text:
Stafford, Connecticut

Stafford is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States, settled in 1719. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 11,472 at the 2020 United States Census. The community consists of the downtown area of Stafford Springs and the more rural villages of Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, Hydeville, Orcuttsville, Staffordville, Stafford Hollow, Village Hill, and West Stafford.

Etymology
The town most likely derives its name from Staffordshire, in England.

History
The Colonial Town of Stafford began as a rural agricultural community in the eastern part of Hartford County. It became part of Tolland County upon the latter's formation on 13 October 1785. The easy availability of water power from the tributaries of the Willimantic River led to industrialization, and this abundance of power helped generate local population growth. By the mid-19th century, Stafford was connected by railroad to markets across New England, and before the State Highway projects of the 1920s and 1930s, the town had a trolley connection to Rockville.

During the Civil War, factories in Stafford made cannonballs and other war supplies for the northern forces.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 152.2 km2, of which 150.1 km2 is land and 2.1 km2  (1.38%) is water; it is the fourth largest town in Connecticut based on area.

Stafford Springs is located at the intersection of Routes 190 and 32, in the northeastern region of the state. The community consists of the downtown area of Stafford Springs and the more rural villages of Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, Hydeville, Orcuttsville, Staffordville, Stafford Hollow, Village Hill, and West Stafford.

While the town has managed to maintain its New England mill-town charm and culture, it is also a bedroom commuter town feeding into larger area communities. Many residents drive into Hartford, Manchester, and Enfield, Connecticut, as well as Springfield, Massachusetts, all of which can be reached in roughly a 30-mile auto commute. It is also about a half-hour drive to the University of Connecticut's main campus in Storrs.

The highest point in town is the western slope of Burley Hill at 1,300'. Burley Hill's "summit" is 1,315'.

Demographics
In 2011, there were 12,192 people, 4,819 households, and 3,086 families residing in the town. The population density was 210.2 PD/sqmi. There were 4,956 housing units at an average density of 85.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.51% White, 0.69% African American, 0.16% Native American, 1.10% Asian, and 2.53% from other races or from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.04% of the population.

In 2019, there were 11,893 people and 4,707 households residing in the town. The population density was 208.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 94.7% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 3.0% Two or More Races, 3.5% Hispanic or Latino, 92.4% White alone, not Hispanic or Latino.

The age population was evenly spread out, with 18.2% under the age of 18, 64.4% from 18 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $74,386. The per capita income for the town was $37,359. About 6.2% of the population was below the poverty line.

Most of the town's population is located in seven villages, with nearly half in Stafford Springs. The rest of the town, particularly the northern third, is rural and forested.

Education
At the present time there are one primary, one elementary, one middle and one high school in Stafford.

The primary school, West Stafford, serves children in Pre-K and kindergarten. Stafford Elementary school serves children in grades one through five. The middle school is for grades 6–8, and the high school is grades 9–12.

Stafford High School fields competitive teams in football, basketball, cross country, track, soccer, field hockey, baseball and softball and in more recent years wrestling, as well as offering an active intramural sports program. Each spring the music, arts, and drama departments of the high and middle schools put on plays and musical productions. A variety of extracurricular activities rounds out the school program.

Medical
Johnson Memorial Medical Center is a 90-bed acute care facility, located on Route 190 in Stafford, The Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient services, including medical and surgical, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, mental health, intensive/coronary care, oncology, physical rehabilitation and emergency care. The facility was built in 1975. It has an adjoining professional building which houses the practices of area doctors.

Evergreen Health Care Center opened in 1989, is a nursing facility located on the hospital campus consisting of 120 long term care beds and a 30-bed sub-acute rehabilitation unit and a 30-bed Memory Support Unit for residents with Alzheimer's disease. Evergreen and JMH serve several area towns.

Family Birth Suites at the Nirenberg Center is a state of the art birthing center featuring six private birthing suites designed to accommodate patients throughout their stay, for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum care.

Evergreen, JMH, and the Nirenberg Center serve several area towns.

Stafford hosts offices of a number of physicians, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, physical therapists and other health professionals. The Stafford Veterinary Center serves the needs of large and small animals.

Recreation
The town has several tennis courts, ball fields, soccer fields, and several parks. In addition, there are private hunting and fishing clubs, as well as recreational swimming and tennis clubs. During the spring and summer there is an active Little League program, youth softball, adult softball for men and women, and a summer recreational program offering swimming lessons and martial arts instruction for children. There are programs for youth football, basketball, soccer and hockey.

The Stafford Motor Speedway attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year and is a fixture of spring and summer. There is a small public beach on Staffordville Lake which is a summertime destination for many residents. Stafford also has (limited) access to Sandy Beach on Crystal Lake in Ellington. Plans are being developed to provide hiking and multi-use trails within Stafford. There are two bed and breakfasts as well as a few campgrounds (Sun Valley, Roaring Brook and Mineral Springs ) that provide accommodation for visitors.

Government
Stafford is governed by a three-member Board of Selectmen, elected by voters in odd-numbered years for two-year terms. The Town has no charter but is governed under the general statutes of the State of Connecticut, and under ordinances specific to the Town which have been adopted by popular vote at town meetings.

Stafford is served by the Connecticut State Police through the Resident State Trooper program. The town has both CSP Uniformed troopers, as well as Stafford uniformed officers. The barracks of Troop C of the State Police are located nearby, just off Interstate Highway 84 in Tolland. Full-time and part-time constables also serve with resident troopers.

Two volunteer fire departments cover Stafford with strategically located firehouses (West Stafford Fire, Stafford Fire #1 ). The Stafford Fire Department has two locations, one in the Staffordville district (Station 145) and the second in the Stafford Springs District (Station 245). The Town also has a volunteer ambulance organization which serves the area.

The Stafford Public Library continually offers public service programs and special events for the community.

A modern sewer plant, constructed in 1972, serves about a third of the Town; the commercial and industrial areas of the Town lie largely in the Service District. Curbside pick-up of municipal refuse and recyclable materials is available within the Stafford Springs Service District.

In the Connecticut General Assembly, Stafford is represented by State Representative Kurt Vail and State Senator Dan Champagne.

Notable people

 * Alvin Alden (1818–1882), Wisconsin state legislator; born in town
 * Jack Arute (born 1950), sports commentator and president Stafford Motor Speedway
 * Penny Bacchiochi (born c. 1961), former Connecticut House of Representatives legislator; raised in town
 * Matt Bessette (born 1984), American mixed martial artist
 * John Buckley (1885–1959), Connecticut state legislator and US district attorney; born in town
 * Ernest Cady (1842–1908), 45th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
 * Attilio R. Frassinelli (1907–1976), 78th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1967 to 1971
 * Moses G. Leonard (1809–1899), US Congressman for New York; born in town
 * Charles Lewandoski (born 1985), former NASCAR driver
 * Erasmus D. Peck (1808–1879), US Congressman for Ohio; born in town

title: Stafford, Connecticut


text:
Storrs, Connecticut

Storrs is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Mansfield in eastern Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The village is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 15,979 at the 2020 census. It is dominated economically and demographically by the main campus of the University of Connecticut and the associated Connecticut Repertory Theatre.

History
Storrs was named for Charles and Augustus Storrs, two brothers who founded the University of Connecticut (originally called the Storrs Agricultural College) by giving the land (170 acre) and $6,000 in 1881.

In the aftermath of September 2005's Hurricane Katrina, Slate named Storrs "America's Best Place to Avoid Death Due to Natural Disaster."

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the community has an area of 14.9 km$2$ (5.7 mi2), of which 14.7 km$2$ (5.7 mi2) is land and 0.1 km$2$ (0.04 mi2) (0.53%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,996 people, 1,630 households, and 645 families residing in the community. The population density was 748.8/km$2$ (1,939.3/mi2). There were 1,701 housing units at an average density of 115.8/km$2$ (300.0/mi2). The racial makeup of the community was 81.10% White, 5.67% African American, 0.09% Native American, 9.13% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.70% from other races, and 2.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.40% of the population.

There were 1,630 households, out of which 15.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.6% were married couples living together, 4.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 60.4% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.70.

The age distribution, heavily influenced by the University of Connecticut, was 4.0% of the population under the age of 18, 76.1% from 18 to 24, 10.1% from 25 to 44, 3.9% from 45 to 64, and 5.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 21. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $76,000 and the median income for a family was $64,833. Males had a median income of $34,766 versus $23,229 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $9,947. About 10.0% of families and 33.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.4% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over. Standard measures of poverty can be misleading when applied to communities dominated by students, such as Storrs.

Transportation
It is near the intersection of U.S. Route 44 and Connecticut Route 32 in Mansfield Depot. Until 1955 inter-city train service was available nine miles to the south in Willimantic on the New Haven Railroad's Nutmeg and unnamed trains between Waterbury, Hartford and Boston.

Notable people

 * Regina Barreca, humorist and UConn professor of English literature and feminist theory
 * Audrey P. Beck, college professor and Connecticut state legislator
 * Rivers Cuomo, lead singer/guitarist of the alternative rock band Weezer, grew up in Storrs and attended the local secondary school, E.O. Smith High School
 * Cheo Hodari Coker, television writer and producer for Luke Cage, Ray Donovan, and Southland
 * Wally Lamb, best-selling author of the books She's Come Undone and I Know This Much Is True. Both were selected for Oprah's Book Club.
 * Dan Orlovsky, ESPN college football and NFL analyst, former quarterback for the Detroit Lions
 * Tim Page, Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic and biographer of Dawn Powell
 * Jonathan Pelto, American politician
 * Samuel Pickering, professor at the University of Connecticut, inspiration for the character Mr. Keating in the film Dead Poets Society
 * Dom Sigillo, retired American football player, played for the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.
 * Charles and Augustus Storrs, brothers, business partners, benefactors and co-founders of the University of Connecticut
 * Peter Tork (ne Peter Halsten Thorkelson), member of The Monkees. He attended E.O. Smith High School; he was class of 1959 and made the class of 2005 commencement speech.
 * Wendy O. Williams, lead singer for the 1970s and 1980s punk rock band the Plasmatics, lived in town from 1991 until her death in 1998

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Storrs, Connecticut


text:
Tolland, Connecticut

Tolland is a suburban town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 14,563 at the 2020 census.

History
Tolland was named in May 1715, and incorporated in May 1722 from Windsor. The town was over 20 miles away from Tolland and was incorporated to grow the population out in the hill areas. According to some, the town derives its name from being a toll station on the old road between Boston and New York. Alternatively, its name could have been taken after Tolland in Somerset, England. Today Interstate 84, the main highway connecting New York City, Hartford, Connecticut and Boston, bisects Tolland, but the town retains a charming village feel. Tolland Green is the informal center of the community, and a national historic district. The Green's features include an old-fashioned penny candy and antiques store known to locals as the 'Red and White'; the town's original 19th-century town hall, now an arts center; the Old Tolland County Jail and Museum; the Tolland County Courthouse and former public library; the 'Tolland Inn' bed and breakfast; and the Hicks-Stearns Family Museum, a restored Victorian house. The architectural styles on display, including the white steeples of several churches, are reminiscent of a picture-postcard New England scene. The town is also home to the supposedly haunted Daniel Benton Homestead, built in 1720 and the oldest house in Tolland.

Many of the town's adults work in Hartford, located about 30 minutes away, often at one of the city's many insurance companies, or for the University of Connecticut in Storrs, to the south. A family-oriented town, the landscape of Tolland is primarily composed of houses on plots of land around two acres. Undeveloped, forested land covers the area between the town's many residential developments. Containing two state forests and several municipal parks, the town retains a relatively rural character.

The Tolland Public Library opened in 1899. Located in the old county courthouse until 1985, the library was moved to the former Hicks Memorial School in 1985. It was significantly expanded in 2017.

In 2006, Tolland opened the new Tolland High School to support the growing number of students. The town is also expanding with new commercial and residential developments.

Tolland has ranked among "Best Places to Live in America" by CNN magazine in the "Small Town" category several times:

In April 2008, Wes Craven began filming scenes for his 2009 movie My Soul to Take inside the former Tolland High School.

In September 2019, it was announced that Birch Grove Elementary School would undergo renovation after the foundation started to crack due to the presence of pyrrhotite in the cement. Construction is expected to complete in August 2021.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 104.4 km2, of which 102.8 km2 is land and 1.5 km2 (1.46%) is water.

Nearby towns include Coventry, Ellington, Mansfield, Stafford, Vernon, and Willington, Connecticut.

Climate
Tolland's climate is classified as warm summer continental (Dfb), as is typical of the eastern hills of Connecticut. The area enjoys some characteristics hot-summer continental climate (Dfa) due to a relatively high July mean temperature of 70.7 °F (21.5 °C), which is very close to the threshold of 71.6 °F (22 °C) mean temperature required for a hot-summer climate. The area experiences four distinct seasons, with cold, snowy winters and warm to hot summers. The climate of Tolland is distinguished from the warmer climate of nearby Hartford due to its elevation. The area is prone to blizzards and ice storms in the winter, and during the summer it occasionally experiences tropical activity (though less severe than in lower elevations of the state). Precipitation is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year, with the wettest month being November and the driest being February.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 15,052 people, divided into 5,092 households living in the town. The average household size was 2.9 people. The population density was 373.0 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 94.1% White (93.2% non-Hispanic White), 0.8% African American, 2.0% Asian, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population. In terms of language, 94% of Tolland's residents spoke English at home, and 4.1% of residents were foreign-born. The median age was 41 years. The median income for a household in the town was $110,781, and the median income for a family was $122,299. The per capita income for the town was $47,611, and around 1.7% of the population was below the poverty line. 122 families received Supplemental Security Income or some other form of cash assistance, and 945 residents (0.6%) were on social security.

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,146 people, 4,586 households, and 3,788 families residing in the town. The population density was 331.0 PD/sqmi. There were 4,665 housing units at an average density of 117.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.36% White, 0.57% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were .75% of the population.

There were 4,586 households, out of which 42.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.4% were married couples living together, 1.9% had a female householder, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 28.3% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $135,398 as of Census 2000, and, according to CNN/Money magazine's 2009 "Best Places to Live", the median income for a family in 2009 was $136,772. The per capita income for the town was $54,571. About .6% of families and .7% of the population were below the poverty line, including .5% of those under age 18 and .2% of those age 65 or over.

Government
Tolland was governed by town meeting until November 1973, when it adopted a new charter. The principal governing body of Tolland is the elected Town Council, which is responsible for making policy and major decisions about the town's future. The day-to-day operations of the town are handled by a Town Manager, a paid professional appointed by the Council and charged with implementing and executing Council policy and decisions.

The Council consists of seven unpaid members elected in a general election in the town every two years. Currently, the Council consists of three Republicans and four Democrats, and was elected in November 2021. The council selects its own chairman and vice-chairman, with the chairman traditionally being the highest vote-getter among the four majority-party members and the vice-chairman the highest among the minority party members, though the council is not under obligation to follow this pattern. Except for Executive Sessions (which are held to renegotiate contracts with Town employees, among other reasons) meetings are open to the public and contain a time for citizens to address the Council from the floor. As of November 2017, meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 7:00pm in the 6th floor Council Chambers of the Hicks Municipal Building at 21 Tolland Green.

Education

 * Birch Grove Primary School, Pre-kindergarten, Grade 2
 * Tolland Intermediate School, Grades 3–5
 * Tolland Middle School, Grades 6–8
 * Tolland High School, Grades 9–12
 * Tolland Alternative Learning Center (TALC)

Notable locations

 * The Daniel Benton Homestead was built in 1720 and is the oldest home in Tolland. It is now a museum.
 * The Hicks-Stearns Family Museum is a restored Victorian-era house museum built in 1788 and once inhabited by Ratcliffe Hicks.
 * The Old Tolland County Jail and Museum is a property including the 1856 jail which operated until 1968 and attached Jailer's home.

On the National Register of Historic Places

 * Tolland County Courthouse – listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1977.
 * Tolland Green Historic District – founded in 1706 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Notable people

 * Edward K. Beale (born 1970), Author, USCG helicopter pilot during Hurricane Katrina; raised in Tolland and graduated from Tolland High School
 * Daniel C. Burbank (born 1961), NASA astronaut; raised in Tolland and graduated from Tolland High School in 1979
 * Henry D. Cogswell (1820–1900), dentist and a crusader in the temperance movement; born in Tolland
 * William W. Eaton (1816–1898), US Congressman and US Senator; born in Tolland and a resident of Tolland
 * Ratcliffe Hicks (1843–1906), state legislator, lawyer, industrialist, and benefactor of the University of Connecticut
 * Jonathan Hatch Hubbard (1768–1849), US Congressman for Vermont; born in Tolland
 * Charles R. Ladd (1822–1903), lawyer, politician and Massachusetts Auditor; born in Tolland
 * David Passaro (born 1966), CIA contractor and former US Army Ranger; graduated from Tolland High School
 * Shubal Stearns (1706–1771), evangelist, preacher of the Separate Baptists; resident of Tolland
 * James Stevenson (born 1981), actor; raised in Tolland
 * Loren P. Waldo (1802–1881), lawyer and US Congressman; resident of Tolland
 * Calvin Willey (1776–1858), American lawyer, politician, and US Senator (1825–1831); resident of Tolland
 * Nancy Wyman (born 1946), Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut and former State Comptroller; resident of Tolland
 * Tammy Nuccio, Connecticut State Representative 53rd General Assembly District; resident of Tolland

title: Tolland, Connecticut


text:
Union, Connecticut

Union is a town located in the northeastern part of Tolland County, Connecticut, United States and is part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region and Last Green Valley National Heritage Corridor. The population was 785 at the 2020 census, making it the least populous town and municipality in Connecticut. Union includes the village of Mashapaug located in the Eastern Uplands at the Massachusetts state line. Union is located 33 mi northeast of the state capital, Hartford and 67 mi southwest of Boston, as well as 153 mi northeast of New York City.

History
The first European Settlement in Union was in 1727, making Union the last Connecticut town east of the Connecticut River to be settled. The first settler was James McNall of Ireland. He was closely followed by his brother William. The town was incorporated in October 1734. The name Union designates "union of lands".

Union was first a town in Windham County. It became a town in Tolland County upon its formation from part of Windham County on October 13, 1785.

There were 500 people in the town in 1756. The population grew to 767 by 1800, but declined thereafter. There were just 431 people in Union in 1890. The official population of the town is still less than 1,000 residents today.

Civic associations
Union is home to Venturing Crew 83 of the Connecticut Rivers Council. They are a member of the Nipmuck District and chartered by the Union Volunteer Fire Department.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.8 sqmi, of which 28.7 sqmi is land and 1.1 sqmi (3.75%) is water.

Union has the highest town center in eastern Connecticut at 1015 ft and the 4th highest in the state. The highest elevation in eastern Connecticut is 1315 ft Burley Hill in the northwestern part of town. In addition, I-84 reaches its highest elevation in Connecticut (1002 ft) in Union.

Approximately one-third of the town is state park land, including Bigelow Hollow State Park, Nipmuck State Forest and the Mountain Laurel Sanctuary. A portion of the Yale-Myers Forest and Hull Foresters are located in Union. All combined, there are nearly 34,000 acres of forestland in Union.

Mashapaug Lake is a large lake in Union. The lake is used for fishing, boating, and swimming.

Demographics
At the census of 2000, there were 693 people, 285 households, and 200 families residing in the town. The population density was 24.1 /mi2. There were 332 housing units at an average density of 11.6 /mi2. The racial makeup of the town was 98.56% White, 0.14% Asian, and 1.30% from two or more races.

There were 285 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 34.6% from 25 to 44, 28.7% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,214, and the median income for a family was $65,417. Males had a median income of $48,021 versus $35,469 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,900. About 2.0% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education
Union residents are zoned to the Union School District for grades Kindergarten through 8. The only school in the district is Union Elementary School.

High schoolers have the option of attending Stafford High School, Rockville Vocational-Agricultural School, Windham Regional Technical Vocational School or Woodstock Academy.

Recreation
With over 40,000 acres of forestland in and around town and a major interstate going through it, Union is known for outdoor recreation such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping and picnicking. The area's elevation and dominance of evergreen trees makes the area cooler than surrounding places. Most activity is centered on Bigelow Hollow State Park, and especially at Mashapaug Lake.

Snowmobiling is also enjoyed in the area.

Landmarks
The village of Mashapaug in Union is the site of the Traveler Restaurant, a unique eating establishment that gives away used books to its patrons.

Camp Pomperaug, a Boy Scout camp operated by the Connecticut Yankee Council, BSA, is situated within Union, and borders the state forest. It was originally property of the Wells family, for whom Wells Pond is named. The camp was originally situated on Lake Zoar in Monroe, but was relocated to the Union property when the original camp's dining hall was destroyed by a severe winter storm.

The camp includes old stone foundations of the buildings once comprising Well's Mill, and also includes a small Revolutionary War cemetery where, among other soldiers interred, lies a brother-in-law of Benedict Arnold. The burial site is thought by some to be haunted.

The Union Free Public Library is housed in one of the town's few public buildings. The library was established by a town meeting in November 1894, and opened March 25, 1895, in a private home. In 1912 it moved into a newly built building, which it still occupies.

 * Union Green Historic District

Notable people

 * Alonzo Horton, considered the second founder of the city of San Diego, California, and the founder of Hortonville, Wisconsin, was born in Union on October 24, 1813. His family moved away from the area in 1815
 * Moses G. Leonard (1809–1899), a United States representative from New York, grew up in Union but was born in nearby Stafford
 * Ebenezer Stoddard (1785–1847), a United States Representative from Connecticut and Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, was born in Union

title: Union, Connecticut


text:
Vernon, Connecticut

Vernon is the most populous town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 30,215 at the 2020 census. Vernon contains the smaller villages of  Talcottville and Dobsonville. Vernon contains the former City of Rockville.

History
Vernon was incorporated in October 1808, from Bolton. Vernon was named after George Washington's Mount Vernon estate. Vernon contains the former city of Rockville, incorporated in January 1889 and consolidated in January 1965.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.1 sqmi, of which 17.7 sqmi is land and 0.3 sqmi (1.88%) is water.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 28,063 people, 12,269 households and 7,275 families living in the town. The population density was 1,582.8 PD/sqmi. There were 12,867 housing units at an average density of 725.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 89.95% White, 3.99% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.65% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 1.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.58% of the population.

There were 12,269 households, out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. Of all households, 33.0% were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.

Of the population, 22.1% was under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,816, and the median income for a family was $59,599. Males had a median income of $43,620 versus $31,515 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,150. About 4.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

City of Rockville
Most of Rockville has been designated as part of the Rockville Historic District. The district is roughly bounded by Shenipsit Street, Davis Avenue, West Street and South Street was added in 1984 to the National Register of Historic Places. The district includes 842 buildings and one other structure. It includes examples of Greek Revival, Late Victorian, and Classical Revival architecture. The historic district includes 842 buildings and one other structure over 550 acres (2.2 km2). The Population of this part of Vernon is 7,474.

Buildings of architectural or historic interest in Rockville include:

 * St. Bernard Church
 * Memorial Building housing the New England Civil War Museum and the Grand Army of the Republic Hall as well as the town offices for Vernon.
 * Old Rockville High School and East School
 * Hockanum Mill
 * Saxony Mill
 * Florence Mill
 * The Tower on Fox Hill

Elementary schools

 * Lake Street School
 * Maple Street School
 * Northeast School
 * Center Road School
 * Skinner Road School

Middle and secondary schools

 * Vernon Center Middle School

Secondary schools

 * Rockville High School

Economy
Top employers in Vernon according to the town's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Fire
Fire protection for the Town of Vernon is provided by the Town of Vernon Fire Department, formed in 1980 when the Vernon Fire District and the Rockville Fire Department merged. The Town of Vernon Fire Department (TVFD) is an all volunteer fire department that operates out of five fire stations as well as a Public Safety Building which houses EMS operations, department administration, the Office of Emergency and Risk Management, as well as the town's Emergency Operations Center.

The Department operates five engine companies, one heavy rescue, one squad (engine rescue) and two tower ladders. The Department also has an EMS Division which operates BLS (Basic Life Support) transport ambulances. The TVFD is dispatched by Tolland County Mutual Fire Service (Station TN)..

Points of interest

 * Arts Center East
 * Belding Wildlife Property
 * Gene Pitney Exhibit in Town Hall
 * New England Civil War Museum
 * Rails to Trails
 * Rockville Community Alliance
 * Rockville Farmers Market
 * Rockville Public Library
 * Talcottville Historic District
 * Talcottville Ravine
 * Valley Falls Park
 * Vernon Historical Society
 * Victorian Homes
 * Henry Park/Fox Hill Tower

Notable people

 * Jahine Arnold (born 1973), former NFL wide receiver
 * Lucille Barkley, film actress in the 1940s and 1950s, died in Vernon
 * Kevin Brown, current member of the Connecticut House of Representatives from the 56th district, which encompasses parts of the town of Vernon.
 * Joe Courtney, current U.S. congressman from Connecticut's 2nd congressional district
 * Stephen Farrell (1863–1933), world champion sprinter and track coach
 * George L. Graziadio, Jr., business and property developer born in Vernon
 * Marie Herbst, politician and former mayor of Vernon
 * Ross A. Hull, radio engineer, lived and died in Vernon
 * Martin Kellogg, former president of the University of California, was born in Vernon
 * Morgan Lewis (1906–1968), songwriter and Broadway theatre composer
 * Dwight Loomis (1821–1903), U.S. Representative
 * Dwight Marcy, politician and attorney in Vernon
 * Kenneth North (1930–2010), U.S. Air Force brigadier general
 * Bob Pease (1940–2011), analog integrated circuit design expert and technical author
 * Jim Penders, head coach of the Connecticut Huskies baseball team, was born in Vernon
 * M. William Phelps, investigative journalist and crime writer, lives in Vernon
 * Gene Pitney (1941–2006), internationally known singer/songwriter, member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, born in Hartford, raised in Rockville
 * Charles Ethan Porter (c. 1847–1923), an African-American still-life painter, lived in the Rockville neighborhood as a child
 * Bill Romanowski, was born in Vernon; he is a former professional American football player and four-time Super Bowl champion
 * Christian Sharps, inventor of the Sharps rifle, spent the final years of his life farming in Vernon
 * Eliza Talcott, American missionary to Japan and co-founder of Kobe College
 * Katie Taylor, Irish boxer and former footballer
 * Teephlow, West African poet and rapper from Ghana; currently resides in Vernon
 * Mark Warner, former Governor of Virginia and current U.S. Senator, was raised in Vernon

title: Vernon, Connecticut


text:
Willington, Connecticut

Willington is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 5,566 at the 2020 census.

The Willimantic River borders the town on the west. Willington is approximately 25 miles northeast of Hartford on Interstate 84, which also provides a connection to Boston, via the Massachusetts Turnpike. Providence, RI is accessible via U.S. Route 44. Larger communities nearby include Coventry, Stafford, Tolland, and Willimantic. The University of Connecticut is located in adjacent Mansfield. A new public library (formerly located within Hall Memorial School) opened in autumn 2006.

History
In 1720 a party of eight men, originally from England, bought 16,000 acres of the region and called it Wellington. Willington was incorporated in May 1727. Named "Wellington," in May 1725, from Wellington, Somersetshire, the birthplace of Roger Wolcott's grandfather Henry Wolcott. However, when incorporated in May 1727, the town's name was written as "Willington." Willington became a part of Tolland County when it was formed from portions of eastern Hartford County and western Windham County on October 13, 1785.

The town was well adapted for grazing and lumbering. After a century of farming, the town gradually expanded commercially and industrially. The c. 1815 Daniel Glazier Tavern includes an upstairs ballroom that was used for almost thirty years as a town meetinghouse in cold weather.

By 1845 Willington included a thread mill, a cotton mill, three silk factories, a scythe factory, four comb factories, button mills, and a glassworks (1815–1871) producing demijohns and flasks of various designs.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.5 sqmi, of which 33.3 sqmi is land and 0.2 sqmi  (0.63%) is water.

Notable people

 * Jeremiah Chaplin (1776–1841), a Reformed Baptist theologian who preached in town
 * Philip Corbin (1824–1910), a businessman and founder of P&F Corbin Company, was born in town
 * William H. Hall (1869–1922), a president pro tempore of the Connecticut State Senate
 * William L. Higgins (1867–1951), a US Congressman and doctor who practiced medicine in town
 * Orrin Holt (1792–1855), 1st representative of Connecticut's 6th congressional district; born and died in town
 * Elias Loomis (1811–1889), a mathematician and astronomer, was born in town
 * Jared Sparks (1792–1866), historian, Unitarian minister and President of Harvard University. A street named in his honor extends from the town green to Moose Meadow Road
 * Justus Vinton (1806–1858), a Baptist missionary to Myanmar, was born in town
 * Roger Wolcott (1679–1767), 28th Governor of the Connecticut Colony (1750–1754), one of the town's founders
 * Eleni Benson (born 1983), Olympic soccer player

Demographics
As of the census of 2000 (a 2010 census is available), there were 5,959 people, 2,353 households, and 1,437 families residing in the town. The population density was 179.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,429 housing units at an average density of 73.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 94.06% White, 0.97% African American, 0.12% Native American, 3.02% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.62% from other races, and 1.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.

There were 2,423 households, of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% were single householders with no spouse present (7.4% female householder, 3.8% male), and 39.5% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.4% under the age of 20, 16.9% from 20 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 4.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.3 years.

The median income for a household in the town was $51,690, and the median income for a family was $70,684. Males had a median income of $41,250 versus $36,310 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,062. About 2.9% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Elementary and middle school-aged residents attend schools in the Willington School District.

All residents are zoned to:
 * Center Elementary School (Kindergarten through 4)
 * Hall Memorial School (Grades 5 through 8)

High school-aged residents attend E. O. Smith High School of the Regional School District 19, as well as an option to attend Windham Technical High School.

Prior to the community's affiliation with Regional School District 19, Willington offered its high school–aged students a choice attending one of the two institutions. Numbers varied from year to year, having the undesired effect of breaking up classes and bussing them distances of up to 15 miles. The two available choices as of 2018 are:

 * E. O. Smith High School in Mansfield, Connecticut
 * Windham Technical High School in Windham, Connecticut.

Popular culture
Willington was featured on the Fox science fiction show Fringe in Season 5, Episode 9 ("Black Blotter").

Willington was the start of spree killer/kidnapper Peter Manfredonia's multi-state crime spree where he murdered a resident, injured another and took a third resident hostage in his home.

title: Willington, Connecticut


text:
Ashford, Connecticut

Ashford is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 4,191 at the 2020 census. It was founded in 1714. Eastford was a part of Ashford until 1847, when the former split off to organize its own town. For this reason North Ashford is located in northeast Eastford.

Ashford is home to the largest boy scout camp in Connecticut, the June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation; to Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for children with cancer and other serious illness; to the Salvation Army CONNRI Lodge and Conference Center; and to the Evangelical Christian Center, a retreat, camp and conference center.

History
President George Washington, returning from his tour of the country in the fall of 1789, was chagrined to be involuntarily abandoned in the village on a Sunday. It was contrary to law to hire a conveyance on that day, which was observed by villagers, to Washington's great annoyance.

New Ashford in Massachusetts is named after Ashford, as it was settled in 1762 by people from Ashford.

On July 17, 2018, an EF0 tornado—the first tornado to touch down in Windham County since 1992—struck Ashford Lake and the surrounding neighborhoods, downing trees, damaging homes, and killing three household rabbits.

National Register of Historic Places listings

 * Ashford Academy – Fitts Road (added 1988)
 * Church Farm – 396 Mansfield Road (added December 17, 1988)
 * Knowlton Memorial Hall – 25 Pompey Hollow Road (added April 17, 1994)
 * Mixer Tavern – 14 Westford Road (added April 17, 1994)

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 39.5 sqmi, of which, 38.8 sqmi of it is land and 0.7 sqmi of it (1.80%) is water. The Mount Hope River flows through the middle of the town, from north to south, while Bigelow Brook flows along the town's eastern border with Eastford. Ashford has several lakes and ponds, notably Ashford Lake, Lake Chaffee, Knowlton Pond, Rychlings Pond, Halls Pond, Poole Pond (Also known as Pearson Pond), and Morey Pond. The community of Lake Chaffee surrounds the lake of the same name.

Boston Hollow, a deep ravine, is located in Ashford, in the Yale-Myers Forest. Parts of Natchaug State Forest and Nipmuck State Forest are also located in Ashford, and both the Natchaug Trail and the Nipmuck Trail runs through the town. Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust has several nature preserved in town. Snow Hill located in the northwest corner of the town, is the highest point in Windham County at 1,210 feet.

Flora and fauna
Ashford is located in the northeastern coastal forests, which is a temperate broadleaf and mixed forest ecoregion. Ashford is home to the Yale-Myers Forest, which is used by the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies for scientific research and education. The most famous tree in town is the Ashford Oak, a very large and old Northern Red Oak with a trunk that is 8 meters in circumference.

The last recorded sighting of periodic cicadas belonging to Brood XI of the 17-year variety occurred in Ashford in 1954 along the Fenton River.

Demographics
As of 2010 Ashford had a population of 4,317. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 94.1% white, 1.0% black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 1.1% from some other race, 2.1% from two or more races and 3.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,098 people, 1,578 households, and 1,084 families residing in the town. The population density was 105.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,699 housing units at an average density of 43.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.71% White, 1.00% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.

There were 1,578 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $61,693. Males had a median income of $42,117 versus $31,942 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,104. About 3.4% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
The town of Ashford is heavily Democratic and has been since the 1930s. Ashford was one of only 8 towns in Connecticut that voted for George McGovern over Richard Nixon in the 1972 election. In recent elections, Ashford has become one of the few remaining blue towns in Windham County, which has shifted rightward at the federal level. In 2016, Ashford was one of only 3 Windham County towns, along with Windham and Pomfret, to back Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump, albeit with a plurality. In 2020, Joe Biden increased the Democratic vote total in the town while the county at large stayed red.

Religion
Several churches exist in Ashford. They include the St Philip-Apostle Church (Catholic), Living Proof Church (formerly United Baptist Church of Ashford), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Westford Congregational Church.

Education
Elementary and middle school-aged residents attend Ashford School, the town's only school, built in 1951 to replace the old Ashford Academy schoolhouse. This school educates students from Pre-K through grade eight. In February 1979, the town's board of education considered closing the school in response to a budget crisis.

High school-aged residents may attend E. O. Smith High School in Mansfield, CT, part of Regional School District 19. They also can go to Windham Technical High School, ACT. and Ellis Technical High School.

Notable people

 * Francis Bugbee (1794–1877), lawyer, judge and politician
 * Walter Eli Clark (1869–1950), journalist, last governor of the District of Alaska and the first governor of the Alaska Territory
 * Emeline Horton Cleveland (1829–1878), physician and college professor, the first woman on record to perform major surgery
 * Galusha A. Grow (1822–1907), speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863
 * John Keyes (1744–1824), first adjutant general of the State of Connecticut
 * Elias Keyes, (1758–1844), United States Congressman from Vermont
 * Thomas Knowlton (1740–1776), military officer in the American Revolution, who led the Knowlton's Rangers, America's first Army intelligence unit
 * Nathaniel Lyon (1818–1861), the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War
 * Paul Newman (1925–2008), award-winning actor, film director and philanthropist. A seasonal resident of Ashford from the opening of the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in 1988
 * Eliphalet Nott (1773–1866), president of Union College, and from 1829 to 1845 simultaneously was president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Inventor of the first stove for anthracite coal
 * Caroline Lathrop Post (1824–1915), poet
 * James Hamilton Shegogue (1806–1872), painter
 * Solomon Spalding (1761–1816), writer
 * John H. Trumbull (1873–1961), the 70th governor of Connecticut
 * Valerie Wilson Wesley (born 1947), mystery writer
 * Edward W. Whitaker (1841–1922), Brevet Brigadier General; soldier and Medal of Honor recipient

title: Ashford, Connecticut


text:
Brooklyn, Connecticut

Brooklyn is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 8,450 at the 2020 census. The town center village is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place. The district of East Brooklyn is listed as a separate census-designated place.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.1 sqmi, of which, 29.0 sqmi of it is land and 0.2 sqmi of it (0.58%) is water.

History
Brooklyn was settled in the late 17th century and incorporated as its own town in 1786. It is named for the Quinebaug River, or Brook Line, which forms its eastern boundary. Brooklyn was originally land of the Wabaquasset. It was incorporated as a town separate from Canterbury and Pomfret in May 1786. It is home to the Brooklyn Fair, America's oldest continuously operating agricultural fair, as well as the Brooklyn Correctional Institution, a state-run medium security prison.

Brooklyn held the 1833 trial of Prudence Crandall, a schoolteacher charged with the crime of educating black female students in nearby Canterbury.

Brooklyn is the final resting place of Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam. Though he was originally buried in an above ground tomb in Brooklyn's South Cemetery, his remains had to be moved due to excessive visitors. In 1888, a statue of Putnam mounted on a horse was erected, and his sarcophagus placed in the foundation. The statue stands slightly south of the town green, in front of the post office. Brooklyn is also home of the Middle School Bobcats and Elementary School Bears.

The town historical society operates the Brooklyn Historical Society Museum, which includes the Daniel Putnam Tyler Law Office.

Villages

 * Allen Hill
 * Barrett Hill
 * Brooklyn Center
 * Bush Hill
 * East Brooklyn
 * Quebec
 * Stetson's Corners
 * Tatnic Hill
 * West Village
 * West Wauregan

National Register of Historic Places

 * Brooklyn Green Historic District – (added October 23, 1982)
 * Bush Hill Historic District – (added March 10, 1987).
 * Putnam Farm – Spaulding Road (added April 11, 1982)
 * Trinity Church – Church Street (added November 15, 1970)
 * Unitarian Meetinghouse – (added December 9, 1972)
 * Quinebaug Mill-Quebec Square Historic District – Roughly bounded by Quinebaug River, Quebec Square, Elm and South Main Streets (added August 29, 1985).

Education
Residents are served by the Brooklyn School District's Brooklyn Elementary School (K–4) and Brooklyn Middle School (5–8).

Many Brooklyn high school students attend Woodstock Academy; Woodstock was designated as one of Brooklyn's high schools since 1987. Many Brooklyn high school students attend Killingly High School in Danielson. Some students attend H.H. Ellis Technical High School, or the Norwich Free Academy.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,244 people, 3,001 households, and 2,105 families residing in the town. There were 3,247 housing units at an average density of 92.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 92.7% White, 2.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4% of the population.

There were 3,001 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24% under the age of 20, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 36.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years.

The median income as of the 2000 Census for a household in the town was $49,756, and the median income for a family was $60,208. Males had a median income of $39,246 versus $28,889 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,359. About 4.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * David Low Dodge, manager of the first cotton factory in Connecticut and one of the founders of the New York Bible Society and the New York Tract Society, was born in town
 * Waldo Hutchins, a U.S. Representative and member of Democratic Party from New York
 * Samuel J. May, minister and supporter of Orudence Crandall's boarding school for African American females
 * Elijah Paine (1757–1842), a Federalist U.S. senator from Vermont (1795–1801) was born in town
 * Adelaide Ward Peckham (1848–1944), bacteriologist, born in town
 * Israel Putnam, a general in the Revolutionary War and a legendary figure in his day, had a farm in Brooklyn, where he died in 1790, and was buried in an above-ground tomb in Brooklyn's South Cemetery
 * John Day Putnam, Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
 * Michael Bruce Ross (1959–2005) was a serial killer raised on a farm near Brooklyn

Climate
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Brooklyn has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.

title: Brooklyn, Connecticut


text:
Canterbury, Connecticut

Canterbury is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 5,045 at the 2020 census.

History
The area was settled by English colonists in the 1680s as Peagscomsuck. It consisted mainly of land north of Norwich, south of New Roxbury, Massachusetts (now Woodstock, Connecticut), and west of the Quinebaug River, Peagscomsuck Island, and the Plainfield Settlement. In 1703 this section was officially separated from Plainfield and named The Town of Canterbury. The town's name is a transfer from Canterbury, England.

Prudence Crandall's School (1831–1834)
"Canterbury was a very influential town at this period, and was particularly noted for the public spirit and high character of its leading men, and its cultivated and agreeable society. Andrew T. Judson, State attorney and successful lawyer, Dr. [Andrew] Harris, the skillful surgeon. Esquire Frost, the devoted champion of temperance, Rufus Adams, with his fund of dry humor, George S. White, with his strong character and multifarious knowledge, Luther Paine, John Francis, Thomas and Stephen Coit, Samuel L. Hough, all solid men interested in public affairs — had their homes at or near Canterbury Green, and gave tone and prominence to the town. Few country towns could boast such social attractions. Dr. Harris was one of the most genial and hospitable of men, and his new model house with its rare appendage of a conservatory and choice flower-garden, was the wonder of all the County. Mrs. Harris had inherited the social characteristics of her distinguished father, General Moses Cleaveland, and received their unnumbered guests with all his ease and heartiness. A handsome new house had been also built by Mr. Judson, in which much company was entertained, although it was said that Mrs. Judson as a Windham lady assumed superiority over her neighbors. Her husband, who liked to rally her upon this weakness, once called her down to the parlor to receive a Windham visitor, and most blandly presented to her an intrusive frog, which had hopped into the hall. His own tact and courtesy made ample amends for his wife's reputed deficiencies. Pleasant familiar intercourse was maintained among the village residents. All united with uncommon unanimity in plans for village improvement and public benefit, and it was in carrying out one of these projects that they struck upon the rock which foundered them."

In 1832, Prudence Crandall, a schoolteacher raised as a Quaker, stirred controversy when she opened the Canterbury Female Boarding School and admitted black girls as students. Prominent Canterbury resident Andrew T. Judson led efforts against the school. The Connecticut General Assembly passed a "Black Law", which prohibited the education of black children from out of state. Crandall persisted in teaching, and in 1833 was arrested and kept in jail overnight.

Unsuccessful and long legal proceedings were mounted but violence by a mob of Canterbury residents forced the closure of the school in 1834. Crandall left the state and never returned. Connecticut repealed the Black Law in 1838.

In 1877 the town of Canterbury recognized Crandall, who had moved to Elk Falls, Kansas, with a small pension. Crandall, who by then was living in poverty, said that this helped improve her living condition. She died in 1890.

Legacy and honors
In 1995, the Connecticut General Assembly designated Prudence Crandall as the state's official heroine because she opened the first school in the United States for black girls. The school still stands in Canterbury, operating as the Prudence Crandall Museum. It has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, and it is the leading tourist attraction in Canterbury.

In 2009 a life-size bronze statue of Prudence Crandall with an African-American student was installed in the state capital.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.2 sqmi, of which, 39.9 sqmi of it is land and 0.2 sqmi of it (0.62%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,692 people, 1,717 households, and 1,339 families residing in the town. The population density was 117.6 PD/sqmi. There were 1,762 housing units at an average density of 44.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.36% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 1,717 households, out of which 37.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.5% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 16.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,547, and the median income for a family was $65,095. Males had a median income of $41,521 versus $28,672 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,317. About 3.5% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

Museums and other points of interest

 * Canterbury Center Historic District – Roughly along Elmdale, Library, N. Canterbury, S. Canterbury, and Westminster Rds. (added May 10, 1998). The historic district includes Colonial, Federal, and other architectural styles.
 * Capt. John Clark House – Rte. 169, S of Canterbury (added November 6, 1970)
 * Jonathan Wheeler House – N. Society Rd. (added March 11, 1982)
 * March Route of Rochambeau's Army: Manship Road-Barstow Road – Manship Rd., Barstow Rd. from jct. with Manship Rd. to Westminster Rd. (added February 8, 2003)
 * Prudence Crandall House – Jct. of CT 14 and 169 (added November 22, 1970)
 * Westminster Congregational Church
 * FaithWay Community Church – 567 S. Canterbury Rd. Canterbury, CT 06374

Government
Canterbury's new administration was elected in November 2019. They will serve through November 2021. Christopher J. Lippke (R) is First Selectman, Mark O. Weeks (R) is Second Selectman, Jonathan T. Lane (D) is Third Selectman. Natalie Ruth Ellston was elected to serve as Town Clerk and Tax Collector of Canterbury CT. Laurie Epler is the hired Town Treasurer.

Education
Students from grades Kindergarten through 8 are zoned to the Canterbury School District. The district has two schools:
 * Canterbury Elementary School
 * Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School

The local elementary school for kindergarten through fourth grades is Canterbury Elementary School, whose mascot is the Kitt Fox. The local middle school for fifth through eighth grades is Dr. Helen Baldwin Middle School, whose mascot is the bulldog.

As Canterbury has no high school of its own, Canterbury students have the option of attending H.H. Ellis Technical High School, Griswold High School, Killingly High School, Norwich Technical High School, Norwich Free Academy, or Woodstock Academy.

Notable people

 * John Adams, (1772–1863), born in Canterbury, educator and organizer of several hundred Sunday schools
 * Horace Austin (1831–1905), the sixth governor of Minnesota (1870–1874), was born in town
 * Margaret Wise Brown (1919–1952), author of children's literature
 * Asa B. Carey, U.S. Army brigadier general
 * Moses Cleaveland (1754–1806), a surveyor and namesake of Cleveland, Ohio, was born in town
 * Prudence Crandall (1803–1890), a schoolteacher who set up a school for black girls in town despite local resistance
 * Sarah Harris Fayerweather (1812–1878), first black student in Prudence Crandall's school
 * Luther Jewett (1772–1860), United States Representative from Vermont, was born in town
 * Ephraim Paine (1730–1785) delegate for New York to the Continental Congress in 1784, was born in town
 * Charles Rocket, born Charles Adams Claverie (1949–2005), actor and former resident, who died in town
 * Jeptha Root Simms (1807–1883) historian and geologist, born in Canterbury
 * Loren P. Waldo (1802–1881), U.S. Representative
 * Joseph Williamson, born in Canterbury and President of Maine Senate
 * William Durkee Williamson (1779–1846) a governor of Maine (1821) was born in town

title: Canterbury, Connecticut


text:
Chaplin, Connecticut

Chaplin is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The town was named for Deacon Benjamin Chaplin, an early settler. The population was 2,151 at the 2020 census.

Points of interest

 * The Chaplin Museum is a local historical museum.
 * Diana's Pool is located in the town, on the Natchaug River.
 * The town has two sites on the National Register of Historic Places:
 * Chaplin Historic District on Chaplin Street (added November 11, 1978)
 * Witter House on Chaplin Street (added November 6, 1970)

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.6 sqmi, of which, 19.4 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (0.66%) is water.

Principal communities

 * Chaplin Center
 * South Chaplin

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 2,250 people, 858 households, and 614 families living in the town. The population density was 115.8 PD/sqmi. There were 897 housing units at an average density of 46.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 97.29% White, 0.71% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.96%.

Of the 858 households 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 20.4% of households were one person and 5.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.03.

The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 34.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.8 males.

The median household income was $51,602 and the median family income was $55,263. Males had a median income of $39,300 versus $30,430 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,101. About 2.9% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.9% of those under age 18 and 11.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Charles H. Backus (1856–1929), Illinois state representative and businessman

title: Chaplin, Connecticut


text:
Danielson, Connecticut

Danielson is a borough in the town of Killingly in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,155 at the 2020 census.

History

Danielson was originally named "Danielsonville" for Gen. James Danielson, the builder of the first house in the settlement. It was renamed Danielson in 1895.

Historic districts
Danielson is the site of two historic districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

 * Danielson Main Street Historic District is a 20 acre historic district along Main Street, from Water Street to Spring Street. Architectural styles in the district include Colonial Revival and Italianate, as well as others. The Danielson Main Street Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 8, 1992.
 * Broad Street – Davis Park Historic District: roughly along Broad Street, from Dorrance Street to Winter Street, to the north of Danielson Main Street Historic District. Architectural styles represented include Stick/Eastlake, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

It additionally is home to the Temple Beth Israel synagogue, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. Danielson is also home to the CT State Police barracks "D".

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.2 sqmi, of which 1.1 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi (9.02%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,051 people, 1,627 households, and 975 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,682.7 PD/sqmi. There were 1,627 housing units at an average density of 1,479.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the borough was 88.7% White, 2.8% African American, 0.5% Native American, 2.9% Asian, 1.5% from other races, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.7% of the population.

The borough of Danielson and the town of Killingly are home to a small Laotian community. Both Danielson and Killingly are on the nation's list of top 50 cities with the highest percentage of citizens claiming Laotian ancestry. The first Laotian family came to Danielson in September 1979. They were sponsored by a local couple, Daniel and Carolyn O'Leary. The O'Leary family proceeded to sponsor nearly 500 Laotian refugees over the next decade.

Of the 1,627 households: 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 17.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. Of all households 30.2% were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $58,933, and the median income for a family was $62,803. Males had a median income of $44,235 versus $34,236 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $23,935. About 9.6% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.1% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Danielson Airport is a state owned, public use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) northwest of the central business district of Danielson. I-395 runs north and south through the town, and is the primary road for the borough. US 6 is the east-west road through the town, and severs the southern part of downtown. Route 12 runs through and severs downtown.

Notable people

 * Ida Bailey Allen (1885-1973), American chef and cookbook author, once popularly known as "The Nation's Homemaker"
 * Frank Dascoli (1913–1990), National League umpire
 * Sarah Katherine Taylor (1847–1920), American evangelist, temperance activist, newspaper editor
 * Charles Lewis Tiffany (1812–1902), a leader in the nineteenth-century American jewelry trade and founded New York City's Tiffany & Co. in 1837

title: Danielson, Connecticut


text:
East Brooklyn, Connecticut

East Brooklyn is a census-designated place (CDP) located within the town of Brooklyn in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It is the portion of the Danielson urban cluster within the town of Brooklyn. The population was 2,205 at the 2020 census. US 6 runs through the town and severs the town.

The portion of the CDP near the Quinebaug River is known as the Quinebaug Mill-Quebec Square Historic District.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.57 mi2, of which 2.54 mi2 is land and 0.03 mi2 (1.1%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,473 people, 668 households, and 378 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 348.9 /km2. There were 690 housing units at an average density of 163.4 /km2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.30% White, 2.04% African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.

There were 668 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.8% were married couples living together, 15.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 37.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.5 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,813, and the median income for a family was $34,265. Males had a median income of $27,500 versus $23,182 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,093. About 11.3% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

title: East Brooklyn, Connecticut


text:
Eastford, Connecticut

Eastford is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 1,649 at the 2020 census.

History
Eastford was formed in 1847 when it was broken off from Ashford, Connecticut. The name "Eastford" is locational, for the town is east of Ashford.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.2 sqmi, of which, 28.9 sqmi of it is land and 0.3 sqmi of it (1.20%) is water.

Principal communities

 * Phoenixville—A 1930s book describes it as "a small crossroads hamlet on Still River, which grew up around a twine mill (1831), now abandoned."
 * East Phoenixville
 * North Ashford

On the National Register of Historic Places

 * Benjamin Bosworth House – John Perry Rd. (added 1978)
 * Natchaug Forest Lumber Shed – Kingsbury Rd., Natchaug State Forest (added 1986)
 * Sumner-Carpenter House – 333 Old Colony Rd. (added 1991)
 * Union Society of Phoenixville House – 4 Hartford Turnpike. (added 2007)

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 1,618 people, 618 households, and 451 families living in the town. The population density was 56.0 PD/sqmi. There were 705 housing units at an average density of 24.4 per square mile (9.4/km$2$). The racial makeup of the town was 97.78% White, 0.43% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36%.

There were 618 households, out of which 100 have children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.1% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.8% of households were one person, and 9.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.06.

The age distribution was 26.3% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.0 males.

The median household income was $57,159 and the median family income was $62,031. Males had a median income of $45,000 versus $31,964 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,364. About 4.4% of families and 6.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

Eastford is a strongly Republican town. The town has voted for the Republican candidate every time since the 1856 election and since its founding in 1847 has never voted for a Democrat for president, the only town in Connecticut with this distinction. Even during President Lyndon B. Johnson's landslide in 1964, Eastford voters still preferred Barry Goldwater, the Republican candidate, by a comfortable 11.2% margin. Since 1992, however, the Democratic candidate has been more competitive. President Barack Obama only lost to Mitt Romney by 1 vote in 2012.

Education
Residents are zoned to the Eastford School District for grades Preschool through 8. The only school in the district is Eastford Elementary School. Most high schoolers attend Woodstock Academy. The town is near five alternative high schools: Ellis Vocational Technical School, Windham Technical School, Killingly Vocational Agricultural High School, ACT High School, and Quinebaug Middle College.

Notable people

 * Andrew T. Judson (1784–1853), United States federal judge and US Congressman
 * Nathaniel Lyon (1818–1861), the first Union General to be killed in the Civil War is buried here in his family plot

Trivia
There was another Eastford in the state which was renamed East Windsor shortly after its separation from Windsor.

Eastford is the site of Frog Rock, a rest stop and roadside attraction on U.S. Route 44.

title: Eastford, Connecticut


text:
Hampton, Connecticut

Hampton is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 1,728 at the 2020 census.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.5 sqmi, of which, 25.0 sqmi is land and 0.5 sqmi (1.96%) is water.

Climate
The climate of Hampton is a humid continental climate(Dfc) according to the Koppen climate classification. There are four main seasons in Hampton: winter, spring, summer and fall. There is some form of spring warmth starting from mid April, although nights still border freezing, but get progressively warmer till June, where it plateaus for 3 months, then it descends to fall, which is characterized by warmer days and nights than spring. The first fall freeze is in October, but cold-hardy crops like peas, kale, and carrots still strive on until November, when the fall warmth stops.

History
Hampton is made up of lands originally shared by the towns of Pomfret and Windham. It was incorporated from the towns of Pomfret, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Mansfield, and Windham in 1786.

The Congregational Church is the second oldest church in the state still in use, with portions of the structure dating from 1754. Also preserved is "The House the Women Built," a two-story building built in 1776 by Sally Bowers and other young women of the town while the men fought in the Continental Army. At Clark's Corner there is a liberty pole dating from 1849. Erected by a resident named Jonathan Clark, it records the distance to Hartford and other towns.

Notable locations

 * Hampton Hill Historic District – added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982
 * Hemlock Glen Industrial Archeological District – added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007

Notable people

 * William H. Barnes, jurist
 * John Brewster Jr. (1766–1854), deaf, itinerant, prolific painter; born in town
 * Royal B. Farnum (1884–1967), president of the Athenæum and Mechanics Institute
 * Martin Flint (1782–1855), Vermont political figure and military officer; a leader of the Anti-Masonic Party and Adjutant General of the Vermont Militia
 * Edwin Way Teale (1899–1980), naturalist and author; lived on a farm in rural Hampton with his wife Nellie from 1959 until his death. Their time at the farm named Trail Wood is chronicled in Teale's book A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm (1974). The property is now managed as a nature preserve by the Connecticut Audubon Society
 * Theodore Dwight Weld (1803–1895), author of American Slavery As It Is: Testimony of a Thousand Witnesses; evangelical abolitionist; born in town, where he lived until 1825
 * Annie Withey, co-founder of Annie's Homegrown; inventor of Smartfood while living in Hampton with her husband

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 1,758 people, 674 households, and 494 families living in the town. The population density was 70.3 PD/sqmi. There were 695 housing units at an average density of 27.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.64% White, 0.23% African American, 0.46% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.76%.

Of the 674 households 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.7% were non-families. 19.7% of households were one person and 7.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 25.8% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 28.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.6% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median household income was $54,464 and the median family income was $66,339. Males had a median income of $44,688 versus $32,337 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,344. About 2.7% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Hampton, Connecticut


text:
Killingly, Connecticut

Killingly is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. Killingly is the largest town by population in the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 17,752 at the 2020 census. It consists of the borough of Danielson and the villages of Attawaugan, Ballouville, Dayville, East Killingly, Rogers, and South Killingly.

History
In 1653, the second John Winthrop, son of Massachusetts Bay Colony's founding governor, obtained a grant of land formerly held by the Quinebaug Indian tribe and known as the Quinebaug (Long Pond) Country. The name Quinebaug comes from the southern New England Native American term, spelled variously Qunnubbâgge, Quinibauge, etc., meaning "long pond", from qunni-, "long", and -paug, "pond".

The area in that grant, which is now occupied by Killingly, was first settled by English colonists in 1700. It was first called "Aspinock", a word which may have come from the combination of the native term "aucks" or "ock" (the place of/where) and the name of the English settler, Lieutenant Aspinwall. When the town was incorporated in May 1708, Colony Governor Saltonstall was asked to suggest a name. Saltonstall's ancestral manorial possessions lay in Killanslie and Pontefract, Yorkshire, hence he suggested “Kellingly” (the spelling was later altered).

During the 1830s, Killingly was the state's largest producer of cotton goods, manufacturing textiles in mills from cotton shipped from the Deep South. By the 1930s, it was an important producer of window curtains.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 50.0 sqmi, of which, 48.5 sqmi of it is land and 1.5 sqmi of it (2.94%) is water.

Principal communities

 * Attawaugan
 * Ballouville
 * Chestnut Hill
 * Danielson (borough)
 * Dayville
 * East Killingly
 * Elmville
 * Killingly Center
 * Rogers
 * South Killingly

On the National Register of Historic Places

 * Broad Street – Davis Park Historic District – Roughly along Broad Street, from Dorrance Street to Winter Street (added 1998)
 * Daniel's Village Archeological Site (added 1978)
 * Danielson Main Street Historic District – Main Street from Water Street to Spring Street (added 1992), featuring Colonial Revival and Italianate architectural styles.
 * Dayville Historic District – Main and Pleasant Streets (added 1988)
 * Elliottville Lower Mill – Peep Toad Road (added 1982)
 * Old Killingly High School – 185 Broad Street (added 1992)
 * Temple Beth Israel (Danielson, Connecticut) – 39 Killingly Drive (added 2003)

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 17,370 people, 6,749 households, and 4,528 families in the town. The population density was 358.1/square mile (137.9/km$2$). There were 7,592 housing units at an average density of 156.5/square mile (60.3/km$2$). The racial makeup of the town was 93.1% White, 1.5% African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.8% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.0% of the population.

The borough of Danielson and the town of Killingly contain a small Laotian community. Both are on the nation's list of top 50 cities with the highest percentage of citizens claiming Laotian ancestry.

Of the 6,749 households: 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.98.

The area population contained 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,598, and the median income for a family was $68,565. Males had a median income of $49,467 versus $35,429 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,585. About 8.5% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.7% of those under age 18 and 6.1% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Danielson Airport is a state owned, public use airport located two nautical miles (4 km) northwest of the central business district of Danielson, a borough in Killingly.

Bus service to the area is provided by the Northeastern Connecticut Transit District.

Notable people

 * Francis Alexander (1800–1881), born in Killingly, was a portrait painter
 * Harriet Pritchard Arnold (1858–1901), writer
 * Manasseh Cutler (1742–1823), US representative, soldier, minister, botanist, doctor, and scientist. He was educated at both Yale and Harvard Universities. He lobbied Congress to pass the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, helped establish the Ohio Company, and worked to found Ohio University
 * John M. Dowe (1896–1946), Connecticut State Comptroller (1941–1943, 1945–1946)
 * William Torrey Harris (1835–1909), a philosopher who introduced reindeer to Alaska, educator (and later U.S. Commissioner of Education) who introduced the first permanent kindergarten, and lexicographer who introduced the "divided page" into dictionaries (the 1909 edition of Webster's New International Dictionary). He was born in North Killingly. He also founded the first philosophical journal in the country
 * Mary Dixon Kies (1752–1837), the first woman in the United States to receive a patent (in 1809, for a method of weaving straw with silk or thread). Kies was born and lived in South Killingly, an unincorporated village in the Town of Killingly
 * Samuel Knight (1731–1804), chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court
 * Charles Tiffany (1812–1902) born in town, became the owner of Tiffany and Company
 * Ebenezer Young (1783–1851), a United States representative from Connecticut

title: Killingly, Connecticut


text:
Moosup, Connecticut

Moosup is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Plainfield, Connecticut, in the United States. The population was 3,231 at the 2010 census.

History
Moosup is named after sachem Maussup or Moosup (1623-1676) of the Narragansett Indians. The town was established in 1689 a little more than a decade after Maussup's death at the hands of Mohawks.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.3 sqmi, of which 2.2 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi  (0.85%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,237 people, 1,263 households, and 837 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,390.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,321 housing units at an average density of 567.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.83% White, 0.59% African American, 0.68% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.96% from other races, and 1.05% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.12% of the population.

There were 1,263 households, out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 18.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.5% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $43,164. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $20,581 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,827. About 9.8% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person
Moosup is the childhood home of Major League Baseball (MLB) player Walt Dropo (January 30, 1923 – December 17, 2010). A "giant of a man," Dropo was affectionately known as "the moose from Moosup." During a 13-year career in MLB, he played for the Boston Red Sox (1949–1952), Detroit Tigers (1952–1954), Chicago White Sox (1955–1958), Cincinnati Redlegs (1958–1959) and Baltimore Orioles (1959-1961). Dropo's parents emigrated from Mostar, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina), to start a new life. His father, Savo, worked at the local textile mill while also running their Connecticut family farm. Walt was raised in Moosup, Connecticut, where he played sandlot baseball with his brothers Milton and George, and attended Plainfield High School in Central Village, Connecticut, before attending the University of Connecticut.

title: Moosup, Connecticut


text:
Plainfield, Connecticut

Plainfield is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 14,973 at the 2020 census. The town comprises four villages: Plainfield (south, ZIP code 06374), Moosup (northeast, 06354), Wauregan (northwest, 06387), and Central Village (west, 06332). Each village has their own respective United States Post Office and fire department. The entire town is serviced by the 860 area code.

History
Plainfield was incorporated in 1699 as the town of Quinebaug and renamed the following year to its current name. The present name of "Plainfield" is descriptive of the original town site. Plainfield proved to be an industrial heavyweight in the 19th and early 20th centuries due largely to the ability of the Moosup and Quinebaug Rivers to provide power to the different mills throughout town. The job opportunities attracted French Canadian Americans, Irish Americans, British Americans, and people from other countries during the late 19th century. Combined with the mills, Plainfield had incredible commerce for a small town because four railways from Hartford, New York, Boston, and Providence intersected within the town. There was also a highly acclaimed school on Academy Hill, which is how the present Academy Hill Road got its name. Also, the town annually has the V-J Day parade; in fact, the oldest in the United States.

Sites in Plainfield that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places are:
 * Central Village Historic District, a historic district
 * March Route of Rochambeau's Army: Old Canterbury Road

Geography
Plainfield is located at: 41.6775 N, 71.9220 W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 43 sqmi, of which 42.3 sqmi is land and 0.8 sqmi  (1.81%) is water. From the southernmost point, Plainfield is 20 mi inland of the Long Island Sound and Block Island Sound (Atlantic Ocean). Plainfield is the southernmost town of Windham County. The Quinebaug River generally forms the western border of the town. The Moosup River feeds the Quinebaug and runs across the northern portion of town.

Transportation
Plainfield is bisected by the Connecticut Turnpike (I-395 and CT 695) and is serviced by three exits: Lathrop Road at exit 28, CT 14A at exit 29, and CT 14 at exit 32. All exits are off the I-395 portion of the Turnpike, which runs north and south. Exit 35 off I-395 North is in Plainfield, but does not offer access to any Plainfield streets. CT 12 generally runs parallel to the west of the Turnpike, and is less than one-half mile from all three Turnpike exits.

There is no direct air, passenger rail, or navigable water access to Plainfield, although the town is serviced by the Providence and Worcester Railroad (freight only), which also parallels the Connecticut Turnpike corridor. There is limited public transport system available in the town; combined with a lack of a sidewalk and/or segregated cycle facilities network and the large area of the town, this necessitates that most transit is done by car.

Providence, RI is the closest major city, 30 mi to the east. Hartford is 40 mi west. Boston, MA is 60 mi northeast; New York City (Manhattan), NY is 120 mi southwest. The closest international airport is T. F. Green Airport (PVD) in Warwick, RI. Nearby Amtrak passenger rail stations include New London (NLC) and Providence (PVD); both are roughly 40 minute drives. New London is also served by the Shore Line East commuter railroad, and Providence by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Commuter Rail.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,619 people, 5,444 households, and 3,908 families residing in the town. The population density was 345.9 PD/sqmi. There were 5,676 housing units at an average density of 134.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 96.15% White, 0.78% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.

There were 5,444 households, out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,851, and the median income for a family was $47,447. Males had a median income of $36,785 versus $24,026 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,706. About 5.4% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education
The Plainfield Board of Education (also Plainfield Public Schools) is responsible for the operation of schools, and operates seven facilities throughout the town.

Elementary (K–5)

 * Moosup Elementary School (K–3)
 * Plainfield Memorial School (4–5)
 * Shepard Hill Elementary School (PreK–3)

Middle/Jr. High (6–8)

 * Plainfield Central Middle School

High (9–12)

 * Plainfield High School

title: Plainfield, Connecticut


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Plainfield Village, Connecticut

Plainfield Village is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Plainfield, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,557 at the 2010 census. It is located in the southwestern section of town, in the area west of I-395 and south of Route 14. The village is also the core of the Plainfield, CT urban cluster.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.7 sqmi, of which 1.6 sqmi is land and 0.04 sqmi  (1.80%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,638 people, 959 households, and 648 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,605.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,007 housing units at an average density of 612.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 94.66% White, 1.48% African American, 0.80% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 1.21% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.35% of the population.

There were 959 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% 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 3.03.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 30.4% from 25 to 44, 18.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $33,268, and the median income for a family was $40,081. Males had a median income of $29,219 versus $23,261 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $14,836. About 7.5% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

title: Plainfield Village, Connecticut