Colebrook, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Colebrook is a town
in Litchfield County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 1,471 at the 2000 census. Colebrook was named after Colebrooke, in the English county of Devon
.
, the town has a total area of 32.9 square miles (85.2 km²), of which 31.5 square miles (81.6 km²) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) (4.40%) is water. The Algonquin State Forest is located within the town.
of 2000, there were 1,471 people, 566 households, and 419 families residing in the town. The population density
was 46.7 people per square mile (18.0/km²). There were 656 housing units at an average density of 20.8 per square mile (8.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.01% White, 0.68% African American, 0.61% Asian, 0.88% from other races
, and 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.
There were 566 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples
living together, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% 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 town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,684, and the median income for a family was $64,286. Males had a median income of $42,647 versus $35,987 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $29,789. About 1.4% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
, Route 182, and Route 183.
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 1,471 at the 2000 census. Colebrook was named after Colebrooke, in the English county of Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
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 32.9 square miles (85.2 km²), of which 31.5 square miles (81.6 km²) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) (4.40%) is water. The Algonquin State Forest is located within the town.
Demographics
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...
of 2000, there were 1,471 people, 566 households, and 419 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 46.7 people per square mile (18.0/km²). There were 656 housing units at an average density of 20.8 per square mile (8.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.01% White, 0.68% African American, 0.61% Asian, 0.88% 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 0.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.45% of the population.
There were 566 households out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% 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, 5.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% 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 town the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 4.2% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 102.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,684, and the median income for a family was $64,286. Males had a median income of $42,647 versus $35,987 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 $29,789. About 1.4% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 9.0% 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... |
299 | 8 | 307 | 27.36% |
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... |
267 | 10 | 277 | 24.69% |
Unaffiliated | 503 | 30 | 533 | 47.50% |
Minor Parties | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0.45% | |
| Total | 1,074 | 48 | 1,122 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Transportation
The town is served by Route 8Route 8 (Connecticut)
Route 8 is the portion of the multistate New England Route 8 within the state of Connecticut. It is a state highway running north–south from Bridgeport, through Waterbury, all the way to the Massachusetts state line where it continues as Route 8...
, Route 182, and Route 183.
Notable locations
- Rock Hall (Colebrook, Connecticut), listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Notable residents
- Abiram ChamberlainAbiram ChamberlainAbiram Chamberlain was an American politician, and the 60th Governor of Connecticut from 1903 to 1905.- Early life :...
(1837–1911), the 60th Governor of Connecticut was born in Colebrook. - Donald BarrDonald Barr (novelist)Donald Barr was a US educator and author, who taught English at Columbia University, was headmaster at the Dalton School in New York City , the Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY, and was the author of two science fiction novels...
, (1921–2004), novelist, educator, and book reviewer for the New York Times, retired to Colebrook in the 1980s. - Jonathan Edwards (the younger)Jonathan Edwards (the younger)This article is about the theologian , for other uses of Jonathan Edwards see Jonathan Edwards.Jonathan Edwards was an American theologian and linguist.-Life and career:...
(1745–1801), theologian, lived and preached in Colebrook for four years. - Short story writer Harris Merton LyonHarris Merton Lyon-Biography:Harris Merton Lyon was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1882. He attended the University of Missouri while working at a restaurant and laundrette. By the early 1900s, he moved to New York City to work as a journalist and as a short story writer...
lived in North Colebrook. - James PhelpsJames Phelps (congressman)James Phelps was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut, son of Lancelot Phelps.Born in Colebrook, Connecticut, Phelps attended the public schools, the Episcopal Academy, Cheshire, Connecticut, Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut, and the law department of Yale College.He was admitted to the...
(1822–1900), judge, Connecticut Representative and Senator, and US Congressman was born in town. - Lancelot PhelpsLancelot PhelpsLancelot Phelps was a United States Representative from Connecticut. He was the father of James Phelps who was also a United States Representative from Connecticut. He was born in Windsor, Connecticut before moving with his family to Colebrook, Connecticut in 1794...
(1784–1866), US Congressman and father to James Phelps was a long time resident. - Ammi PhillipsAmmi PhillipsAmmi Phillips , a self-taught New England portrait painter, is regarded as one of the most important folk artists of his era.Phillips was born in Colebrook, Connecticut, and began painting portraits as early as 1810...
(1788–1865), artist, was born in Colebrook. - Thomas Robbins (minister)Thomas Robbins (minister)Rev. Thomas Robbins, D.D. was a Congregational minister, a bibliophile, and an antiquarian. He became the first librarian of the Connecticut Historical Society.-Early years:...
(1777–1856), Congregational minister, bibliophile, and an antiquarian died in Colebrook. - Julius RockwellJulius RockwellJulius Rockwell was a United States politician from Massachusetts, and the father of Francis Williams Rockwell.Rockwell was born in Colebrook, Connecticut and educated at private schools and then Yale, where he studied law, graduating in 1826. He was admitted to the bar and in 1830 commenced...
(1805–1888), judge and US Congressman for Massachusetts was born in town.