Haddam, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Haddam is a town
in Middlesex County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 7,157 at the 2000 census. The town was also home to the now decommissioned Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Reactor
.
, the town has a total area of 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²), of which, 44 square miles (114 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it (5.01%) is water. It is located in the Connecticut River Valley with a majority of the town's eastern border along the Connecticut River
. However, part of the border is the Salmon River on the east side, which causes the Connecticut river to divide the community of Haddam Neck from the rest of the town. Haddam is the only town in Connecticut with residents on both sides of the river, however there is no modern bridge or ferry within the town limits.
, Shailerville, and Tylerville.
of 2000, there are 7,157 people, 2,701 households, and 2,101 families residing in the town. The population density is 162.5 inhabitants per square mile (62.8/km²). There are 2,822 housing units at an average density of 24.7 persons/km² (64.1 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 96.86% White, 1.03% African American
, 0.11% Native American
, 0.82% Asia
n, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population are Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There are 2,701 households out of which 34.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% are married couples living together, 6.9% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 22.2% are non-families. 18.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.64 and the average family size is 3.00.
In the town the population is spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $78,571, and the median income for a family is $87,026. Males have a median income of $50,500 versus $37,447 for females. The per capita income for the town is $30,519. 3.5% of the population and 1.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.6% are under the age of 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older.
The three elementary schools in the district are:
Haddam Elementary School - located in Haddam, CT
Burr District Elementary School - located in Higganum, CT
Killingworth Elementary School - located in Killingworth, CT
The district high school is located in Higganum, CT and houses all students from 9th grade and above. The high school is part of a complex which shared facilities with the attached district middle school. In recent years however, a plan was made for a new Intermediate School located in between Haddam and Killingworth that would house 5th grade - 8th grade. The school was recently built and now houses all 5-8 graders. This then leaves the old Middle School complex to become a part of the now ever growing Haddam Killingworth HS (This was the original plan). The Middle School part of the complex has now been converted to a district-run daycare facility, the main offices of the district administration, and houses the local trooper station.
The high school houses between 580 and 720 students depending on the year. Many students from the district middle school end up transferring to area religious, private, or magnet school. Common agenda is the move for students to Xavier (boys) and Mercy
(girls) Catholic High Schools in neighboring Middletown, CT to seize better opportunities in terms of discipline and a balanced school atmosphere. The Haddam Killingworth's mascot is the Cougar with school colors of blue and gold. It has numerous extracurricular activities and countless varsity sports that vie yearly for state bids and tournaments.
In recent years it has been praised for its field hockey, soccer, baseball and cross country teams. The school also has many art & music offerings and has students annually in regional and national competitions.
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 Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Connecticut
Middlesex County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was created in 1785 from portions of Hartford and New London counties. As of 2010, the population was 165,676....
, 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 7,157 at the 2000 census. The town was also home to the now decommissioned Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Reactor
Nuclear reactor
A nuclear reactor is a device to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Most commonly they are used for generating electricity and for the propulsion of ships. Usually heat from nuclear fission is passed to a working fluid , which runs through turbines that power either ship's...
.
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 46.3 square miles (119.9 km²), of which, 44 square miles (114 km²) of it is land and 2.3 square miles (6 km²) of it (5.01%) is water. It is located in the Connecticut River Valley with a majority of the town's eastern border along 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...
. However, part of the border is the Salmon River on the east side, which causes the Connecticut river to divide the community of Haddam Neck from the rest of the town. Haddam is the only town in Connecticut with residents on both sides of the river, however there is no modern bridge or ferry within the town limits.
Villages and neighborhoods
In addition to the town center, Haddam Center, the town also includes five villages, including Haddam Neck, Hidden Lake, HigganumHigganum, Connecticut
Higganum, a census-designated place in the town of Haddam, a part of Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,671 at the 2000 census....
, Shailerville, and Tylerville.
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 are 7,157 people, 2,701 households, and 2,101 families residing in the town. The population density is 162.5 inhabitants per square mile (62.8/km²). There are 2,822 housing units at an average density of 24.7 persons/km² (64.1 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 96.86% White, 1.03% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.11% Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, 0.82% Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population are Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There are 2,701 households out of which 34.5% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.1% are married couples living together, 6.9% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 22.2% are non-families. 18.1% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.64 and the average family size is 3.00.
In the town the population is spread out with 24.7% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 102.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $78,571, and the median income for a family is $87,026. Males have a median income of $50,500 versus $37,447 for females. The per capita income for the town is $30,519. 3.5% of the population and 1.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.6% are under the age of 18 and 7.2% are 65 or older.
| 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... |
1,493 | 49 | 1,542 | 27.68% |
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... |
1,205 | 44 | 1,249 | 22.42% |
Unaffiliated | 2,633 | 139 | 2,772 | 49.77% |
Minor Parties | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0.13% | |
| Total | 5,337 | 233 | 5,570 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Education
Haddam has many educational facilities consisting of all elementary, junior, and senior high schools. The town is a part of a Regional District which comprises Haddam, Higganum, neighboring town Killingworth and also Haddam Neck, a part of Haddam that is separated by the Connecticut River. It is the only town in the United States without a bridge to connect the separated parts.The three elementary schools in the district are:
Haddam Elementary School - located in Haddam, CT
Burr District Elementary School - located in Higganum, CT
Killingworth Elementary School - located in Killingworth, CT
The district high school is located in Higganum, CT and houses all students from 9th grade and above. The high school is part of a complex which shared facilities with the attached district middle school. In recent years however, a plan was made for a new Intermediate School located in between Haddam and Killingworth that would house 5th grade - 8th grade. The school was recently built and now houses all 5-8 graders. This then leaves the old Middle School complex to become a part of the now ever growing Haddam Killingworth HS (This was the original plan). The Middle School part of the complex has now been converted to a district-run daycare facility, the main offices of the district administration, and houses the local trooper station.
The high school houses between 580 and 720 students depending on the year. Many students from the district middle school end up transferring to area religious, private, or magnet school. Common agenda is the move for students to Xavier (boys) and Mercy
Mercy High School (Middletown, Connecticut)
Mercy High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-girls high school in Middletown, Connecticut. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich. The first class graduated from Mercy High School in 1966....
(girls) Catholic High Schools in neighboring Middletown, CT to seize better opportunities in terms of discipline and a balanced school atmosphere. The Haddam Killingworth's mascot is the Cougar with school colors of blue and gold. It has numerous extracurricular activities and countless varsity sports that vie yearly for state bids and tournaments.
In recent years it has been praised for its field hockey, soccer, baseball and cross country teams. The school also has many art & music offerings and has students annually in regional and national competitions.
Famous residents past and present
- Samuel Arnold (Connecticut)Samuel Arnold (Connecticut)Samuel Arnold was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut.Born in Haddam, Connecticut, Arnold attended the local academy at Plainfield, Connecticut, and Westfield Academy, Massachusetts....
(1806–1869), US Congressman was born and died in Haddam. - David BrainerdDavid BrainerdDavid Brainerd was an American missionary to the Native Americans who had a particularly fruitful ministry among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey. During his short life he was beset by many difficulties...
(1718–1747), missionary, was born in Haddam. - Illeana DouglasIlleana DouglasIlleana Douglas is an American actress, director, screenwriter, and producer.-Background:Douglas is a granddaughter of the actor Melvyn Douglas and his first wife, artist Rosalind Hightower, and has said that her grandfather's performance in Being There, in particular, was influential on her own...
(1965-), actress, director, screenwriter, and producer grew up in Haddam. - David Dudley Field I (1781–1867), Congregational minister and author lived in Haddam for 22 years.
- David Dudley Field II (1805–1894), lawyer and law reformer and US Congressman was born in Haddam. Brother to Stephen Johnson FieldStephen Johnson FieldStephen Johnson Field was an American jurist. He was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court of the United States Supreme Court from May 20, 1863, to December 1, 1897...
. - Stephen Johnson FieldStephen Johnson FieldStephen Johnson Field was an American jurist. He was an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court of the United States Supreme Court from May 20, 1863, to December 1, 1897...
(1816–1899), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United StatesSupreme Court of the United StatesThe Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
was born in Haddam. - Asahel W. HubbardAsahel W. HubbardAsahel Wheeler Hubbard was an attorney, judge, Indiana legislator, and three-term Republican U.S. Representative from Iowa's 6th congressional district during the Civil War and the first stage of the Reconstruction era. He was the father of Iowa Congressman Elbert H. Hubbard.Born in Haddam,...
(1819–1879), judge and US Congressman for Iowa was born in Haddam. - David McDowellDavid McDowellDavid M. McDowell is a psychiatrist, author and creative consultant. He co-founded the Substance Treatment and Research Service at Columbia University and served as its medical director...
(1963-), psychiatrist - Alexander ShalerAlexander ShalerAlexander Shaler was a Union Army general in the American Civil War. He received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Second Battle of Fredericksburg...
(1827–1911) , General for 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...
was born in Haddam.
Literary References
- The "thin men of Haddam" are apostrophized in stanza seven of "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" by Wallace StevensWallace StevensWallace Stevens was an American Modernist poet. He was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, educated at Harvard and then New York Law School, and spent most of his life working as a lawyer for the Hartford insurance company in Connecticut.His best-known poems include "Anecdote of the Jar",...
:
- O thin men of Haddam,
- Why do you imagine golden birds?
- Do you not see how the blackbird
- Walks around the feet
- Of the women about you?
- East Haddam's "Devil's Hop YardDevil's Hopyard State ParkDevil's Hopyard State Park is located in East Haddam, Connecticut at a scenic waterfall on the Eightmile River.-History:In 1919, the former State Park and Forest Commission obtained an parcel located in the Millington section of East Haddam. The principal feature of the park, Chapman Falls, drops...
" was referenced in H. P. LovecraftH. P. LovecraftHoward Phillips Lovecraft --often credited as H.P. Lovecraft — was an American author of horror, fantasy and science fiction, especially the subgenre known as weird fiction....
's The Dunwich HorrorThe Dunwich Horror"The Dunwich Horror" is a short story by H. P. Lovecraft. Written in 1928, it was first published in the April 1929 issue of Weird Tales . It takes place in Dunwich, a fictional town in Massachusetts...
.
- East Haddam's "Devil's Hop Yard
Notable locations and historic sites
- Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant
- Camp BethelCamp BethelCamp Bethel is a historic Christian camp at 124 Camp Bethel Road in Haddam, Connecticut.The camp was built in 1877. It is owned by the Camp Bethel Association , a non-denominational, evangelical organization and is open to rent. The camp was added to the National Register of Historic Places in...
- a historic religious camp at 124 Camp Bethel Road, built in 1877 and added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2007 - The town center village, listed as the Haddam Center Historic DistrictHaddam Center Historic DistrictHaddam Center Historic District is a historic district encompassing the institutional and residential center of the town of Haddam, Connecticut that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 as a result of efforts by the Haddam Historical Society.It includes the James Hazelton...
on the NRHP - James Hazelton HouseJames Hazelton HouseThe James Hazelton House is a property in Haddam, Connecticut that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.The property is or was also known as the Hazelton-Hayden House.It was built or has other significance in c...
, NRHP-listed