Headquarters | publisher = [[LDP Architects]] | access-date = December 27, 2007 | archive-date = March 3, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191945/http://www.ldparch.com/Portfolio-IBM.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> It also had {{convert|250000|sqft|m2}} of "raised floor" data center space, originally designed for large-scale water-cooled mainframe operations. It is an "off the grid" facility, with its power plant taking advantage of jet turbine technology to generate power for the entire site. In 2006, this power plant was replaced with a larger one as power demands increased. IBM Southbury was originally designed to be one of IBM's new corporate headquarters buildings, as IBM's "North Castle" facility in Armonk became outdated. It was never used for this purpose and has been primarily used as an IBM Global Services facility. There are four buildings, labeled A, B, C, and Central Services. Due to decreasing demand for office space, buildings A and C are currently{{when|date=May 2022}} shut down. It was announced in December 2023 that IBM would be closing the complex on January 26, 2024, with the jobs currently located there moving to other locations.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Turmelle |first1=Luther |title=IBM to close sprawling Southbury corporate campus next month |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/business/article/ibm-to-close-connecticut-facility-southbury-18540706.php |website=CT Insider |access-date=December 18, 2023}}</ref>

===Southbury Corporate Park===

Southbury Corporate Park is a largely theoretical {{convert|125|acre|km2|adj=on}} site between [[Interstate 84 (east)|I-84]] exits 13 and 14. It is approved for roughly {{convert|900000|sqft|m2}} of zone R60-C compliant corporate offices.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.southbury-ct.gov/EDC/overview.html | title = Southbury Economic Development Council | work = [[The Official Site of the Town of Southbury]] | access-date = December 27, 2007 | archive-date = August 29, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070829120348/http://www.southbury-ct.gov/EDC/overview.html | url-status = dead }}</ref> The town purchased the site for a total of $5 million. It is designed to attract large corporate partners, or at worst, non-"big box" retailers. An arts center has also been proposed for the site, though this proposal was later revoked in favor of a possible location inside the [[Southbury Training School]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19083852&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | title = STS Suggested Site: EDC Directs Arts Center Proposal to State | work = [[Zwire]] | access-date = December 27, 2007 | archive-date = June 8, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110608014824/http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19083852&BRD=1380&PAG=461&dept_id=157533&rfi=6 | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Community organizations==

===Southbury Volunteer Firemen's Association===

The Southbury Volunteer Firemen's Association, Inc. is a private, member-governed corporation, operating as a non-profit organization and is chartered for the purpose of providing emergency service to the community. Serving a rural territory which includes several miles of Interstate 84, single family homes, industrial, heavy commercial, institutional, and some multi-family occupancies. Founded in 1932, they operate out of 4 facilities, with 16 specialty fire vehicles, and 107 department members. They provide services including Fire Suppression, Motor Vehicle Extrication, Operations level HAZMAT, Confined Space, and Water Rescue to the community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Southbury VFD {{!}} Southbury, CT 06488 |url=https://southburyfire.com/ |access-date=August 10, 2022 |website=Southbury VFD |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Southbury Ambulance Association===
The Southbury Ambulance Association was started as a volunteer organization in 1953 by the Southbury Lions Club, handling both Southbury and Woodbury. The SAA had some of the first EMT's in the state in the 1970s. Until 1978, only SLC members were allowed to join the SAA, which caused difficulties in finding sufficient crew for the ambulance service. As of 1997, the SAA was responding to more than 1,500 service calls a year. Today, the SAA still operates as a volunteer organization which receives zero funding from the town. It currently operates three ambulances.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.southburyambulance.org/ | title = Southbury Ambulance Association}}</ref>

===Southbury Land Trust===
The Southbury Land Trust is a "private nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Southbury Connecticut's natural resources for the enjoyment and benefit of all present and future generations." Basically, the SLT purchases or is gifted with land which it places development restrictions on. They currently control more than {{convert|800|acre|km2}} of land in Southbury. Much of this land is open to the public.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.southburylandtrust.org/ | title = Southbury Land Trust}}</ref>

==Notable people==

[[File:PostcardSouthburyCTHenryWardBeecherFarmCirca1915.jpg|thumb|right|[[Henry Ward Beecher]] farm in Southbury]]
* [[Howard M. Baldrige|Howard Malcolm Baldrige]] (1894–1985), politician and lawyer; father of [[Howard M. Baldrige, Jr.]] and [[Letitia Baldrige]]
* [[Polly Bergen]] (1930–2014), actress, recording artist, and entrepreneur. Bergen called a vintage house on several wooded acres in the South Britain area her home
* [[Victor Borge]] (1909–2000), comedian, owned the Colonial House in Southbury, which now serves as a community center.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.realtyquest.com/southbury-new-haven-county-connecticut-ct-real-estate.htm | title = RealtyQuest for Southbury, CT | work = RealtyQuest | access-date = January 3, 2008 | archive-date = September 22, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070922161629/http://www.realtyquest.com/southbury-new-haven-county-connecticut-ct-real-estate.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> His estate and Cornish hen game farm is now Heritage Village
* [[Linda Cohn]] (born 1959), [[sportscaster]] on the [[ESPN]] network
* [[Philip Evergood]] (1901–1973), painter, etcher, lithographer, sculptor, illustrator, and writer
* [[Joel Hinman]] (1802–1870), Chief Justice, [[Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cslib.org/memorials/hinmanj.htm | title = Memorials to Connecticut Judges and Attorneys, Chief Justice Hinman | work = [[Connecticut State Library]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926230225/http://www.cslib.org/memorials/hinmanj.htm | archive-date = September 26, 2007 }}</ref>
* [[James Ledbetter]], author and editor based in [[New York City]]
* [[Mark W. Libby]], United States diplomat
* [[Dave Longstreth]], singer and guitarist for the Brooklyn-based band, [[Dirty Projectors]]
* [[Jake Longstreth]], American painter, musician, and internet radio personality
* [[Jan Miner]] (1917–2004), actress, most likely to be remembered as "Madge the Manicurist" in dozens of TV commercials for Palmolive dishwashing soap
* [[Wallace Nutting]] (1861–1941), famed photographer (and also a minister, author, lecturer, furniture maker), moved his photography studio to a farm in town from New York City in 1899. In 1912, he moved again to [[Framingham, Massachusetts|Framingham]], [[Massachusetts]]
* [[Katie Stevens]] (born 1992), actress and singer, known for her role in the MTV series Faking it
* [[Billy Frolick]] (born 1959), American screenwriter who wrote Madagascar and PAW Patrol: The Movie
* [[Ralph Dunning Smyth]] (1804-1874), American judge and politician
* [[Leland Stowe]] (1899–1994), Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the first to recognize the expansionist character of the German Nazi regime
* [[Ed Sullivan]] (1901–1974), iconic television personality and columnist; had a country home in town
* [[Gladys Taber]] (1899–1980), author of 59 books and columnist in the ''Lady's Home Journal'', lived in "Stillmeadow", a 1690 farmhouse off Jeremy Swamp Road, starting in 1933 (summers only) and 1935 (full-time)<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.themysticalgardens.com/stillmeadow.htm | title = Circle of Writers, Gladys Taber | work = [[The Mystical Gardens]] | access-date = December 31, 2007 | archive-date = August 24, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070824143636/http://www.themysticalgardens.com/stillmeadow.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref>
* [[Sada Thompson]] (1927–2011), an actress of stage, screen, and television, perhaps best known for her role on the long-running ABC drama ''[[Family (1976 TV series)|Family]]''
* [[Krista Watterworth]]. interior designer and TV personality

==References==

{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Southbury (Connecticut)|Southbury, Connecticut}}
*[http://www.southbury-ct.org/ Town of Southbury official website]
*[http://www.southburyhistory.org The Southbury Historical Society]

{{Connecticut}}
{{New Haven County, Connecticut}}
{{Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Southbury, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1787]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Torrington, Connecticut

2025-11-02T13:33:14Z

2601:183:4B82:710:F84B:8E22:E4D9:9930:

{{short description|City in Connecticut, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Torrington
| settlement_type = [[City]]
| nickname =
| image_skyline = Spring 2006.jpg
| imagesize = 250
| image_caption = Coe Memorial Park
| image_seal = torrington seal2.jpg
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Litchfield County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Torrington Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Torrington's location within Litchfield County and Connecticut]]| [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Northwest Hills incorporated and unincorporated areas Torrington highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Torrington's location within the Northwest Hills Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills 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=Q755151}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|48|23|N|73|07|50|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q755151;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=Torrington;Connecticut;the United States}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{US}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills]]
| government_type = [[Mayor-council]]
| established_title = Incorporated (town)
| established_date = 1740
| established_title2 = Incorporated (city)
| established_date2 = 1923
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = [[Elinor Carbone|Elinor C. Carbone]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| leader_title1 = City Council
| leader_name1 = Paul E. Cavagnero Keri Hoehne Armand Maniccia David Oliver Ann Ruwet Drake Waldron
| area_total_km2 = 104.46
| area_land_km2 = 103.01
| area_water_km2 = 1.44
| area_total_sq_mi = 40.33
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_land_sq_mi = 39.77
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.56
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_note =
| population_total = 35515
| population_density_km2 = 344.8
| population_density_sq_mi =
| timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset = −5
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = −4
| website = {{URL|http://www.torringtonct.org}}
| area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-76500
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0211514
| blank2_name = U.S. Highways
| blank2_info = [[File:US 202 square.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 202 in Connecticut]]
| blank3_name = State Routes
| blank3_info = [[File:Connecticut Highway 4.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 4]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 8.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 8]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 183.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 183]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 272.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 272]]
| footnotes =
| elevation_m = 165
| elevation_ft = 541
| coordinates = {{coord|41|48|23|N|73|07|50|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code = 06790
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
| area_footnotes = <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>
}}

'''Torrington''' is the most populated municipality and largest city in [[Litchfield County, Connecticut]], United States, and the [[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills Planning Region]]. It is also the core city of [[Greater Torrington]], one of the largest [[United States micropolitan area|micropolitan areas]] in the [[United States]].<ref>U.S. Census Bureau (2018) Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area population and estimated components of change: April 1, 2010, to July 1, 2018 (CBSA-EST2018-alldata) https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#par_textimage.</ref> The city population was 35,515 according to the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0976500|title=Census - Geography Profile: Torrington city, Connecticut|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=December 22, 2021}}</ref> The city is located roughly {{convert|23|mi}} west of [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], {{convert|34|mi}} southwest of [[Springfield, Massachusetts]], {{convert|67|mi}} southeast of [[Albany, New York]], {{convert|84|mi}} northeast of [[New York City]], and {{convert|127|mi}} west of [[Boston, Massachusetts]].

Torrington is a former mill town, as are most other towns along the [[Naugatuck River Valley]]. Downtown Torrington is home to the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, which trains [[ballet]] dancers and whose Company performs in the [[Warner Theatre (Torrington, Connecticut)|Warner Theatre]], a 1,700-seat auditorium built in 1931 as a [[movie theater|cinema]] by the [[Warner Brothers]] film studio. Downtown Torrington hosts the largest Lodge of Elks in New England.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} Downtown Torrington also hosts KidsPlay, a children's museum which was founded in 2012 and expanded their location in 2015 after purchasing the adjacent building.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/KidsPlay-Children-s-Museum-to-expand-in-11990640.php|title=KidsPlay Children's Museum to expand in Torrington|date=July 9, 2015|website=The Register Citizen|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>

Torrington has two radio stations, [[WAPJ]] 89.9 FM, operated by the non-profit Torrington Community Radio Foundation, and [[WSNG]] 610 AM, owned by Red Wolf Broadcasting.

Torrington has two daily newspapers. The ''[[Republican-American]]'', which circulates a Litchfield County edition and has a bureau on Franklin Street, and ''The Register Citizen'', which serves Torrington and Winsted, in addition to most of the Northwest Corner. [[Charlotte Hungerford Hospital]] has also developed into an important health care resource for the area. In 2008, Torrington was named by [[Bizjournals]] as the number one "Dreamtown" ([[micropolitan statistical area]]) out of ten in the United States to live in.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25851656|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129022432/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna25851656|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 29, 2022|title='Dreamtowns' offer refuge from big cities|website=NBC News|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Beardsley Hotel with streetcar - postcard.png|thumb|left|Vintage postcard of the Beardsley Hotel with streetcar]]
Torrington was first settled in 1735 by Ebenezer Lyman, Jr., of [[Durham, Connecticut]]. The downtown section of Torrington was known as Wolcottville, after the Wolcott family of Connecticut, which produced several governors between 1813 and 1881.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm-cho/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/cho&CISOPTR=521&CISOBOX=1&REC=3|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708161053/http://www.cthistoryonline.org/cdm-cho/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/cho&CISOPTR=521&CISOBOX=1&REC=3|archivedate=July 8, 2009|title=Connecticut History Online : Item Viewer|date=July 8, 2009|url-status=usurped|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref> Its early settlers resided on the hills west of the [[Naugatuck River]] where the first school, church, store, and tavern were constructed. Later, the eastern hill known as Torringford was settled, as it provided the best farmland. Torrington was given permission to organize a government and incorporate as a [[New England town|town]] in October 1740. The town is named after [[Great Torrington|Torrington]] in [[Devon]], [[England]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.great-torringtontowncouncil.gov.uk/heritage/a-mayoral-visit-to-torrington-connecticut|title=A Mayoral visit to Torrington, Connecticut|website= Great Torrington Town Council|date=August 7, 2017 }}</ref>

The fast moving waters of the [[Naugatuck River]] were used to power early nineteenth-century industries. Industrial growth skyrocketed when Frederick Wolcott constructed a woolen mill in 1813. The mill attracted a large workforce and created demands for goods, services, and housing.

[[Image:PostcardBirdsEyeViewTorringtonCTca1906.jpg|thumb|250px|right|From a postcard sent in 1906]]

Israel Coe and Erastus Hodges began the construction of two [[brass mill]]s on the Naugatuck River in 1834. This event sparked the beginning of the brass industry in Torrington, which later would spread throughout the entire [[Naugatuck Valley]]. In 1849, the [[Naugatuck Valley]] railroad was completed, connecting Torrington with other population centers, ending its isolation, and stimulating further industrial growth. Soon, Torrington was producing a variety of metal products, including needles, brass, hardware, bicycles, and tacks. Torrington's growing industrial plants attracted English, Irish, and German immigrants throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Between 1880 and 1920, Torrington's population soared from 3,000 to 22,000 as immigration from southern and eastern Europe increased; most immigrants during this period were Poles, Czechs, Slovaks, and Italians. Torrington was chartered as a city in 1923.

In 1955, a massive flood destroyed much of the [[downtown]] area and other property in the region when Hurricanes [[Hurricane Connie|Connie]] and [[Hurricane Diane|Diane]] caused local rivers to overflow. Torrington is home to several state parks, one of which is the very popular Burr Pond State Park. In 1851, Milo Burr placed a dam across the confluence of several mountain streams impounding water for power. The tannery and three active sawmills erected downstream consumed the finest pines and oaks for miles around to meet the needs of lumber production. The clearings became homesites, and Connecticut's industrial leadership was further strengthened. Burr Pond was designated as a state park in 1949. The pond itself has several small inlets and islands. The shore is rocky and there are deep drop-offs in several places, but the pond only has a maximum depth of thirteen feet. Fish species present include largemouth bass, chain pickerel, black crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and brown bullhead.
[[Gail Borden]], discoverer of the process of milk preservation by evaporation and condensation, built the world's first condensed milk factory here, in 1856. The new milk product proved to be of great value, particularly to the Union Army during the Civil War. Fire destroyed the mill in 1877. A bronze tablet marks its site, just below the falls.

Torrington is the birthplace of abolitionist [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]]. The birthplace accidentally burned in 1918.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-1997-09-14-9709140184-story.html|title=JOHN BROWN HOME SITE NOW ON FREEDOM TRAIL|first=DWIGHT F.|last=BLINT|website=courant.com|date=September 14, 1997 |accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>
In the year 2000, the Torrington Historical Society acquired the property in merger with the John Brown Association. Plans are now being formulated to improve visitor services and to construct interpretive trails on the property.

There was a 100-acre [[University of Connecticut]] regional campus in Torrington. It closed in May 2016 due to low enrollment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://today.uconn.edu/2016/04/uconn-torrington-to-close-due-to-low-enrollment/|title=UConn Torrington to Close Due to Low Enrollment|date=April 27, 2016|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref> In 2018, the site was sold to Five Points Arts Gallery for $375,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/Torrington-UConn-campus-sold-to-gallery-for-375K-13473377.php|title=Torrington UConn campus sold to gallery for $375K|first=Leslie|last=Hutchison|date=December 18, 2018|website=The Register Citizen|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>

===Downtown redevelopment===
[[File:Main Street, Torrington CT.jpg|thumb|Main Street in Downtown Torrington]]
Torrington is planning to revitalize its downtown area in an effort to attract residents and visitors to the city's shopping and cultural opportunities. These redevelopment plans are still in discussion and are not yet completed. The City of Torrington will receive $500,000 for improvements and streetscape enhancements to Torrington's Main Street and downtown. The grant, which will flow through the state, will be designated for downtown improvements on the east side of Main Street and will include, among other enhancements, new sidewalks. A $750,000 grant for downtown improvements secured earlier in 2012 for the west side of Main Street will make similar improvements.

The following ideas have been discussed:

====Coe Memorial Park restoration====
[[File:CoeParkFallcivilwararea023.jpg|thumb|Coe Memorial Park (October 2007)]]
The historic restoration and renovation to downtown [[Coe Memorial Park]] were completed in the beginning of 2004. The Coe Memorial Park Subcommittee and the City of Torrington, worked closely with Ferrero Hixon Associates, to restore the Park to a Victorian walking park, much as it was when it was first gifted to the Town in 1906. These renovations included new sidewalks and paths, and the relocation of memorials and monuments. In 2005, award-winning horticulturist, Gwenythe B. Harvey, owner of the firm The Garden Goddess, LLC, was hired to redefine, design and upgrade existing garden areas. Coe Memorial Park's Botanical Gardens has since become a well-known tourist destination.<ref name="Coe">{{cite web|url=http://www.coeparkgardens.com/historicalpages1.html|title=Coe Memorial Park Historical Page|publisher=The Garden Goddess|access-date=October 9, 2010}}</ref>

====Retail expansion====
Torrington hopes to attract a wide variety of merchants into its downtown setting. Empty and abandoned buildings would be converted into a mix of retail, office, and residential space. A potential plan discusses the possibility of a national clothing retailer or bookstore chain constructing a location at the top of Water Street on the site of the Kelley Bus Company. This plan had come under fire by some because it involves the demolition of the former Torrington railroad station, which is considered by many to be historical. Despite this, the 113-year-old former Torrington railroad station was demolished, as a safety hazard, on January 4, 2011. The historical society was able to save a few pieces, including the ticket window and some of the terra-cotta ornaments from the outside of the building.

====Accessibility====
A [[parking garage]] is slated to be constructed in the heart of downtown on either Main Street or Water Street. The municipal parking lot next to the Torrington Library would also serve as a downtown parking area. Because the downtown redevelopment project emphasizes pedestrian access, brick sidewalks lined with trees, benches, and bike racks would be constructed along Main Street.<ref name="Plan">{{cite web|url=http://www.torringtonct.org/Public_Documents/TorringtonCT_Downtown/Torrington%20MDP%20Document.pdf|title=City Of Torrington Downtown Municipal Development Plan|date=April 2009|publisher=City Of Torrington|page=7|access-date=October 10, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726054629/http://www.torringtonct.org/Public_Documents/TorringtonCT_Downtown/Torrington%20MDP%20Document.pdf|archive-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref>

====Roads and traffic====
To relieve congestion, the city plans to convert the Main Street/Water Street/East Main Street downtown intersection into a "+" shape, rather than its current criticized setup. The city expects to convert Main Street into a [[one-way road]] with parking lining one side of the street. The neighboring Prospect Street would also be converted into a [[one-way road]] with traffic flowing in the opposite direction. Most of the roads are in medium to poor condition and filled with pot holes.<ref name="Plan p40">{{cite web|url=http://www.torringtonct.org/Public_Documents/TorringtonCT_Downtown/Torrington%20MDP%20Document.pdf|title=City Of Torrington Downtown Municipal Development Plan|date=April 2009|publisher=City Of Torrington|page=40|access-date=October 10, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726054629/http://www.torringtonct.org/Public_Documents/TorringtonCT_Downtown/Torrington%20MDP%20Document.pdf|archive-date=July 26, 2011}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Naugatuck River, Torrington CT.jpg|thumb|View of the Naugatuck River]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 40.4 square miles (104.6 km{{sup|2}}). Approximately 39.8 square miles (103.1 km{{sup|2}}) of this area is land and 1.5 km{{sup|2}} (0.6 sq mi or 1.41%) is water.

The eastern and western sides of the city, at its borders, are at the tops of peaks, while the downtown and central sections of the city are in the [[Naugatuck River Valley]]. This provides some interesting views from the higher locations, with the city lights as a backdrop below. Due to the lack of suitable highways and bypass routes in an east–west direction, crossing the city requires driving down into the valley and back up the other side.

===Principal communities===
*Burrville
*Drakeville
*Newfield
*Torringford (part of which has been named the [[Torringford Street Historic District]])
*[[Downtown Torrington]]
*West Torrington
*Wrightville

===Climate===
This [[climate|climatic]] region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Torrington has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=634860&cityname=Torrington,+Connecticut,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Torrington, Connecticut Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>

The climate data is taken from a weather station in Bakerville, CT 5 miles east of Torrington.

{{Weather box |width=auto
|location = Bakersville, CT
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 69
|Feb record high F = 76
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 102
|Jul record high F = 107
|Aug record high F = 101
|Sep record high F = 96
|Oct record high F = 85
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 72
|year record high F = 101

|Jan avg record high F = 53
|Feb avg record high F = 56
|Mar avg record high F = 67
|Apr avg record high F = 80
|May avg record high F = 89
|Jun avg record high F = 90
|Jul avg record high F = 92
|Aug avg record high F = 89
|Sep avg record high F = 86
|Oct avg record high F = 76
|Nov avg record high F = 68
|Dec avg record high F = 57
|year avg record high F = 93

|Jan high F = 33.4
|Feb high F = 36.5
|Mar high F = 45.4
|Apr high F = 58.5
|May high F = 69.4
|Jun high F = 76.6
|Jul high F = 81.7
|Aug high F = 79.7
|Sep high F = 72.1
|Oct high F = 59.8
|Nov high F = 47.6
|Dec high F = 38.0
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 24.0
|Feb mean F = 26.2
|Mar mean F = 34.3
|Apr mean F = 45.8
|May mean F = 56.6
|Jun mean F = 65.0
|Jul mean F = 70.0
|Aug mean F = 68.0
|Sep mean F = 60.6
|Oct mean F = 48.9
|Nov mean F = 38.9
|Dec mean F = 29.5
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 14.7
|Feb low F = 15.9
|Mar low F = 23.2
|Apr low F = 33.1
|May low F = 43.7
|Jun low F = 53.2
|Jul low F = 58.2
|Aug low F = 56.4
|Sep low F = 49.2
|Oct low F = 38.0
|Nov low F = 29.0
|Dec low F = 20.9
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = -4
|Feb avg record low F = -3
|Mar avg record low F = 7
|Apr avg record low F = 21
|May avg record low F = 29
|Jun avg record low F = 41
|Jul avg record low F = 49
|Aug avg record low F = 46
|Sep avg record low F = 35
|Oct avg record low F = 25
|Nov avg record low F = 15
|Dec avg record low F = 2
|year avg record low F = -7

|Jan record low F = -20
|Feb record low F = -19
|Mar record low F = -10
|Apr record low F = 11
|May record low F = 25
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 28
|Oct record low F = 18
|Nov record low F = 3
|Dec record low F = -15
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.94
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.52
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.61
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.35
|May precipitation inch = 4.14
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.89
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.35
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.85
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.99
|Oct precipitation inch = 5.40
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.21
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.00
|year precipitation inch =

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 12.6
|Feb precipitation days = 10.3
|Mar precipitation days = 11.9
|Apr precipitation days = 12.7
|May precipitation days = 13.8
|Jun precipitation days = 12.9
|Jul precipitation days = 11.7
|Aug precipitation days = 10.9
|Sep precipitation days = 10.5
|Oct precipitation days = 11.8
|Nov precipitation days = 11.1
|Dec precipitation days = 12.8

|Jan snow inch = 14.7
|Feb snow inch = 15.8
|Mar snow inch = 12.7
|Apr snow inch = 2.6
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.5
|Nov snow inch = 2.6
|Dec snow inch = 12.0
|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.01 in
|Jan snow days = 8.9
|Feb snow days = 8.2
|Mar snow days = 5.7
|Apr snow days = 1.5
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 1.8
|Dec snow days = 6.7

|Jan snow depth inch = 10
|Feb snow depth inch = 12
|Mar snow depth inch = 11
|Apr snow depth inch = 2
|May snow depth inch = 0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0
|Oct snow depth inch = 1
|Nov snow depth inch = 2
|Dec snow depth inch = 8
|year snow depth inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00060227&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Bakersville, CT
|access-date = December 4, 2024
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 1400
|1800= 1417
|1810= 1586
|1820= 1449
|1830= 1651
|1840= 1707
|1850= 1916
|1860= 2278
|1870= 2893
|1880= 3327
|1890= 4283
|1900= 8360
|1910= 15483
|1920= 20623
|1930= 26040
|1940= 26988
|1950= 27820
|1960= 30045
|1970= 31952
|1980= 30987
|1990= 33687
|2000= 35202
|2010= 36383
|2020= 35515
|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 35,202 people, 14,743 households, and 9,125 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|884.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 16,147 housing units at an average density of {{convert|405.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 93.03% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.15% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.83% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.31% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.47% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.30% of the population.

There were 14,743 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,841, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $37,702 versus $28,418 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $21,406.

== Government ==
Torrington is governed by a mayor and a six member Board of Councilmen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=City Council & WPC Authority {{!}} Torrington CT |url=https://www.torringtonct.org/city-council-wpc-authority |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=www.torringtonct.org}}</ref> Torrington also elects a board of education, a board of public safety, city clerk, and a city treasurer.

=== Members<ref>{{Cite web |title=State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2021 Nov 2 :: Municipal Election :: City/Town Council :: City/Town of Torrington |url=https://electionhistory.ct.gov/eng/contests/view/31599 |access-date=April 14, 2023 |website=State of Connecticut Elections Database |language=en}}</ref> ===

* Mayor Elinor Carbone, Chairman
* Anne L. Ruwet, Member
* Drake L. Waldron, Member
* Molly E. Spino, Member
* David L. Oliver, Member
* Paul Cavagnero, Member
* Stephen Ivain, Member

=== The Board of Councilmen Committees ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Committee
!Chair
!First Member
!Second Member
|-
|Personnel
|David Oliver
|Anne Ruwet
|Paul Cavagnero
|-
|Ordinance
|Anne Ruwet
|Molly Spino
|Paul Cavagnero
|-
|Street Light
|Molly Spino
|Drake Waldron
|Stephen Ivain
|-
|Small Cities
|Drake Waldron
|Stephen Ivain
|David Oliver
|}

==Transportation==
[[File:PostcardTorringtonCTRRStation1907.jpg|thumb|1907 postcard of the Torrington railroad station]]
[[File:Connecticut Company (New Haven) car 3001 at the Connecticut Trolley Museum, Warehouse Point, CT on July 14, 1969 (25698870190).jpg|thumb|Former [[Connecticut Company]] Torrington Division streetcar, seen at the [[Connecticut Trolley Museum]]]]
Three primary highways meet in downtown Torrington: [[Route 8 (Connecticut)|Route 8]], [[Route 4 (Connecticut)|Route 4]], and [[U.S. Route 202 in Connecticut|Route 202]]. Other major roads include [[Route 183 (Connecticut)|Route 183]] and [[Route 272 (Connecticut)|Route 272]]. The city is served by buses of the [[Northwestern Connecticut Transit District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwcttransit.com/|title=Home|website=Northwestern CT Transit District, Torrington CT|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref> [[Northeast Transportation Company]] operates connecting service to Waterbury.

There is freight rail service operated by the [[Naugatuck Railroad]] extending up the [[Waterbury Branch]] to Torrington.

[[Bradley International Airport]] ([[Bradley International Airport|BDL]]) in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut|Windsor Locks]] is the closest major commercial airport to Torrington.

== Infrastructure ==
[[File:Sue Grossman Still River Greenway sign, Torrington CT.jpg|thumb|Sue Grossman Still River Greenway entrance]]

===Main Street Marketplace===
Main Street Marketplace (MSMP) was created in 2009 by founders Steve Criss, Rose Ponte, Jessica Hodorski and the 2009 ACT Commissioners. The original idea for MSMP was to create an event to bring families together downtown to support the local merchants. Since 2009, MSMP brings in about 3,000 visitors a night, has 40–45 exhibitors, 15–20 food vendors, non-profit exhibitors, and a variety of different types of performers every night.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mainstreetmarketplace.org/history.html |title=History - Main Street Marketplace |access-date=September 28, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520061603/http://www.mainstreetmarketplace.org/history.html |archive-date=May 20, 2014 }}</ref>
It was a multi-week event <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/Torrington-Main-Street-Marketplace-returns-for-4-13067799.php|title=Torrington Main Street Marketplace returns for 4 weeks|first=Emily M.|last=Olson|date=July 11, 2018|website=The Register Citizen|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref> that ran consecutively during the summer on a specified weeknight from 5 to 9 o'clock. Main Street was shut down and the marketplace extended from Water Street to Alvord Street.

=== City financial report (2004) ===
The City of Torrington typically collects 100% of taxes owed through the use of private tax collectors.

The '''2004 General Fund''' budgetary fund balance was $5.8 million. The city has bonded debt outstanding of $36.8 million for governmental activities and $4.2 million for business type (WPCA). All current outstanding bonded debt will be retired by the year 2021 (current estimate).

Torrington's bond rating is A1.

In 2004, total revenue was $88,444,157: Property Taxes (64.40%), Board of Education Grants (23.44%), Federal & State Grants (7.06%), General Government (3.67%), Public Safety (0.64%), Public Works (0.53%), Invest Income (0.26%), and Recreation (0.01%).

Total expenditures and encumbrances were $88,679,873: Board of Education (53.41%), Public Safety (12.97%), Pension & Miscellaneous (10.58%), Public Works (8.34%), Debt Services (7.69%), General Government (3.49%), Public Health & Social Services (1.99%), Operating Transfers Out (0.85%), Recreation (0.40%), Second Part Budget (0.29%).

==Crime and law enforcement==
The number of violent crimes recorded by the [[FBI]] in 2003 was 139. The number of homicides was 0. The violent [[crime rate]] was 3.9 per 1,000 people.

In 1984–1985, Torrington's Police Department was sued by [[Tracey Thurman]], who was nearly killed in 1983 by her estranged husband Charles "Buck" Thurman. In ''[[Thurman v. City of Torrington]]'' (finalized 1985), the federal court levied a $2.3 million judgment against the city for refusing to enforce its previous restraining orders because the perpetrator was married to the victim. Thurman's abuse, attempted murder and lawsuit were later depicted in a 1989 made-for-TV movie ''[[A Cry for Help: The Tracey Thurman Story]]'', starring [[Nancy McKeon]].

In March 2013, Torrington received a degree of national notoriety for a [[Torrington High School rape case|statutory rape case]] involving three teen-aged boys accused of sexually assaulting two 13-year-old girls.<ref name=cnn032113>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2013/03/21/justice/connecticut-teens-sexual-assault/index.html|title=Rape accusations, teens, and Twitter attacks in another U.S. town|first1=Josh|last1=Levs|first2=Susan|last2=Candiotti|first3=Ross|last3=Levitt|date=March 22, 2013|website=CNN|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref> Joan Toribio and Edgar Gonzalez, both 18, were among the accused. Both were popular high school football players, who claimed that the encounters were consensual.<ref name=cnn032113/> The third male, Dylan Rodriguez, was underage himself. Several dozen Torrington High School students rallied around the accused and allegedly aggressively bullied the victims online.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westhartfordnews.com/news/is-your-town-the-next-steubenville/article_16bef8ce-425f-5356-a48b-0e983c8f3318.html|title=Is your town the next Steubenville?|website=West Hartford News|date=March 25, 2013 |accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref> One of the victims was called a “hoe” on her Facebook page<ref name=RCitizen/> and blamed for "ruining the lives" of the accused. Despite receiving national criticism, Torrington High School students continued to use social media to support the defendants, posting online photos while diminishing the validity and severity of the victim's claims.<ref name=RCitizen>{{Cite web |url=http://www.registercitizen.com/articles/2013/03/27/news/doc514fd4e6545d2940833348.txt |title=Torrington High School students rally for rape defendant, blame victim, police- the Register Citizen |access-date=March 27, 2013 |archive-date=March 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331011040/http://registercitizen.com/articles/2013/03/27/news/doc514fd4e6545d2940833348.txt |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Sports teams/events==

=== Baseball ===
[[File:FuessenichPark2014.jpg|thumb|Fuessenich Park in Torrington (June 2014)]]
A professional baseball team and two collegiate baseball teams have played their home games at [[Fuessenich Park]].

The [[Torrington Titans]] played in the [[Futures Collegiate Baseball League]] (FCBL) of New England. They played their inaugural season in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL), a collegiate summer baseball league. After leading the ACBL in attendance in 2010, the team was sold to the Carminucci Sports Group (CSG), which transferred their affiliation to the Futures League. CSG also owns or owned the [[Brockton Rox (2002–2024)|Brockton Rox]] of the professional [[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball|Can-Am League]] and the [[Martha's Vineyard Sharks]] of the FCBL.

In 2009, an organization called Our Baseball Haven, introduced a unique concept and proposal through which a collegiate baseball team could once again call Torrington its home. The concept, called "crowdsourcing" was supported by some five hundred individuals and the Peekskill (NY) Robins of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) were moved to Torrington and their name changed to the [[Torrington Titans]]. The Titans capped their successful 2010 inaugural season by winning the Kaiser Division. The Titans did not return for the 2017 season <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.litchfieldcountysports.com/stories/torrington-titans-not-returning-in-2017-tim-gaffney-explains-who-is-really-at-fault-/|title=Litchfield County Sports|website=www.litchfieldcountysports.com|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>

The [[Torrington Twisters]] were a member of the [[New England Collegiate Baseball League]] (NECBL) from 1997 to 2008. Torrington twice played host to the league All-Star Game (1998, 2008) and generally placed high in their division each season. The organization made an abrupt move to Massachusetts after 2008.

A professional baseball team once located in the city was known as the Torrington Braves, and were a member of the Colonial League. After just one season, 1950, they disbanded.

=== Running ===

The Torrington Road Race is a five-mile (8 km) run, which coincides with Donor's Week in August. Starting at Coe Memorial Park, the course extends to the farther reaches of the valley, including Riverside Avenue, Migeon Avenue, Prospect Street and others. The race, which started in 1972, primarily includes runners from around Connecticut and has also attracted some runners each year from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and others. The record time for the race was 24:22 by Evance Rotich in 2008. Chris Chisholm holds the record for number of times winning the race with six (1984, 2002–2003, 2013–2015), and Anne Curi-Preisig holds the record for most first-place woman finishes with six (1990–1991, 1993–1996). Rosa Moriello is the only woman to finish as the overall winner of the race, with a time of 27:55 in 2012.

=== High school sports ===
[[Torrington High School]] typically offers football, soccer, volleyball, cross country, swimming, basketball, track, baseball, softball, tennis, and golf, as well as cheerleading and dance.

The Torrington High School Athletic Hall of Fame has elected more than 100 individuals since 1998.

In 2006, the Torrington High School Men's Basketball team captured their first Connecticut State Championship since 1944, beating rival high school Holy Cross of Waterbury.

==On the National Register of Historic Places==
* [[Downtown Torrington Historic District]]—Roughly bounded by Church and Alvord Streets., Center Cemetery, Willow Street, East Main Street, Litchfield Street, and Prospect Street (added 1988)
* [[Fyler-Hotchkiss Estate]]—192 Main Street (added 1987)
* [[James Alldis House]]—355 Prospect Street (added 1982)
[[Image:The Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT2.jpg|thumb|right|The Warner Theatre in Torrington, CT.]]
* [[Migeon Avenue Historic District]]—Roughly along Migeon Avenue and parts of Forest Street (added 2002)
* [[Paugnut Forest Administration Building]]—385 Burr Mountain Road (added 1986)
* [[Skee's Diner]]—589 Main Street (added 2002)
* [[South School (Torrington, Connecticut)|South School]]—362 South Main Street (added 1986)
* [[Torringford Street Historic District]]—Torringford Street from East Main Street to West Hill Road. (added 1991)
* [[Torrington Fire Department Headquarters]]—117 Water Street (added 1987)
* [[Villa Friuli]]—58 High Street (added 1991)
* [[Warner Theatre (Torrington, Connecticut)|Warner Theatre]]—68-82 Main Street (added 1984)
* [[Warrenton Woolen Mill]]—839 Main Street (added 1987)
* [[Water Street Historic District (Torrington, Connecticut)|Water Street Historic District]]—Roughly along Water Street, from Church Street to Prospect Street (added 2003)

==Notable people==
[[File:John Brown's birthplace.jpg|thumb|[[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]]'s birthplace in Torrington. An engraved stone denotes the site where the house stood (located on John Brown Road)]]
* [[John Brown (abolitionist)|John Brown]] (1800–1859), [[abolitionist]], was born in Torrington
* [[Josiah Bunting III]] (born 1939), author, educator, soldier and Superintendent of the [[Virginia Military Institute]]
* [[W. G. Curtis]] (1857–1913), a homesteader and politician, lived in Torrington, Connecticut, and later founded and named the town of [[Torrington, Wyoming]] after his former residence
* [[Bill C. Davis]] (1961–2021), playwright, was living in Torrington at the time of his death
* [[Dick Ebersol]] (born 1947), chairman of [[NBC Universal Sports]], was born in Torrington
* [[Frank Fixaris]] (1934–2006), [[Maine]] [[sportscaster]], was born in Torrington and grew up at 600 Prospect Street
* [[Aline Huke Frink]] (1904–2000), mathematician, professor at [[Pennsylvania State University]], born in Torrington
* [[Ellen Maria Huntington Gates]] (1835–1920), hymn writer and poet
* [[Horace Holley (Bahá'í)|Horace Holley]] (1887–1960), prominent follower of the Baha'i Faith was born in Torrington
* [[Samuel John Mills]] (1783–1818), [[Congregationalist]] [[missionary]]
* [[Wendell Phillips Norton Sr.]] (1861–1955), inventor of a mechanical gear shift on the Hendy-Norton lathe
* [[Lyman Cornelius Smith]] (1850–1910), an industrialist and founder of the L.C. Smith & Brothers Typewriter Company, which grew into the [[Smith Corona|Smith-Corona Company]], was born here
* [[William L. Shirer]], Author of “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”, lived on the 40 acre estate on Stillwater Pond Road (formerly, Brass Mill Dam Road); once the location of Torrington’s first dairy farm.
* [[Steven Strogatz]], American mathematician and popularizer of mathematics, born in Torrington
* [[Karl Swenson]] (1908–1978), actor, who died in Torrington
* [[Thurman v. City of Torrington|Tracey Thurman]], a victim of [[domestic violence]] who drew national attention in 1985<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cyber.harvard.edu/vaw00/thurmanexcerpt.html|title=Untitled Document|website=cyber.harvard.edu|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref>
* [[Patricia Wald]] (1928–2019), first female judge of the Washington, D.C., circuit, was born and raised in Torrington
* [[Jordan Williams (basketball, born 1990)|Jordan Williams]] (born 1990), basketball center for the [[Maryland Terrapins]] and the [[New Jersey Nets]]
* [[Jocko Willink]] (born 1971), US Navy SEAL Lt. Commander, Author, Podcaster. Born in Torrington

== See also ==
* {{Portal inline|Connecticut}}
* {{Portal inline|New England}}
* {{Portal inline|Cities}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Torrington (Connecticut)|Torrington, Connecticut}}
* [http://www.torringtonct.org/ Torrington City Government Website]
* [https://www.nwctchamberofcommerce.org/ Northwest Connecticut Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.torrington.org/ Torrington Public School System]

{{Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Litchfield County, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Torrington, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Cities in Litchfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Cities in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Watertown, Connecticut

2025-11-02T13:14:55Z

2601:183:4B82:710:F84B:8E22:E4D9:9930: /* Education */

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Watertown, Connecticut
| official_name = Town of Watertown
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline = MunsonMemorialParkWatertownCT.jpg
| image_caption = Munson Memorial Park
| image_flag =
| image_seal = WatertownCTseal.jpg
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Litchfield County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Watertown Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Watertown's location within Litchfield County and Connecticut]]| [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Naugatuck Valley incorporated and unincorporated areas Watertown highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Watertown's location within the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley 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=Q1207502}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|36|53|N|73|07|59|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q1207502;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=Watertown;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|36|53|N|73|07|59|W|region:US-CT_type:city(22,000)|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 = [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1780
| government_type = [[Council-manager]]
| leader_title = Town manager
| leader_name = Mark A Raimo
| leader_title1 = Town council
| leader_name1 = {{Plain list|
* Johnathan Ramsay, Chm. (R)
* Mary Ann Rosa, Vice Chm. (R)
* Ken Demirs (R)
* Robert Desena (R)
* Anthony DiBona (R)
* Robert Retallick (R)
* Gary Lafferty (I)
* Denise Russ (D)
* Rachel Ryan (D)
}}
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 76.4
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_km2 = 75.1
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_km2 = 1.3
| area_water_sq_mi =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_ft = 583
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 22105
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_density_km2 = 294.3
| 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 Codes
| postal_code = 06779, 06795
| area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-80490
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0213527
| website = {{URL|www.watertownct.org}}
}}

'''Watertown''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. The town is part of the [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley Planning Region]]. The population was 22,105 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900580490| title=Census - Geography Profile: Watertown town, Litchfield County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 22, 2021}}</ref> It is a suburb of [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]]. The urban center of the town is the [[Watertown (CDP), Connecticut|Watertown census-designated place]], with a population of 3,938 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0980420| title=Census - Geography Profile: Watertown CDP, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 22, 2021}}</ref>

==History==
Watertown, before colonization, belonged to the Paugasuck Indians.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Watertown, CT |url=https://www.watertownct.org/community/about_watertown/brief_history.php |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=www.watertownct.org |language=en}}</ref> In that time, the colony was called "Mattatock", though it had several variations in spelling through the years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://josfamilyhistory.com/locations/waterbury-ct.htm |title=Waterbury, Connecticut |website=JosFamilyHistory.com |access-date=August 15, 2017}}</ref> Colonization of the area today called Watertown began in 1684 when Thomas Judd and other proprietors bought the land as a group.<ref name=":0" /> The land where Watertown is now located, having originally belonged to Mattatock, officially changed its name to Watterbury (now Waterbury) by record on March 20, 1695, by consensus of a council.

In 1729, the Garnsey family settled in an area of Watterbury, now called Guernseytown.<ref name=":0" /> The oldest house in Watertown today was built in 1735 on Main Street.<ref name=":0" /> A poet from the Revolutionary War, [[John Trumbull]], was born here in 1750.<ref name=":0" />

With a population of 338, the First Ecclesiastical Society of Westbury was formed.<ref name=":0" /> The Town of Watertown was officially established in 1780 when Westbury separated from Watterbury.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.watertownct.org/content/10339/6913/7102/default.aspx |title=Watertown, CT - Brief History of Watertown CT |website=www.WatertownCT.org |access-date=August 17, 2017}}</ref>

Some years later, in 1893, [[Taft School|The Taft School]] was established in Watertown and has been there ever since.<ref name=":0" />

==Geography==
Watertown is in southeastern Litchfield County and is bordered to the southeast by the city of Waterbury in [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]]. Other bordering towns are [[Middlebury, Connecticut|Middlebury]] to the south, [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]] and [[Bethlehem, Connecticut|Bethlehem]] to the west, [[Morris, Connecticut|Morris]] to the northwest, and [[Thomaston, Connecticut|Thomaston]] to the east. It is in the Eastern Standard time zone. The elevation at the town center is {{convert|583|ft}}.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|76.4|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|75.1|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|1.3|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 1.72%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US0900580490| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Watertown town, Litchfield County, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=American FactFinder| access-date=October 17, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213123104/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US0900580490| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Oakville, Connecticut|Oakville]], which is often mistaken for a separate town, is in the southeastern part of Watertown. Although Oakville has its own post office and ZIP code, it does not have a charter or town government of its own. Oakville receives all of its town services (police, fire, water and so on) from Watertown.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1820 = 1439
| 1850 = 1533
| 1860 = 1587
| 1870 = 1698
| 1880 = 1897
| 1890 = 2323
| 1900 = 3100
| 1910 = 3850
| 1920 = 6050
| 1930 = 8192
| 1940 = 8787
| 1950 = 10699
| 1960 = 14837
| 1970 = 18610
| 1980 = 19489
| 1990 = 20456
| 2000 = 21661
| 2010 = 22514
| 2020 = 22105
| 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 21,661 people, 8,046 households, and 5,994 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|743.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 8,298 housing units at an average density of {{convert|284.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.46% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.75% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.12% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.27% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.48% 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 1.87% of the population.

There were 8,046 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.9% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $59,420, and the median income for a family was $68,761. Males had a median income of $47,097 versus $31,822 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $26,044. About 1.1% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==
Notable places include:
* The [[Taft School]], a private boarding school
* [[Watertown Historical Society]]

==Education==
The Watertown School District|Watertown Public School District, which covers the CDP,<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st09_ct/schooldistrict_maps/c09005_litchfield/DC20SD_C09005.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st09_ct/schooldistrict_maps/c09005_litchfield/DC20SD_C09005.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Litchfield County, CT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=2025-06-27}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st09_ct/schooldistrict_maps/c09005_litchfield/DC20SD_C09005_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref> has a total of 2,578 students enrolled in its five schools during the 2023-2024 school year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/districtsearch/district_detail.asp?Search=2&details=1&ID2=0904890&DistrictID=0904890|title=Watertown School District|publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]]|access-date=2025-06-27 |language=en}}</ref> Out of these five schools, there is one preschool to second grade school, John Trumbull Primary School, and two elementary schools for grades 3-5, the Judson and Polk Elementary Schools. After coming from these schools, children go to Swift Middle School and then to Watertown High School.<ref name="schoollist">{{Cite web |url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_list.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=0904890|title=Watertown School District Schools for this district|publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]]|access-date=2025-06-27 |language=en}}</ref>

Watertown also is the home to a private boarding school, [[Taft School]]. The school provides boarding and day education for grades 9-12 and has been nestled in Watertown since 1908.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History - Taft School |url=https://www.taftschool.org/about/our-history |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=www.taftschool.org |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Media==
* ''[[Waterbury Republican-American]]'', a Waterbury-based independent daily newspaper
* ''[https://www.primepublishers.com/towntimesnews/ Town Times]'', Prime Publishers Inc., a local newspaper serving Watertown, Oakville, Bunker Hill in Waterbury, Thomaston and Northfield. Voices, its sister paper, covers Southbury, Middlebury, Oxford, Seymour, Naugatuck, Woodbury, Bethelhem, New Preston, Washington, Washington Depot, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Monroe, Sandy Hook and Newtown.
* ''Macaroni Kid'', an online magazine for families in Watertown<ref>{{cite web|url=http://southbury.macaronikid.com/|title=Macaroni Kid|website=Southbury.MacaroniKid.com|access-date=August 17, 2017}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
The [[Connecticut Route 8|Route 8]] expressway runs through the eastern edge of town, with two exits inside the town. Route 8 leads north {{convert|14|mi}} to [[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]] and south through Waterbury {{convert|34|mi}} to [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]]. The main routes through the center of Watertown are [[U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut|U.S. Route 6]] running east–west and [[Connecticut Route 63]] running north–south. Route 6 leads northeast {{convert|30|mi}} to [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], the state capital, and southwest {{convert|30|mi}} to [[Danbury, Connecticut|Danbury]], while Route 63 leads north {{convert|10|mi|0}} to [[Litchfield, Connecticut|Litchfield]] and south the same distance to [[Naugatuck, Connecticut|Naugatuck]]. Other important highways include [[Connecticut Route 73|Route 73]] (a more direct route leading through Oakville to [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]]) and [[Connecticut Route 262|Route 262]], which runs north from Oakville through the eastern part of Watertown.

Public transportation is provided by buses of [[Northeast Transportation Company]].

==Notable people==

*[[Amanda Boulier]], professional hockey player of [[Professional Women's Hockey League]] the [[Montreal Victoire]]
* [[Rico Brogna]], MLB first baseman who played for the [[Detroit Tigers]], [[New York Mets]], [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Boston Red Sox]], and [[Atlanta Braves]] from 1992 to 2001
* [[Joe Cipriano]], television announcer [[CBS]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], radio personality [[WWCO]], [[WLVW|WRQX]], and [[KIIS FM]]
* [[Erastus L. De Forest]] (1834–1888), mathematician
* [[Edward Fitzsimmons Dunne]] (1853–1937), 31st mayor of Chicago (1905–1907); governor of Illinois (1913–1917); born in Watertown
* [[David Gravel]], racing driver
* [[Benjamin B. Hotchkiss]] (1826–1885), for whom the [[Hotchkiss School]] was named by his widow, was one of the leading American ordnance engineers of his day; born in Watertown but in early childhood moved to [[Sharon, Connecticut|Sharon]]
* [[Leatherman (vagabond)|Leatherman]] (1839–1889), drifter within the Connecticut and Hudson River Valley areas, known for his leather clothing
* [[Meredith Mallory]], former US congressman
* [[Chris McKenna (actor)|Chris McKenna]], actor featured in ''[[State of Affairs (TV series)|State of Affairs]]'', ''[[The Young and the Restless]]'', and ''[[One Life to Live]]''
* [[Thomas Tessier]], writer of horror novels and short stories
* [[John Trumbull (poet)|John Trumbull]] (1750–1831), political satirist and poet; born in Watertown
* [[David Kenyon Webster]] (1922–1961), soldier, journalist and author
* [[Justin Waldron]], internet entrepreneur, co-founder of [[Zynga]]
* [[Allen B. Wilson]] and [[Nathaniel Wheeler]], founders of [[Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company]] in Watertown, one of the first manufacturers of sewing machines

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
* [http://www.watertownct.org/ Town of Watertown official website]

{{Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Litchfield County, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{New England}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Watertown, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Litchfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Naugatuck, Connecticut

2025-11-02T13:09:23Z

2601:183:4B82:710:F84B:8E22:E4D9:9930: /* National Register of Historic Places */

{{short description|Consolidated borough and town in Connecticut, United States}}
{{About|the consolidated borough and town in Connecticut
| the community in West Virginia | Naugatuck, West Virginia
| other uses | Naugatuck (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Naugatuck, Connecticut
| settlement_type = [[Borough (Connecticut)|Borough]]
| image_skyline = Naugatuck Green, Connecticut.jpg
| image_caption = Naugatuck Green
| image_seal = NaugatuckCtTownSeal.png
| nickname = "Naugy"
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:New Haven County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Naugatuck Highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Naugatuck's location within New Haven County and Connecticut]]| [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Naugatuck Valley incorporated and unincorporated areas Naugatuck highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Naugatuck's location within the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley 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=Q753957}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|29|23|N|73|03|05|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q753957;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=Naugatuck;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|29|23|N|73|03|05|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 = [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1844
| established_title2 = Consolidated
| established_date2 = 1895
| government_type = [[Mayor–council government|Mayor–council]] (mayor and burgesses)
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 = N. Warren "Pete" Hess
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 42.46
| area_total_sq_mi = 16.39
| area_land_km2 = 42.21
| area_land_sq_mi = 16.30
| area_water_km2 = 0.25
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.10
| elevation_m = 63
| elevation_ft = 207
| population_total = 31519
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = 746.7
| population_density_sq_mi = 1908.58
| timezone = Eastern
| utc_offset = −5
| timezone_DST = Eastern
| utc_offset_DST = −4
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code = 06770
| area_codes = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203/475]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-49880
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0209191
| website = {{URL|https://www.naugatuck-ct.gov}}
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web
| title = 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files – Places: Connecticut
| url = https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_09.txt
| website = United States Census Bureau
| date = 2019
| access-date = July 2, 2020
}}</ref>
}}

'''Naugatuck''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɔː|g|ə|t|ʌ|k}}; {{respell|NAW|gə|tuhk}}) is a consolidated [[borough (Connecticut)|borough]] and town in [[New Haven County, Connecticut]], United States. The town, part of the [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley Planning Region]], had a population of 31,519 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web
| title = Census — Geography Profile: Naugatuck borough, Connecticut
| url = https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0949880
| website = United States Census Bureau
| access-date = December 18, 2021
}}</ref>

The town spans both sides of the [[Naugatuck River]] just south of [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]] and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, Straitsville on the southeast (along [[Connecticut Route 63|Route 63]]), and Millville on the west (along Rubber Avenue).

== History ==
Settlement began as early as 1702. Samuel Hickox (1669–1713), credited as Naugatuck’s first settler, established a fulling mill on Fulling Mill Brook in 1709. The locality was known as Judds Meadow until 1752, when it was renamed Salem Bridge.<ref>{{cite web |title=Early Settlement & Founders |url=https://www.naugatuckhistory.org/early-settlement-founders |website=Naugatuck Historical Society |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Naming & Incorporation |url=https://www.naugatuckhistory.org/naming-incorporation |website=Naugatuck Historical Society |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>

In 1844, parts of Waterbury, Bethany, and Oxford incorporated as the town of Naugatuck. The Borough of Naugatuck was established in 1893 and became coextensive with the town in 1895.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naming & Incorporation |url=https://www.naugatuckhistory.org/naming-incorporation |website=Naugatuck Historical Society |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>

As the [[Industrial Revolution]] accelerated, Naugatuck developed a diverse manufacturing base and became a center of the rubber industry. In 1892, nine firms consolidated to form the [[United States Rubber Company]] (later Uniroyal Inc.), organized in Naugatuck, which for decades kept major operations in the borough.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Rubber Company – Company History: Our Legacy Since 1892 |url=https://usrubber.com/history/ |website=U.S. Rubber Company |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref> In 1936, U.S. Rubber introduced [[Naugahyde]], a vinyl-coated fabric invented by company chemists in Naugatuck; the material was manufactured locally for many years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Naugahyde: A Naugatuck Original |url=https://connecticuthistory.org/naugahyde-a-naugatuck-original/ |website=ConnecticutHistory.org |publisher=Connecticut Humanities |date=January 5, 2015 |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
{{Multiple image
| header = Naugatuck
| align = left
| total_width = 250
| perrow = 1/1
| image1 = View of Naugatuck, Conn. 1877.jpg
| caption1 = Map of Naugatuck ({{circa|1877}})
| image2 = Bird's-eye view of Naugatuck, Connecticut 1906.jpg
| caption2 = Map of Naugatuck ({{circa|1906}})
}}
The United States Rubber Company also created the Naugatuck Chemical Company in the early 20th century; the business later became Uniroyal Chemical and relocated major operations to [[Middlebury, Connecticut]] in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Uniroyal Chemical Company records |url=https://archivessearch.lib.uconn.edu/repositories/2/resources/141 |website=Archives & Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>

The Risdon Manufacturing Company, established in Naugatuck in the early 1900s, became a leading maker of metal closures and cosmetic packaging and later operated regionally under Crown Risdon.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Emhart Story (packaging history) |url=https://www.emhartglass.com/sites/default/files/emhart_story.pdf |website=Emhart |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>

In the 1960s, Harold Barber founded [[H. Barber and Sons]], which designs and builds beach-cleaning equipment and has claimed to be the largest such business in the world.<ref>{{cite web |title=Company history |url=https://www.hbarber.com/resources/company-history/ |website=H. Barber & Sons |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>

[[Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company]], later a division of the [[Hershey Company|Hershey Foods Corporation]] producing [[Almond Joy]] and [[Mounds (candy)|Mounds]], operated in Naugatuck for much of the 20th century; the factory closed in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |last=Podsada |first=Janice |title=A Not-So-Sweet Ending in Naugatuck |url=https://www.courant.com/2007/04/26/a-not-so-sweet-ending-in-naugatuck/ |newspaper=Hartford Courant |date=April 26, 2007 |access-date=September 12, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250912070850/https://www.courant.com/2007/04/26/a-not-so-sweet-ending-in-naugatuck/ |archive-date=September 12, 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 19, 1955, the Naugatuck River flooded following more than {{convert|10|in}} of rain from [[Hurricane Diane]], causing widespread destruction that reshaped the borough’s riverfront.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Flood of 1955 |url=https://www.naugatuckhistory.org/1955flood |website=Naugatuck Historical Society |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>

[[Naugatuck High School]] has a [[List of high school football rivalries more than 100 years old|long-standing football rivalry]] with [[Ansonia, Connecticut|Ansonia]]. The teams have met on Thanksgiving morning since 1900, with Ansonia holding the series lead. Naugatuck High School’s mascot is the greyhound, and its colors are garnet and gray.

== Geography ==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of {{convert|16.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|16.4|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}}, or 0.36%, is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019" />

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1850= 1720 |1860= 2590 |1870= 2830 |1880= 4274 |1890= 6218 |1900= 10541
|1910= 12722 |1920= 15051 |1930= 14315 |1940= 15388 |1950= 17455 |1960= 19511
|1970= 23034 |1980= 26456 |1990= 30625 |2000= 30989 |2010= 31862 |2020= 31519
|estyear=2024 |estimate=32116
|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=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}

{{Update|reason=Replace 2000-based narrative with a concise 2020 decennial/ACS summary (race, age, households, housing units).|date=September 2025}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=U.S. Census website |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 31, 2008}}</ref> of 2000, there were 30,989 people, 11,829 households, and 8,292 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|1,890.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 12,341 housing units at an average density of {{convert|753.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 91.76% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.85% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.26% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.68% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.58% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.47% of the population.

Of the 11,829 households, 36.3% had children under 18, 53.3% were [[married couple]]s living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. About 24.9% of households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13.

The population was 26.9% under 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% 65 or older; the median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males; for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median household income was $51,247, and the median family income was $59,286. Males had a median income of $42,103 versus $29,971 for females. The [[per capita income]] was $22,757. About 0.9% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.4% of those under 18 and 6.0% of those 65 or older.

== Government ==
Naugatuck is the only consolidated town and borough in [[Connecticut]]. Every other borough in the state is a special-services district located within a [[New England town|town]], the basic unit of Connecticut local government. Naugatuck has both a town clerk and a borough clerk managing official records, similar to cities that have separate town and city clerks.

As with most other Connecticut municipalities, Naugatuck elects its officials in November of odd-numbered years.

=== Politics ===
{{Collapse top|Voter registration and party enrollment}}
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0"
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 31, 2024<ref>{{cite web
| title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 31, 2024
| publisher = Connecticut Secretary of State
| format = PDF
| access-date = September 11, 2025
| url = https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/2024/2024-registration-and-enrollment-statistics/2024_november_reg-party_enrollments.pdf?rev=6ea82a0b09e84203a63f918ff7741019&hash=CBA24E0CAAF8D5CB4062E3DE0BE6B6DA
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250912013600/https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/2024/2024-registration-and-enrollment-statistics/2024_november_reg-party_enrollments.pdf?rev=6ea82a0b09e84203a63f918ff7741019&hash=CBA24E0CAAF8D5CB4062E3DE0BE6B6DA
| archive-date = September 12, 2025
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active voters
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}} || [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 5,513 || style="text-align:center;"| 546 || style="text-align:center;"| 6,059 || style="text-align:center;"| 29.27%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}} || [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 4,755 || style="text-align:center;"| 352 || style="text-align:center;"| 5,107 || style="text-align:center;"| 24.67%
|-
| {{party color cell|Nonpartisan candidate}} || [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 8,216 || style="text-align:center;"| 1,014 || style="text-align:center;"| 9,230 || style="text-align:center;"| 44.59%
|-
| {{party color cell|Other}} || Minor parties
| style="text-align:center;"| 281 || style="text-align:center;"| 23 || style="text-align:center;"| 304 || style="text-align:center;"| 1.47%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 18,765
! style="text-align:center;"| 1,935
! style="text-align:center;"| 20,700
! style="text-align:center;"| 100%
|}
{{Collapse bottom}}

{{Collapse top|United States presidential election results}}
{{PresHead
| place=Naugatuck, Connecticut
| whig=yes
| source1=<ref name=CTEDB>{{Cite web |title=State of Connecticut Elections Database |url=https://electionhistory.ct.gov/eng/ |website=State of Connecticut Elections Database |publisher=Connecticut Secretary of the State |access-date=September 12, 2025}}</ref>
| source2=<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|website=CT Secretary of State|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref>
}}
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|7647|6252|197|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|7740|6923|241|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7310|5219|653|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|5807|5923|187|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|6148|7034|163|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6838|5745|270|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|4930|5980|651|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|4030|5400|1884|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5371|4410|4102|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|6147|4857|132|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|7865|3732|53|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5914|3863|1292|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|5587|5343|103|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|6086|4704|161|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|3225|5573|774|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2562|6753|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3711|6099|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5644|3786|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4913|4675|18|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3604|4289|112|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3246|4502|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2947|4540|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2098|4060|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2184|2826|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|2459|2773|46|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2132|1536|668|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2084|1593|206|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|861|1159|134|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|381|702|785|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|976|900|208|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1076|824|209|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|843|1199|29|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|945|995|16|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1888|Democratic|538|558|66|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|397|445|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1880|Democratic|354|491|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1876|Democratic|291|451|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1872|Liberal Republican|217|0|294|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1868|Democratic|201|306|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1864|Democratic|178|274|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1860|Republican|236|82|153|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1856|Democratic|204|246|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1852|Democratic|174|198|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1848|Whig|171|161|7|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1844|Whig|168|160|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresFoot}}


'''Notes:''' 1912 – Third-party total '''785''' comprised Progressive '''274''', Socialist '''456''', and other '''55'''. ·
1872 – Votes for [[Horace Greeley]] (Liberal Republican), also endorsed by Democrats, are recorded under Liberal Republican. ·
1860 – “Third-party” votes were for the [[Southern Democrats|Southern Democratic]] ticket.

{{Collapse bottom}}

== Education ==
Naugatuck has four public elementary schools (grades K–4), two public intermediate schools (grades 5–6), one public middle school (grades 7–8), and [[Naugatuck High School]] (grades 9–12). The high school’s total enrollment is 1,267.

In 2013, an $81 million renovation of the high school began and was completed by fall 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mycitizensnews.com/news/2013/07/nhs-renovations-moving-ahead-full-steam/ |title=NHS renovations moving ahead full steam |website=Citizen's News |date=July 23, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2016}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
The town is served by [[Naugatuck (Metro-North station)|Naugatuck]] station on the [[Waterbury Branch]] of the [[New Haven Line]]. Principal highways include [[Connecticut Route 63]] (to [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]]), [[Connecticut Route 68|Route 68]] (to [[Durham, Connecticut|Durham]]), and the [[Connecticut Route 8|Route 8]] expressway (to [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], [[Derby, Connecticut|Derby]], [[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]], and [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]]).

== National Register of Historic Places ==
* [[Bronson B. Tuttle House]] (380 Church Street), an 1879 Queen Anne–style residence that now houses the Naugatuck History Museum; listed on the National Register on November 29, 1990.<ref>{{cite web |title=NPGallery Asset Detail: Bronson B. Tuttle House |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/90001803 |website=National Register of Historic Places |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Naugatuck History Museum at the Tuttle House |url=https://www.naugatuckhistory.org/bronson-b-tuttle-house-walking-tour |website=Naugatuck Historical Society |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Naugatuck Center Historic District]], roughly bounded by Fairview Avenue, Hillside Avenue, Terrace Avenue, Water Street, and Pleasant View Street; listed July 30, 1999.<ref>{{cite web |title=NPGallery Asset Detail: Naugatuck Center Historic District |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/99000859 |website=National Register of Historic Places |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Salem School (Naugatuck, Connecticut)|Salem School]] (124 Meadow Street); listed November 3, 1983.<ref>{{cite web |title=NPGallery Asset Detail: Salem School |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/83003582 |website=National Register of Historic Places |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[United States Post Office–Naugatuck Main]] (Church and Cedar Streets.); listed January 21, 1986.<ref>{{cite web |title=NPGallery Asset Detail: U.S. Post Office—Naugatuck Main |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/86000130 |website=National Register of Historic Places |publisher=National Park Service |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>

== Notable people ==
* [[Adrian (costume designer)|Adrian]] (Adrian Adolph Greenberg), costume designer; born in Naugatuck<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Adrian |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Adrian-American-costume-designer |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Michael Bergin]], model and actor; raised in Naugatuck and [[Naugatuck High School|NHS]] graduate<ref>{{cite news |title=Hawaii next stop in the career of Michael Bergin |url=https://archives.starbulletin.com/2004/09/24/features/story2.html |newspaper=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |date=September 24, 2004 |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Michael Bergin '86 |url=https://nhs.naugatuck.k12.ct.us/o/nhs/page/lobby-of-legends |website=Naugatuck High School |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Seth Bingham]], organist and composer; spent part of his youth in Naugatuck<ref>{{cite web |title=Seth Bingham (1882–1972) |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Seth-Bingham |website=Encyclopaedia Britannica |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Emily Sophie Brown]], among the first women elected to the [[Connecticut House of Representatives]]; longtime Naugatuck resident<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile: Emily Sophie Brown |url=https://www.lwvct.org/100-women-100-years |website=League of Women Voters of Connecticut |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Harry Cross (sportswriter)|Harry Cross]] (1881–1946), sportswriter for ''The New York Times'' and the ''New York Herald Tribune''; began his career at the ''Waterbury American''; mentioned among notable Naugatuck students in a borough history.<ref>{{cite book |last=Green |first=Edward K. |title=History of Naugatuck, Connecticut |publisher=New Haven Colony Historical Society |year=1948 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofnaugatu00gree
|access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|title=Harry Cross, Sports Writer, Dies at 64
|newspaper=The New York Times
|date=1946-04-04
|page=23
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|title=Harry Cross to the Evening Post
|newspaper=Naugatuck Daily News
|date=1913-07-08
|page=1
}}</ref>
* [[Ray Foley (baseball)|Ray Foley]], Major League Baseball catcher (New York Giants, 1928); born in Naugatuck<ref>{{cite web |title=Ray Foley |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/foleyra01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Charles Goodyear]], pioneered [[vulcanization]] of rubber; lived in Naugatuck as a young man<ref>{{cite book
| last = Slack
| first = Charles
| title = Noble Obsession: Charles Goodyear, Thomas Hancock, and the Race to Unlock the Greatest Industrial Secret of the Nineteenth Century
| publisher = Hyperion
| location = New York
| date = 2002
| isbn = 978-0786867899
}}
</ref>
* [[Mohamed Hrezi]], distance runner; [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|2016 Olympic marathoner]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Rio 2016 – Athletes: Mohamed Hrezi |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/mohamed-hrezi |website=International Olympic Committee |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[William Kennedy (Connecticut politician)|William Kennedy]] (1854–1918), state senator and U.S. representative<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/K000117 |title=Kennedy, William |work=[[Biographical Directory of the United States Congress]] |access-date=2025-02-01}}</ref>
* [[Ronald A. Sarasin]] (1934–2023), U.S. Representative for Connecticut’s 5th district (1973–1979) and 1978 Republican nominee for governor; later president/CEO of the U.S. Capitol Historical Society; graduated from Naugatuck High School (Class of 1952).<ref>{{cite web |last=Dixon |first=Ken |title=Ronald Sarasin, three-term CT congressman, dies at 88 |url=https://www.ctinsider.com/politics/article/ronald-sarasin-three-term-congressman-dies-88-ct-17877861.php |website=CT Insider |date=April 7, 2023 |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Obituary: The Honorable Ronald Arthur Sarasin, 88 |url=https://patch.com/connecticut/naugatuck/obituary-honorable-ronald-arthur-sarasin-88-beacon-falls-native |website=Naugatuck Patch |date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=SARASIN, Ronald Arthur |url=https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000062 |website=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Remembering Ronald A. Sarasin |url=https://capitolhistory.org/news-releases/remembering-ronsarasin/ |website=United States Capitol Historical Society |date=March 27, 2023 |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>
* [[Spec Shea]], Major League Baseball pitcher; born in Naugatuck and nicknamed “The Naugatuck Nugget”<ref>{{cite web |title=Spec Shea Statistics and History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/sheasp01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 14, 2025}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery widths="220" heights="165">
Goodyear-1-.jpg|Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company in downtown Naugatuck ({{circa|1890}})
PostcardSalemSchoolNaugatuckCT1915.jpg|Salem School, from a 1905 postcard
NaugatuckHighSchool.jpg|Naugatuck High School ({{circa|1910}}), designed by McKim, Mead & White; now Hillside Intermediate School
Whittemore Library, Naugatuck, Connecticut.jpg|Whittemore Library, designed by [[McKim, Mead & White]]
Naugatuck Station.jpg|[[Naugatuck station|Naugatuck]] [[Metro-North Railroad]] station on the [[Waterbury Branch]]
Naugatuck town history sign 1.jpg|Town history sign on the Naugatuck Green
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Gunntown Cemetery]]
* [[Hop Brook Lake]]
* [[Laurel Park Incorporated]]
* [[Naugatuck State Forest]]
* [[St. Hedwig Parish, Union City]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Naugatuck, Connecticut}}
{{NSRW Poster|Naugatuck, Conn.}}
* {{Official website|https://www.naugatuck-ct.gov}}
* {{Official website|https://www.naugatuckedc.com|name=Naugatuck Economic Development Commission}}
* {{Official website|http://naugatuckhistory.org|name=Naugatuck Historical Society}}
* {{Official website|https://www.whittemorelibrary.org|name=Howard Whittemore Memorial Library}}

{{Connecticut}}
{{New Haven County, Connecticut}}
{{Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Naugatuck, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Boroughs in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Connecticut placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Towns in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Greater Waterbury, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Naugatuck River Valley]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Beacon Falls, Connecticut

2025-11-02T13:06:21Z

2601:183:4B82:710:F84B:8E22:E4D9:9930: /* History */

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Beacon Falls, Connecticut
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline = BeaconFalls DepotStreetBridge.jpg
| image_caption = [[Depot Street Bridge]], March 2017
| image_seal = BeaconFallsCtTownSeal.png
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Beacon Falls CT lg.PNG|230px|frameless|alt=Beacon Falls' location within New Haven County and Connecticut]]| [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Naugatuck Valley incorporated and unincorporated areas Beacon Falls highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Beacon Falls' location within the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley 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=Q2572361}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|26|19|N|73|03|20|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:11;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2572361;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=Beacon Falls;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|26|20|N|73|03|24|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 = [[List of counties in Connecticut|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1871
| government_type = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title = [[First Selectman]]
| leader_name = Gerard Smith (U) <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mycitizensnews.com/news/2019/11/smith-wins-first-selectman-seat-in-beacon-falls-2/ |title = Smith wins first selectman seat in Beacon Falls|date = November 6, 2019}}</ref>
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 25.6
| area_total_sq_mi = 9.9
| area_land_km2 = 25.3
| area_land_sq_mi = 9.8
| area_water_km2 = 0.2
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
| elevation_m = 63
| elevation_ft = 207
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 6000
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 =
| 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 = 06403
| area_codes = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203/475]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-03250
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0213387<ref name="GNIS">{{cite gnis|0213387|Town of Beacon Falls|July 16, 2023}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|http://www.beaconfalls-ct.org/}}
| leader_title1 = Selectmen
| leader_name1 = Michael A Krenesky (R) Peter Betkoski (D)
}}
[[File:BeaconFallsCT HomeWoolenCompany.jpg|thumb|Home Woolen Company, Beacon Falls, Connecticut]]

'''Beacon Falls''' is a town in western [[New Haven County, Connecticut]], United States. The town is part of the [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley Planning Region]] and is approximately six miles from [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]]. It lies in the southwestern part of the state, and is bisected by the [[Naugatuck River]]. The population was 6,000 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], down from 6,049 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900903250|title=Census - Geography Profile: Beacon Falls town, New Haven County, Connecticut|access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref>

== Founding ==
The area that was to become Beacon Falls was first inhabited by tribal communities of [[Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation|Paugusetts]] and Paugusucks and was originally known as Nyumps.<ref>{{cite web |title=Beacon Falls |url=https://connecticuthistory.org/towns-page/beacon-falls/ |website=connecticuthistory.org |date=September 12, 2011 |access-date=June 1, 2018}}</ref> Early history texts indicate that a former Native American slave called Toby bought much of the land that was to become the town on September 7, 1693, for 10 pounds and a barrel of cider.<ref name="HeissSociety2012">{{cite book|author1=Mark Heiss|author2=Beacon Falls Historical Society|title=Beacon Falls|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vpf7uOvtV1gC&pg=PP1|year=2012|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-0-7385-9143-8|pages=1–}}</ref>

Settlers from [[Derby, Connecticut|Derby]], [[Connecticut]] moved to the area in 1678 and the town was incorporated in 1871 on lands carved from the neighboring towns of [[Bethany, Connecticut|Bethany]], [[Seymour, Connecticut|Seymour]], [[Naugatuck, Connecticut|Naugatuck]] and [[Oxford, Connecticut|Oxford]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA330|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=330}}</ref> The town was named for Beacon Hill, from which a small waterfall descended.<ref>{{cite web|date=1871|title=Acquisition of the land and first settlers|url=https://www.beaconfalls-ct.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif4141/f/uploads/hist.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905005105/https://www.beaconfalls-ct.org/sites/g/files/vyhlif4141/f/uploads/hist.pdf|archive-date=September 5, 2021|access-date=September 4, 2021|website=beaconfalls-ct.org}}</ref>

== History ==

The history of Beacon Falls is tied to the series of manufacturing concerns that operated in the town's impressive brick factory buildings on North Main Street, adjacent to the Naugatuck River. The last and most successful of those concerns was the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries rubber manufacturing thrived in the [[Lower Naugatuck Valley]]. This followed the invention and 1844 patent, by Connecticut native [[Charles Goodyear]], of a chemical process called [[Vulcanization]] to convert natural rubber into a durable, flexible, waterproof material. In the 1850s the American Hard Rubber Company built a brick factory in Beacon Falls, utilizing water power from the Naugatuck River. The company made buttons, whip sockets, and powder flasks. After that company was acquired and moved to Long Island, the empty brick building was bought by the [[Home Woolen Company]], which in the 1860s expanded and manufactured woolen shawls, popular at the time with men, women and Civil War soldiers. The Home Woolen Company operated for 20-plus years until it became insolvent in 1887.

The 1898 inception of the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company lay in the decision of George Lewis, President of the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Co. of [[Naugatuck, Connecticut]], and his son Tracy S. Lewis, Secretary and Treasurer of that company, to resign and start a new business together. In 1898 the two Lewis men bought the Home Woolen Company facility and started the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company. The new company enjoyed great success for over two decades. From 150 pairs of shoes manufactured in 1899, by 1920 5.5 million pair were shipped; during that same time the town's population doubled. The company specialized in rubber soled boots with leather uppers (like today's "L.L. Bean boots"), and rubber soled athletic shoes with canvas uppers (now called "sneakers"). The footwear was marketed under the brand name, "Top Notch."

The Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company was a tremendous physical, economic, and cultural presence in Beacon Falls. It made major civic efforts to enhance the town and the lives of its employees, including building a movie theater, with an assembly room and dance hall for public use, sponsoring a musical band that gave daily performances, and commissioning the influential landscape architectural firm [[Olmsted Brothers]] to create an overall design for company lands and buildings. The resulting plan embraced the [[Tracy S. Lewis House]] and a neighborhood of workers' homes above the factory.

Tracy Lewis died prematurely in 1921 at age 47, marking the demise of the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company, followed by the gradual end of manufacturing at the Beacon Falls facility. After Lewis's death, the company was acquired by the [[United States Rubber Company]] in Naugatuck (formerly Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Co., renamed Uniroyal, Inc. in 1961), and the Beacon Falls athletic shoe was renamed "Keds." Production in the elegant brick factory buildings ended during the [[Great Depression]] in 1930, after which the buildings were used only for storage. Several buildings associated with the company, including the movie theater, were destroyed when the State of Connecticut widened the road in front of the factory in 1949, and when the [[Flood of 1955 (Connecticut)]] flooded the Naugatuck River, causing extensive damage through the valley. In 1984 the brick factory buildings were placed on the National Register of Historical Places as the "Home Woolen Company" (#84000410—"also known as Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Factory"). In the late 1980s the buildings were converted to a 188-unit, full-amenity apartment complex called Beacon Mill Village. The "Depot Street Bridge," spanning the Naugatuck River across from the old brick factory, is also on the National Register of Historical Places (#07000108). Built in 1935 of riveted steel, it was designed by engineers from the Public Works Administration and the Connecticut Highway Department. The bridge joins the two parts of Beacon Falls bisected by the river.

A second major historical Beacon Falls business, where many town residents worked over the years, was the Homer D. Bronson Company. In 1884 the company moved to Beacon Falls from [[Waterbury, Connecticut]] (known as "the brass capital of the world"). The Homer D. Bronson Company manufactured a multitude of brass items, specializing in hinges used in industry and homes; automobile hood hinges were a major product. The company survived both the Great Depression and the Flood of 1955. Now named HDB Inc., its present-day website states that it has been "a leader in the engineered hinge and metal stamping markets since 1839." In 1986 the company moved to [[Winsted, Connecticut]]. Now in 2025 they have started a chicken dance competition on September 16.

==Significant people and events ==

Beacon Falls is home to the nationally known [[Meteorologist]] [[Jim Cantore]] and U.S. Congressman [[Ronald A. Sarasin]].

On May 15, 2018, one of the four [[EF1 tornado|EF1]] tornadoes that struck Connecticut had a 9.1 mile path that started in Beacon Falls and caused serious damage to homes and infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Puffer |first1=Michael |title=Tornado leaves dangerous conditions in its wake: Aftermath is 'horrifying' |url=http://www.rep-am.com/top-stories/2018/05/16/tornado-leaves-dangerous-conditions-in-its-wake/ |access-date=May 31, 2018 |publisher=Republican-American |date=May 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804081317/http://www.rep-am.com/top-stories/2018/05/16/tornado-leaves-dangerous-conditions-in-its-wake/ |archive-date=August 4, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|9.9|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|9.8|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} (1.01%) is water.

The village of '''Pine Bridge''', once known as Pines Bridge, is located within the town, south of the town center. Beacon Falls has been known as '''Beacon Falls Station''', '''Beacon Falls Village''', and the '''Beacon Falls Postal District within Bethany'''.<ref>"The Valley of the Naugatuck", National Magazine, January 1858, pg 11-20</ref><ref>"Indians of the Housatonic and Naugatuck Valleys", Samuel Orcutt, Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company, pg 44, 1882</ref>

The [[Beacon Falls (Metro-North station)]] is on the [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]] branch of the [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] line.

===On the National Register of Historic Places===
*[[Depot Street Bridge]]: added March 9, 2007 (on the National Bridge registry). This bridge replaced the original wooden bridge that crossed the Naugatuck River and was dedicated in 1935.
*[[Home Woolen Company]]: added November 29, 1984

===On the State Register of Historic Places===

* [[Tracy S. Lewis House]]: Home of the Beacon Falls Rubber Shoe Company President. Originally built {{circa|1855}} by the American Hard Rubber Company, 35–37 Wolfe Avenue
* Rimmon Schoolhouse: a one room school house located on Pinesbridge Road (State Route 42). Dated 1789, it may have been renovated in 1830 (District School #6 of Oxford) when the area was part of the town of Oxford, CT.
* Riggs House: Located on Old Pinesbridge Road, is identified as the oldest home in Beacon Falls.

==Demographics==

{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
{{US Census population
|1880= 379
|1890= 505
|1900= 623
|1910= 1160
|1920= 1593
|1930= 1693
|1940= 1756
|1950= 2067
|1960= 2886
|1970= 3546
|1980= 3995
|1990= 5083
|2000= 5246
|2010= 6049
|2020= 6000
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 6206
|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>
}}

As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 6,049 people, divided into 2,509 total households, with 2,360 occupied households in the town. The racial makeup (population) of the town was 91.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.4% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 1.2% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.8% from two or more races, while 5.0% identified as either [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]].<ref>Connecticut State Data Center. (2011). Connecticut Town Population 2010 & 2000. Retrieved from {{cite web |url=http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/mashup/census_2010_pl_94_171_change_viewer.html |title=Connecticut State Data Center - 2010 US Census PL 94-171 Change Viewer |access-date=April 3, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321120130/http://ctsdc.uconn.edu/mashup/census_2010_pl_94_171_change_viewer.html |archive-date=March 21, 2011 }}</ref>

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 5,246 people, 2,032 households, and 1,450 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|536.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,104 housing units at an average density of {{convert|215.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.97% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.72% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.03% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.40% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.76% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.13% of the population.

There were 2,032 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families; 23.0% 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 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $56,592, and the median income for a family was $62,461. Males had a median income of $41,696 versus $34,844 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $25,285. About 4.2% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

Beacon Falls is home to [[Woodland Regional High School]], which opened in 2001. Woodland is part of Regional School District #16 (Beacon Falls and [[Prospect, Connecticut|Prospect]]), which also consists of Long River Middle School (P), Laurel Ledge Elementary School (BF), and Prospect Elementary School (P).

==Politics==

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 31, 2024<ref>{{cite web
| title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 31, 2024
| publisher = Connecticut Secretary of State
| format = PDF
| access-date = September 11, 2025
| url = https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/2024/2024-registration-and-enrollment-statistics/2024_november_reg-party_enrollments.pdf?rev=6ea82a0b09e84203a63f918ff7741019&hash=CBA24E0CAAF8D5CB4062E3DE0BE6B6DA
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250912013600/https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/2024/2024-registration-and-enrollment-statistics/2024_november_reg-party_enrollments.pdf?rev=6ea82a0b09e84203a63f918ff7741019&hash=CBA24E0CAAF8D5CB4062E3DE0BE6B6DA
| archive-date = September 12, 2025
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active voters
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 1,075
| align = center | 96
| align = center | 1,171
| align = center | 23.92%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 1,327
| align = center | 84
| align = center | 1,411
| align = center | 28.82%
|-
| {{party color cell|Nonpartisan candidate}} || [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align = center | 2,036
| align = center | 192
| align = center | 2,228
| align = center | 45.52%
|-
| {{party color cell|Other}} || Minor parties
| align = center | 73
| align = center | 12
| align = center | 85
| align = center | 1.74%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 4,511
! align = center | 384
! align = center | 4,895
! align = center | 100%
|}
{{Hidden begin
|titlestyle = background:#ccccff;
|title = Past elections results
}}
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Beacon Falls town vote by party in presidential elections<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown | title=Public Reporting }}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.6% ''1,543''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.6%''' ''2,191''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.8% ''69''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.4% ''1,146''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.2%''' ''2,002''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.4% ''180''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.9% ''1,300''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.0%''' ''1,598''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.1% ''61''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.7% ''1,483''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.5%''' ''1,576''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.8% ''58''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.5% ''1,206''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.0%''' ''1,634''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.5% ''74''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.6%''' ''1,198''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.9% ''1,158''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.5% ''164''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''45.4%''' ''1,055''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.3% 868
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|17.3% ''404''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|29.6% ''763''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''39.3%''' ''1,019''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|31.1% ''808''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.1% ''866''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.6%''' ''1,119''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''27''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.0% ''594''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''68.4%''' ''1,311''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.6% ''12''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.7% ''606''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.4%''' ''951''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.9% ''191''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.7% ''884''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.8%''' ''922''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.5% ''9''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.4% ''668''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.0%''' ''1,045''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.6% ''28''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.1%''' ''841''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.3% ''576''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.6% ''168''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''72.7%''' ''1,130''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|27.3% ''425''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''66.0%''' ''1,044''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.0% ''540''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.2% ''619''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.8%''' ''692''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}
{{Hidden end}}

==Transportation==
[[File:Beacon Falls station from the parking lot, September 2018.JPG|thumb|[[Beacon Falls station|Beacon Falls train station]], September 2018]]
The [[Beacon Falls station|Beacon Falls train station]] provides [[commuter rail]] service to [[Bridgeport (Metro-North station)|Bridgeport]], [[Stamford Transportation Center|Stamford]], and [[Grand Central Terminal]] in [[New York City]] via the [[Waterbury Branch]] on the [[Metro-North Railroad]]'s [[New Haven Line]]. Beacon Falls lies along [[Connecticut Route 8]]. [[Connecticut Transit Waterbury]] Division provides bus service to Beacon Falls on its 479X route.

== See also ==
* {{Portal-inline|Connecticut}}

==References==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.beaconfalls-ct.org/ Official Website for the Town of Beacon Falls, CT]
* [http://www.bfhistorical.org/ Beacon Falls Historical Society]

{{Connecticut}}
{{New Haven County, Connecticut}}
{{Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Beacon Falls, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Naugatuck River Valley]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Wethersfield, Connecticut

2025-11-02T12:44:14Z

2601:183:4B82:710:F84B:8E22:E4D9:9930: /* Other points of interest */

{{Short description|Town in Connecticut, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Wethersfield, Connecticut
|official_name = Town of Wethersfield
|settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
|motto = Ye Most Ancient Town in Connecticut<ref>[http://wethersfieldct.com/ Official Web Site of the Town of Wethersfield]</ref>
|image_flag = WethersfieldCTflag.gif
|image_seal = WethersfieldCTseal.png
|image_skyline = Joseph Webb and Isaac Stevens Houses - Wethersfield, CT - 2.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Joseph Webb and Isaac Stevens houses
|image_map = {{Switcher|[[File:Hartford County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Wethersfield Highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Wethersfield's location within Hartford County and Connecticut]]| [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Capitol Region incorporated and unincorporated areas Wethersfield highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Wethersfield'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=Q755202}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|42|51|N|72|39|09|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q755202;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=Wethersfield;Connecticut;the United States}}
|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 = [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford]]
|subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
|subdivision_name3 = [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Region]]
|government_type = [[Council-manager]]
|leader_title = Town manager
|leader_name = Frederick J. Presley
{{Collapsible list
| title = Town Council
| title_style =
| frame_style = border:none; padding: 0;
| list_style = text-align:left;display:none;
| 1 = Mayor Ken Lesser (D)
| 2 = Deputy Mayor Matthew Forrest (D)
| 3 = Rich Bailey (R)
| 4 = Shelley Carbone (R)
| 5 = Cynthia Clancy (D)
| 6 = Miki Duric (D)
| 7 = Jane Roets (D)
| 8 = Brianna Timbro (R)
| 9 = Emily Zambrello (D)
}}
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = October 1634
|established_title2 = Incorporated
|established_date2 = February 21, 1637
|named_for = [[Wethersfield, Essex]]
|area_total_km2 = 34.0
|area_land_km2 = 31.9
|area_water_km2 = 2.1
|area_total_sq_mi =
|area_land_sq_mi =
|area_water_sq_mi =
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_magnitude =
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_total = 27298
|population_footnotes =
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_density_km2 =
|timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset = −5
|timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
|utc_offset_DST = −4
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft = 43
|coordinates = {{Coord|41|42|51|N|72|39|09|W|region:US-CT_type:city(27,000)|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code = 06109
|region =
|website = {{URL|wethersfieldct.gov}}
|area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 09-84900
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 212042<ref name=GNIS1>{{Cite GNIS|212042|Wethersfield}}</ref>
| blank3_name = Interstates
| blank3_info = [[File:I-91.svg|25px|link=Interstate 91 in Connecticut]]
| blank4_name = U.S. Highways
| blank4_info = [[File:US 5.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 5 in Connecticut]]
| blank5_name = State Routes
| blank5_info = [[File:Connecticut Highway 3.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 3]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 99.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 99]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 175.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 175]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 287.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 287]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 314.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 314]]
|footnotes =
}}

'''Wethersfield''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɛ|ð|.|ɚ|s|f|i|l|d}} {{respell|WEH|thers|feeld}}) is a town located in [[Hartford County, Connecticut]], United States.<ref name="GNIS1" /> It is located immediately south of [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]] along the [[Connecticut River]]. The town is part of the [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]]. The population was 27,298 at the time of the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900384900| title=Census - Geography Profile: Wethersfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 23, 2021}}</ref>

Many records from colonial times spell the name "Weathersfield" and "Wythersfield", while Native Americans called it ''Pyquag''.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131211195232/http://sots.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?q=392440 Connecticut Towns in the Order of their Establishment], [[Secretary of the State of Connecticut]]. Retrieved December 8, 2013.</ref> "Watertown" is a variant name.<ref name=GNIS1/>

The neighborhood known as [[Old Wethersfield]] is the state's largest historic district, spanning {{convert|2|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} and containing 1,100 buildings, dating to the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The town is primarily served by [[Interstate 91]].

==History==
[[File:Elm Tree in Wethersfield, Connecticut (1917).jpg|thumb|left|The Wethersfield elm, pictured in 1917, at {{convert|27|ft|m|abbr=on}} was the largest in New England in circumference.<ref name="Johnson"/>]]
[[File:Connecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks - NARA - 23936545 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Flooding, 1936]]

Founded in 1634 by a [[Puritan]] settlement party of "10 Men", including [[John Oldham (colonist)|John Oldham]], [[Robert Seeley]], [[Thomas Topping]], and [[Nathaniel Foote]], Wethersfield is arguably the oldest town in Connecticut,<ref>Clark, George Larkin (1914). [https://archive.org/details/historyofconnect03clar/mode/2up ''A History of Connecticut: Its People and Institutions'']. New York; London: G. P. Putnam's Sons and The Knickerbocker Press. {{LCCN|14-010888}}.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060603100336/http://www.ct.gov/ecd/lib/ecd/ct_digest/2004/cedjan04.pdf Town Profile: Wethersfield]. ''The Connecticut Economic Digest,'' Connecticut Department of Labor, January 2004</ref> depending on the interpretation of when a remote settlement qualifies as a "town". Along with [[Windsor, Connecticut|Windsor]] and [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], Wethersfield is represented by one of the three grapevines on the [[Flag of Connecticut]], signifying the state's three oldest English settlements.<ref>[https://jud.ct.gov/external/news/sctour/texttour.htm Virtual Tour of the Connecticut Supreme Court Courtroom]. Retrieved December 22, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.norwichbulletin.com/x633546852/Historically-Speaking-Stonington-born-woman-helped-create-flag Historically Speaking: Stonington-born woman helped create flag], [[The Bulletin (Norwich)|''The Bulletin'']], August 27, 2008</ref> The town was named by colonists for [[Wethersfield, Essex|Wethersfield]], a village in the [[England|English]] county of [[Essex]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA335|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=335}}</ref> The town was previously called "Watertown", named after [[Watertown, Massachusetts]], until February 21, 1637, when it was incorporated as a town along with Windsor and Hartford. The town established the [[Old Wethersfield Village Cemetery]] as its first burying ground on Hungry Hill in 1638.

During the [[Pequot War]], on April 23, 1637, [[Wangunk]] Chief Sequin, who had lived with the colonists in Wethersfield but had been forced out after a few years, attacked Wethersfield with [[Pequot people|Pequot]] help.<ref>DeForest, John. ''History of the Indians of Connecticut from the Earliest Known Period to 1850''.</ref> They killed six men and three women, a number of cattle and horses, and took two young girls captive. They were daughters of Abraham Swain or William Swaine (sources vary), and were later [[ransom]]ed by Dutch traders.<ref>Konstantin, Phil (2002). ''This Day in North American Indian History''. Da Capo Press, pp. 99-100.</ref>

Four [[witch trial]]s and three executions for [[witchcraft]] occurred in the town in the 17th century. Mary Johnson was convicted of witchcraft and executed in 1648, Joan and John Carrington in 1651.<ref>[http://members.aol.com/alicebeard/witch.html List of New England witchcraft cases]</ref> In 1669, landowner [[Katherine Harrison]] was convicted, and although her conviction was reversed, she was banished and her property seized by her neighbors.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pinn.net/~sunshine/book-sum/wichcrz.html |title=Another list of New England witchcraft cases |access-date=November 30, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051225130144/http://www.pinn.net/~sunshine/book-sum/wichcrz.html |archive-date=December 25, 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010308161312/http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/witchtrial/na.html Brief summary of Katherine Harrison case]</ref>

From 1716 to 1718, the Collegiate School was briefly located in Wethersfield; it moved to New Haven and developed over the decades as [[Yale University]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Kingsley | first = William Lathrop | title = Yale College: A Sketch of Its History | publisher = H. Holt | year = 1879 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=cvBEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PR3 | pages = 29, 47 | volume = 1}}</ref><ref name="Johnson">{{cite book | last = Johnson | first = Clifton | title = New England; A Human Interest Geographical Reader | publisher = Macmillan | year = 1917 | url = https://archive.org/details/newenglandhumani00john | pages = [https://archive.org/details/newenglandhumani00john/page/163 163], 186}}</ref>

[[Silas Deane]], envoy to [[France]] during the [[American Revolutionary War]], lived in the town. His house is now preserved and operated as part of the [[Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum]]. In May 1781, at the Webb House on Main Street, General [[George Washington]] and French Lt. Gen. [[Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau|Rochambeau]] planned the [[Siege of Yorktown]], which culminated in the surrender of Britain and independence of the colonies.

The Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department was chartered by the Connecticut Legislature on May 12, 1803, making it the first formally chartered [[fire department]] in the state. It is one of the oldest chartered [[volunteer fire department]] in continuous existence in the United States.<ref>[http://www.wvfd.org/ Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Dept]</ref>

Wethersfield was "for a century at least, the centre of the [[onion]] trade in New England", during the late 1700s and early to middle 1800s.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0916FC3B5413738DDDAB0894DE405B8984F0D3 "A Great Trade Vanished. How Connecticut's Onion Monopoly Was Lost"], ''The New York Times'', June 2, 1889</ref> "Outsiders dubbed the Connecticut village 'Oniontown,' with a crosshatch of affection and derision, for this was home of the world-famous Wethersfield [[red onion]]."<ref name=yankee>[https://archive.today/20130105111326/http://www.yankeemagazine.com/issues/2008-09/interact/10things/oniontown/all "Wethersfield, CT, and Onions"], ''[[Yankee Magazine]]'', August 1993</ref>

In addition, the town was home to [[William G. Comstock]], a well-known 19th-century gardening expert and author of the era's most prominent gardening book, ''[[Order of Spring Work]]''. In 1820, Comstock founded what would become [[Comstock, Ferre & Company]],<ref>"[http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/connecticut/articles/2011/10/16/connecticut_seed_company_comstock_ferre__co_returns_to_its_roots/ Connecticut seed company Comstock, Ferre & Co. returns to its roots]", ''The Boston Globe'', October 16, 2011</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://rareseeds.com/comstock-ferre/ |title=Comstock, Ferre & Co |access-date=November 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115040737/http://rareseeds.com/comstock-ferre/ |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> America's oldest continuously operating seed company. It pioneered the commercial sale of sealed packets of seeds, as he had learned from the [[Amish]]. Other nationally prominent seed companies in and around the town developed from this agricultural past.<ref name=yankee/><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131215062448/http://www.wethhist.org/articles-from-the-community/2012/01/wethersfield-the-cradle-of-american-seed-companies.html Wethersfield: The Cradle of American Seed Companies], Wethersfield Historical Society, January 23, 2012</ref>

A [[meteorite]] fell on Wethersfield on November 8, 1982. It was the second meteorite to fall in the town in the span of 11 years, as the first crashed on April 8, 1971. It crashed through the roof of a house without injuring the occupants, as had been the case with the first meteorite as well.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/10/nyregion/meteorite-crashes-into-house-in-connecticut.html|title=Meteorite Crashes into House in Connecticut|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Robert E. Tomasson|language=English|date=November 10, 1982|accessdate=January 8, 2023}}</ref> The 1971 meteorite was sold to the [[Smithsonian]], and the 1982 meteorite was taken up as part of a collection at the [[Yale Peabody Museum]].<ref>[http://www.peabody.yale.edu/collections/met/met_wethersfield.html The Wethersfield Meteorite], [[Yale Peabody Museum]]. Retrieved August 21, 2013.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111207090624/http://www.wethhist.org/articles-from-the-community/2011/10/the-wethersfield-meteorites.html The Wethersfield Meteorites], Wethersfield Historical Society, October 24, 2011</ref>

==Demographics==
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
{{US Census population
|1820= 3825
|1840= 3824
|1850= 2523
|1860= 2705
|1870= 2693
|1880= 2173
|1890= 2271
|1900= 2637
|1910= 3148
|1920= 4342
|1930= 7512
|1940= 9644
|1950= 12533
|1960= 20561
|1970= 26662
|1980= 26013
|1990= 25651
|2000= 26271
|2010= 26668
|2020= 27298
|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>
}}

As of the 2000 [[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> there were 26,268 people, 11,214 households, and 7,412 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|2,119.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 11,454 housing units at an average density of {{convert|924.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 93.19% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.09% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.58% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.82% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.22% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.19% of the population.

There were 11,214 households, out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

The town population was distributed with 20.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,289, and the median income for a family was $68,154. (These figures had risen to $66,044 and $86,432 respectively as of a 2007 estimate.)<ref>[https://archive.today/20200211175951/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=06000US0900384900&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US08%7C16000US0857630&_street=&_county=wethersfield&_cityTown=wethersfield&_state=04000US09&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry= American FactFinder]. Factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved August 21, 2013.</ref> Males had a median income of $43,998 versus $37,443 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $28,930. About 2.4% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
===Top employers===
Top employers in Wethersfield according to the town's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wethersfieldct.gov/filestorage/295/297/480/546/500/4740/Town_of_Wethersfield%2C_CT_FS_-_Signed_Final_Report_and_Financial_Statements.pdf|title=Town of Wethersfield Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Fiscal Year July 1, 2020- June 30, 2021|publisher=Town of Wethersfield|access-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref>{{update inline|date=October 2025}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
|1
|State of Connecticut
|810
|-
|2
|Town of Wethersfield
|753
|-
|3
|Hartford Healthcare At Home
|117
|-
|4
|[[HomeGoods]]
|108
|-
|5
|Patient Care, Inc.
|107
|-
|6
|Qualidigm
|101
|-
|7
|DSG Yankee
|79
|-
|8
|[[Hooters]]
|78
|-
|9
|Corpus Christi School
|55
|-
|10
|[[Denny's]]
|50
|}

The [[Connecticut Department of Correction]] and the [[Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles]] have their headquarters in Wethersfield.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131211195426/http://ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?q=265470 Contact Us]. [[Connecticut Department of Correction]], 24 Wolcott Hill Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Retrieved December 8, 2013.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131211195329/http://ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?q=246432 Contact Information]. [[Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles]], 60 State Street, Wethersfield, CT 06161. Retrieved December 8, 2013.</ref>

Due to its proximity to the state capital at Hartford, Wethersfield is the site of several State of Connecticut agencies:

* The Department of Motor Vehicles office and testing location at 60 State Street.
* The Department of Labor is headquartered at 200 Folly Brook Boulevard.
* The Department of Correction is headquartered at 24 Wolcott Hill Road.
* The Superior Court Operations Unit is located at 225 Spring Street.
* The Court Support Services Division is located at 936 Silas Deane Highway.

The Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce has over 150 member institutions<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wethersfieldchamber.com/member-directory/pg/8/|title=WCC Member List |publisher=Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce |access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref> and hosts community events throughout the year.<ref name="WCC Events Calendar">{{Cite web|url=http://wethersfieldchamber.com/events/|title=WCC Events Calendar |publisher=Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce |access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref>

==Arts and culture==
===Landmarks and historic district===
Three buildings in Wethersfield are designated as [[List of National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut|historic landmarks]] by the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:

* [[Buttolph-Williams House]], 249 Broad Street (added December 24, 1968)
* [[Joseph Webb House]], 211 Main Street (added November 15, 1966)
* [[Silas Deane House]], 203 Main Street (added November 6, 1970)

In 1970, [[Old Wethersfield]], the district bounded by Hartford, the railroad tracks, I-91 and Rocky Hill, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is the largest [[historic district]] in Connecticut, with two square miles containing 1,100 buildings, many dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries.<ref name=yankee/>

===Other points of interest===
[[File:Wethersfield Cove - 1.JPG|thumb|right|Wethersfield Cove]]

* [[Old Wethersfield Village Cemetery]]
* Broad Street Green
* [[Roger Butler House]]
* Captain James Francis House
* Great Meadows (Connecticut River)|Great Meadows<ref>[http://gmct.org/ Great Meadows Conservation Trust], Wethersfield, Rocky Hill and Glastonbury CT</ref>
* Heritage Way – a "linear park" and multi-use path that connects Wethersfield's open areas and recreation facilities<ref>[http://www.wethersfield.net/html/gov/tow/parks/fbb/hw/hrtgway02a19.html Introduction to Heritage Way] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060628154244/http://www.wethersfield.net/html/gov/tow/parks/fbb/hw/hrtgway02a19.html |date=June 28, 2006 }}, Wethersfield CT</ref>
* Hurlbut-Dunham House
* Keeney Memorial Culture Center<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101109052646/http://www.wethhist.org/wethersfield-site-rental.htm Keeney Memorial Culture Center], Wethersfield CT</ref> – home of the Wethersfield Museum and Visitor Center
* Millwoods Park/Pond
* [[Wethersfield Cove]]
* Wethersfield Historical Society<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101109052821/http://www.wethhist.org/index.htm Wethersfield Historical Society], Wethersfield CT</ref>
* Wethersfield Skate Park
* John Chester Willard Pool
* Wintergreen Woods – {{convert|100|acre|km2}} forest with vernal pools and walking trails
* [[Wethersfield High School (Connecticut)]]
* Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130331041135/http://www.ebwnaturecenter.org/ Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center], Wethersfield CT</ref>
* 9/11 Memorial Sports Center

===Music===
The historic [[First Church of Christ, Wethersfield]], is the home of the {{ill|Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival Hartford |qid=Q125975928|lt=Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival |url=http://firstchurch.org/ministries/music-and-arts/schweitzer-organ-festival/home|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313071413/http://firstchurch.org/ministries/music-and-arts/schweitzer-organ-festival/home |archive-date=2016-03-13 }}</ref>

The Wethersfield Historical Society sponsors free outdoor concerts throughout the summer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=http://wethersfieldhistory.org/ |website=wethersfieldhistory.org}}</ref>

===Community events===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Community Events
! Event
! Time of Year
! Location
! Organizer
|-
|
|
|
|
|-
| Cove Park Fireworks<ref name="WCC Events Calendar"/>
| Early June
| Cove Park
| Town of Wethersfield
|-
| Wethersfield Farmers Market<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wfmarket.org|title=Wethersfield Farmers Market|website=Wethersfield Farmers Market|access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref>
| Summer Thursdays
| 220 Hartford Avenue
| Wethersfield EDIC & Tourism Commission
|-
| Wethersfield Cornfest<ref name="WCC Events Calendar"/>
| Mid-September
| Broad Street Green
| Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce
|-
|-
| Scarecrows Along Main Street<ref name="WCC Events Calendar"/>
| Early Fall
| Main Street
| Old Wethersfield Shopkeepers Association
|-
| Cove Side Carnival<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://keanefoundation.org/index.php/events/4-cove-side-carnival|title=Cove Side Carnival|website=Keane Foundation|access-date=July 25, 2017|archive-date=September 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170922145025/http://keanefoundation.org/index.php/events/4-cove-side-carnival|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| Mid-October
| Cove Park
| Keane Foundation
|-
| Holidays on Main<ref name="WCC Events Calendar"/>
| Early December
| Broad Street Green
| Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce
|}

==Sports==
===Running===
The Old Wethersfield 5K & 10K is an annual road race that takes place in the Old Wethersfield section of town. Both races begin and end at Cove Park on Hartford Avenue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hartfordmarathon.com/old-wethersfield-5k-10k/|title=Old Wethersfield 5K|website=Old Wethersfield 5K & 10K|access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref> The event is put on by the Hartford Marathon Foundation and typically takes place at the end of August. The 2017 edition of the 10K is the state championship race for the USATF Connecticut Grand Prix Series<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.usatf-ct.org/index.php/racing/road-grand-prix//|title=Old Wethersfield 10K selected to be the USATF-CT 10K championship |website=USATF Connecticut|access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref> as well as the final event of the HMF 10K Challenge Series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hartfordmarathon.com/challenge-series/|title=HMF 10K Challenge|website=HMF Challenge Series|access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref>

==Education==
The Wethersfield public school system encompasses [[Wethersfield High School (Connecticut)|Wethersfield High School]], [[Silas Deane Middle School]], and five elementary schools: Highcrest School, Charles Wright School, Emerson-Williams School, Alfred W. Hanmer School, and Samuel B. Webb School.

In addition to traditional public schools, Wethersfield also offers parochial and magnet school choices. The [[Capitol Region Education Council|CREC]] Discovery Academy is a Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade magnet school designed with a focus on STEM education. The Corpus Christi School is a Catholic school of approximately 400 students from Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. It was one of only fifty private schools named as a 2012 [[National Blue Ribbon School]] by the U.S. Secretary of Education, in the category of "Exemplary High Performing."<ref>[http://corpuschristischoolct.com Corpus Christi School], Wethersfield CT</ref>

== Government ==

===Federal===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Congressional Representatives<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senate.gov/states/CT/intro.htm|title=Connecticut Senators|website=United States Senate|access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref><ref name="Representative Districts by Town">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/content/townlist.asp|title=Representative Districts by Town|website=CT General Assembly|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref>
! Representative
! Chamber
! Party
|-
| [[Richard Blumenthal]]
| Senate
| style="background: blue; color:white"| Dem
|-
| [[Chris Murphy]]
| Senate
| style="background: blue; color:white"| Dem
|-
| [[John B. Larson]]
| House of Representatives
| style="background: blue; color:white"| Dem
|-
|}

===State===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ General Assembly Representatives<ref name="Representative Districts by Town"/>
! Representative
! Chamber
! District
! Party
|-
| John Fonfara
| Senate
| 1st
| style="background: blue; color:white"| Dem
|-
| Matthew Lesser
| Senate
| 9th
| style="background: blue; color:white"| Dem
|-
| Amy Morrin Bello
| House of Representatives
| 28th
| style="background: blue; color:white"| Dem
|-
| Kerry Wood
| House of Representatives
| 29th
| style="background: blue; color:white"| Dem
|-
|}

=== Municipal ===
Ken Lesser, mayor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wethersfieldct.gov/content/279/376/382.aspx|title=Wethersfield Town Council Contact Information|website=Town of Wethersfield|access-date=February 14, 2021}}</ref>

==Infrastructure and services==
===Transportation===
==== Bus ====
As of 2013, [[Greater Hartford]]'s major system of public transportation is [[Connecticut Transit]] (CT Transit), a Connecticut Department of Transportation–owned bus service operating routes throughout the [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]], [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], Hartford and other metro areas. Wethersfield is served by route numbers 43, 47, 53, 55, 61, and 91.<ref>[http://CTTransit.com/RoutesSchedules/search.asp Routes & Schedules], [[Connecticut Transit]]. Retrieved December 8, 2013.</ref>

==== Roads ====
Major roads include:

* Main Street in [[Old Wethersfield]]
* [[Connecticut Route 287]] (Prospect Street)
* [[Connecticut Route 175]] (Wells Road)
* [[Connecticut Route 99]] (Silas Deane Highway)
* [[Connecticut Route 15]] and [[U.S. Route 5 in Connecticut|U.S. Route 5]] ([[Berlin Turnpike]] and [[Wilbur Cross Highway]])
* [[Connecticut Route 3]] (Maple Street and [[William H. Putnam Memorial Bridge|Putnam Bridge]])
* [[Interstate 91 in Connecticut|Interstate 91]] (Exits 25–26)

==== Rail ====
[[Hartford Union Station|Hartford station]] is the nearest rail station. Wethersfield was once connected to Hartford by streetcar<ref>[http://connecticuthistory.org/a-revolution-in-horse-power-the-hartford-wethersfield-horse-railroad-goes-electric/ A Revolution in Horse Power], ConnecticutHistory.org. Retrieved December 16, 2013.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140711230057/http://www.wethhist.org/articles-from-the-community/2012/08/they-even-survived-rocks-on-the-track.html They Even Survived Rocks on the Track], Wethersfield Historical Society, August 23, 2012</ref> and by passenger service on the [[Connecticut Valley Railroad|Valley Railroad]]. Its tracks still provide a route for sporadic freight trains between Hartford and [[Old Saybrook]].

===Police===
The Wethersfield Police Department is headquartered at 250 Silas Deane Highway. In addition to normal police service, the department maintains a Marine Patrol Unit, a Special Response Dive Team, a Special Response Tactics Team, a DARE youth drug awareness program, and a Police Explorer program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wethersfieldct.gov/content/398/428/default.aspx|title=WPD|website=Wethersfield Division of Police|access-date=July 24, 2017}}</ref>

===Fire services===
The town has three volunteer fire stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wvfd.org/department-history/|title=Department History|website=Wethersfield Fire Department|access-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref> The year 2003 marked the formal 200th Anniversary of the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department. Wethersfield has the oldest volunteer fire company in Connecticut, and in New England.

===Postal services===
The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Wethersfield Post Office at 67 Beaver Rd. The Town zip code is 06109.<ref>[https://tools.usps.com/go/POLocatorDetailsAction!input.action?address=06109&locationType=PO&locationID=1434171 Location Details]. [[United States Postal Service]], 67 Beaver Road, Wethersfield, CT 06109. Retrieved December 8, 2013.</ref> The Wethersfield Post Office is a fully trained [[United States Passport]] acceptance facility.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iafdb.travel.state.gov/DetailsForm.aspx?AFID=140352&vs=0|title=US Passport Acceptance Facilities|website=U.S. State Department|access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Div col}}
* [[Charles McLean Andrews]] (1863–1943), historian
* [[William Watson Andrews]] (1810–1897), clergyman
* [[Steven Anzovin]] (1954–2005), American non-fiction author
* [[Dick Bertel]] (1931-2023), American media personality and broadcast executive
* [[Elizabeth Canning]] (1734–1773), English maid notoriously exiled for perjury
* [[Kenneth F. Cramer]] (1894–1954), U.S. Army Major General and Chief of the National Guard Bureau
* [[James Curtiss]] (1803–1859), Mayor of Chicago
* [[Silas Deane]] (1737–1789), first American diplomat
* [[John Deming]] ({{circa|1615}}–1705), a founder of Wethersfield and an original patentee of Connecticut Colony
* [[Tony DiCicco]] (1948–2017), coach, United States women's national soccer team
* [[Bruce Edwards (caddy)|Bruce Edwards]] (1954–2004), Tom Watson's caddy of almost 30 years
* [[Nathaniel Foote]]<ref>Foote, Abram W. (1907). Foote Family, Comprising the Genealogy and History of Nathaniel Foote of Wethersfield, Conn., and his Descendants. Marble City Press.</ref><ref>[http://NEFamilies.com/fam/groupsheetI100006953.aspx Nathaniel Foote], New England Families. Retrieved December 22, 2013.</ref> (1592–1644), an original settler
* [[Thomas Ian Griffith]] (born 1962), actor, producer, screenwriter, martial artist
* [[Betsey Johnson]] (born 1942), fashion designer
* [[Mark Linn-Baker]] (born 1954), actor and director
* [[Colin McDonald (ice hockey)|Colin McDonald]] (born 1984), professional hockey player
* [[John Mehegan]] (1916–1984), jazz pianist
* [[William J. Miller]] (1899–1950), Congressman from Connecticut
* [[Stephen Mix Mitchell]] (1743–1835), United States Senator and Connecticut Chief Justice
* [[Chris Murphy]] (born 1973), United States Senator
* [[Tyler Murphy (American football)|Tyler Murphy]], Former quarterback for the University of Florida Gators; starting quarterback for the Boston College Eagles
* [[John Oldham (colonist)|John Oldham]] (1592–1636), an original settler
* [[John Pinone]] (born 1961), basketball player and coach
* [[Jane Elizabeth Robbins]] (1860–1946), physician and social worker
* [[Annabella Sciorra]] (born 1960), actress
* [[Elizabeth Scott (hymnwriter)|Elizabeth Scott]] (1708–1776), poet, hymnwriter
* [[Robert Seeley]] (1602–1668), an original settler
* [[Christopher Shinn]] (born 1975), playwright
* [[Karen Smyers]] (born 1961), world champion triathlete
* [[David Spicer (organist)|David Spicer]] (1946–2017), organist and choirmaster
* [[Charles Stillman]] (1810–1875), founder of Brownsville, Texas
* [[Richard Treat]] (or Trott) (1584–1669), an original settler of Wethersfield and a Patentee of the Royal Charter of Connecticut
* [[Tom Tryon]] (1926–1991), actor and novelist
* [[Sophie Tucker]] (1887–1966), comedian and singer, interred in Emanuel Cemetery
* [[Levi Warner]] (1831–1911), Congressman from Connecticut
* [[Elmer Watson]] (1831–1911), [[Connecticut State Senate]] majority leader
* [[Thomas Welles]] (1590–1660), Governor of Connecticut Colony
* [[Benjamin Lee Whorf]] (1897–1941), linguist
* [[Elisha Williams]] (1694–1755), minister, legislator and judge
* [[Benjamin Wright (civil engineer)|Benjamin Wright]] (1770–1842), chief engineer of the Erie Canal
* [[Charles Wright (botanist)|Charles Wright]] (1811–1885), botanical explorer and collector
* [[Emily Wright]] (born 1980), songwriter, producer and engineer
{{Div col end}}

==In popular culture==
Wethersfield was the setting for the children's novel ''[[The Witch of Blackbird Pond]]'' by [[Elizabeth George Speare]], as well as the setting of the one-act play ''[[The Valiant (play)|The Valiant]]'' by Holworthy Hall and [[Robert Middlemas]].<ref>https://www.thebooktrail.com/book-trails/the-witch-of-blackbird-pond/</ref>

Actor-turned-author [[Tom Tryon|Thomas Tryon]] used his native Wethersfield as the setting for his action/romance novels ''[[The Wings of the Morning]]'' and ''[[In the Fire of Spring]]'', as well as a mystery/horror novel ''[[The Other (Tryon novel)|The Other]]'' and a [[The Other (1972 film)|film of the same name]].

The short film ''[[Disneyland Dream]]'' features the Barstow family from Wethersfield, including footage of their neighborhood.

In ''[[The Autobiography of Malcolm X]]'', written with [[Alex Haley]], [[Malcolm X]] recounts a car accident in which he was rear ended at a stop light while traveling through Wethersfield.

The novel ''[[Parrot and Olivier in America]]'' by two-time [[Booker Prize]]–winning Australian author [[Peter Carey (novelist)|Peter Carey]] was largely set in the town of Wethersfield. The novel touches on some hallmarks of its history including the predominance of onion farming and the old state prison.

The Disney Channel animated series ''[[The Owl House]]'' features the town of Gravesfield, Connecticut, where the main character [[Luz Noceda]] resided prior to entering the Boiling Isles. Gravesfield was partly inspired by Wethersfield, alongside show creator [[Dana Terrace]]'s hometown of [[Hamden, Connecticut|Hamden]].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Wethersfield, Connecticut}}
{{EB1911 poster|Wethersfield}}
* {{Official website|http://wethersfieldct.gov/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19981206084714/http://www.wethersfieldchamber.com/ Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce]

{{Connecticut}}
{{Hartford County, Connecticut}}
{{Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Greater Hartford}}
{{Connecticut River}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Wethersfield, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:1634 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:American witchcraft]]
[[Category:Connecticut populated places on the Connecticut River]]
[[Category:Greater Hartford]]
[[Category:New England Puritanism]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1634]]
[[Category:Towns in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Hartford County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Yale University]]

Berlin, Connecticut

2025-11-02T12:40:14Z

2601:183:4B82:710:F84B:8E22:E4D9:9930: /* Education */

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Berlin, Connecticut
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline = Short mtn.jpg
| image_caption = Rural Berlin from [[Short Mountain (Connecticut)|Short Mountain]]
| image_flag =
| image_seal = BerlinCTseal.PNG
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Berlin CT lg.PNG|230px|frameless|alt=Berlin's location within Hartford County and Connecticut]]| [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Capitol Region incorporated and unincorporated areas Berlin highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Berlin'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=Q821199}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|36|50|N|72|46|21|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q821199;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=Berlin;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|36|50|N|72|46|21|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 = [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Region]]
| parts_type = Hamlets
| parts = Berlin [[East Berlin, Connecticut|East Berlin]] [[Kensington, Connecticut|Kensington]]
| established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
| established_date = 1785
| government_type = [[Council-manager]]
| leader_title = [[Town manager]]
| leader_name = Ryan Curley
| leader_title1 = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name1 = Mark Kaczynski (R)
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 69.9
| area_land_km2 = 68.2
| area_water_km2 = 1.7
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 154
| population_total = 20175
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020"/>
| population_density_sq_mi = 766.2
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code = 06023, 06037
| area_codes = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.berlinct.gov/}}
| leader_title2 = [[Deputy mayor]]
| leader_name2 = Charles Paonessa (R)
| leader_title3 = [[Town council]]
| leader_name3 = Mark Kaczynski (R), Mayor Charles Paonessa (R), Dep Mayor [[Donna Veach]] (R) Sandra Coppola (R) Peter Rosso (D), Minority Leader Mark Pruzin (D) Kate Atkinson (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 Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-04300
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0213388<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|213388}}</ref>
| blank3_name = Major highways
| blank3_info = [[File:US 5.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 5 in Connecticut]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 9.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 9]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 71.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 71]]
| blank4_name = [[Commuter rail|Commuter Rail]]
| blank4_info = [[File:Amtrak logo 2.svg|25px|link=Amtrak]] [[File:Hartford Line Transparent.png|25px|link=Hartford Line]]
}}

'''Berlin''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɜr|l|ɪ|n}} {{respell|BUR|lin}}) is a town in the [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]], [[Connecticut]], United States. The population was 20,175 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900304300| title=Census - Geography Profile: Berlin town, Hartford County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref> It was incorporated in 1785. The geographic center of [[Connecticut]] is located in the town. Berlin is residential and industrial, and is served by the [[Amtrak]] [[railroad station|station]] [[Berlin station (Connecticut)|of the same name]]. Berlin also has two hamlets: [[Kensington, Connecticut|Kensington]] and [[East Berlin, Connecticut|East Berlin]]. It has major manufacturers such as Plastic Molding Manufacturing, PYC manufacturing, and Budney Industries. Berlin has 1 high school 1 middle school and 3 elementary schools.

==Town seal==
The greatest boom to Berlin industry resulted from the decision of the Patterson brothers to start their business on West Street (now called Lower Lane). For twenty years until 1760, they kept their work in the family selling their wares from a basket. When demand increased they took apprentices into the shop and engaged peddlers to travel throughout the colonies selling the shiny, useful articles (the seal of the Town of Berlin shows such a "Yankee peddler" in eighteenth-century dress with a basket under his arm, a pack on his back full of tinware). As others learned the trade, they soon set up shop and hired apprentices. There were so many that the noise of the [[whitesmith]]s and their hammering could be heard in every part of town.

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=February 2023}}
The town took parts away from Wethersfield (Now Rocky Hill and Newington), Middletown (Now Cromwell), Wallingford (Now Meriden) and Farmington (Now Southington and New Britain). Berlin was one of the birthplaces of [[interchangeable parts]] manufacturing and of the [[Industrial Revolution]] in the United States, in the workshop of [[Simeon North]]. The town was formerly known as Kensington.

In 1659, Sergeant Richard Beckley purchased 300 acres from Chief Tarramuggus, built a home for his family and became the first settler in what was to become Berlin. Other families slowly followed, and in 1686, Captain Richard Seymour led a group of families from Farmington to begin the first settlement on Christian Lane.

By 1705, the first ecclesiastical society was recognized and the area renamed the Great Swamp Society. The first meetinghouse and cemetery were established a few years later, and the first school house built in 1717.

1722 brought reorganization to the Society. Parts of the towns of Farmington, Wethersfield and Middletown were added to increase the land area, and the name changed to Kensington. In 1772, the Society was divided into an eastern half, called Worthington, and the western section, which retained the name of Kensington. 1785 brought incorporation of the town, which was then called Berlin. New Britain remained a part of Berlin until 1850.

Around 1740, Edward and William Pattison, two brothers from Ireland, emigrated to Berlin and set up the first tinware business in the colonies. Wares in baskets were pedaled from house to house, then, as surplus accumulated, by mule and wagon, traveling all over America and to Canada. This was the birth of "The Yankee Peddler".

During the years from 1700 to 1750, farms, mills, and blacksmiths sprang up through the Great Swamp. Most residents of this area were skilled in one or more of these trades, which were recognized and allowed by the British government. A blacksmith was crucial for daily living needs such as nails, tools, hinges, latches, hooks, cranes, cooking utensils, and parts for wagons, wheels and sleds. Small ironworks sprang up near local waterpower.

In addition to tinware, ammunition was made from the local lead mines during the Revolutionary War. East Berlin Milling Co. produced cotton and woolen yarn which was spun into clothing and blankets. Simeon North, manufacturer of pistols, became the first official pistol maker for the United States Government when he developed a system of interchangeable parts for pistols. In the 1800s, business of all sorts thrived in Berlin. Makers of wagons, tableware, hats, clocks, books, combs, woolen clothes and blankets, cabinet and coffin makers, sleighs, muffs, and suits, were all local industries. Berlin was on the direct route from New Haven to Hartford, with taverns and inns, which were regular stagecoach stops for fresh horses, meals and sleeping accommodations.

Two meetinghouses had been built, one in Kensington Parish, still in use today as the Kensington Congregational Church. The Worthington Meetinghouse was in continuous use as a church, town hall, school and town offices until 1974.

Berlin has one of the 75 official post offices designated by [[Benjamin Franklin]], first Postmaster General. A historic marker showing that the next post office was in Hartford, 11 miles away, is still located on Worthington Ridge.

By the late 1700s, a village library had been started, and the town boasted of five school districts. In the mid 1800s, the Worthington Academy was built, which ultimately housed 125 students from neighboring states. The Berlin Railroad Depot opened as a way station on the New York, New Haven and Hartford line. Today, this train station is one of the last places in the U.S. that sells tickets to anywhere in the U.S. or Canada.

The mid 1800s brought competition from mass-produced products, forcing the peddlers out of business. It also brought the establishment of the brick making industry locally, which eventually produced 90,000 bricks daily until the 1960s.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|69.9|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|68.2|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|1.7|km2|order=flip}}, or 2.45%, is horn.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US0900304300| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212143002/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US0900304300| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Berlin town, Hartford County, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 26, 2012}}</ref> The geographic center of Connecticut is located in Berlin.

The west side of Berlin is flanked by the [[Metacomet Ridge]], a mountainous [[trap rock]] ridgeline that stretches from [[Long Island Sound]] to nearly the [[Vermont]] border. Notable mountains of the Metacomet ridge in Berlin include the [[Hanging Hills]], [[Lamentation Mountain]], [[Short Mountain (Connecticut)|Short Mountain]], and [[Ragged Mountain (Connecticut)|Ragged Mountain]]. The {{convert|51|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Metacomet Trail]] and the {{convert|50|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Mattabesett Trail]] traverse the ridge. Silver Lake straddles the town, with the Urrunaga Bridge spanning the lake.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 2877
|1840= 3411
|1850= 1869
|1860= 2146
|1870= 2436
|1880= 2385
|1890= 2600
|1900= 3448
|1910= 3728
|1920= 4298
|1930= 4875
|1940= 5230
|1950= 7470
|1960= 11250
|1970= 14149
|1980= 15121
|1990= 16787
|2000= 18215
|2010= 19866
|2020= 20175
|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>
|1790=2465|1800=2702|1810=2798|1830=3037}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
As of the 2010 census Berlin had a population of 19,866. The racial makeup of the population was 94.9% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.6% from some other race and 1.0% from two or more races. 3.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>2010 population by race and Hispanic or Latino by place chart for Connecticut from the US Census</ref>

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 18,215 people, 6,792 households, and 5,155 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|688.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 6,955 housing units at an average density of {{convert|262.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.03% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.36% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.05% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.65% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.18% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.73% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.47% of the population.

There were 6,792 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 7.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.1% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $68,068, and the median income for a family was $76,756. Males had a median income of $49,714 versus $34,832 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $27,744. About 1.4% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Berlin town vote by party in presidential elections<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|title = General Elections Statement of Vote 1922}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=December 16, 2020|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.58% ''5,559''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.74%''' ''6,701''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.68% ''210''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.67% ''6,008''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.95%''' ''6,687''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.38% ''178''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.35% ''4,913''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.53%''' ''6,210''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.12% ''478''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.06%''' ''5,499''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.81% ''5,361''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.13% ''124''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.16%''' ''6,028''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.54% ''4,957''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.30% ''144''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.91%''' ''5,571''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.79% ''5,022''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.30% ''140''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.73%''' ''5,513''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.81% ''3,938''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.47% ''442''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.60%''' ''4,800''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.47% ''3,207''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|13.93% ''1,296''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''40.88%''' ''4,177''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.47% ''3,625''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|23.65% ''2,417''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.92% ''4,329''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.16%''' ''4,621''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.92% ''83''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.37% ''3,418''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.24%''' ''5,455''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.39% ''35''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.16% ''3,373''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''45.90%''' ''3,856''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|13.94% ''1,171''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.11% ''3,851''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.10%''' ''4,090''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.79% ''63''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.60% ''2,939''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.02%''' ''4,769''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.38% ''108''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.19%''' ''3,423''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.73% ''3,319''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.08% ''361''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''67.53%''' ''4,377''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.47% ''2,105''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.55%''' ''3,143''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.45% ''2,954''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|32.56% ''1,636''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.44%''' ''3,388''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 29, 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/Nov19RE.pdf?la=en|title=Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 29, 2019|publisher=Connecticut Secretary of State|format=PDF|access-date=February 17, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active voters
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 4,795
| align = center | 176
| align = center | 4,971
| align = center | 33.13%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 3,735
| align = center | 132
| align = center | 3,867
| align = center | 25.77%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align = center | 5,743
| align = center | 305
| align = center | 6,048
| align = center | 40.30%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Minor parties
| align = center | 116
| align = center | 4
| align = center | 120
| align = center | 0.80%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 14,389
! align = center | 617
! align = center | 15,006
! align = center | 100%
|}

==Economy==

===Top employers===
According to Berlin's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.town.berlin.ct.us/egov/documents/1544735803_67212.pdf|title=Town of Berlin, Connecticut Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023|publisher=Town of Berlin|access-date=February 17, 2024}}</ref> the top employers in the city are:

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
| [[Eversource Energy]]
|1,245
|-
|2
| Town of Berlin
|700
|-
|3
| [[Assa Abloy]]
|465
|-
|4
| Keep Me Home
|300
|-
|5
|[[Comcast]]
|245
|-
|6
|Budney Overhaul and Repair
|190
|-
|7
|TOMZ Corp
|174
|-
|8
|Parker-Fluid Control
|158
|-
|9
|Budney Industries
|146
|-
|10
|EuroAmerican Home Care
|110
|}

==Transportation==
[[File:Footbridge at Berlin station from parking lot, October 2020.jpg|thumb|[[Berlin station (Connecticut)|Berlin train station]] is served by the [[Hartford Line]] and [[Amtrak]]]]
Berlin is bisected by a north-south arterial road, [[U.S. 5]] and an expressway, [[Connecticut State Route 9]]. [[Connecticut State Route 372]] is a local east-west road serving the town.

Berlin is located on the [[New Haven–Springfield Line]] with daily passenger service to points north and south and to New York City via a connection in New Haven. In the Kensington neighborhood on Berlin's west side is [[Berlin station (Connecticut)|Berlin station]] by the [[CT Rail]]'s [[Hartford Line]] trains and by [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Amtrak Hartford Line|Hartford Line]]'', ''[[Northeast Regional]]'', and ''[[Valley Flyer]]''.

==Notable people==

* [[Simeon North]] (1765–1852), manufacturing pioneer; adopted milling/manufacturing with interchangeable parts
* [[Emma Hart Willard]] (1787–1870), pioneer in women's education
* [[Joseph Pierce (soldier)|Joseph Pierce]] (1842-1916), [[Union Army]] [[corporal]] who was born in [[China]] and fought in the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]
* [[Gary Waslewski]] (born 1941), started Game 6 of the 1967 World Series for the Boston Red Sox
* [[Luann de Lesseps]] (born 1965), cast member on ''The Real Housewives of New York City''
* [[Joe Clifford]] (born 1970), author and editor
* [[Austin Stowell]] (born 1984), actor known for films ''Dolphin Tale'', ''Whiplash'', and ''Bridge of Spies''
* [[Sam McKinniss]] (born 1985), abstract and figurative postmodern painter; born in Minnesota, raised in Berlin from when he was a one-year-old
* [[Ryan Preece]] (born 1990), [[NASCAR]] driver

==Education==

[[Image:PostcardBerlinCTLibrary1911.jpg|thumb|upright|Library, {{circa|1911}}]]
There are three elementary schools, Mary E. Griswold School, Emma Hart Willard School, and Richard D. Hubbard School, as well as [[Catherine M. McGee Middle School]], and [[Berlin High School (Connecticut)|Berlin High School]]. Besides these, there is one private education school in Berlin; Saint Paul School (Founded 1958).

The town's public library is the [[Berlin-Peck Memorial Library]] located at the Arthur B. Powers complex, the library contains an adjoining community center with publicly available meeting rooms, a gym area and a game room. Adult education classes are held here as well as meetings for civic and student groups.

==Pronunciation==

Although taken from the name of the [[Prussia]]n capital, [[Berlin]],<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA330|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=330}}</ref> which receives the stress in its pronunciation on the second syllable, the name of the town in Connecticut has always received the stress in its pronunciation on the first syllable, in keeping with the [[recessive accent]] usual in the pronunciation of English. Notwithstanding this history, a [[urban legend|contemporary legend]] claims that the emphasis was changed during the [[First World War]] to differentiate the little town from the German city.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sure It's Ber-lin, But Why? |url=https://www.courant.com/2008/07/05/sure-its-ber-lin-but-why/ |access-date=17 January 2025 |work=Hartford Courant |date=5 July 2008}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*[http://www.town.berlin.ct.us/ Town of Berlin official website]
*[http://berlincthistorical.org/ Berlin Historical Society]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Berlin, Connecticut
|North = [[Newington, Connecticut|Newington]]
|Northeast = [[Rocky Hill, Connecticut|Rocky Hill]]
|East = [[Cromwell, Connecticut|Cromwell]]
|Southeast = [[Middletown, Connecticut|Middletown]]
|South = [[Meriden, Connecticut|Meriden]]
|Southwest =
|West = [[Southington, Connecticut|Southington]]
|Northwest = [[New Britain, Connecticut|New Britain]]
}}

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

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Berlin, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Hartford County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1785]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Greater Hartford]]
[[Category:Towns in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut]]