Bethlehem, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Bethlehem is a town
in Litchfield County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 3,422 at the 2000 census. The town center was designated in the 2000 census as a census-designated place
(CDP).
The town's name has prompted thousands of visitors each December to mail their Christmas cards at the local post office in order to get a "Bethlehem" postmark.
Bethlehem is one of the two towns in Litchfield County
served by the area code 203
/area code 475 overlay. The other is the Town of Woodbury
.
, the town has a total area of 19.7 square miles (51 km²), of which, 19.4 square miles (50.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (1.53%) is water. The census-designated place (CDP) corresponding to the town center has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km²), of which 7.8 square miles (20.2 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) (3.35%) is water.
At the eastern side of town is a ridge called "the Devil's Backbone", one of more than 30 Connecticut places named after the devil.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 3,422 people, 1,246 households, and 935 families residing in the town. The population density
was 176.8 people per square mile (68.2/km²). There were 1,388 housing units at an average density of 71.7 per square mile (27.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% White, 0.26% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 1,246 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $68,542, and the median income for a family was $78,863. Males had a median income of $51,623 versus $37,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $29,672. About 0.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
2 of 2000, there were 2,022 people, 773 households, and 555 families residing in the CDP corresponding to the town center. The population density
was 259.3 inhabitants per square mile (100.1/km²). There were 879 housing units at an average density of 112.7 per square mile (43.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.63% White, 0.25% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.54% from other races
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 773 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 22.8% 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 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $65,966, and the median income for a family was $76,048. Males had a median income of $52,862 versus $34,792 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $28,925. None of the families and 2.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 9.8% of those over 64.
, founded in 1947, one of the first houses of contemplative Benedictine nuns in the United States. Robert Leather, a Protestant industrialist, donated 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land on which the convent is located. The convent now has 37 nuns.
The Abbey is known for its commitment to the arts, especially the performance of Gregorian Chant. The acting background of Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., has prompted the convent to sponsor annual summer theatre productions.
Hart has worked with fellow artists, including James and Dawn Douglas, to found The Act Association, a group that performs at The Gary-The Olivia Theater, an open-air venue which seats about 200 people. Built in 1982 with the help of actress Patricia Neal
, this open-air theater seats about 200 people. Productions have included plays by Shakespeare, Sartre, opera and musical reviews. Patricia Neal and James Douglas appeared in She Stoops to Conquer in 1999.
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
in Litchfield County
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,422 at the 2000 census. The town center was designated in the 2000 census as a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP).
The town's name has prompted thousands of visitors each December to mail their Christmas cards at the local post office in order to get a "Bethlehem" postmark.
Bethlehem is one of the two towns in Litchfield County
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
served by the area code 203
Area code 203
Area code 203 is the North American telephone area code that covers the southwestern part of Connecticut. The area code stretches from its western border, along its southern coast, to beyond the city of New Haven, and ends just south of Hartford. 203 overlays with area code 475...
/area code 475 overlay. The other is the Town of Woodbury
Woodbury, Connecticut
Woodbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,198 at the 2000 census. The town center is also designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place . Woodbury was founded in 1672....
.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 19.7 square miles (51 km²), of which, 19.4 square miles (50.2 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (1.53%) is water. The census-designated place (CDP) corresponding to the town center has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21 km²), of which 7.8 square miles (20.2 km²) is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) (3.35%) is water.
At the eastern side of town is a ridge called "the Devil's Backbone", one of more than 30 Connecticut places named after the devil.
Demographics
As of the 2010 census Bethlehem had a population of 3,607. The racial composition of the population was 97.9% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from some other race and 0.9% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,422 people, 1,246 households, and 935 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 176.8 people per square mile (68.2/km²). There were 1,388 housing units at an average density of 71.7 per square mile (27.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% White, 0.26% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 1,246 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $68,542, and the median income for a family was $78,863. Males had a median income of $51,623 versus $37,500 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $29,672. About 0.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
Town center
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
2 of 2000, there were 2,022 people, 773 households, and 555 families residing in the CDP corresponding to the town center. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 259.3 inhabitants per square mile (100.1/km²). There were 879 housing units at an average density of 112.7 per square mile (43.5/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.63% White, 0.25% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.54% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.
There were 773 households out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 22.8% 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 2.60 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $65,966, and the median income for a family was $76,048. Males had a median income of $52,862 versus $34,792 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $28,925. None of the families and 2.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 9.8% of those over 64.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active Voters | Inactive Voters | Total Voters | Percentage |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
799 | 13 | 812 | 29.52% |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
593 | 16 | 609 | 22.14% |
Unaffiliated | 1,291 | 30 | 1,321 | 48.02% |
Minor Parties | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0.32% | |
| Total | 2,692 | 59 | 2,751 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Transportation
Route 61 is the main north-south road while Route 132 is the main east-west road through the town.Points of interest
- Bellamy-Ferriday House and GardenBellamy-Ferriday House and GardenBellamy-Ferriday House and Garden is a historic house on Main Street North and West Street in Bethlehem, Connecticut. It was built in 1760 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982....
, built in 1760 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. - The Bethlehem Green Historic DistrictBethlehem Green Historic DistrictThe Bethlehem Green Historic District is a historic district in the town of Bethlehem, Connecticut, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 for the architectural significance of the houses around the town green...
contains 63 properties and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. - Old Bethlehem Historical Society Museum
Abbey of Regina Laudis
The town is home to the Benedictine Abbey of Regina LaudisAbbey of Regina Laudis
The Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis was founded in 1947 by Mother Benedict Duss, O.S.B. and Mother Mary Aline Trilles de Warren, O.S.B. in Bethlehem, Connecticut. This monastic foundation was one of the first houses of contemplative Benedictine nuns in the United States. Mother Benedict and...
, founded in 1947, one of the first houses of contemplative Benedictine nuns in the United States. Robert Leather, a Protestant industrialist, donated 400 acres (1.6 km²) of land on which the convent is located. The convent now has 37 nuns.
The Abbey is known for its commitment to the arts, especially the performance of Gregorian Chant. The acting background of Mother Dolores Hart, O.S.B., has prompted the convent to sponsor annual summer theatre productions.
Hart has worked with fellow artists, including James and Dawn Douglas, to found The Act Association, a group that performs at The Gary-The Olivia Theater, an open-air venue which seats about 200 people. Built in 1982 with the help of actress Patricia Neal
Patricia Neal
Patricia Neal was an American actress of stage and screen. She was best known for her film roles as World War II widow Helen Benson in The Day the Earth Stood Still , wealthy matron Emily Eustace Failenson in Breakfast at Tiffany's , middle-aged housekeeper Alma Brown in Hud , for which she won...
, this open-air theater seats about 200 people. Productions have included plays by Shakespeare, Sartre, opera and musical reviews. Patricia Neal and James Douglas appeared in She Stoops to Conquer in 1999.
Notable people, past and present
- Actress Christine BaranskiChristine BaranskiChristine Jane Baranski is an American stage and screen actress, and is perhaps best known for her Emmy Award winning portrayal as "Maryanne Thorpe" in the sitcom Cybill, and her Emmy nominated portrayal of "Diane Lockhart" in The Good Wife...
and her husband, actor and playwright, Matthew CowlesMatthew Cowles-Personal life:The son of actor and theatre producer Chandler Cowles, he was born in New York City.Since 1983 he has been married to actress Christine Baranski with whom he has two daughters, Isabel and Lily...
. - Joseph BellamyJoseph BellamyJoseph Bellamy was an American Congregationalist pastor and a leading preacher, author, educator and theologian in New England in the second half of the 18th century.-Life:...
(1719–1790), an influential Congregationalist theologian in the 18th century, was pastor at the Congregational church in town for 50 years, until his death. - Dolores HartDolores HartDolores Hart is an American Roman Catholic nun and former actress. She made 10 films in 5 years, playing opposite Stephen Boyd, Montgomery Clift, George Hamilton and Robert Wagner, having made her movie debut with Elvis Presley in Loving You .-Background:Dolores Hicks was the only child of the...
, a former actress who appeared with Elvis PresleyElvis PresleyElvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, became a Roman Catholic nun at the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in town, ultimately becoming head (or "prioress")of the convent. Her formal title now is the Reverend Mother Dolores Hart. - David LeavittDavid Leavitt (banker)David Leavitt was an early New York City banker and financier. As president of the American Exchange Bank of New York during the Financial Panic of 1837 he represented bondholders of the nascent Illinois and Michigan Canal, allowing completion of the historic canal linking the Midwest with the...
(1791–1879), New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
banker, financier and art collector, born at Bethlehem to Connecticut legislator and businessman David Leavitt Sr.
External links
- Town government Web site
- History page on the town Web site
- Northwest Connecticut Arts Council
- Abbey of Regina Laudis website
- Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Northwestern Connecticut Community College in Winsted
- Old Bethlehem Historical Society Museum
- Regional School District No. 14 and Nonnewaug High School
- The Woodhall School Homepage
- The Joseph Bellamy House: The Great Awakening in Puritan New England, a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan