East Lyme, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
East Lyme is a town
in New London County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population
was 18,118 at the 2000 census. The latitude
of East Lyme is 41.353N. The longitude
is -72.23W.
, the town
has a total area of 42 square miles (108.8 km²), of which, 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²) of it (18.89%) is water.
consists primarily of two villages: the village of Flanders, and the village of Niantic. It is common for the town of East Lyme to be erroneously called Niantic, due to this side of town being the "beach" side which is popular with tourists and visitors in the summer months. Niantic's population doubles in the summer months for the beach season, and it's a much higher density than the more sparsely populated Flanders side of town, which is known for its apple orchards, the town's high school, and forest.
Indians whose ranging grounds once extended from Wecapaug Brook, in what is now Rhode Island
, to the Connecticut River
. Shortly before the first settlers arrived the Pequots had invaded Nehantic
territory and annexed about half of the land claimed by the tribe. According to local historian Olive Tubbs Chendali:
Sportsfishing and marinas predominate the village's industry along with summer tourism and restaurant trade. Strong regional businesses include seafood restaurants and hotels/motels servicing the town's beaches and the casinos at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun
. Rocky Neck State Park
features camping, swimming and picnic areas along with numerous marinas and sportsfishing companies.
The Niantic Bay Boardwalk is a popular place for tourists and locals to walk. When it was built it was one mile (1.6 km) long, spanning the length of Niantic Bay. Currently it is only half of that length with access only from the town's Hole-in-the-Wall Beach. The truncation is due to Amtrak
building of a new railroad bridge across the mouth of the Niantic River, which involves changing the path of the railroad tracks leading up to the new bridge. The boardwalk will be rebuilt by Amtrak as part of the bridge construction program.
The existing Niantic River Bridge
is a historic railroad bridge built in 1907 by the King Bridge Company
.
The Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut was founded in 1991 and is located in East Lyme's original public library on Main Street. The popular museum is open year-round and is aimed primarily at children ages infant to ten years old. It is a favorite among southeastern Connecticut residents as well as many visitors from all over the state and country.
The village of Niantic includes the beach communities of Attawan Beach, Black Point, Crescent Beach, Giants Neck Beach, Giants Neck Heights, Oak Grove Beach, Old Black Point, Pine Grove, and Saunder's Point.
, Belgium
, due to the fact that in what was originally a farming area along the Old Post Road, a cottage textile industry developed similar to that in Flanders, Belgium. The part of Flanders most referred to is Flanders four-corners, which is the intersection of Chesterfield Road (Route 161
) with the Boston Post Road
(Route 1) that is the site of many small stores and businesses.
of East Lyme consists of rolling hills and lush valleys formed by glaciers carving through the bedrock. East Lyme is especially scenic in the summer when the trees are in bloom. The town abuts the Niantic bay
, fed by the Niantic River, and the Long Island Sound.
of 2000, there were 18,118 people, 6,308 households, and 4,535 families residing in the town. The population density
was 532.3 people per square mile (205.6/km2). There were 7,459 housing units at an average density of 219.2 per square mile (84.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 87.29% White, 6.37% African American, 0.44% Native American, 2.82% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.59% of the population
.
There were 6,308 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median
age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median
income for a household in the town was $66,539, and the median
income for a family was $74,430. Males had a median
income of $53,333 versus $37,162 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $28,765. About 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.
The school district consists of one high school, East Lyme High School
; one middle school, East Lyme Middle School (grades 5-8); and three elementary schools:
The East Lyme High School
has been recognized by both Newsweek
Magazine as one of the top 1,000 high schools in the country and the U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 500 high schools in America.
The East Lyme High School
also hosts the East Lyme Aquatic & Fitness Center. The center contains an eight-lane, 25 yards (22.9 m) long, competition swimming and diving pool, and a fitness facility with Nautilus equipment, free weights, and a cardiovascular line. The facility is used by high school swimming and diving teams as well as being open to the public, on a fee basis, when not in use by the school. Students from the neighboring town of Salem also attend East Lyme High School.
The East Lyme Middle School is a 1999–2000 National Blue Ribbon School and a 2004 New England League of Middle Schools Spotlight School. It includes a high tech computer lab and a spacious library.
The Middle School uses a team program called Kivas. A kiva contains a science teacher, a language arts or English teacher, a social studies teacher and a math teacher. Some kivas are smaller and have a math and science teacher and a language arts and social studies teacher. There are 11 kivas. There is also two different types Multi age looping and two year looping. The last kiva is a World language kiva where students can study French or Spanish.
, built circa 1660, is the oldest house in Connecticut
that is still in its primitive state. This building is located in the southwestern section of East Lyme, adjacent to Rocky Neck State Park
, at the intersection of Connecticut Route 156 and Giants Neck Road. Co-Located on this site is the one room Little Boston Schoolhouse. The school house was relocated to its current location from across CT Route 156. The town features no less than 6 homes from 1699 or earlier. and the Old Stone Church Burial Ground from 1719 located off Society & Riverview Roads.
The area occupied by the town was originally inhabited by the Nehantic Indians
who maintained villages in the modern day Indian Woods section as well as on Black Point, McCooks Beach area and near the Niantic River. The tribe allied itself with the colonists in the 1636 war against the Pequot Indians the Nehantic eventually died out in the mid-19th century. The 1750s Ezra Stiles
map shows the village in modern day Indian Woods of the Nehantic people as was described as "12 or 13 huts".
East Lyme, then a part of Lyme
, had severals taverns which offered stopping places for travelers such as Sarah Kemble Knight
. These included Calkins Tavern on modern day Boston Post Road, Royce's Tavern, and Taber Tavern near modern day I-95. No fewer than 23 Revolutionary War Veterans are buried within the borders of East Lyme and countless more found resting places in upstate New York
, New Hampshire
and Ohio
. Moses Warren, along with General Samuel Holden Parsons
originally of Lyme and Moses Cleaveland
set out to survey the Ohio Territory in the latter part of the 1790s and has Warren County
, Ohio
named after him.
. The library moved a few times until a permanent structure was built in 1920 on Main St. In 1966 a wing was added, and in 1979 another addition was added. In 1990 the library moved into the new Community Center/Library complex, where it exists today.
The largest single employer in the town is the state of Connecticut
's Department of Corrections which runs two prisons in the west end of town: York Correctional Facility for women which houses over 1,000 inmates and is staffed by over 500 personnel. and the Gates Correctional Institute for men, which houses about 900 inmates and is staffed by 288 people.
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
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
was 18,118 at the 2000 census. The latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
of East Lyme is 41.353N. The longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
is -72.23W.
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
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
has a total area of 42 square miles (108.8 km²), of which, 34 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²) of it (18.89%) is water.
Villages
The townTown
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
consists primarily of two villages: the village of Flanders, and the village of Niantic. It is common for the town of East Lyme to be erroneously called Niantic, due to this side of town being the "beach" side which is popular with tourists and visitors in the summer months. Niantic's population doubles in the summer months for the beach season, and it's a much higher density than the more sparsely populated Flanders side of town, which is known for its apple orchards, the town's high school, and forest.
Village of Niantic
The Village of Niantic gets its name from the NehanticNiantic (tribe)
The Niantic, or in their own language, the Nehântick or Nehantucket were a tribe of New England Native Americans, who were living in Connecticut and Rhode Island during the early colonial period. Due to intrusions of the Pequot, the Niantic were divided into an eastern and western division...
Indians whose ranging grounds once extended from Wecapaug Brook, in what is now Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, to the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. Shortly before the first settlers arrived the Pequots had invaded Nehantic
Niantic (tribe)
The Niantic, or in their own language, the Nehântick or Nehantucket were a tribe of New England Native Americans, who were living in Connecticut and Rhode Island during the early colonial period. Due to intrusions of the Pequot, the Niantic were divided into an eastern and western division...
territory and annexed about half of the land claimed by the tribe. According to local historian Olive Tubbs Chendali:
It was the construction of the railroad in 1851 that lured people to the shoreline which up to this time had been known - not as Niantic - but as "The Bank". Long before this time, however, as evidenced by The Diary of Joshua Hempstead - 1711 - 1758 it was known as "Nahantick" "Nyantick" or "Nehantic", the home territory of the Nehantic Indians.
Sportsfishing and marinas predominate the village's industry along with summer tourism and restaurant trade. Strong regional businesses include seafood restaurants and hotels/motels servicing the town's beaches and the casinos at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun
Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, is the second largest casino in the United States with of gaming space. It is located on along the banks of the Thames River. It is at the heart of the scenic foothills of southeastern Connecticut, where 60 percent of the state's tourism is...
. Rocky Neck State Park
Rocky Neck State Park
Rocky Neck State Park is a state park and beach in East Lyme, Connecticut. It includes the Rocky Neck Pavilion which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
features camping, swimming and picnic areas along with numerous marinas and sportsfishing companies.
The Niantic Bay Boardwalk is a popular place for tourists and locals to walk. When it was built it was one mile (1.6 km) long, spanning the length of Niantic Bay. Currently it is only half of that length with access only from the town's Hole-in-the-Wall Beach. The truncation is due to Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
building of a new railroad bridge across the mouth of the Niantic River, which involves changing the path of the railroad tracks leading up to the new bridge. The boardwalk will be rebuilt by Amtrak as part of the bridge construction program.
The existing Niantic River Bridge
Niantic River Bridge
Niantic River Bridge, also known as Amtrak Bascule Bridge No. 116.74, is a railroad bridge carrying Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line across the Niantic River between East Lyme, Connecticut and Waterford, Connecticut...
is a historic railroad bridge built in 1907 by the King Bridge Company
King Bridge Company
The King Iron Bridge & Manufacturing Company was a late-19th-century bridge building company located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was founded by Zenas King in 1858 and subsequently managed by his sons, James A. King and Harry W. King and then his grandson, Norman C. King, until the mid-1920s...
.
The Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut was founded in 1991 and is located in East Lyme's original public library on Main Street. The popular museum is open year-round and is aimed primarily at children ages infant to ten years old. It is a favorite among southeastern Connecticut residents as well as many visitors from all over the state and country.
The village of Niantic includes the beach communities of Attawan Beach, Black Point, Crescent Beach, Giants Neck Beach, Giants Neck Heights, Oak Grove Beach, Old Black Point, Pine Grove, and Saunder's Point.
Village of Flanders
The Village of Flanders gets its name from FlandersFlanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, due to the fact that in what was originally a farming area along the Old Post Road, a cottage textile industry developed similar to that in Flanders, Belgium. The part of Flanders most referred to is Flanders four-corners, which is the intersection of Chesterfield Road (Route 161
Route 161 (Connecticut)
Route 161 is a state highway in southeastern Connecticut, running from the shoreline village of Niantic in East Lyme to the village of Chesterfield in Montville.-Route description:...
) with the Boston Post Road
Boston Post Road
The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts that evolved into the first major highways in the United States.The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York...
(Route 1) that is the site of many small stores and businesses.
Geology
The geologyGeology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
of East Lyme consists of rolling hills and lush valleys formed by glaciers carving through the bedrock. East Lyme is especially scenic in the summer when the trees are in bloom. The town abuts the Niantic bay
Bay
A bay is an area of water mostly surrounded by land. Bays generally have calmer waters than the surrounding sea, due to the surrounding land blocking some waves and often reducing winds. Bays also exist as an inlet in a lake or pond. A large bay may be called a gulf, a sea, a sound, or a bight...
, fed by the Niantic River, and the Long Island Sound.
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 18,118 people, 6,308 households, and 4,535 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 532.3 people per square mile (205.6/km2). There were 7,459 housing units at an average density of 219.2 per square mile (84.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 87.29% White, 6.37% African American, 0.44% Native American, 2.82% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.21% 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 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.59% of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
.
There were 6,308 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.
The median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
income for a household in the town was $66,539, and the median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
income for a family was $74,430. Males had a median
Median
In probability theory and statistics, a median is described as the numerical value separating the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. The median of a finite list of numbers can be found by arranging all the observations from lowest value to...
income of $53,333 versus $37,162 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 $28,765. About 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% 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... |
3,004 | 659 | 3,663 | 26.30% |
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... |
2,678 | 671 | 3,349 | 24.05% |
Unaffiliated | 5,509 | 1,407 | 6,916 | 49.66% |
Minor Parties | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Total | 11,191 | 2,737 | 13,928 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Schools
The town's public schools are operated by the East Lyme School District.The school district consists of one high school, East Lyme High School
East Lyme High School
East Lyme High School is a high school located in the Flanders region of East Lyme, Connecticut. The school is operated by the East Lyme Schools district. The mascot is Sven the Viking...
; one middle school, East Lyme Middle School (grades 5-8); and three elementary schools:
- Flanders Elementary School (grades K-4),
- Lillie B. Haynes Elementary School (grades preK-4), and
- Niantic Center School (grades K-4).
The East Lyme High School
East Lyme High School
East Lyme High School is a high school located in the Flanders region of East Lyme, Connecticut. The school is operated by the East Lyme Schools district. The mascot is Sven the Viking...
has been recognized by both Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
Magazine as one of the top 1,000 high schools in the country and the U.S. News and World Report as one of the top 500 high schools in America.
The East Lyme High School
East Lyme High School
East Lyme High School is a high school located in the Flanders region of East Lyme, Connecticut. The school is operated by the East Lyme Schools district. The mascot is Sven the Viking...
also hosts the East Lyme Aquatic & Fitness Center. The center contains an eight-lane, 25 yards (22.9 m) long, competition swimming and diving pool, and a fitness facility with Nautilus equipment, free weights, and a cardiovascular line. The facility is used by high school swimming and diving teams as well as being open to the public, on a fee basis, when not in use by the school. Students from the neighboring town of Salem also attend East Lyme High School.
The East Lyme Middle School is a 1999–2000 National Blue Ribbon School and a 2004 New England League of Middle Schools Spotlight School. It includes a high tech computer lab and a spacious library.
The Middle School uses a team program called Kivas. A kiva contains a science teacher, a language arts or English teacher, a social studies teacher and a math teacher. Some kivas are smaller and have a math and science teacher and a language arts and social studies teacher. There are 11 kivas. There is also two different types Multi age looping and two year looping. The last kiva is a World language kiva where students can study French or Spanish.
History
The Thomas Lee HouseThomas Lee House
The Thomas Lee House in the Niantic section of East Lyme, Connecticut, was constructed between 1660 and 1664. It is one of the oldest wood frame houses in Connecticut still in its primitive state. The original dwelling consisted of a post and beam timber frame erected on six 2-story wall posts,...
, built circa 1660, is the oldest house in 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...
that is still in its primitive state. This building is located in the southwestern section of East Lyme, adjacent to Rocky Neck State Park
Rocky Neck State Park
Rocky Neck State Park is a state park and beach in East Lyme, Connecticut. It includes the Rocky Neck Pavilion which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
, at the intersection of Connecticut Route 156 and Giants Neck Road. Co-Located on this site is the one room Little Boston Schoolhouse. The school house was relocated to its current location from across CT Route 156. The town features no less than 6 homes from 1699 or earlier. and the Old Stone Church Burial Ground from 1719 located off Society & Riverview Roads.
The area occupied by the town was originally inhabited by the Nehantic Indians
Niantic (tribe)
The Niantic, or in their own language, the Nehântick or Nehantucket were a tribe of New England Native Americans, who were living in Connecticut and Rhode Island during the early colonial period. Due to intrusions of the Pequot, the Niantic were divided into an eastern and western division...
who maintained villages in the modern day Indian Woods section as well as on Black Point, McCooks Beach area and near the Niantic River. The tribe allied itself with the colonists in the 1636 war against the Pequot Indians the Nehantic eventually died out in the mid-19th century. The 1750s Ezra Stiles
Ezra Stiles
Ezra Stiles was an American academic and educator, a Congregationalist minister, theologian and author. He was president of Yale College .-Early life:...
map shows the village in modern day Indian Woods of the Nehantic people as was described as "12 or 13 huts".
East Lyme, then a part of Lyme
Lyme, Connecticut
Lyme is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,016 at the 2000 census. Lyme and its neighboring town Old Lyme are the namesake for Lyme disease.-Geography:...
, had severals taverns which offered stopping places for travelers such as Sarah Kemble Knight
Sarah Kemble Knight
Sarah Kemble Knight was a teacher and businesswoman, who is remembered for her diary of a journey from Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony, to New York City, Province of New York, in 1704–1705, a courageous adventure for a woman to undertake.She was born in Boston, to Thomas Kemble and Elizabeth...
. These included Calkins Tavern on modern day Boston Post Road, Royce's Tavern, and Taber Tavern near modern day I-95. No fewer than 23 Revolutionary War Veterans are buried within the borders of East Lyme and countless more found resting places in upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. Moses Warren, along with General Samuel Holden Parsons
Samuel Holden Parsons
Samuel Holden Parsons was an American lawyer, jurist, and military leader.Parsons was born in Lyme, Connecticut, the son of Jonathan Parsons and Phoebe Parsons...
originally of Lyme and Moses Cleaveland
Moses Cleaveland
Moses Cleaveland was a lawyer, politician, soldier, and surveyor from Connecticut who founded the U.S. city of Cleveland, Ohio, while surveying the Western Reserve in 1796.-Early life:...
set out to survey the Ohio Territory in the latter part of the 1790s and has Warren County
Warren County, Ohio
Warren County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 212,693 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Lebanon. Warren County was erected May 1, 1803, from Hamilton County, and named for Dr...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
named after him.
Notable locations
- Morton Freeman Plant Hunting LodgeMorton Freeman Plant Hunting LodgeThe Morton Freeman Plant Hunting Lodge is located in East Lyme, Connecticut. The building was built in 1908 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1988....
- built in 1908, added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1988. - Samuel Smith HouseSamuel Smith House (East Lyme, Connecticut)The Samuel Smith House is located in East Lyme, Connecticut. The house was built in 1700 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 4, 1979....
- built in 1700, added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979. - Thomas Lee HouseThomas Lee HouseThe Thomas Lee House in the Niantic section of East Lyme, Connecticut, was constructed between 1660 and 1664. It is one of the oldest wood frame houses in Connecticut still in its primitive state. The original dwelling consisted of a post and beam timber frame erected on six 2-story wall posts,...
- built circa 1664, added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1970. One of the oldest houses in the state. - Thomas Avery HouseThomas Avery HouseThe Smith-Harris House, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Thomas Avery House, is a historic home on Society Road in East Lyme, Connecticut, that is operated as a house museum....
- built in 1845, this Greek Revival home was added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979. - William Gorton FarmWilliam Gorton FarmThe William Gorton Farm is located in East Lyme, Connecticut. The farm was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 5, 1984....
- added to the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984.
Library
The first library was started in 1888 and was called the Niantic Library and Reading Room Association. There were 65 founding members. In 1897 the library was formally incorporated as "The Niantic Public Library Association" by the State of ConnecticutConnecticut
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...
. The library moved a few times until a permanent structure was built in 1920 on Main St. In 1966 a wing was added, and in 1979 another addition was added. In 1990 the library moved into the new Community Center/Library complex, where it exists today.
Economy
According to 2009 statistics 42.2 percent of the town's business was focused in the services industry. A service industry is a business that focuses on retail, food services, distribution, and transportation. The second largest sector is the Trade industry with 23.1% of the town's business, followed by construction and mining which accounts for 12.5% of the town businesses.The largest single employer in the town is the state of 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...
's Department of Corrections which runs two prisons in the west end of town: York Correctional Facility for women which houses over 1,000 inmates and is staffed by over 500 personnel. and the Gates Correctional Institute for men, which houses about 900 inmates and is staffed by 288 people.
Beaches
- Rocky Neck State ParkRocky Neck State ParkRocky Neck State Park is a state park and beach in East Lyme, Connecticut. It includes the Rocky Neck Pavilion which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
(Public) - A state park comprising East Beach and West Beach. - McCook Point ParkMcCook Park BeachMcCook Point is a public park and beach located in the village of Niantic in the town of East Lyme. It adjoins the town's Hole in the Wall Beach to its east and the private Crescent Beach to its west. Combined the two parks encompasses 21 acres of land...
(Public) - The McCook Park Beach, locally known as "McCooks," is located on the Western side of McCooks Point Park, and immediately adjacent to the private Crescent Beach. This beach, along with its associated public park was acquired by the Town of East Lyme in 1953 from the estate of the McCook Family. This beach is open to the public, on a fee basis, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and is open free of charge during all other times. Access to this beach is controlled via locked gate. The normal park hours are 8:00 a.m. until dusk each day. - Hole-in-the-Wall Beach (Public) - An approximate 5 acre beach that adjoins McCook Point Park is open to the public, on a fee basis, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The normal park hours are 8:00 a.m. until dusk. Access is through a walkway underneath railroad tracks used by Amtrak'sAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
Northeast CorridorNortheast CorridorThe Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
. The tunnel is located at the end of Baptist Lane. Free public parking is available, but entrance to the beach is monitored during the summer to ensure people entering have paid for access. It also provides access to the Niantic Beach Boardwalk that was built along the shoreline connecting up with Railroad Beach. Known as the Niantic Bay Overlook, it is approximately 1½ miles long. The Overlook parallels the north shore of Niantic Bay and runs adjacent to the Northeast Corridor AMTRAK line, it consists of both an elevated boardwalk and a level stone dust-filled walkway. - Railroad Beach (Public) - The beach at the Eastern end of the Niantic Bay Overlook and is locally known as "Railroad Beach" due to its proximity with the Niantic Railroad Drawbridge and the AMTRAK Northeast Corridor mainline. Access to this beach is from the Niantic Bay Overlook via "Hole-in-the-Wall Beach" or Cini Park via the walkway under the Railroad Drawbridge. Due to ongoing Amtrak bridge construction the beach is currently not accessible to the public.
- Crescent Beach (Private) - A beach adjacent to McCooks reserved for homeowners in the area.
- Oak Grove Beach (Private)
- Black Point Beach (Private) - A private beach for members of the BPBCA (Black Point Beach Club Association).
- Old Black Point Beach (Private) - A private beach for homeowners in Old Black Point. Contrary to common belief, members of Old Black Point are not allowed in Black Point beach, vice-versa.
- Attawan Beach (Private) - Beach adjacent to Black Point for homeowners in the Attawan Beach Community.
- Giants Neck Beach (Private)
- Giants Neck Heights Beach (Private) - The Giants Neck Heights Association beach is a small private beach located at the southeastern end of the Rocky NeckRocky Neck State ParkRocky Neck State Park is a state park and beach in East Lyme, Connecticut. It includes the Rocky Neck Pavilion which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
Beach. It features a jetty that is popular with local crabbers and amateur photographers - and seagulls who drop clams and mussels on the cement surface to crack them open for eating. Use of this beach is restricted to the approximately 400 homeowners of the Giants Neck Height Association. The surrounding neighborhood is diverse, both culturally and economically, well-maintained, and friendly.
Notable East Lyme High School Graduates
- John McDonald plays professional baseball with the Arizona DiamondbacksArizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. - Ed TothEd TothEd Toth is currently one of the two drummers for The Doobie Brothers.Always interested in music, Ed says he's been drumming most of his life. He made good use of his father's record collection and was active in all music programs in East Lyme, Connecticut, playing in his high school band at East...
is a professional musician currently with The Doobie Brothers, formerly with Vertical HorizonVertical HorizonVertical Horizon is an American alternative rock band formed at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. in 1991. The band is best known for a string of hits in 1999 and early 2000s, including "You're a God", "Everything You Want", and "Best I Ever Had ". Their most recent album, Burning the...
and Jennifer Culture. - Pete WalkerPete WalkerPeter Brian Walker is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Walker is a graduate of East Lyme High School in East Lyme, Connecticut. He completed his college degree at Charter Oak State College. He attended the University of Connecticut and was drafted by the New York Mets...
played professional baseball with several teams. - Jay Allen SanfordJay Allen SanfordJay Allen Sanford is an American author and cartoonist best known for his work with Revolutionary Comics, Carnal Comics, and Pacific Comics. He co-created the comic book Rock ‘N’ Roll Comics with Todd Loren in 1989, which is still being published in 2011 by Bluewater Productions...
is an author and cartoonist best known as the co-creator of the comic book Rock 'N' Roll Comics, and for his work with Revolutionary ComicsRevolutionary ComicsRevolutionary Comics was a U.S. comic book publisher best known for the series Rock 'N' Roll Comics, launched in 1989. Founded by publisher Todd Loren, the line featured unlicensed biographies of rock stars, told in comic book form but geared for adults, often with very adult situations...
, Carnal ComicsCarnal ComicsCarnal Comics is an adults-only comic book imprint which has so-far been published by three companies: Revolutionary Comics , Re-Visionary Press and Opus Graphics...
, and the San Diego ReaderSan Diego ReaderThe San Diego Reader is the largest alternative press paper in the county of San Diego, distributed free in stands and private businesses throughout the county, funded by advertisements...
. - Jeremy PowersJeremy PowersJeremy Powers is an American professional racing cyclist who has found success in cyclocross and road bicycle racing. Powers currently rides for the Jelly Belly p/b Kenda Pro Cycling Team on the road and the Rapha-FOCUS Cyclocross team...
is a professional racing cyclist riding for Cannondale.
Other Notable Residents
- William ColepaughWilliam ColepaughWilliam Curtis Colepaugh was an American who, following his 1943 discharge from the US Naval Reserve , defected to Nazi Germany in 1944. While a crewman on a United States Merchant Marine ship that stopped off in Lisbon, Colepaugh defected at the German consulate...
, (1918–2005) a Nazi-sympathizer who grew up on Black Point, traveled to Germany in 1944 to be trained as a spy. - Rajai DavisRajai DavisRajai Davis [RAH-jay] is an American professional baseball center fielder with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball....
(1980-) is a professional baseball player for the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue JaysThe Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. - Tom DanielsonTom DanielsonTom Danielson is a professional road racing cyclist. Previously riding for the Saturn Team on the U.S. Pro Circuit, and for Fassa Bortolo in Europe, Danielson is currently a member of , but rode for the Discovery Channel team between 2005 and 2007.Danielson currently holds the record for the...
(1978-), is a professional road bicycle racer. - Charles DrakeCharles DrakeCharles Drake was an American actor.-Biography:Drake was born as Charles Ruppert in New York City. He graduated from Nichols College and became a salesman. In 1939, he turned to acting and signed a contract with Warner Brothers. He wasn't immediately successful...
(real name "Charles Ruppert"), (1917–1994), actorActorAn actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
in over 80 films and numerous television shows. - Otto GrahamOtto GrahamOtto Everett Graham, Jr. was a professional American football and basketball player who played for the Cleveland Browns in both the All-America Football Conference and National Football League, as well as the Rochester Royals in the National Basketball League.-Early life:Born in Waukegan,...
, (1921–2003), Hall of Fame professional football player. - William Nathan Harrell SmithWilliam Nathan Harrell SmithWilliam Nathan Harrell Smith was a United States Representative from North Carolina; born in Murfreesboro, North Carolina, September 24, 1812; attended the common schools in Murfreesboro, N.C., Kingston, Rhode Island, and Colchester, Connecticut and East Lyme, Connecticut; was graduated from Yale...
, (1812–1889) a Congressional RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Attended schools in East Lyme. - Vladimir Peter TytlaBill TytlaVladimir Peter "Bill" Tytla was one of the original Disney animators and is considered by many to be the best character animator to work during The Golden Age of Hollywood animation...
, (1904–1968) known as Bill TytlaBill TytlaVladimir Peter "Bill" Tytla was one of the original Disney animators and is considered by many to be the best character animator to work during The Golden Age of Hollywood animation...
was one of the original DisneyWalt Disney PicturesWalt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
animatorAnimatorAn animator is an artist who creates multiple images that give an illusion of movement called animation when displayed in rapid sequence; the images are called frames and key frames. Animators can work in a variety of fields including film, television, video games, and the internet. Usually, an...
s.
Places of worship
- Christ Lutheran Church; 24 Society Road, Niantic, CT 06357; Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
- Lighthouse Assembly of God; 315 Flanders Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Assemblies of GodAssemblies of GodThe Assemblies of God , officially the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, is a group of over 140 autonomous but loosely-associated national groupings of churches which together form the world's largest Pentecostal denomination...
- Flanders Baptist Church; 138 Boston Post Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
- Saint Matthias Church; 317 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Roman Catholic
- Saint Matthias Parish Center; 317 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Roman Catholic
- Miracle Temple Church; 18 Dean Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Non-denominational
- Niantic Community Church; 170 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic CT 06357; United Methodist ChurchUnited Methodist ChurchThe United Methodist Church is a Methodist Christian denomination which is both mainline Protestant and evangelical. Founded in 1968 by the union of The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church, the UMC traces its roots back to the revival movement of John and Charles Wesley...
& United Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristThe United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC... - Saint Agnes Church; 22 Haigh Avenue, Niantic, CT 06357; Roman Catholic
- Niantic Baptist Church; 443 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357; BaptistBaptistBaptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
- Saint John's Episcopal Church; 400 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357; Episcopal
Active
- East Lyme Cemetery, Boston Post Road, East Lyme, CT 06333
- Stone Church, Intersection of Society and Riverview Roads, Niantic, CT 06357
- Union Cemetery, East Pattagansett Road, Niantic, CT 06357
Historical
- Old Stone Church, SW corner of Society Rd and Riverview Road
- Union, East Pattagansett Road; North of Hope Street
- Banty or Niantic Hill, Plants Dam Road & and US Route 1
- Rogers or Mack's Mill, West side Scott Road; 1/2 mile from Whistletown & Upper Pattagansett Road
- Pest House (yard), East side Upper Pattagansett Roadl; 400' back from road
- Center or Riverhead, South of I-95, North of US Route 1 where Rt. 1 intersects I-95 near Waterford town line
- Huntly, West Main Street & Sessa Court Southwest
- Powers, End of Gada Road & across railroad tracks
- Flanders Church, South side US Route 1, east of Baptist Church, lane across from Flanders School
- Taber Stones (3), On grass divider west of intersection of Rt. 1 and I-95 near Waterford town line
- Leech, Beaverbrook Rd. on old cart path several hundred feet from road
- Fosdick, North side of I-95 opposite northwest corner of Riverhead cemetery, 150 feet (45.7 m) from I-95
- Barthrick or Champion #3, South side Green Valley Lake Road, South of Frog Hollow Road
- Tinker, East side of Chesterfield Road opposite and northeast of Walnut Hill Rd., top of hill.
- Old Fox Farm, East side of Upper Walnut Hill Road
- Holmes, Rear of Hames Hatt Farm, Dirt lane off of Grassy Hill
- Brockway, Whistletown Road east side, 1/4 mile from Grassy Hill Road 300 feet (91.4 m) from road
- Tilleson, 400 feet (121.9 m) from south side of Grassy Hill Road, Southwest of The Old School House
- Reeve, Nehantic State Forest going east on Grassy Hill Road from Whistletown Road
External links
- East Lyme Schools
- East Lyme Town Government
- East Lyme Library
- East Lyme Police
- East Lyme Aquatic & Fitness Center
- Mystic Country: The Eastern Regional Tourism District
- Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut
- The Smith Harris House
- Eightmile River Study Committee Web site
- Saint Agnes Church
- Niantic Community Church
- Niantic Baptist Church
- Christ Lutheran Church
- East Lyme Soccer Club