Colchester, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Colchester is a town
in New London County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 14,551 at the 2000 census. In 2005 it was ranked 57th on the "100 Best Places to Live" in all of the United States, conducted by CNN
. In 2010 Colchester became the first town in Connecticut, and the 36th in the country, to be certified with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) as a Community Wildlife Habitat. Colchester is one of the fastest growing towns in Connecticut. The villages of Westchester and North Westchester are located within Colchester, as is the reservation of the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation
. The town center village, which was previously incorporated as a borough
, is a census-designated place
.
The Colchester Historical Society operates a local history museum in town.
, the town has a total area of 49.8 square miles (129 km²), of which, 49.1 square miles (127.2 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.49%) is water.
Formerly an incorporated borough
, the town center of Colchester is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
as a historic district
, known as the Colchester Village Historic District
. The town center has many attractions such as the veteran memorial on the town green and Harry's Place, a small shack located in the center of town widely known for their hamburgers and hot dogs. The Connecticut Dragway was also located in East Haddam CT near the Colchester border, until it was closed.
.
In honor of its 2005 designation, Colchester developed an annual celebration, the Colchester 57 Fest, which takes place each September. It is a family festival featuring entertainment, activities, food, fireworks and more. However, health and wellness is an important theme of the event. Details: http://www.colchesterct.gov/57fest/
(Grades 9-12). In 2009, the Bacon Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team won the Class M State Championship with a 55-53 win over Berlin. In 2010, the Varsity Boys Wrestling team won the Class M State Championship with a 206-190 win over Waterford.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 14,551 people, 5,225 households, and 3,997 families residing in the town. The population density
was 296.6 people per square mile (114.5/km²). There were 5,407 housing units at an average density of 110.2 per square mile (42.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.53% White, 2.37% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.
There were 5,225 households out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% 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 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,807, and the median income for a family was $72,346. Males had a median income of $47,123 versus $34,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $27,038. About 2.1% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
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 New London County
New London County, Connecticut
New London County is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010 the population was 274,055. The total area of the county is , including inland and coastal waters....
, 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 14,551 at the 2000 census. In 2005 it was ranked 57th on the "100 Best Places to Live" in all of the United States, conducted by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
. In 2010 Colchester became the first town in Connecticut, and the 36th in the country, to be certified with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) as a Community Wildlife Habitat. Colchester is one of the fastest growing towns in Connecticut. The villages of Westchester and North Westchester are located within Colchester, as is the reservation of the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation
Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation
The Golden Hill Paugussetts are the Connecticut state-recognized tribal descendents of the Paugussett Nation of Native Americans that occupied much of western Connecticut prior to the arrival of Europeans...
. The town center village, which was previously incorporated as a borough
Borough (Connecticut)
In the U.S. state of Connecticut, a borough is an incorporated section of a town. Borough governments are not autonomous and are subordinate to the government of the town to which they belong...
, is 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...
.
The Colchester Historical Society operates a local history museum in town.
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 49.8 square miles (129 km²), of which, 49.1 square miles (127.2 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.49%) is water.
Principal communities
- Colchester centerColchester Village Historic DistrictColchester Village Historic District in Colchester, Connecticut is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is located at the junction of Route 16, Route 85, and Norwich Avenue...
- Golden Hill Paugussett Reservation
- North Westchester
- Westchester
Landmarks
Borough (Connecticut)
In the U.S. state of Connecticut, a borough is an incorporated section of a town. Borough governments are not autonomous and are subordinate to the government of the town to which they belong...
, the town center of Colchester is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
as a historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
, known as the Colchester Village Historic District
Colchester Village Historic District
Colchester Village Historic District in Colchester, Connecticut is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is located at the junction of Route 16, Route 85, and Norwich Avenue...
. The town center has many attractions such as the veteran memorial on the town green and Harry's Place, a small shack located in the center of town widely known for their hamburgers and hot dogs. The Connecticut Dragway was also located in East Haddam CT near the Colchester border, until it was closed.
Activities
Fishing, hiking, and hunting at the Salmon River State ForestSalmon River State Forest
Salmon River State Forest is one of the state forests of Connecticut.-History:The first purchase of lands which comprise the Salmon River State Forest was made by the State Board of Fisheries and Game in 1934. The Forest now contains nearly located in the towns of Hebron, Marlborough, Colchester,...
.
In honor of its 2005 designation, Colchester developed an annual celebration, the Colchester 57 Fest, which takes place each September. It is a family festival featuring entertainment, activities, food, fireworks and more. However, health and wellness is an important theme of the event. Details: http://www.colchesterct.gov/57fest/
Schools
Colchester has four schools: Colchester Elementary School (Pre K-2), Jack Jackter Intermediate School (Grades 3-5), William J. Johnston Middle School (Grades 6-8), and Bacon AcademyBacon Academy
Bacon Academy is a public high school in Colchester, Connecticut, in the United States.In 1800 a prominent Colchester farmer, Pierpont Bacon, died and left an endowment of thirty-five thousand dollars . The endowment was to theThis established the academy that bears his name...
(Grades 9-12). In 2009, the Bacon Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team won the Class M State Championship with a 55-53 win over Berlin. In 2010, the Varsity Boys Wrestling team won the Class M State Championship with a 206-190 win over Waterford.
Demographics
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 14,551 people, 5,225 households, and 3,997 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 296.6 people per square mile (114.5/km²). There were 5,407 housing units at an average density of 110.2 per square mile (42.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.53% White, 2.37% African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.75% 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 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.92% of the population.
There were 5,225 households out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.9% 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 3.14.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,807, and the median income for a family was $72,346. Males had a median income of $47,123 versus $34,250 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 $27,038. About 2.1% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active Voters | Inactive Voters | Total Voters | Percentage |
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... |
2,537 | 124 | 2,661 | 27.87% |
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... |
1,938 | 90 | 2,028 | 21.24% |
Unaffiliated | 4,589 | 265 | 4,854 | 50.83% |
Minor Parties | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0.06% | |
| Total | 9,070 | 479 | 9,549 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Notable residents
- John AdamsJohn Adams (educator)John Adams was an American educator noted for organizing several hundred Sunday schools. His life was celebrated by Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr...
, (1772–1863), founder of Phillips Exeter AcademyPhillips Exeter AcademyPhillips Exeter Academy is a private secondary school located in Exeter, New Hampshire, in the United States.Exeter is noted for its application of Harkness education, a system based on a conference format of teacher and student interaction, similar to the Socratic method of learning through asking...
, was the principal of the Bacon Academy here from 1803-1810. - William AdamsWilliam Adams (minister)William Adams was a noted clergyman and academic.-Early life:He was born in Colchester, Connecticut in 1807 to John Adams , a 1795 graduate of Yale who was an American educator noted for organizing several hundred Sunday schools, and Elizabeth Ripley, the daughter of Gamaliel Ripley and Judith...
, (1807–1880), born in Colchester, noted clergyman and president of the Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. - Stephen F. Austin, (1793–1836), attended Bacon Academy in 1803.
- Edward Sheffield BartholomewEdward Sheffield BartholomewEdward Sheffield Bartholomew was a noted American sculptor active in Italy.Bartholomew was born in Colchester, Connecticut. After apprenticeships as a bookbinder and dentist, his first employment was as a dentist in Hartford, but he soon abandoned it for painting and sculpture...
, (1822–1858), sculptor - Jonathan CoultonJonathan CoultonJonathan Coulton is an American singer-songwriter, known for his songs about geek culture and his use of the Internet to draw fans...
, (1970-), is a singer-songwriter. - Henry C. DemingHenry C. DemingHenry Champion Deming was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut.-Early life:Born in Colchester, Connecticut, Deming pursued classical studies...
, (1815–1872), mayor of Hartford, mayor of New Orleans, Colonel in the Union ArmyUnion ArmyThe Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
and US Congressman. - Rick DerringerRick DerringerRick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
, (1947-), rock artist and producer. - Ezra Hall GillettEzra Hall GillettEzra Hall Gillett was an American clergyman and author, born at Colchester Connecticut He graduated in 1841 at Yale, and in 1844 at the Union Theological Seminary, and became pastor of a Presbyterian church in Harlem, N. Y. In 1868 he was appointed professor of political economy, ethics, and...
, (1823–1875), author, clergyman, and professor. - Prince SaundersPrince SaundersPrince Saunders was an African-American teacher, scholar, diplomat, and author who was born in either Lebanon, Connecticut or Thetford, Vermont according to various sources. During his life, Saunders helped set up schools for African Americans in Massachusetts and also in Haiti, for Emperor Henri...
, (1775–1839), attorney general of the Republic of Haiti. - Lyman TrumbullLyman TrumbullLyman Trumbull was a United States Senator from Illinois during the American Civil War, and co-author of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.-Education and early career:...
, (1813–1896), born in Colchester, became influential as a U.S. Senator representing the state of Illinois during the Civil War and Reconstruction. - Abigail Goodrich WhittelseyAbigail Goodrich WhittelseyAbigail Goodrich Wittelsey was an American editor who provided in her magazine information and instructions on the role of mothers. -Personal life:...
, (1788–1858), editor. - Ron WotusRon WotusRonald Allan Wotus is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and second baseman and current bench coach for the San Francisco Giants....
, (1961-), Bacon AcademyBacon AcademyBacon Academy is a public high school in Colchester, Connecticut, in the United States.In 1800 a prominent Colchester farmer, Pierpont Bacon, died and left an endowment of thirty-five thousand dollars . The endowment was to theThis established the academy that bears his name...
graduate (1979), San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
bench coach.