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Manchester, Connecticut

Manchester is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 59,713. The urban center of the town is the Manchester census-designated place, with a population of 36,379 at the 2020 census. The town is named after Manchester, in England.

History
The area known as Manchester began its recorded history as the camping grounds of a small band of peaceful Native Americans known as the Podunk tribe. The area was settled by colonists around 1673, some 40 years after Thomas Hooker led a group of Puritans from Massachusetts Bay Colony to found Hartford.

At the time, it was known just as Orford Parish, a name that can still be found on the memorial to the Revolutionary soldiers from the town. The many rivers and brooks provided power for paper, lumber, and textile industries, and the town quickly evolved into an industrial center. The town of Hartford once included the land now occupied by the towns of Manchester, East Hartford, and West Hartford. In 1783, East Hartford became a separate town, which included Manchester in its city limits until 1823.

The Pitkin Glassworks operated from 1783 to 1830 as the first successful glassworks in Connecticut. The owner of the glassworks, Captain Richard Pitkin, was given a 25-year monopoly on glass as recompense for providing gunpowder to the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The Pitkin Glassworks Ruin has been preserved by the town's historical society.

In 1838, the Cheney family started what became the world's largest silk mill. Eventually, the Cheney family employed a quarter of residents and actively recruited immigrants to work in the mills. The manufacturing presence in the town made Manchester an ideal industrial community. The mills, houses of the owners, and homes of the workers are now part of the Cheney Brothers Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.

Also of note are the E.E. Hilliard Company Woolen Mills. Founded c. 1780 by Aaron Buckland and later sold to the Hilliard family, the Hilliard Mills are the oldest woolen mill site in the country.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Manchester has a total area of 71.7 sqkm, of which 71.0 sqkm is land and 0.7 sqkm, or 1.00%, is water. The Manchester census-designated place consists of the urban center of the town and has a total area of 16.8 sqkm, or about 23% of the town's total area. A total of 16.7 sqkm of Manchester is land, and 0.1 sqkm, or 0.56%, is water.

Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 54,740 people, 23,197 households, and 14,010 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,008.2 PD/sqmi. There were 24,256 housing units at an average density of 889.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 82.77% White, 8.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.12% from other races, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.54% of the population.

There were 23,197 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. Of all households, 31.1% were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $49,426, and the median income for a family was $58,769. Males had a median income of $41,893 versus $32,562 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,989. About 6.0% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

Top employers
Top employers in Manchester according to the town's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

As home to the Cheney family silk fortune, Manchester was a center of the American silk industry from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, and was an integral component of not only the economy but success of the town. Today, the Cheney Brothers Historic District showcases mills refurbished as apartments and includes nearby museums.

Manchester posted a total revenue, as of 2017, of $202,901,000, with total expenditures of $199 million, including $133 million towards education. The median rent between 2013–2017 was $1,181, higher than both the county and state medians. The top employing industries are retail trade, health care and social assistance, manufacturing, and government; and the top employers are the Town of Manchester, the Board of Education, Eastern Connecticut Health Network, Inc., and Allied Printing.

The town is home to The Shoppes at Buckland Hills, as well as Shady Glen, a restaurant recognized by the James Beard Foundation in 2012 as an American classic, and has been featured on Food Network.

Arts and culture
Stemming from a heritage of historic culture, Manchester is home to the second-oldest operating pipe band in the United States, the Manchester Pipe Band, a grade 2 pipe band, which was founded in 1914. Cheney Hall is the home of The Little Theater of Manchester, a 60 year old community theater group. The city is also home to a nonprofit orchestra, the Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale, which has been performing and educating youths in music in the community since 1960.

Manchester hosts four museums. The Fire Museum is housed in a restored 1901 firehouse building. The museum's firefighting equipment and memorabilia include leather fire buckets used in colonial times, a display showing the evolution of sprinkler systems, a horse-drawn hose wagon, a 1921 Ahrens-Fox fire pumper, and a 105 ft 1911 water tower. The Lutz Children's Museum has participatory exhibits covering art, history, science, nature and ethnology. The museum's permanent collection includes small live animals. The Old Manchester Museum, focusing on local history, is operated by the Manchester Historical Society. Permanent exhibits include examples of Cheney silk, Pitkin glass, and Spencer Repeating Rifles; the museum also houses the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame. The Cheney Homestead Museum is an eighteenth-century house of the founders of the Cheney Brothers Silk Company. On exhibit are examples of period furniture and artwork. Also on site is the one-room Keeney Schoolhouse dating from 1751.

Wickham Park, a non-profit private foundation, is located on Manchester and East Hartford property. The 53 acre Oak Grove Nature Center is a nature preserve with rivers, ponds, and hiking trails and hosts educational nature classes aimed at children. Case Mountain Recreational Area, located in the less populated southeast corner of Manchester, is popular for hiking, mountain biking, and has a great view of the Hartford skyline to the west. Charter Oak Park, located in downtown, is popular for basketball, softball, and tennis, and includes four community soccer field. The park underwent a $2 million renovation in 2017 which improved existing infrastructure in addition to adding a musical garden, jogging tracks, bathrooms, and an upgraded playground.

The annual auto show Cruisin' on Main Street is held every August and is one of the largest shows of its kind in the northeast, showcasing over 14,000 vintage and rare vehicles and attracting over 400,000 visitors since its inception in 2001. The event has also endowed an annual scholarship for local area high school students pursuing further education.

Sports
Manchester Country Club opened in 1917 and was originally designed by Tom Bendelow and Deveroux Emmet. In 1935, it was redesigned in by A.W. Tillinghast. The golf course features a classical New England design and holds an annual open tournament.

Perhaps the most enduring sports legacy of the town is the Manchester Road Race, a 4.748 mile footrace which is held every Thanksgiving morning. It is the second most popular race in New England, behind the Boston Marathon. The event attracts over 10,000 participants, including Olympians, world record holders, and international athletes, in addition to thousands of spectators. The race was first run in 1927, and benefits muscular dystrophy research as well as over a dozen other charities.

The Manchester Silkworms, named for the town's storied past as a silk producer and the world's largest silk mill, were a collegiate summer baseball team founded in 2000. Several former players continued their career to the major leagues, including former Red Sox catcher and veteran Ryan Lavarnway. The team relocated to Laconia, New Hampshire, after the 2009 season.

Government and politics
The town was governed in the old New England tradition of town meeting until 1907, when the town adopted a new charter, creating a more efficient method of governing, with a Board of Selectmen charged with the responsibility of running the town. In the mid-twentieth century, Manchester adopted a new charter constituting a council-manager government that is still in use today.

The legislative function is performed by a bipartisan Board of Directors consisting of nine board members, who are elected biennially for two year terms. The Board of Directors elects a Mayor from its membership for the two year term, and also appoints the General Manager.

Manchester is represented in the Connecticut General Assembly by State Representatives Jason Rojas (D-9), Jeffrey Currey (D-11), Geoff Luxenberg (D-12), and Jason Doucette (D-13), and by State Senator MD Rahman (D-4). At the federal level, Manchester is part of Connecticut's 1st congressional district and is represented in the House of Representatives by John Larson, in addition to being represented in the U.S. Senate by Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy.

Public schools
Traditional district schools
 * Manchester High School (grades 9–12)
 * Howell Cheney Technical High School (grades 9–12)
 * Bentley Alternative Education School (grades 9–12)
 * Arthur H. Illing Middle School (grades 7–8)
 * Manchester Middle Academy (grades 5–8)
 * Elisabeth M. Bennet Academy (grades 5–6)
 * William E. Buckley Elementary School (grades K–4)
 * Bowers Elementary School (grades K–4)
 * Highland Park Elementary School (grades K–4)
 * Keeney Street Elementary School (grades K–4)
 * Martin Elementary School (grades K–4)
 * Verplanck Elementary School (grades K–4)
 * Waddell Elementary School (grades K–4)
 * Manchester Preschool Center (Pre-K)

Magnet schools

 * Great Path Academy (grades 9–12)
 * Discovery Academy (grades Pre-K–5)

Private schools

 * Saint Bridget School (grades Pre-K–8)
 * Saint James School (grades Pre-K–8)
 * East Catholic High School (grades 9–12)
 * The Cornerstone Christian School (grades Pre-K–12)
 * Asamoah Society School (grades Pre-K–12)
 * Pierre B. Arthur School (grades K–8)

Post-secondary education

 * Manchester Community College, a two-year community college

Newspaper
Manchester is home to a local newspaper, the Journal Inquirer, which serves all of Manchester and the surrounding areas. The Hartford Courant also has a facility in Manchester and can be delivered anywhere in town.

Manchester Fire department
The Manchester Fire Department was created when Manchester Fire Rescue EMS and the Eighth Utilities District merged following a vote of the taxpayers of the Eighth Utilities District. The vote took place on February 1, 2023, with an official merger date of July 1, 2023. The Manchester Fire Department is a full-time career department that operates from seven firehouses. The department staffs four engine companies, one rescue engine company, two truck companies and a Battalion Chief with a minimum of 24 on-duty personnel (seven Lieutenants, 16 firefighters and one Battalion Chief). The on-duty shift strength is supplemented by a volunteer Engine, Engine 8, when available. The department is an all hazards agency, providing a range of services including fire suppression, fire prevention, vehicle extrication, high and low angle rope rescue, confined space rescue, hazardous materials response, and Advanced Life Support (paramedic level) medical care.

Manchester Fire Rescue EMS
The Town of Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS Department was organized in 1897 after a fire destroyed the Weldon business block. It was a full-time career department that operated from five strategically located firehouses. The department staffed three engine companies, one rescue engine company, one truck company, and a shift commander vehicle with a minimum of 17 on-duty personnel (five Lieutenants, eleven Firefighters, and one Battalion Chief). The department was an all hazards agency providing a range of services including fire suppression, fire prevention, vehicle extrication, high and low angle rope rescue, confined space rescue, hazardous materials response, and Advanced Life Support (paramedic level) medical care.

Manchester Fire Department-Eighth Utilities District
The Manchester Fire Department-Eighth Utilities District was a combination (paid and volunteer) fire department, established in 1888 as a separate fire department within the northwest corner of the town. It was not affiliated with the Town of Manchester government and was instead governed by its own board of directors. The department had four firefighters on duty 24/7, with coverage provided by full time career firefighters and part time paid firefighters. On the weekdays during the hours of 0800–1600, staffing increased with the addition of one full time career Assistant Chief and one full time career Firefighter/Mechanic. Volunteers provided additional coverage whenever available. The department provided fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue, hazardous material response, and Basic Life Support (EMT level) medical care.

Police department
The Manchester Police Department was established in 1896. It is staffed by approximately 120 officers. The department is led by Chief William Darby.

The Manchester Police Department consists of 3 divisions, Field Services, Support Services, and Administrative Services.

The Field Services Division encompasses numerous aspects of the Manchester Police Department. The Patrol Lieutenants, Sergeants, and Officers, providing the Town of Manchester with public safety services all hours of that day and night, is the backbone of the agency.

Uniformed Services Section, commonly referred to as Patrol, provides 24-hour uniformed police coverage and services to the Town of Manchester, initiates preliminary investigations, investigates traffic collisions, and enforces traffic laws. In addition, the Field Services Division includes the PAR (Police Area Representative) Unit, Traffic Services Unit, SRO (School Resource Officer) Unit, K-9 Unit, CREST (Capitol Region Emergency Services Team), Animal Control Unit, and the Domestic Violence Outreach Team.

The Support Services Division comprises Communications Dispatch Center, Information Systems, Investigative Services Section, the Records Unit, Training Unit, and Property/Evidence. In addition, the Support Services Division includes recruitment, maintenance staff, equipment and safety, emergency management, buildings and grounds, fleet management, crossing guards, and quartermaster.

The Administrative Services Division is responsible for budgeting, grant management and professional standards. Also included in this division is the CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies) Manager, Recruitment and Hiring, and the Field Training Unit.

Manchester Police Department is part of the Capital Region Emergency Services Team (Known as CREST). The Capital Region Emergency Services Team (CREST) is a multi-agency Regional Tactical Team staffed by dedicated and highly trained Officers from Manchester, Glastonbury, Vernon, South Windsor, Wethersfield, Enfield, East Windsor, Coventry, Rocky Hill, Cromwell and the University of Connecticut Police Department.

The mission of CREST is to provide a tactical response to critical incidents in member towns. The following are considered Critical Incidents handled by CREST:

Hostage Incidents, Barricaded Suspects, Sniper Situations, High Risk Arrests, High Risk Warrant Service, Special Assignments such as executive protection, event protection. The Officers assigned to CREST have to undergo a rigorous selection process consisting of a physical fitness test, a firearms evaluation, and an oral board with current team leaders. Once selected, new team members must attend an 80 hour SWAT school to be considered operational. Once on the team, members attend supplemental training in many facets of tactical operations.

Medical Transport
Ambulance Service of Manchester (ASM) is a private, for-profit company that operates out of a station on New State Road in Manchester, and provides basic life support-level transport service. ASM also provides intercept and transport paramedic service to a number of towns in Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties. ASM will provide advanced life support when fire department paramedics are unavailable.

Roads
Manchester has parts of three interstate highways (I-84, I-384, and I-291) and Route 6 and Route 44 together constitute Manchester's principal east/west arterial. Connecticut Route 30 is an east/west arterial in the northern section of town. Connecticut Route 83 is Manchester's principal north/south arterial. Starting as South Main Street at the southern border with Glastonbury, Route 83 becomes Main Street through the center of town.

Public transportation
Manchester is served by the Hartford division of Connecticut Transit. Routes 80, 82, 83, 84, 85, 88, and 121 connect Manchester directly to the city of Hartford.

Rail
No passenger service currently exists in town. Freight service from Hartford is provided by Connecticut Southern Railroad.

The closest passenger rail service is available at Hartford's Union Station, approximately 10 miles west.

Airports
Bradley International Airport, in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, is twenty minutes north of downtown Hartford. It features over 150 daily departures to over 30 destinations on nine airlines. Other airports serving the Hartford area include:

 * Hartford–Brainard Airport, found in Hartford off I-91 and close to Wethersfield, serves charter flights and local flights.
 * Westover Metropolitan Airport, located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, 27 miles (43 km) north of Hartford, serves commercial, local, charter, and military flights
 * Tweed New Haven Airport, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is served by Avelo Airlines

Bicycling
Manchester has several on and off-road bicycle routes. The two most popular routes are the Charter Oak Greenway and the Hop River State Park Trail. Portions of each of those routes have been designated as parts of the East Coast Greenway.

Notable people

 * Nathan Agostinelli, mayor and State Comptroller
 * Astrid Allwyn, 1930s movie actress
 * Elizabeth S. Anderson, philosopher and MacArthur Fellow
 * Geno Auriemma, head coach of UConn women's basketball team, 2012 and 2016 U.S. women's national team
 * Dick Berggren, motorsport announcer and magazine editor
 * Daniel C. Burbank, NASA astronaut
 * Tim Cate, professional baseball player
 * Russell Cheney, American Impressionist
 * Sherwood Cheney, US Army brigadier general
 * Carol Lynn Curchoe, reproductive biologist
 * Seth DeValve, football tight end for the Carolina Panthers
 * Dr. Dot, massage therapist
 * David Efianayi (born 1995), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League
 * Addie C. Strong Engle (1845–1926), author, publisher
 * Mary Ann Handley, former Connecticut state senator
 * Jay Johnstone, former professional baseball player and commentator
 * Larry Lisciotti, pool player
 * Jean Marzollo, children's author and illustrator
 * Bill Masse, US Olympian
 * Henry Molaison, noted memory disorder patient
 * Fred Norris, radio personality on The Howard Stern Show
 * James B. Olcott, turfgrass farmer and influential citizen
 * Frederick Walker Pitkin, governor of Colorado from 1879 to 1883
 * Richard Plepler, television executive
 * Alberto Salazar, former world-class long-distance runner and 4x winner of Boston and New York marathons, and coach until he was banned for life
 * John Shea Jr., politician, jurist, businessman
 * Kory Sheets, former NFL player
 * Christopher Spencer, inventor of Spencer repeating rifle
 * Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship

title: Manchester, Connecticut


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Marlborough, Connecticut

Marlborough is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the census-designated place (CDP) of Terramuggus. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The town's population was 6,133 at the 2020 census. Marlborough is a suburban and rural community. The local high school is RHAM High School. In 2013, Marlborough ranked third (of 24) in Connecticut Magazine's biannual ranking of Connecticut small towns. Educationally, RHAM High School, which serves Marlborough, Hebron, and Andover students, is one of the top-ranked regional high schools in the state on the SAT in 2017, and 11th highest-performing school in the state on the test. The town is home to Elmer Theines-Mary Hall elementary school which serves Pre-K through 6th grade. The school scores above state average on standardized testing and student progress.

History
The earliest inhabitants of present-day Marlborough, prior to the arrival of the English settlers, were the Podunk people, an indigenous people who spoke an Algonquian language. The town's origins can be traced back to 1648, when (John) Sadler's Ordinary, a rest stop from the colonical era, was established. This establishment, the second of its kind in Connecticut Colony after Hartford, served as a crossroads during colonial times. Travelers would stop to rest at the Buell House (now the Marlborough Tavern) located at the heart of what is now Marlborough center. Although the original Sadler's Ordinary (Inn) eventually went out of business, a new Sadler's Ordinary was built in a new location in 1970 and continues to operate today.

In 1747, William Buell and Joel Foote petitioned the colonial General Court for permission to form an Ecclesiastical Society and establish the town of Marlborough. In 1749, they began constructing the First Congregational Church which was not completed until 1803. On October 13, 1803, Marlborough was officially incorporated, encompassing land from portions of three neighboring towns: Glastonbury, Colchester (New London County) and Hebron (Tolland County). The town took its name from Marlborough, Massachusetts, which was named after Marlborough, Wiltshire in England.

By 1907 the town had a population of fewer than 305 residents. It wasn’t until the 1960s that Marlborough was rediscovered as a bedroom community for white-collar professionals working in Hartford. A comprehensive history of the town titled Reflections Into Marlborough's History was published in 2007.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 60.9 sqkm, of which 60.5 sqkm is land and 0.4 sqkm, or 0.73%, is water. Marlborough is adjacent to four other Connecticut towns (Glastonbury to the north, East Hampton to the west, Colchester to the south, and Hebron to the east). East Hampton, Colchester and Hebron are each in different counties from each other and from Marlborough.

Route 2, a two-lane highway (sometimes three) in most sections, bisects the town, and there are three Marlborough exits, at South Main Street, Route 66, and West Road, although there are exits westbound only for South Main and eastbound only for West Road. It takes approximately 15– 20 minutes to get to Hartford, 40 minutes to New London, 45 minutes to New Haven, and 40 minutes to Springfield, MA. Marlborough is generally equidistant between Boston and New York. Boston is an hour and 45 minutes away, while New York City is a two-hour car ride, pending traffic conditions. Popular vacation areas are also reasonable drives from Marlborough. The Berkshire Mountains are an hour and 20 minutes away, and popular Rhode Island beaches, depending on which one you go to, are an hour (Misquamicut, Westerly) to an hour and 20 minutes away (Narragansett).

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,404 people, 2,292 households, and 1,820 families residing in the town. As of the 2000 census, the population density was 245.2 PD/sqmi. There were 2,057 housing units at an average density of 88.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 65.3% White, 1.3% African American, 30.1% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 2,292 households, out of which 36.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.9% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.6% were non-families. 15.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 3.4% from 20 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 34.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years.

The median income for a household in the town was $139,255 and the median income for a family was $159,376. Males had a median income of $98,789 versus $64,959 for females. The per capita income for the town was $58,805. About 0.3% of families and 1.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 0.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Larry Boardman (born 1936), boxer born in Marlborough
 * Chris Cillizza (born 1976), journalist born in Marlborough
 * Mary Hall (1843–1927), suffragist, first female lawyer in Connecticut, born in Marlborough
 * A.J. Pollock (born 1987), Major League Baseball player with the Arizona Diamondbacks; born in Marlborough, attended RHAM High School in Hebron, CT
 * William Henry Richmond (1821–1922), anthracite coal mine operator born in Marlborough
 * Gretchen Ulion (born 1972), 1998 Winter Olympics ice hockey gold medalist

Points of interest

 * Marlborough Congregational Church, placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993
 * Marlborough Arts Center – A non-profit regional arts center housed in the restored Charles W. Hall building
 * Marlborough Tavern

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

title: Marlborough, Connecticut


text:
Office québécois de la langue française

The Office québécois de la langue française ( (OQLF) (Quebec Office of the French Language) is an agency of the Quebec provincial government charged with ensuring legislative requirements with respect to the right to use French are respected.

Established on 24 March 1961 by the Liberal government of Jean Lesage, the OQLF was attached to the Ministry of Culture and Communications. Its initial mission, defined in its report of 1 April 1964, was "to align with international French, promote good Canadianisms and fight Anglicisms, ... work on the normalization of the language in Quebec and support State intervention to carry out a global language policy that would consider notably the importance of socio-economic motivations in making French the priority language in Quebec".

Its mandate was enlarged by the 1977 Charter of the French Language, which established two other organizations — the Toponomy Commission and the Superior Council of the French Language — as well as by amendments since made to the Charter, most significantly, the 2022 reform.

History
The creation of a Board of the French language was one of the recommendations of the Tremblay Royal Commission of Inquiry on Constitutional Problems which published its five-volume report in 1956. Such an institution was part of the list of 46 vows formulated by the Second Congress on the French Language in Canada held in Quebec City in 1937.

In 1961, the Act to Establish the Quebec Ministry of Cultural Affairs was passed, providing for the creation of the Office de la langue française (Office of the French Language) (OLF). The OLF's mission aimed at ensuring the correct usage of French and the enrichment of the spoken and written language. In 1969, the Act to Promote the French Language was passed, which expanded the mandate of the OLF and introduced the notion of the right to work in French.

In 1974, the Official Language Act was adopted, which strengthened the status and use of French in Quebec and gave the OLF a decisive role in the implementation of its provisions. In 1977, the Charter of the French Language was passed. The first mandatory language law, it incorporates and broadens several elements of the Official Language Act and substantially enhances the status of the French language in Quebec. For its implementation, the Charter establishes, in addition to the OLF, the Toponymy Commission, the Monitoring and Inquiry Commission and the French Language Council.

The OLF was renamed Office québécois de la langue française (Quebec Office of the French Language) (OQLF) pursuant to the adoption of Bill 104 by the National Assembly of Quebec on 12 June 2003, which merged the OLF with the French Language Protection Commission) and part of the French Language High Council. Now entrusted to the OQLF were two new mandates: the handling of complaints and the monitoring of the linguistic situation. The OQLF has since created two committees each chaired by a member of its Board: the Linguistic Officialization Committee and the Linguistic Status Monitoring Committee.

On 1 June 2022, the OQLF gained new powers with the National Assembly's adoption of the An Act Respecting French, the Official and Common Language of Quebec, which amended the Charter, creating additional obligations for organizations and businesses to fulfil the right to work and be served in French.

Mission and powers
Sections 159 to 164 of the Charter of the French Language define the mission and powers of the OQLF:
 * Section 159: to define and conduct Quebec's policy pertaining to linguistic officialization, terminology and francization of public administration and businesses;
 * Section 160: to monitor the linguistic situation in Quebec and to report thereon to the Minister at least every five years;
 * Section 161: to ensure French is the normal and common language of work, communication, commerce and business in the civil administration and businesses;
 * Section 162: to assist and inform the civil administration, semipublic agencies, businesses, associations and bodies corporate with regard to the correction and enrichment of spoken and written French in Québec;
 * Section 163: to establish the research programmes needed for the application of the Act; and
 * Section 164: to enter into agreements or take part in joint projects with any person or agency.

In 2004, the organization had a yearly budget of $17.8 million. In 2005-2006, the budget rose to $18.5 million, in 2007-2008 to $19.0 million and to $24.453 million in 2018-2019.

Members
As of July 2024, the OQLF's eight Board members, each appointed by the government for a term of up to five years, were:

 * Dominique Malack, Chief Executive Officer of the OQLF;
 * Alain Bélanger, Associate Professor, Urbanization, Culture and Society Centre, National Institute of Scientific Research;
 * Denis Bolduc, Secretary General, Quebec Federation of Labour;
 * Juliette Champagne, Deputy Minister, Quebec Ministry of the French Language;
 * François Côté, Lawyer;
 * Chantal Gagnon, Associate Professor, Commercial Translation, University of Montreal;
 * Tania Longpré, Francization Teacher, Lecturer and Doctoral Student on language instruction, University of Quebec - Montreal; and
 * Frédéric Verreault, Executive Director, Corporate Development, Chantiers Chibougamau Ltd.

Services
In exercising its mandate, the OQLF offers the following services to the population of Quebec:

 * General information service via a toll free line, website and brochures;
 * Francization services:
 * francization counselling (for businesses of 50 employees or more), and
 * technical assistance relating to Francization of information technologies;
 * Processing complaints of non-compliance with the law;
 * Terminology and linguistics tools and services:
 * the Grand dictionnaire terminologique (Comprehensive Terminological Dictionary),
 * the Banque de dépannage linguistique (Language helpdesk), and
 * personalized terminological and linguistic consultation;
 * Publications of the OQLF:
 * Le français au bureau (French at the desk), a book for the general public pertaining to administrative and commercial writing, and
 * Terminology works: dictionaries, lexicons addressed principally to specialists;
 * Libraries: one in Montreal and the other in Quebec City; and
 * Evaluation of French competency for candidates to Quebec's professional associations.

Awards
Many distinctions are given by the OQLF to reward persons and organizations contributing to the survival of the French language in the Americas. They are given as part of the Grand Gala of French Awards which occurs each year, usually in March during the FrancoFête.

Since 1998, the OQLF has been rewarding outstanding francization efforts by persons and organizations in the form of awards in the areas of "work", "business" and "information technologies".

Since 1999, in collaboration with the Quebec Artists' Union, the Writers' Union and the Radio, Television and Film Authors' Association, the OQLF has included an awards category for "culture".

Since 1999, in place of the former French language award, it awards the Camille-Laurin Prize to underline a person's effort in promoting the usefulness and quality of French in his or her social milieu.

Since 2005, in collaboration with the Quebec-France Association and the Quebecers' National Movement, it awards the Quebec-France Marie-Claire-Blais Literary Prize to a French writer for his or her first work.

In collaboration with Quebec's Ministry of Immigration, it presents awards in the area of "newcomer francization", including for a "non-francophone newcomer", a "person working in the field of newcomer francization", a "community of institutional partner in francization" and a "business".

The Chair of the OQLF presides over the Jury of the Dictée of the Americas, an international competition of French spelling created by Télé-Québec in 1994.

Complaints
Residents of Quebec alleging a violation of their linguistic rights "to be informed and served in French" can file a complaint, for which the OQLF which is responsible for processing. As per section 168 of the Charter, the complaint must be written in French and contain the identity of the complainant. The OQLF ensures privacy of information as required under the Act Respecting Access to Documents Held by Public Bodies and the Protection of Personal Information. The OQLF does not have the power to send an agent to investigate unless it has received a complaint or there has been a vote by the members of the OQLF.

In 2022-2023, the OQLF received a record number of complaints of possible violations of the Charter. In total, 6,884 complaints were filed, which represented a 9% increase over the previous year and a 145% increase over five years. The main issues identified were language of service (34%), language of websites (11%) and language of public display (17%). 85% of the complaints were resolved without resorting to legal sanctions.

Controversy
The OQLF was created to enforce the everyday use of the French language in Quebec. The OQLF promoted the Quebec Charter of the French Language and, prior to 1988, was responsible for enforcing a regulation whereby French was the only language authorized on outdoor commercial signage. After multiple successful legal challenges, the role of the OQLF has since changed to ensuring French is the "predominant" language, meaning at least twice the size of any and all other languages.

The OQLF has been referred to in English as "tongue troopers" The term "language police" was possibly first used by the American television show 60 Minutes, which ran an investigative report on Quebec language laws. Legally, the organization has no police powers, instead relying on the threat of fines or the withholding of a company's "francisation certificate" as enforcement techniques.

According to the statistics of the OQLF, 95% of all complaints judged to be valid are resolved without resorting to legal action. In an average year, the OQLF receives between 3000 and 4000 complaints from citizens. Forty to fifty percent of these complaints have to do with commercial products for which there is no available French manual or packaging, 25% have to do with signage in stores, 10% with websites and 5% with the language of service.

The OQLF once took action against Schwartz's, Dunn's, and other stores retailing imported kosher goods that did not meet its labelling requirements, an action perceived in the Jewish community as an unfair targeting and antisemitism. This coincided with high-profile cases brought by the OQLF against Schwartz's and Dunn's due to the apostrophe in the establishment's sign, which remains. Schwartz's, along with Dunn's and other well-known delicatessen establishments, also fought a ruling to change the name of "smoked meat" to "boeuf mariné" in order to conform to the law. They won the ruling on appeal by proving that if they didn't advertise "smoked meat" they would confuse and anger customers. For example, National Assembly Member for the Parti Québécois Gérald Godin once ordered the sandwich by its English name. Under the new ruling, enacted in 1987, "smoked meat" became a term in both official languages of Canada. The majority of criticism directed at the OQLF is due to a perceived overzealous nature in the application of its mandate. Some recent examples include:
 * Citing a Montreal restaurant for having a small "recommended on Tripadvisor" sticker in the bottom corner of a window. The complaint was that the sticker was in English and there was no French version displayed.
 * Issuing a letter of complaint to the owner of a board game store for mostly selling board games with English packaging, though French versions did not exist for the majority of the games in question.
 * Demanding the town of St. Lazare remove "Welcome" from the town's welcome signs, leaving only the French version, "Vous accueille", though one-third of the town's residents were native English speakers. The town instead opted to remove all words from the welcome sign.
 * Citing a small business in Chelsea for replying in English to English comments on the store's Facebook page without writing a second, French version of the response.
 * Citing a restaurant that specializes in grilled cheese for having "Grilled cheese" on their sign rather than the French version "sandwich au fromage fondu".
 * Forcing a hospital in the Gaspé region of Quebec to remove all bilingual directional signage, despite the presence of a large English speaking population. The health and safety information signs are allowed to be bilingual, though.
 * Rejecting a complaint against OQLF because the complaint was written in English instead of French. Quebec Ombudsman later overruled OQLF's decision, pointing out under Quebec's French-language charter, government agencies can respond to citizens in "a language other than French".

One case that gained international attention in 2013 was dubbed "Pastagate", in which the OQLF cited an Italian restaurant for using the word "Pasta" on its menu instead of the French word "pâtes". After receiving negative coverage throughout the world including the US and Europe, the OQLF eventually backed down, admitting to being "overzealous" and stating they will perform a review of the way these types of complaints are handled.

Today
Originally, the Charter of the French Language required that all commercial signage be in French and no other language. In 1988, in Ford v. Quebec, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled this was against the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. After massive protests in support of the legislation, the Bourassa Government invoked section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the notwithstanding clause, allowing the language laws to override the charter for a period of five years, after which they would be reviewed.

In 1993, the United Nations Human Rights Committee concluded in Ballantyne, Davidson, McIntyre v. Canada that it was outside of the Quebec government's jurisdiction to limit freedom of expression in a language of the person's choice. (See Legal dispute over Quebec's language policy.) Also in 1993, but not due to the UNHR ruling, Quebec reviewed the law and modified its language regulations to require that French be markedly predominant on exterior business signs, as suggested by the Supreme Court of Canada ruling in the case of Ford v. Quebec.

title: Office québécois de la langue française


text:
North Granby, Connecticut

North Granby is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the town of Granby. The population was 1,944 at the 2010 census.

The center of North Granby is today marked principally by the Cossitt Branch Library and the Allen Cider Mill.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 21.6 km2, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,720 people, 568 households, and 500 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 205.8 PD/sqmi. There were 579 housing units at an average density of 69.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.86% White, 0.58% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.69% of the population.

There were 568 households, out of which 47.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 81.3% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 11.8% were non-families. 7.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 2.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the CDP the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 32.2% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

In 2000 the median income for a household in the CDP was $101,103, and the median income for a family was $103,133. Males had a median income of $69,028 versus $39,922 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $34,459. About 1.6% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.9% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

The 2008 estimated median household income was $127,851 with the per capita income at $44,078. The 2008 estimated median house value was appraised at $447,917. The mean sale price of all houses in 2008 was $455,555.

title: North Granby, Connecticut


text:
Plainville, Connecticut

Plainville is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 17,525 at the 2020 census.

History
Plainville first was inhabited by Europeans around 1650. By the 1660s, the land was incorporated as land for nearby Farmington. In the year 1869, it separated from Farmington due to the distance of the town center and the growth of Plainville downtown due to the installation of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad and the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill Railroad.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.3 sqkm, of which 25.2 sqkm is land and 0.077 square mile (0.2 km2, or 0.72%, is water. The east side of the town is bordered by two prominent peaks of the Metacomet Ridge: Pinnacle Rock and Bradley Mountain. The 51 mi Metacomet Trail traverses those peaks.

Demographics
As of the census of 2020, there were 17,525 people, 8,187 households, and 4,565 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,800 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 87.1% White, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.9% Native American, 4.0% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.3% of the population.

There were 8,187 households, out of which 60.1% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 20.7% were non-families, such as single person households. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.8% under the age of 19, 6.0% from 20 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 males, there were 106.8 females.

The median income for a household in the town was $70,012. The per capita income for the town was $40,869. About 6.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

The median home value was $219,700 and median rent was $1,027. 68.0% of the population own, while 32.0% rent. About 61.0% of housing structures were single unit, 38.0% were multi-unit, and 1.0% were other, such as mobile homes.

Economy
Top employers in Plainville according to the town's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

There were approximately 2,007 active businesses in Plainville as of 2021. Key employers includes, Wheeler Clinic, Manafort Bros. Construction, Gems Sensors & Controls, Tilcon Connecticut, and Americold. Major industries are health care, manufacturing, construction, and retail.

The Town of Plainville is one of the only municipalities to own its own airport, Robertson Field.

Arts and culture
Plainville holds an annual Hot Air Balloon Festival at the end of August at Norton Park, gathering many of the townspeople together for fun-filled nights of games, music, and fireworks. The event is sponsored by the Plainville Fire Company.

Plainville hosts an annual PumpkinFest in October. This event is a downtown, outdoor festival featuring live music, a kid's costume parade, games, a large variety of food trucks, a haunted house, and many local vendors, downtown restaurants, and businesses.

In June at Robertson Field, the airport hosts the annual Plainville Wings & Wheels fly-in and car show. This event supports the Petit Family Foundation and the Plainville Community Food Pantry.

Plainville has also been something of a minor transportation hub. In the nineteenth century, Plainville was served by the Farmington Canal. It also sits on the intersection of two rail lines, one running north from New Haven and the other running east–west between Waterbury and Berlin. Finally, Plainville is the home of Robertson Field, the oldest private airport in Connecticut.

Education
Plainville has three elementary schools: Louis Toffolon School, Frank T. Wheeler School, and Linden Street School.

There is one middle school, the Middle School of Plainville, which serves grades 6 to 8. The middle school adopts the same mascot and colors as the town high school.

Plainville High School is the only town high school. The school mascot is the Blue Devil, and the colors are blue and white, same as nearby Central Connecticut State University. The Plainville High School cheer team are Central Connecticut Conference Grand Champions, having won the title in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, & 2022. They were CIAC co-ed champions in 2019 and placed top 3 in New England in 2022.

Government
Plainville is run by a Town Manager/Town Council form of government. Michael Paulhus is the current town manager (as of 2022). The Town Council comprises seven members elected every two years. The Municipal Center is located at 1 Central Square near the center of town.

Notable people

 * John Bello (born 1946), founder and former CEO of SoBe; president of NFL Properties
 * Ted Christopher (1958–2017), former NASCAR driver, known for his participation on the Whelen Modified Tour
 * Lena Santos Ferguson (1928–2004), second African-American member of the Daughters of the American Revolution
 * Pauline R. Kezer (born 1942), former Secretary of the State of Connecticut
 * Niko Koutouvides (born 1981), former NFL linebacker
 * Peter Portante (born 1996), racing driver
 * John Harper Trumbull (1873–1961), 70th governor of Connecticut

title: Plainville, Connecticut


text:
Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Rocky Hill is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 20,845 at the 2020 census. It was originally land of the Wangunks (a tribe of Native Americans). Europeans began to settle the area of Rocky Hill in 1650, as part of Wethersfield, the neighboring town to the north. In 1722, the area became known as Stepney Parish, until it was independently incorporated in 1843. Rocky Hill’s location on the Connecticut River made it a natural port for Wethersfield and an early center for shipbuilding, agriculture, and trade.

Rocky Hill is a typical bedroom community, as many residents commute to work in the larger urban centers of Hartford to the north and New Haven to the south.

Rocky Hill is the home to the Dinosaur State Park. Rocky Hill also was once the headquarters of Ames Department Stores, which ceased business operations in 2002.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 35.8 km2, of which 34.8 km2 is land and 1.0 km2 (2.78%) is water.

Bordering Rocky Hill to the north is Wethersfield, with Newington to the northwest, Berlin to the southwest, and Cromwell to the south. The Connecticut River forms the eastern border. Interstate 91 runs through the town with exits at the two main local highways, Route 3 at exit 23 and Route 99 at exit 24. Route 3 travels from Cromwell through Rocky Hill into Wethersfield, eventually crossing the Connecticut River into Glastonbury. The north-south Route 99 parallels the Connecticut River for the length of town.

The town of Rocky Hill is named after the ridge along the Connecticut River in the northeastern section that is now Rocky Hill Quarry Park.

Demographics
As of the 2000 Census, Rocky Hill had a population of 17,966 in 7,557 households, with 4,519 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,335.4 PD/sqmi. There were 7,962 housing units at an average density of 591.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 90.20% White, 3.42% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.97% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.20% of the population.

There were 7,557 households, out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. Of all households 32.5% were made up of individuals, and 9.7% 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 2.93.

In terms of age, 19.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% were between 18 and 24, 31.9% were 25 to 44, 25.8% were 45 to 64, and 16.5% were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median household income in the town was $60,247, and the median income for a family was $72,726. Males had a median income of $48,555 versus $39,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,701. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Rocky Hill High School has a student body of approximately 800 students. Albert D. Griswold Middle School enrolls about 600 students. Moser Intermediate School enrolls about 500 students. Stevens Elementary School enrolls about 500 students. West Hill Elementary School enrolls around 525 students.

Government
Rocky Hill is currently governed under the Council-Manager form of government. The Town Council is the legislative body for the Town of Rocky Hill, and eight members are elected to serve two year terms. The Mayor, elected separately, is a member and presiding official of the Council with the power to vote.

Top employers
Top employers in Rocky Hill according to the town's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Points of interest

 * The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry to Glastonbury, which is purported to be the nation's oldest continuously running ferry service (though it closes every winter due to ice)
 * Dinosaur State Park, which displays fossilized dinosaur footprints discovered in Rocky Hill in the 1960s
 * Quarry Park, an 84.3 acre park on a former trap rock quarry in northeast Rocky Hill that originally was in operation from the 1920s to the 1950s
 * The Connecticut Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
 * The State Veteran's Home and Hospital, located in Rocky Hill since 1940
 * Academy Hall, a museum run by the Rocky Hill Historical Society
 * The John Robbins House
 * Elm Street Historic District
 * Center Cemetery
 * Henkel Corporation's U.S. Headquarters for Adhesive Technologies and R&D
 * The former headquarters of the Connecticut Lottery
 * The studios of CBS-affiliated television station WFSB Channel 3
 * The studios of CBS-affiliated television station WFSB Channel 3

title: Rocky Hill, Connecticut


text:
Sherwood Manor, Connecticut

Sherwood Manor is a census-designated place (CDP) within the town of Enfield in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,410 at the 2010 census.

Geography
The CDP is in the northern part of the town of Enfield, bordered to the west by Interstate 91, to the north, partially by Brainard Road, to the east by Connecticut Route 192 (North Maple Street), and to the south by Connecticut Route 220 (Elm Street/Shaker Road). Thompsonville borders Sherwood Manor to the west, across I-91. Hazardville is 2 mi to the southeast, and Longmeadow, Massachusetts, is 3 mi to the north.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.1 km2), all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,689 people, 2,184 households, and 1,644 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,818.5 PD/sqmi. There were 2,230 housing units at an average density of 712.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.47% White, 1.14% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.07% Asian, 0.47% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.83% of the population.

There were 2,184 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $56,641, and the median income for a family was $62,019. Males had a median income of $46,118 versus $32,500 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $24,839. About 1.1% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.5% of those under age 18 and 3.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Sherwood Manor, Connecticut


text:
Simsbury, Connecticut

Simsbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, incorporated as Connecticut's 21st town in May 1670. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 24,517 in the 2020 census.

Early history
At the beginning of the 17th century, the area that would become known as Simsbury as of 1670 was inhabited by indigenous peoples. The Wappinger were one of these groups, composed of eighteen bands that were organized not formally as a tribe, but more akin to an association, like the Delaware. These bands lived between the Hudson and Connecticut rivers. The Wappingers were one of the Algonquian peoples, a linguistic grouping which includes hundreds of tribes. One of the Wappinger bands, the Massaco, lived near, but mostly west of, what became known as the Farmington River, in the area that would become known as Simsbury and Canton, the latter as of 1806.

In 1633, Windsor was the second town in Connecticut settled by Europeans and the first English settlement (the first European settlement being Huys de Goede Hoop, established by the Dutch in the Hartford area as a frontier settlement for the New Netherland Colony ten years earlier). For some time, the area of Massaco was considered "an appendix to the towne of Windsor." Settlers in Windsor forested and farmed in the area, but did not settle in Massaco permanently for a number of years. In 1642, the General Court of the colony of Connecticut ordered that: the Governor and Mr. Heynes shall have liberty to dispose of the ground uppon that parte of Tunxis River cauled Mossocowe, to such inhabitants of Wyndsor as they shall see cause. Despite this order, there is no record that any settlements immediately ensued. Five years later the General Court issued another order: The Court thinks fitt that Massacoe be purchased by the Country, and that ther be a Committee chosen to dispose of yt to such inhabitants of Wyndsor as by the shalbe judged meet to make improuement therof... but there is no record of land grants arising from this order.

In 1643, John Griffin and Michael Humphrey started a tar and turpentine business in Windsor. A few years later, a Massaco Indian named Manahanoose started a fire which destroyed tar belonging to Griffin. The Court ordered the payment of "five hundred fathom of wampum" as compensation. As he was unable to pay this amount, Manahanoose was instead ordered by the Court to either serve Griffin or be exchanged for Black slaves. To avoid this, he instead delivered a deed to the land at Massacoe. The deed was agreed to by Manahanoose as well as other Indians, identified as "the proprietors of Massaco". In 1653, the General Court granted 50 acre of meadowland to Lieutenant Aaron Cook, 60 acre to John Bissell and 50 acre to Thomas Ford, all in Massacoe.

Settlers did not build permanent settlements until the following decade. Aaron Cook built one of the early homes in the area established c. 1660 as Terry's Plain, and John Griffin also built a home, possibly in 1664—the date associated with a deed to land in Massacoe. The settlement of Massacoe continued in the late 1660s. The General Court awarded a land grant of two hundred acres to John Griffin in 1663. A deed description from 1664 indicates he had become a permanent inhabitant. In 1669, a survey found that there were thirteen permanent residents of Massacoe. One of those residents, John Case, was appointed to the position of constable. This is the first recorded civil office held by residents of the area.

Incorporation
In 1670, John Case, along with Joshua Holcomb & Thomas Barber, presented a petition to the General Court, requesting that Massacoe become a town of the colony of Connecticut. On May 12, 1670, the General Court granted the petition, and ordered that the plantation should be called "Simmsbury". The boundaries at that time were Farmington on the south and Windsor on the east, with the extent of Simsbury running 10 mi north of Farmington and 10 mi west of Windsor. The northern border, subject to dispute with Massachusetts, was left to be resolved later. This area includes the township Simsbury as well as Granby and Canton, which would later separate from Simsbury in 1786 and 1806, respectively.

The precise origin of the name of the town is not known for certain. The town records covering the first ten years after incorporation were accidentally burned in 1680 and 1681. One possibility is that the name of Simsbury comes from the English town of Symondsbury. Holcomb, one of the petitioners, originally came from Symondsbury. Another possibility is that the name was derived from Simon Wolcott's name. He was known familiarly as "Sim", and he was considered one of the prominent men of the town.

King Philip's War
In 1675, rumors of unrest among the indigenous peoples began to surface. The rumors proved accurate, and King Philip's War, a war between a number of tribes and the New England settlers, began in the summer. The war extended through parts of four colonies, with Simsbury on the western edge of the conflict. At the time, it was seen as a frontier settlement. The conflict was largely over by August 1676, although it did not formally end until a treaty was signed in 1678.

The colony of Connecticut formed a Council of War. In the days leading up to the war, they ordered settlers to keep night watches and to work in the fields in armed groups of at least six. By the time of the colony's General Court meeting of October 14, 1675, the situation was considered serious enough that the court ordered the residents of Simsbury to move to safety in Windsor. The order read:

"This Court orders, that the people of Simsbury shall have a week's time to secure themselves and their corn there, and at the end of the week from this date, the souldiers, now in garrison at Simsbury, shall be released their attendance there." In March 1676, the town of Simsbury was first pillaged, then burned to the ground. This destruction has been described as the most extensive of any event of any Indian War in New England. The settlers remained in Windsor until the spring of 1677, during which most moved back to Simsbury, though some never returned.

Daniel Hayes
In 1707, Daniel Hayes, then aged twenty-two, was captured by indigenous people and carried to Canada. The capture was witnessed and a rescue party was raised, but the group did not catch up with the captors. Hayes was tied up each night and bound to saplings. It took thirty days to reach Canada, where Hayes was forced to run the gauntlet. Near the end of the gauntlet, he hid in a wigwam to avoid an attempted blow by a club. The woman in the wigwam declared that the house was sacred and, having lost a husband and son to a war, adopted Hayes as her son. He remained for several years, attending to the woman. Eventually, he was sold to a Frenchman, who learned that Hayes had skill as a weaver and put him to work in that business. Hayes managed to earn enough to buy his freedom after two years. He then returned to Simsbury, settled down on a farm and married. He became a prominent figure in civil affairs, as well as the church at Salmon Brook (now Granby).

Patent Safety Fuse factory explosion

On Tuesday, December 20, 1859, the two-story Patent Safety Fuse factory located near the center of town exploded, killing seven women and one man. The blast also injured several other people, including the factory owner. The factory made cord fast-burning fuses used for blasting, which resulted in the explosion. Two days later, on Thursday, December 22, 1859, the New York Times ran a story about the explosion.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 88.8 km2, of which 87.9 km2 is land and 1.0 sqkm, or 1.09%, is water.

Simsbury lies in the northern end of the Farmington Valley. The east side of Simsbury is flanked by Talcott Mountain, which is part of the Metacomet Ridge, a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to near the Vermont border. Notable features of the Metacomet Ridge in Simsbury include Heublein Tower, Talcott Mountain State Park, Penwood State Park, and the Tariffville Gorge of the Farmington River. The 51 mi Metacomet Trail traverses the ridge. At the western foot of the mountain, the Pinchot Sycamore, the largest tree in Connecticut, grows near the Farmington River. Simsbury also has some patches of old-growth forest; Belden Forest, a 40-acre site with public hiking trails near the center of town was inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network in October 2019.

The town is often considered a bedroom community for the nearby city of Hartford, Connecticut, which is a 20 to 25 minute drive from Simsbury Center; however, many residents also commute to other towns and cities within the west-central Connecticut region.

Principal communities
After the complete destruction of the town in 1676 during King Philip's War, there were three late 17th to early 18th century nucleated resettlement communities: East Weatogue (also called East Simsbury), Simsbury Center, and Terry's Plain.

There are four census-designated places in Simsbury: Simsbury Center, Tariffville, Weatogue, and West Simsbury.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,234 people, 8,527 households, and 6,591 families residing in the town. The population density was 685.7 PD/sqmi. There were 8,739 housing units at an average density of 257.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 95.3% White, 1.17% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.12% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.54% of the population. The five largest percentages of reported ethnicity, expressed as percentage out of total residents, were Irish (23.0%), English (17.4%), German (15.6%), Italian (13.7%), and Polish (7.6%).

There were 8,527 households, out of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.1% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.7% were non-families. 19.4% of all households had someone living alone, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.12.

29.5% of the population was under the age of 18, 3.6% were from 18 to 24, 27.7% were from 25 to 44, 26.6% were from 45 to 64, and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years old. For every 100 females, there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.3 males.

In 2018, the median household income was $119,588 and the per capita income for the town was $60,453. About 1.0% of families and 2.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Top employers
According to Simsbury's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

Landmarks

 * The Ethel Walker School, The Master's School, St. Mary's School, and Westminster School are private schools in Simsbury.
 * The International Skating Center of Connecticut is in Simsbury.
 * Three of the four state parks in Hartford County, Penwood State Park, Stratton Brook State Park, and Talcott Mountain State Park, are in Simsbury.
 * Simsbury Airport is a public use airport located in Simsbury and East Granby.
 * Ensign-Bickford Industries, founded in Simsbury in 1836, is still headquartered in town.
 * The Pinchot Sycamore, an American sycamore in Simsbury, is the largest tree in Connecticut. According to a measurement made in 1998, the tree was 26 ft around and 95 ft tall, with an average canopy diameter of 140 ft.

On the National Register of Historic Places

 * Drake Hill Road Bridge – Drake Hill Rd. at Farmington River (added August 19, 1984). The Drake Hill Bridge is a pin-connected Parker truss, built in 1892 over the Farmington River. The bridge has a 12 ft roadway and a span of 183 ft. It originally carried vehicle traffic but now is open for foot and bicycle traffic. This bridge is one of only three surviving Parker trusses in Connecticut.
 * East Weatogue Historic District – Roughly covers the properties on East Weatogue St. from just north of Riverside Dr. to Hartford Rd. and Folly Farm property to the south (added 1990).
 * Heublein Tower – Talcott Mountain State Park (added 1983).
 * John Humphrey House – 115 E. Weatogue St. (added 1990). The John Humphrey House is a Colonial two-story frame house, built c. 1760. The estimate of the building date comes partially from land records, and partially from the location of the bake oven in the kitchen.
 * Massaco Forest Pavilion – Off Farms Village Rd., Stratton Brook State Park (added 1986).
 * Simsbury Center Historic District – Roughly, Hopmeadow St. from West St. to Massaco St. (added 1996).
 * Amos Eno House – Off U. S. 202 on Hopmeadow Rd. (added 1975). Also known as the Simsbury House or the 1820 House, this house was built by Elisha Phelps but named after Amos Eno, who used it as a summer residence for many years.
 * Eno Memorial Hall – 754 Hopmeadow St. (added 1993).
 * Horace Belden School (now the Town Hall/Police Station) and Central Grammar School – 933 Hopmeadow St. and 29 Massaco St. (added 1993).
 * Robert and Julia Darling House – 720 Hopmeadow St. (added 1991).
 * Capt. Elisha Phelps House (also known as "Phelps Tavern Museum & Homestead") – 800 Hopmeadow St., a 1771 house used as a tavern from 1786 to 1849 (added 1972).
 * Simsbury Bank and Trust Company Building – 760–762 Hopmeadow St. (added 1986).
 * Simsbury Railroad Depot – Railroad Ave. at Station St. (added 1976).
 * Simsbury Townhouse – 695 Hopmeadow St. (added 1993). The Simsbury Townhouse was the original town hall for the town of Simsbury, used as a town hall for almost 100 years. It was originally built in 1839 at the top of the hill near its present location, and moved, possibly in 1843, and finally in 1869. The wooden structure was constructed in the Greek Revival style.
 * Tariffville Historic District – Roughly bounded by Winthrop St., Main St., Tunxis Rd., Mountain Rd., and Elm St. (added 1993).
 * Terry's Plain Historic District – Roughly bounded by Pharos, Quarry and Terry's Plain Rds., and the Farmington R. (added 1993).

Public high schools

 * Simsbury High School (students: 1,457; location: 34 Farms Village Rd.; grades, 9–12)

Private high schools

 * Ethel Walker School (students: 252; location: 230 Bushy Hill Road; grades: 6–12; Girls only)
 * The Master's School (students: 400; location: 36 Westledge Road; grades Pre-K – 12)
 * Westminster School (students: 353; location: 995 Hopmeadow Street; grades: 9–12)

Public primary/middle schools

 * Central School (students: 479; location: 29 Massaco St.; grades: Pre-K–6)
 * Henry James Memorial School (students: 840; location: 155 Firetown Rd.; grades: 7–8)
 * Homebound (location: 933 Hopmeadow Street; grades: Pre-K–12)
 * Latimer Lane School (students: 623; location: 33 Mountain View Rd.; grades: K–6)
 * Squadron Line School (students: 849; location: 44 Squadron Line Rd.; grades: Pre-K–6)
 * Tariffville School (students: 280; location: 42 Winthrop St.; grades: K–6)
 * Tootin' Hills School (students: 537; location: 25 Nimrod Rd.; grades: K–6)

Private primary/middle schools

 * The Cobb School Montessori (students: 145; location: 112 Sand Hill Rd.; grades: Pre-K–5)
 * St. Mary's School (students: 264; location: 946 Hopmeadow Street; grades: K–8)

Athletes

 * Shizuka Arakawa (荒川 静香) (born 1981), Japanese figure skater; won the gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics; has trained at the International Skating Center of Connecticut in Simsbury
 * Oksana Baiul (born 1977), 1994 Olympic champion; lived and trained in Simsbury after winning her title
 * Vince Cazzetta (1925–2005), head coach for the Pittsburgh Pipers
 * Sasha Cohen (born 1984), 2006 U.S. National Champion figure skater and silver medalist at the 2006 Olympics; trained in Simsbury with Russian coach Tatiana Tarasova starting in summer 2002
 * Tommy Cross (born 1989), pro ice hockey player drafted by the Boston Bruins in 2008; now with the St. Louis Blues
 * Ekaterina Gordeeva (born 1971), winner of two Olympic gold medals (1988 and 1994); moved to Simsbury in the 1990s
 * Sara Hendershot (born 1988), member of 2012 United States Olympic Rowing Team (W2-)
 * Paul Holmgren (born 1955), former coach of the Hartford Whalers; current president of the Philadelphia Flyers
 * Michelle Kwan (born 1980), Olympic figure skater; has trained at the International Skating Center of Connecticut
 * Mike Liut (born 1956), former NHL goaltender for the Hartford Whalers
 * Viktor Petrenko (born 1969), 1992 Olympic champion; trained in Simsbury beginning in 1994
 * Ulf Samuelsson (born 1964), former NHL hockey player, lived in Simsbury when he played for the Hartford Whalers
 * Alexei Yagudin (born 1980), 2002 Olympic champion and four time world champion; lived and trained in Simsbury from 1998 to 2005 with Tatiana Tarasova

Media

 * Lake Bell (born 1979), actor, attended Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut
 * Terry Deitz (born 1959), reality TV contestant, resides in Simsbury
 * Rachel Sennott (born 1995), actor, graduate of Simsbury High School
 * Sigourney Weaver (born 1949), actor, attended Ethel Walker School in Simsbury

Politicians

 * Parmenio Adams (1776–1832), former US Congressman
 * Levi Barber (1777–1833), U.S. Representative from Ohio
 * Lucius Israel Barber (1806–1889), Wisconsin Territory politician
 * George McLean (1857–1932), U.S. senator and Simsbury resident who founded the 4200 acre McLean Game Refuge in town
 * Alice Merritt (1876–1950), first woman to serve in the Connecticut State Senate (1925–1929); born in Simsbury
 * Elisha Phelps (1779–1847), congressman from Connecticut
 * Gifford Pinchot (1865–1946), first Chief of the United States Forest Service (1905–1910), Governor of Pennsylvania (1923–1927, 1931–1935), born in Simsbury

Others

 * James Adams (1783–1843), lawyer and early convert to Mormonism
 * Sherri Browning Erwin (1968–present), author and current resident
 * Justin Foley (born June 16, 1976, in Simsbury), is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the metalcore band, Killswitch Engage
 * Sarah Pratt McLean Greene (1856–1935), novelist, born in Simsbury
 * Samuel Higley (1687–1737), reputed to have coined the first copper coins ("Higley coppers") in the colonial United States
 * Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968), worked on a tobacco plantation in Simsbury during the summers of 1944 and 1947 to earn money for college
 * Franz Von Holzhausen, car designer at Tesla, grew up in Simsbury
 * Jennifer Weiner (born 1970), author
 * Carl Nichols, (born 1970), United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, grew up in Simsbury

Sister cities

 * Wittmund, Lower Saxony, Germany

title: Simsbury, Connecticut


text:
South Windsor, Connecticut

South Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 26,918 at the 2020 census.

History
In 1659, Thomas Burnham (1617–1688) purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children. Beginning in the middle of the 17th century, a few settlers from Windsor began using land on the east bank of the Connecticut River for grazing and farming purposes. By 1700, a number of families had made their homes in the area. In 1768, the residents of the area were allowed to incorporate as the separate town of East Windsor, though the area was informally referred to as East Windsor before this time. At the time, the town included all of what is now the present-day towns of East Windsor, South Windsor, and Ellington. Known for its agriculture and ship building, the town of East Windsor, including South Windsor, supplied more than 200 volunteers during the American Revolution. In 1786, Ellington became an independent town, and South Windsor was incorporated as a separate town in 1845. Tobacco has been a major crop grown in South Windsor since its founding.

(Old) Main Street, located near the Connecticut River and running north to south from the border of East Windsor to that of East Hartford, is the center of the town's historic district. The Wood Memorial Library & Museum and Ellsworth School are located on the street. Minister Timothy Edwards, the namesake of the town's middle school, is buried in a cemetery located on this street. In 1698, Edwards became the first minister for the settlers on the east side of the river, and his church was built on Main Street (in present-day South Windsor). His son, theologian Jonathan Edwards, was born in South Windsor (at the time still part of Windsor). Ulysses S. Grant stayed at home on the street.

The town has become less and less agricultural and rural since 1950. This former farming community has been transformed into a suburban town with industrial and commercial districts. The town's population more than tripled between 1950 and 2000. In the early 1990s, residents mobilized a successful campaign against a proposed nuclear waste dump located near the East Windsor town line.

On the National Register of Historic Places

 * East Windsor Hill Historic District – Roughly bounded by the Scantic River, John Fitch Boulevard, Sullivan Avenue, and the Connecticut River, added in 1986
 * Elmore Houses – 78 and 87 Long Hill Road, added in 1985
 * Windsor Farms Historic District – Roughly bounded by Strong Road, U.S. Route 5, Interstate 291, and the Connecticut River, added in 1986

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 74.3 km2, of which 72.7 km2 is land and 1.6 km2, or 2.12%, is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,412 people, 8,905 households, and 6,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 873.1 PD/sqmi. There were 9,071 housing units at an average density of 324.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 85.95% White, 2% African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.71% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.27% of the population.

There were 8,905 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $73,990, and the median income for a family was $82,807. Males had a median income of $55,703 versus $38,665 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,966. About 1.5% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Top employers
Top employers in South Windsor according to the town's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Education
Children attending the public school systems in South Windsor begin at the elementary school level (Kindergarten through Grade 5) at one of four elementary schools: Pleasant Valley, Orchard Hill, Philip R. Smith, and Eli Terry, with Wapping now used by the local recreation department, instead of previously running as a school. After graduating from elementary school, students then move on to Timothy Edwards Middle School, for grades 6–8. They also have the choice to go to a magnet school, Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford. They then finish up their schooling at South Windsor High School. Over 140 students in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 classes have been admitted to the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Town council
South Windsor is governed by a council-manager form of government. The town manager is appointed by the town council and the leader of the council is designated as the mayor, with a deputy mayor also chosen from amongst the council.

The town council holds its elections every two years, on odd-numbered years. Each party nominates only up to six candidates for the nine town council positions (which are all at-large), and each voter may only vote for up to six candidates from the pool of all candidates nominated by all parties. The top nine vote-getters win seats on the town council; as a result the council always has a 5–4 or 6–3 majority (assuming only two parties are participating), ensuring representation of the minority party.

Notable people

 * Israel Bissell (1752–1823), post rider, rode from Lexington to Philadelphia to warn about the British
 * Nancy Caffyn (1934–2010), politician
 * Marcus Camby (born 1974), National Basketball Association player
 * Chris Clark (born 1976), former National Hockey League player
 * Michael Donnelly (1959–2005), Gulf War veteran and activist
 * Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), theologian
 * Timothy Edwards (1669–1758), clergyman, namesake of Timothy Edwards Middle School
 * John Fitch (1743–1798), inventor
 * Will Friedle (born 1976), actor, voice actor and comedian
 * Alex Grossi (born 1976), guitarist for the rock band Quiet Riot
 * Jack Hathaway (born 1982), astronaut, one of the 10 candidates selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 23
 * Romil Hemnani (born 1995), musician, member of hip hop group Brockhampton
 * Deborah Dillon Lightfoot (1956–2007), wheelchair athlete; National Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame
 * Brent Morin (born 1986), actor/comedian (Undateable)
 * Paul Pasqualoni (born 1949), former head coach of the University of Connecticut football team
 * Jeff Porcaro (1954–1992), member of rock band Toto
 * Mike Porcaro (1955–2015), member of rock band Toto
 * Steve Porcaro (born 1957), member of rock band Toto
 * Brian Sullivan, ice hockey player
 * Eli Terry (1772–1852), clockmaker, inventor
 * Oliver Wolcott (1726–1797), signer of the Declaration of Independence
 * Houman Younessi (1963–2016), scientist

title: South Windsor, Connecticut