Manchester, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Manchester is a township and city in Hartford County, Connecticut
, United States
. As of the 2010 census
, the town had a total population of 58,241.
, although at the time it was known just as Orford Parish (the name that can be found on the memorial to the revolutionary soldiers from the town. The many rivers and brooks provided power for paper, lumber and textile industries
, and the town quickly evolved into an industrial center. The town of Hartford once included the land now occupied by the towns of Manchester, East Hartford, and West Hartford. In 1783, East Hartford became a separate town, which included Manchester in its city limits until 1823.
In 1838, the Cheney family started what became the world's largest silk mill. Eventually, Manchester became an ideal industrial community. The mills, houses of the owners, and homes of the workers are now part of the Cheney Brothers Historic District
, a National Historic Landmark
.
Also of note are the E.E. Hilliard Company Woolen Mills. Founded ca. 1780 by Aaron Buckland and later sold to the Hilliard family. The Hilliard Mills
are the oldest woolen mill site in the country.
, the town has a total area of 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²), of which, 27.3 square miles (70.6 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.52%) is water.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 54,740 people, 23,197 households, and 14,010 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,008.2 people per square mile (775.4/km²). There were 24,256 housing units at an average density of 889.9 per square mile (343.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 82.77% White, 8.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.12% from other races
, and 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.54% of the population.
There were 23,197 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,426, and the median income for a family was $58,769. Males had a median income of $41,893 versus $32,562 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,989. About 6.0% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
level transport service to the town of Manchester as well as Advanced Life Support
level back-up when the fire department paramedics are tied up on other calls. Emergency medical care is primarily provided by the fire departments with patient transport services being provided the Ambulance Service of Manchester.
Manchester is also served by two magnet school
s located in East Hartford:
, which serves all of Manchester and the surrounding areas. The Hartford Courant also has a facility in Manchester, and can be delivered anywhere in town.
Manchester is known for The Shoppes at Buckland Hills
, an enclosed shopping mall
, The Plaza at Buckland Hills and the nearby strip mall, Buckland Plaza. In the last decade, the area surrounding the mall, which extends into the town of South Windsor
, has been blanketed with numerous big box shopping outlets and plazas and quickly transformed into a shopping hub for the state's residents.
Once a center of the silk industry in America from the late 19th through the mid-20th century, the Cheney Brothers Historic District
showcases mills refurbished as apartments and includes nearby museums.
The city has four museums:
The Fire Museum is housed in a restored 1901 firehouse building. The museum's firefighting equipment and memorabilia include leather fire buckets used in Colonial times, a display showing the evolution of sprinkler systems, a horse-drawn hose wagon, a 1921 Ahrens-Fox fire pumper, and a 105-foot 1911 water tower.
The Lutz Children's Museum
has participatory exhibits covering art, history, science, nature and ethnology. The museum's permanent collection includes small live animals.
The Old Manchester Museum, focusing on local history, is operated by the Manchester Historical Society. Permanent exhibits include the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame, Cheney Textiles, Pitkin Glass Works, Christopher Spencer and examples of Spencer Repeating Rifle
s.
The Cheney Homestead Museum, an eighteenth century house of the founders of the Cheney Brothers Silk Company. On exhibit are examples of period furniture and artwork. Also on site is the one-room Keeney Schoolhouse dating from 1751.
Wickham Park, a non-profit private foundation is located on Manchester and East Hartford property. The 53 acres (214,483.6 m²) Oak Grove Nature Center has wildlife habitats. Case Mountain Recreational Area
, located in the less populated southeast corner of Manchester, is popular for hiking, mountain biking, and has a great view of the Hartford skyline to the west.
Manchester is famous for its popular Manchester Road Race
which is held every Thanksgiving
Day. The race has over 10,000 participants yearly, including runners from around the world, as well as thousands of spectators. For New England
ers, it is second in popularity only to the Boston Marathon
. The annual auto show is also gaining more popularity every year.
Manchester is also home to Shady Glen
, a long-established restaurant known widely for its classic American fare of cheeseburgers and ice cream.
Manchester Memorial Hospital
is located in the city.
Manchester has more than 1000 acres (4 km²) of park land, a range of housing styles and prices in attractive neighborhoods, performing arts organizations, libraries and friendly, community-spirited residents.
All three interstates share a complicated interchange near the town's border with East Hartford.
Route 6 & 
Route 44 together constitute Manchester's principal East/West arterial.
Route 44 enters town from the West at the border with East Hartford on West Middle Turnpike. Less than a mile from the town line, Route 44 is joined by Route 6 which enters Manchester concurrently with I-84. Routes 6 & 44 run concurrently through town along West Middle Turnpike, Center St., East Center St., East Middle Turnpike, and New Bolton Rd. The Routes exit town to the East at the Bolton town line.
. The 80, 82, 83, 84, and 88 routes connect Manchester directly to the city of Hartford.
.
. The two most popular routes are the Charter Oak Greenway
and the Hop River State Park Trail
. Portions of each of those routes have been designated as parts of the East Coast Greenway
.
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2010 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, the town had a total population of 58,241.
History
Manchester was settled by colonists around 1672 as a farming communityAgriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, although at the time it was known just as Orford Parish (the name that can be found on the memorial to the revolutionary soldiers from the town. The many rivers and brooks provided power for paper, lumber and textile industries
Textile industry
The textile industry is primarily concerned with the production of yarn, and cloth and the subsequent design or manufacture of clothing and their distribution. The raw material may be natural, or synthetic using products of the chemical industry....
, and the town quickly evolved into an industrial center. The town of Hartford once included the land now occupied by the towns of Manchester, East Hartford, and West Hartford. In 1783, East Hartford became a separate town, which included Manchester in its city limits until 1823.
In 1838, the Cheney family started what became the world's largest silk mill. Eventually, Manchester became an ideal industrial community. The mills, houses of the owners, and homes of the workers are now part of the Cheney Brothers Historic District
Cheney Brothers Historic District
Cheney Brothers Historic District was a center of the silk industry in the late 19th and early 20th century. The district in Manchester, Connecticut includes over 275 mill buildings, workers houses, churches, schools and Cheney family mansions...
, a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
.
Also of note are the E.E. Hilliard Company Woolen Mills. Founded ca. 1780 by Aaron Buckland and later sold to the Hilliard family. The Hilliard Mills
The Hilliard Mills
The Hilliard Mills complex, is located at 642 Hilliard Street in Manchester, Connecticut west of Adams Street. Records indicate that the early American industrialist Aaron Buckland already had a woollen mill in operation at the site ca 1780, making it the oldest woollen factory in the country....
are the oldest woolen mill site in the country.
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 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²), of which, 27.3 square miles (70.6 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (1.52%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical population of Manchester |
|
| 2000 | 54,740 |
| 2010 | 58,241 |
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 54,740 people, 23,197 households, and 14,010 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 2,008.2 people per square mile (775.4/km²). There were 24,256 housing units at an average density of 889.9 per square mile (343.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 82.77% White, 8.42% African American, 0.20% Native American, 3.15% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.12% 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 2.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.54% of the population.
There were 23,197 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% 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, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $49,426, and the median income for a family was $58,769. Males had a median income of $41,893 versus $32,562 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 $25,989. About 6.0% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.1% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC
The Ambulance Service of Manchester, LLC or ASM is a private company that operates out of a station on New State Road in Manchester. ASM provides Basic Life SupportBasic life support
Basic life support is the level of medical care which is used for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries until the patient can be given full medical care at a hospital. It can be provided by trained medical personnel, including emergency medical technicians, paramedics, and by...
level transport service to the town of Manchester as well as Advanced Life Support
Advanced Life Support
Advanced Life Support is a set of life-saving protocols and skills that extend Basic Life Support to further support the circulation and provide an open airway and adequate ventilation .-Components of ALS:These include:...
level back-up when the fire department paramedics are tied up on other calls. Emergency medical care is primarily provided by the fire departments with patient transport services being provided the Ambulance Service of Manchester.
Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS
The Town of Manchester Fire-Rescue-EMS Department was organized in 1897 after a fire destroyed the Weldon business block. It is a full time career department that operates out 5 fire stations, staffing three engines, two quints, a paramedic rescue vehicle (fly-car), and a shift commander vehicle. All five companies provides a range of services including fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue, hazardous material response, and Advanced Life Support (paramedic level) medical care.Manchester Fire Department-Eighth Utilities District
The Manchester Fire Department-Eighth Utilities District is a combination paid and volunteer fire department, established in 1888 as a separate fire department within the northwest corner of the town. It is not affiliated with the town and is governed by the board of directors of the Eighth Utilities District, which is a separate taxation district. Two firefighters are on duty Monday-Friday, 6am to 6pm, and one Firefighter is on duty on the weekends, from 6am to 6pm. Volunteers provide coverage during the remaining times and whenever available. The department provides fire suppression, fire prevention, rescue, hazardous material response, and Basic Life Support (EMT level) medical carePolice department
Manchester's police department was established in 1896. It is located at 239 East Middle Turnpike and is staffed by approximately 120 officers who serve and protect the community. Chief Marc Montminy has served in the department since 1989, starting out as a patrol officer.Politics
| 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... |
10,612 | 584 | 11,196 | 33.86% |
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... |
6,249 | 374 | 6,623 | 20.03% |
Unaffiliated | 14,150 | 1,069 | 15,219 | 46.03% |
Minor Parties | 25 | 2 | 27 | 0.08% | |
| Total | 31,036 | 2,029 | 33,065 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Education
- Manchester High School (public)
- Manchester Community CollegeManchester Community CollegeManchester Community College is a community college in Manchester, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA. Founded in 1963, it is the third-oldest of the twelve community colleges governed by the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Community-Technical Colleges and has graduated more than 23,000...
, a two-year community collegeCommunity collegeA community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults... - East Catholic High SchoolEast Catholic High SchoolEast Catholic High School is a college preparatory high school in Manchester, Connecticut. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. The parochial school was founded in 1961...
- Howell Cheney Technical High SchoolHowell Cheney Technical High SchoolHowell Cheney Technical High School is a high school in Manchester, Connecticut. It was established in 1915 by Howell Cheney as a textile school, in order to provide training for those wishing to work at the local silk mills.- History :In 1915, the school moved into the nearby Franklin Building...
- Great Path Academy
- Cornerstone Christian School
Manchester is also served by two magnet school
Magnet school
In education in the United States, magnet schools are public schools with specialized courses or curricula. "Magnet" refers to how the schools draw students from across the normal boundaries defined by authorities as school zones that feed into certain schools.There are magnet schools at the...
s located in East Hartford:
- Two Rivers Magnet Middle SchoolTwo Rivers Magnet Middle SchoolTwo Rivers Magnet Middle School is a magnet school located in East Hartford, Connecticut. It is named for its location, where the Hockanum River discharges into the Connecticut River. It currently serves grades 6 - 8 with approximately 600 students...
, grades 6-8 - Connecticut International Baccalaureate AcademyConnecticut International Baccalaureate AcademyConnecticut International Baccalaureate Academy is a magnet school located in East Hartford, Connecticut right next door to East Hartford High School connected by a bridge. The school has three academic levels: college-preparatory, honors, and AP levels....
, an International Baccalaureate high school
Newspaper
Manchester is home to a local newspaper, the Journal InquirerJournal Inquirer
The Journal Inquirer is a tabloid-sized newspaper published Monday through Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings in Manchester, Connecticut and serves 17 towns in the north-central part of the state of Connecticut.The regional paper prints in three editions:...
, which serves all of Manchester and the surrounding areas. The Hartford Courant also has a facility in Manchester, and can be delivered anywhere in town.
Places and events of interest
The Shoppes at Buckland Hills
The Shoppes at Buckland Hills, formerly known as Buckland Hills Mall and The Pavilions at Buckland Hills, is a shopping mall located in Manchester, Connecticut....
, an enclosed shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
, The Plaza at Buckland Hills and the nearby strip mall, Buckland Plaza. In the last decade, the area surrounding the mall, which extends into the town of South Windsor
South Windsor, Connecticut
-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
, has been blanketed with numerous big box shopping outlets and plazas and quickly transformed into a shopping hub for the state's residents.
Once a center of the silk industry in America from the late 19th through the mid-20th century, the Cheney Brothers Historic District
Cheney Brothers Historic District
Cheney Brothers Historic District was a center of the silk industry in the late 19th and early 20th century. The district in Manchester, Connecticut includes over 275 mill buildings, workers houses, churches, schools and Cheney family mansions...
showcases mills refurbished as apartments and includes nearby museums.
The city has four museums:
The Fire Museum is housed in a restored 1901 firehouse building. The museum's firefighting equipment and memorabilia include leather fire buckets used in Colonial times, a display showing the evolution of sprinkler systems, a horse-drawn hose wagon, a 1921 Ahrens-Fox fire pumper, and a 105-foot 1911 water tower.
The Lutz Children's Museum
Lutz Children's Museum
The Lutz Children's Museum is a small non-profit children's museum located in Manchester, Connecticut, USA. It was founded in 1953 by the Manchester PTA in honor of the late Hazel Lutz...
has participatory exhibits covering art, history, science, nature and ethnology. The museum's permanent collection includes small live animals.
The Old Manchester Museum, focusing on local history, is operated by the Manchester Historical Society. Permanent exhibits include the Manchester Sports Hall of Fame, Cheney Textiles, Pitkin Glass Works, Christopher Spencer and examples of Spencer Repeating Rifle
Spencer repeating rifle
The Spencer repeating rifle was a manually operated lever-action, repeating rifle fed from a tube magazine with cartridges. It was adopted by the Union Army, especially by the cavalry, during the American Civil War, but did not replace the standard issue muzzle-loading rifled muskets in use at the...
s.
The Cheney Homestead Museum, an eighteenth century house of the founders of the Cheney Brothers Silk Company. On exhibit are examples of period furniture and artwork. Also on site is the one-room Keeney Schoolhouse dating from 1751.
Wickham Park, a non-profit private foundation is located on Manchester and East Hartford property. The 53 acres (214,483.6 m²) Oak Grove Nature Center has wildlife habitats. Case Mountain Recreational Area
Case Mountain
Located in the southeastern section of Manchester, Connecticut, the Case Mountain Recreational Area encompasses of combined open space and watershed land stretching from the Glastonbury border north to Case Pond...
, located in the less populated southeast corner of Manchester, is popular for hiking, mountain biking, and has a great view of the Hartford skyline to the west.
Manchester is famous for its popular Manchester Road Race
Manchester Road Race
The Manchester Road Race is a 4.748 mile race held annually on Thanksgiving Day in Manchester, Connecticut. Race proceeds are donated each year to Muscular Dystrophy research and about 18 other local charities. Beginning promptly at 10:00am every Thanksgiving Morning, the race attracts athletes of...
which is held every Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
Day. The race has over 10,000 participants yearly, including runners from around the world, as well as thousands of spectators. For New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
ers, it is second in popularity only to the Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
. The annual auto show is also gaining more popularity every year.
Manchester is also home to Shady Glen
Shady Glen
Shady Glen, officially Shady Glen Dairy Stores, is a restaurant with two locations in Manchester, Connecticut. John and Bernice Rieg opened the first Shady Glen store near the Manchester/Bolton town line in 1948...
, a long-established restaurant known widely for its classic American fare of cheeseburgers and ice cream.
Manchester Memorial Hospital
Manchester Memorial Hospital
Manchester Memorial Hospital is an acute care hospital located in central Manchester, Connecticut, an eastern Connecticut community about 10 minutes east of Hartford. The hospital opened in 1920 and was dedicated as a memorial to all Manchester residents who died during the First World War. In...
is located in the city.
Manchester has more than 1000 acres (4 km²) of park land, a range of housing styles and prices in attractive neighborhoods, performing arts organizations, libraries and friendly, community-spirited residents.
Interstates
Manchester has parts of three interstate highways located within its borders.
Interstate 84Interstate 84 (east)Interstate 84 is an Interstate Highway extending from Dunmore, Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, at an interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike . I-84 has mile-log junction numbering in Pennsylvania; otherwise, exit numbers are roughly sequential...
runs East/West in the Northern section of town between the borders of East HartfordEast Hartford, ConnecticutEast Hartford is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,252 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
and VernonVernon, ConnecticutVernon is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 29,179 at the 2010 census.Vernon was incorporated in October, 1808, from Bolton. Vernon contains the former city of Rockville, incorporated in January, 1889. The town of Vernon and city of Rockville consolidated as a...
.
Interstate 384Interstate 384Interstate 384 is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Connecticut. It runs east to west, going from Interstate 84 in East Hartford to U.S. Route 6/U.S...
spurs from I-84 in the Western section of Manchester and runs the width of town in the East/West direction to the BoltonBolton, ConnecticutBolton is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,017 at the 2000 census. Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting.-History:...
town line.
Interstate 291Interstate 291 (Connecticut)Interstate 291 is a short Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut that starts at I-91 at its junction with Route 218 in Windsor and ends at I-84 in Manchester. It serves as a northeastern bypass of Hartford...
spurs from I-84 in the Western section of town and runs Northwest to the South WindsorSouth Windsor, Connecticut-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
border.
All three interstates share a complicated interchange near the town's border with East Hartford.
U.S. highways
The U.S. Highways Route 6 & Route 44 together constitute Manchester's principal East/West arterial.Route 44 enters town from the West at the border with East Hartford on West Middle Turnpike. Less than a mile from the town line, Route 44 is joined by Route 6 which enters Manchester concurrently with I-84. Routes 6 & 44 run concurrently through town along West Middle Turnpike, Center St., East Center St., East Middle Turnpike, and New Bolton Rd. The Routes exit town to the East at the Bolton town line.
Connecticut state highways
There are two signed Connecticut state highways that go through Manchester.
Connecticut Route 30 is an East/West arterial in the Northern section of town. Route 30 enters town from South Windsor as Deming St. Then as Tolland Turnpike, it junctions with and runs concurrently with Route 83 to the Vernon town line.
Connecticut Route 83 is Manchester's principal North/South arterial. Starting as South Main St. at the Southern border with GlastonburyGlastonbury, ConnecticutGlastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, founded in 1693. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, 7 miles southeast of Hartford. The town...
, Route 83 becomes Main St. through the center of town, then turns East for 350 yards as North Main St., turns North again as Oakland St., then finally combines with Route 30 at Tolland Turnpike and exits town at the Vernon line.
Public transportation
Manchester is served by the Hartford division of Connecticut TransitConnecticut Transit
Connecticut Transit is a bus system serving much of the U.S. state of Connecticut and is a division of that state's Department of Transportation. CT Transit provides bus service via contract providers for seven different metropolitan areas in the state, mostly concentrated in Hartford and New...
. The 80, 82, 83, 84, and 88 routes connect Manchester directly to the city of Hartford.
Rail
No passenger service currently exists in town. Freight service from Hartford is provided by Connecticut Southern RailroadConnecticut Southern Railroad
The Connecticut Southern Railroad operates about of track in Connecticut and Massachusetts. It is a subsidiary of RailAmerica. The line is headquartered in East Hartford, CT and interchanges with CSX at West Springfield, Massachusetts and New Haven, Connecticut.The railroad began operations in...
.
Airports
- Hartford-Brainard AirportHartford-Brainard Airport- See also :* Bradley International Airport * Connecticut World War II Army Airfields- External links :* at Connecticut DOT website...
is located in Hartford's south end, approximately a ten to fifteen minute drive from most parts of town. - Bradley International AirportBradley International AirportBradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
, Connecticut's principal commercial aviation airport, is located in Windsor LocksWindsor Locks, ConnecticutWindsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
, ConnecticutConnecticutConnecticut 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...
, about a fifteen to twenty minute drive from Manchester.
Bicycling
Manchester has several on and off-road bicycle routesSegregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
. The two most popular routes are the Charter Oak Greenway
Charter Oak Greenway
The Charter Oak Greenway is a bike trail that runs from East Hartford, Connecticut to Bolton, Connecticut. It is currently part of the East Coast Greenway.This trail starts in East Hartford, goes through Manchester, and ends in Bolton.-External links:*...
and the Hop River State Park Trail
Hop River State Park Trail
The Hop River State Park Trail is a rail trail in eastern Connecticut.The trail is approximately long and runs along a former railroad line from Colonial Drive in Manchester to the Willimantic River at the Columbia/Windham town line, just west to Willimantic, Connecticut...
. Portions of each of those routes have been designated as parts of the East Coast Greenway
East Coast Greenway
The East Coast Greenway, or ECG, is a project to create a nearly urban path linking the major cities of the Atlantic coast of the United States, from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Florida, for non-motorized human transportation...
.
Sports
| Team | Sport | Website | League | Championships | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester Cricket Club | Cricket Cricket Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the... |
www.manchestercricketclub.com | BAAC Cricket Tournament | Champions - 2009, 2010 and 2011; runners up - 2008 | Manchester Cricket Club Ground, Martin School |
Notable people, past and present
- Astrid AllwynAstrid AllwynAstrid Allwyn was an American stage and film actress.She studied dancing and dramatics in New York and later joined a stock company. Allwyn made her Broadway debut in 1929 in Elmer Rice's Street Scene. On the strength of her performance in Once in a Lifetime, she was given film work...
, 1930s movie actress - Geno AuriemmaGeno AuriemmaLuigi "Geno" Auriemma is the head coach of the University of Connecticut Huskies women's basketball team, which he has led to seven National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I national championships...
, head coach of UConnUniversity of ConnecticutThe admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
women's basketballWomen's basketballWomen's basketball is one of the few women's sports that developed in tandem with its men's counterpart. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast , in large part via women's colleges...
team http://www.genoauriemmacamp.com/coach.html - Dr. Dick BerggrenDick BerggrenDr. Dick Berggren is a motorsports announcer and magazine editor from Manchester, Connecticut in the United States. Born in Westerly, Rhode Island, he now lives in Ipswich, Massachusetts with his wife Kathy. He is commonly seen wearing a trademark flat cap.- Academia :Berggren described himself...
, motorsport announcer and magazine editor - Daniel C. BurbankDaniel C. BurbankDaniel Christopher Burbank is an American astronaut and a veteran of two space shuttle missions. Burbank, a Captain in the United States Coast Guard, is the second Coast Guard astronaut after Bruce Melnick....
, NASANASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut - Chris ClarkChris Clark (hockey player)Chris Clark is a professional ice hockey right winger who plays for the Providence Bruins of the AHL.-College career:Clark played four years for the Clarkson Golden Knights in the ECAC , posting 128 points and 392 penalty minutes in 142 games...
, currently plays for the Columbus Blue JacketsColumbus Blue JacketsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the NHLNational Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(grew up in South WindsorSouth Windsor, Connecticut-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
, but was born at Manchester Memorial HospitalManchester Memorial HospitalManchester Memorial Hospital is an acute care hospital located in central Manchester, Connecticut, an eastern Connecticut community about 10 minutes east of Hartford. The hospital opened in 1920 and was dedicated as a memorial to all Manchester residents who died during the First World War. In...
). - Anthony Galla-RiniAnthony Galla-RiniAnthony Galla-Rini was a celebrated American accordionist, arranger, composer, conductor, author, and teacher, and is considered by many to be the first American accordionist to promote the accordion as a "legitimate" concert instrument.-Early life:Galla-Rini was born in Manchester, Connecticut,...
, accordionist - Mary Ann HandleyMary Ann HandleyMary Ann Handley is an American politician. Handley, a Democrat, served as a member of the Connecticut State Senate from 1997 until her unexpected retirement in 2010...
, Connecticut state senator - Jay JohnstoneJay JohnstoneJohn William Johnstone Jr. is an American former professional baseball player, active from 1966 to 1985 for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs...
, former professional baseballProfessional baseballBaseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
player and commentator - Larry LisciottiLarry LisciottiLarry Lisciotti was an American professional pool player and notable road hustler, nicknamed "the Prince of Pool".-Early days:...
, professional pool player - Emily Cheney NevilleEmily Cheney NevilleEmily Cheney Neville was an American author. She was born in Manchester, Connecticut and graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 1940. After receiving her A.B. from Bryn Mawr, she worked for the New York Daily News and the New York Mirror newspapers...
, author - Fred NorrisFred NorrisEric Fred Norris is an American radio personality known for being the longest-tenured staff member of The Howard Stern Show aside from Stern himself...
, The Howard Stern Show cast member and sound effects maestro - Frederick Walker PitkinFrederick Walker PitkinFrederick Walker Pitkin , a U.S. Republican Party politician, served as the second Governor of Colorado from 1879 to 1883. Pitkin County, Colorado was named in his honor....
, governor of ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
from 1879 to 1883 - Alan Sandals, former candidate for Democratic nomination for the 2006 Pennsylvania U.S. Senate racePennsylvania United States Senate election, 2006The 2006 United States Senate election in Pennsylvania was held on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Rick Santorum ran for re-election to a third term, but was defeated by Bob Casey, Jr. Casey was elected to serve between January 3, 2007 and January 3, 2013. Santorum trailed Casey...
- Dorian ShaininDorian ShaininDorian Shainin was an influential American quality consultant, aeronautics engineer, author, and college professor most notable for his contributions in the fields of industrial problem solving, product reliability, and quality engineering, particularly the creation and development of the “Red X”...
(lived in Manchester until his death in 2000 http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/47776457.html?dids=47776457:47776457&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+09%2C+2000&author=CHRISTINE+DEMPSEY%3B+Courant+Staff+Writer&pub=Hartford+Courant&desc=DORIAN+SHAININ%3B+TECHNICAL+PROBLEM+SOLVER%2C+AUTHOR&pqatl=google), quality/reliability engineer and consultant - Kory SheetsKory SheetsKory Gerren Sheets is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2009...
, is an American football running back for the Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. - Christopher Spencer (born in Manchester and worked for Cheney Brothers)http://windsorhistoricalsociety.org/fa_spencer.htmlhttp://www.manchesterhistory.org/history.htm, inventor of Spencer repeating rifleSpencer repeating rifleThe Spencer repeating rifle was a manually operated lever-action, repeating rifle fed from a tube magazine with cartridges. It was adopted by the Union Army, especially by the cavalry, during the American Civil War, but did not replace the standard issue muzzle-loading rifled muskets in use at the...
- Jane Cheney Spock (born in Manchester), first wife of Dr. Benjamin SpockBenjamin SpockBenjamin McLane Spock was an American pediatrician whose book Baby and Child Care, published in 1946, is one of the biggest best-sellers of all time. Its message to mothers is that "you know more than you think you do."Spock was the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis to try to understand...
- Dana WhiteDana WhiteDana White is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship , a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.- Biography :...
, president of the Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipUltimate Fighting ChampionshipThe Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
See also
- 2010 Connecticut workplace shooting
- East Catholic High SchoolEast Catholic High SchoolEast Catholic High School is a college preparatory high school in Manchester, Connecticut. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford. The parochial school was founded in 1961...
- Private Catholic high school. - Howell Cheney Technical High SchoolHowell Cheney Technical High SchoolHowell Cheney Technical High School is a high school in Manchester, Connecticut. It was established in 1915 by Howell Cheney as a textile school, in order to provide training for those wishing to work at the local silk mills.- History :In 1915, the school moved into the nearby Franklin Building...
- Journal InquirerJournal InquirerThe Journal Inquirer is a tabloid-sized newspaper published Monday through Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings in Manchester, Connecticut and serves 17 towns in the north-central part of the state of Connecticut.The regional paper prints in three editions:...
- Manchester-based newspaper serving north-central and northeastern Connecticut. - Lutz Children's MuseumLutz Children's MuseumThe Lutz Children's Museum is a small non-profit children's museum located in Manchester, Connecticut, USA. It was founded in 1953 by the Manchester PTA in honor of the late Hazel Lutz...
- Manchester Community CollegeManchester Community CollegeManchester Community College is a community college in Manchester, Hartford County, Connecticut, USA. Founded in 1963, it is the third-oldest of the twelve community colleges governed by the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Community-Technical Colleges and has graduated more than 23,000...
- Largest community college in the Connecticut system. - Manchester High School
- Manchester Memorial HospitalManchester Memorial HospitalManchester Memorial Hospital is an acute care hospital located in central Manchester, Connecticut, an eastern Connecticut community about 10 minutes east of Hartford. The hospital opened in 1920 and was dedicated as a memorial to all Manchester residents who died during the First World War. In...
- Manchester Road RaceManchester Road RaceThe Manchester Road Race is a 4.748 mile race held annually on Thanksgiving Day in Manchester, Connecticut. Race proceeds are donated each year to Muscular Dystrophy research and about 18 other local charities. Beginning promptly at 10:00am every Thanksgiving Morning, the race attracts athletes of...
- Annual road race dating back to 1927, with at least 9,000 participants every year since 1991. - Manchester SilkwormsManchester SilkwormsThe Manchester Silkworms were a collegiate summer baseball team located in Manchester, Connecticut playing in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league operating in the northeastern United States region of New England. The team, an expansion franchise...
- Shady GlenShady GlenShady Glen, officially Shady Glen Dairy Stores, is a restaurant with two locations in Manchester, Connecticut. John and Bernice Rieg opened the first Shady Glen store near the Manchester/Bolton town line in 1948...
- The Hilliard MillsThe Hilliard MillsThe Hilliard Mills complex, is located at 642 Hilliard Street in Manchester, Connecticut west of Adams Street. Records indicate that the early American industrialist Aaron Buckland already had a woollen mill in operation at the site ca 1780, making it the oldest woollen factory in the country....
- Oldest woolen mill site in the country. - The Shoppes at Buckland HillsThe Shoppes at Buckland HillsThe Shoppes at Buckland Hills, formerly known as Buckland Hills Mall and The Pavilions at Buckland Hills, is a shopping mall located in Manchester, Connecticut....
- Truth SerumTruth SerumTruth Serum is an independent comic book series created, written and drawn by author Jon Adams.-Overview:Originally published as a mini comic in 2001 and given away for free, it appeared as a three-issue mini series published by Slave Labor Graphics in 2002...
- An EisnerEisner AwardThe Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, and sometimes referred to as the Oscar Awards of the Comics Industry, are prizes given for creative achievement in American comic books. The Eisner Awards were first conferred in 1988, created in response to the...
-nominated comic which takes place in Manchester - Wickham Park
External links
- Town of Manchester official website
- Downtown Special Services District
- Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
- Manchester Area Conference of Churches
- Manchester Historical Society website
- 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article on Manchester, Connecticut:
- Text from www.1911encyclopedia.org