Goshen, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Goshen is a town
in Litchfield County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 2,697 at the 2000 census.
Each July, the Connecticut Agricultural Fair
is held in town. It is also home to the Goshen players
.
, the town has a total area of 45.2 square miles (117.1 km²), of which, 43.7 square miles (113.2 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (3.43%) is water. A large portion of the Mohawk State Forest
is located in the town. The Appalachian Trail
formerly passed through the town until it was re-routed west of the Housatonic River
.
Other minor communities and geographic areas in the town are: Hall Meadow, North Goshen, Tyler Lake, West Side, and Woodridge Lake. Woodrige lake is private. It is only available to residents (it is not a gated community). They have access to the clubhouse, and all of the lake's beaches.
The first school in Goshen was built in 1753. A seminary for young women was established in 1819. The Goshen Academy was established several years later and became a well-regarded preparatory school during the 19th century.
Settlers from Goshen were the first to settle Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio
in the Connecticut Western Reserve
.
is the principal east-west through route in the town, while Route 63
serves as the main north-south road.
of 2000, there were 2,697 people, 1,066 households, and 814 families residing in the town. The population density
was 61.8 people per square mile (23.9/km²). There were 1,482 housing units at an average density of 33.9 per square mile (13.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% White, 0.48% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.74% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.
There were 1,066 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were married couples
living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,432, and the median income for a family was $72,452. Males had a median income of $48,125 versus $30,464 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $33,925. About 2.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% 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 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 2,697 at the 2000 census.
Each July, the Connecticut Agricultural Fair
Connecticut Agricultural Fair
The Connecticut Agricultural Fair was held annually the last full weekend of July on the Goshen Fairgrounds in Goshen, Connecticut. A total community event, the Connecticut Agricultural Fair was a not-for-profit event run solely by over 300 volunteers from all corners of Connecticut and beyond...
is held in town. It is also home to the Goshen players
Goshen players
The Goshen Players is a community theatre in Goshen, Connecticut. They occupy the Old Town Hall, located at the rotary at the intersections of Routes 4 and 63. The Players are very proud to be the second oldest continuously performing theatre group in the state, Simsbury Light Opera being older by...
.
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 45.2 square miles (117.1 km²), of which, 43.7 square miles (113.2 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (3.43%) is water. A large portion of the Mohawk State Forest
Mohawk State Forest
Mohawk State Forest is the sixth oldest forest in the Connecticut state forest system. It is located in the southern Berkshires of Litchfield County, in the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, and Litchfield. Beginning in 1921, of land was donated by the White Memorial Trust. Today, the park encompasses...
is located in the town. The Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
formerly passed through the town until it was re-routed west of the Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
.
Principal communities
- Goshen Center
- West Goshen
Other minor communities and geographic areas in the town are: Hall Meadow, North Goshen, Tyler Lake, West Side, and Woodridge Lake. Woodrige lake is private. It is only available to residents (it is not a gated community). They have access to the clubhouse, and all of the lake's beaches.
History
The town was incorporated in 1739, one year after settlement of the town center began. The Congregational Church was founded the following year. During the 18th century, Goshen was a farming, and later, prosperous business community. The town manufactured musket rifles during the American Revolution. Other notable business include the pineapple cheese factory and the Brooks pottery shop.The first school in Goshen was built in 1753. A seminary for young women was established in 1819. The Goshen Academy was established several years later and became a well-regarded preparatory school during the 19th century.
Settlers from Goshen were the first to settle Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio
Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio
Hudson Township was one of the 16 original townships in Summit County, Ohio. When created, it occupied survey Range 10, Town 4 in the Connecticut Western Reserve and was about in area. Its first settlers were David Hudson and his party from Goshen, Connecticut in 1799...
in the Connecticut Western Reserve
Connecticut Western Reserve
The Connecticut Western Reserve was land claimed by Connecticut from 1662 to 1800 in the Northwest Territory in what is now northeastern Ohio.-History:...
.
Notable locations
Historic sites in the town include:- Hervey Brooks Pottery Shop and Kiln Site, an archeological site listed on 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...
(NRHP) - Goshen Historic District - CT 63 and 4 and Gifford Rd., NRHP-listed
- West Goshen Historic DistrictWest Goshen Historic DistrictWest Goshen Historic District is a historic district in the village of West Goshen in the town of Goshen, Connecticut.The historic district area includes examples of Greek Revival, Federal, and Vernacular Federal architecture, and includes structures built as early as 1790...
- roughly bounded by CT 4, Beach, Mill and Milton Sts., and Thompson Rd., NRHP-listed
Transportation
Route 4Route 4 (Connecticut)
Route 4 is an east–west primary state highway connecting rural Litchfield County to the Greater Hartford area of the U.S. state of Connecticut...
is the principal east-west through route in the town, while Route 63
Route 63 (Connecticut)
Route 63 is a secondary state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut, from New Haven up to Canaan, running for . It connects the Greater New Haven area to Northwestern Connecticut via the western suburbs of Waterbury.-Route description:...
serves as the main north-south road.
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 2,697 people, 1,066 households, and 814 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 61.8 people per square mile (23.9/km²). There were 1,482 housing units at an average density of 33.9 per square mile (13.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% White, 0.48% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.74% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population.
There were 1,066 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% 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, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $64,432, and the median income for a family was $72,452. Males had a median income of $48,125 versus $30,464 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 $33,925. About 2.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
| 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... |
745 | 16 | 761 | 37.29% |
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... |
413 | 6 | 419 | 20.53% |
Unaffiliated | 827 | 33 | 860 | 42.14% |
Minor Parties | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.05% | |
| Total | 1,986 | 55 | 2,041 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Notable residents
- William R. BrewsterWilliam R. BrewsterWilliam Root Brewster was an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War who commanded a regiment in the famed Excelsior Brigade of the Army of the Potomac...
, American Civil War general - David DarlingDavid Darling (musician)David Darling is an American cellist and composer. He won the Grammy award for Best New Age Album in 2010. He has performed and recorded with artists such as Bobby McFerrin and Spyro Gyra in addition to putting out several solo and small ensemble albums as well as albums of his...
, cellist and composer - Daniel S. DickinsonDaniel S. DickinsonDaniel Stevens Dickinson was a New York politician, most notable as a United States Senator from 1844 to 1851.-Biography:...
, U.S. Senator - Asaph HallAsaph HallAsaph Hall III was an American astronomer who is most famous for having discovered the moons of Mars in 1877...
, astronomer credited with discovering the moons of MarsMarsMars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance... - Madeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'EngleMadeleine L'Engle was an American writer best known for her young-adult fiction, particularly the Newbery Medal-winning A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels A Wind in the Door, A Swiftly Tilting Planet, Many Waters, and An Acceptable Time...
, author - Ivan LendlIvan LendlIvan Lendl is a former world no. 1 professional tennis player. Originally from Czechoslovakia, Lendl became a United States citizen. He was one of the game's most dominant players in the 1980s and remained a top competitor into the early 1990s. He is considered to be one of the greatest tennis...
, professional tennis player - Frederick MilesFrederick MilesFrederick Miles was a United States Representative from Connecticut. He was born in Goshen, Connecticut where he attended the common schools and pursued an academic course...
, U.S. Representative - Mary Pope OsborneMary Pope OsborneMary Pope Osborne is an American children's book author. She is best known for her award-winning and bestselling Magic Tree House series, which has been translated into over 20 languages and sold over 53 million copies.-Background:...
, author - Kevin PhillipsKevin Phillips (political commentator)Kevin Price Phillips is an American writer and commentator on politics, economics, and history. Formerly a Republican Party strategist, Phillips has become disaffected with his former party over the last two decades, and is now one of its most scathing critics...
, U.S. author and political analyst - Isaac Williams, Jr.Isaac Williams, Jr.Isaac Williams, Jr. was an American politician from New York.-Life:He received a limited schooling, and in 1793 moved with his father to Otsego County, New York...
, U.S. Representative