Meriden, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Meriden is a city in New Haven County
, Connecticut
, United States
. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.
. It was granted a separate meetinghouse in 1727, became a town
in 1806, and incorporated as a city in 1867. It was named for the town of Meriden
, West Midlands
, England.
The oldest house in town still standing, built by Solomon Goffe in 1711, is now a museum, the Solomon Goffe House
.
In the 1800s, Meriden earned the nickname “Silver City,” due to the large number of cutlery and related products which were manufactured here by companies such as International Silver and Meriden Cutlery.
Charles Parker and his younger brother, opened their first manufacturing factory in Meriden in 1832, with a capital outlay of $70.00. Over the years they manufactured a wide variety of products‚ from steam engines, train wheels and printing presses to piano stools. During the American Civil War
Parker's Meriden Machine Company was under Union contract to produce 10,000 repeating rifle
s and 15,000 Springfield rifle
s. Parker began producing his own shotgun, referred to as “The Gun of 1866”. In 1868, Charles and his sons, Wilbur, Charles and Dexter started the Parker Brothers Gun Company, which continued as an independent company until 1934 when it was purchased by the Remington Arms Company.
The Hanging Hills' Hubbard Park
was financed by Walter Hubbard, local entrepreneur and president of the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company. Hubbard elicited the assistance of notable landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted
in drawing up the design.
Edwin Howard Armstrong, a network radio pioneer who invented FM radio, used West Peak for the location of one of the first FM radio broadcasts in 1939. His original 70 feet (21 m) tall radio mast still stands on the peak. Currently West Peak is home to six FM broadcast stations, including WPKT, WWYZ, WKSS, WDRC-FM, WPHH and WHCN.
In 1900, Castle Craig
was dedicated in Hubbard Park.
The Curtis Memorial Library
opened in 1903.
The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
have their mother house in Meriden as do the Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 24.1 square miles (62.5 km²), of which, 23.8 square miles (61.5 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (1.66%) is water.
Meriden is a showcase for a number of prominent peaks of the Metacomet Ridge
, a mountainous trap rock
ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound
to nearly the Vermont
border. Notable peaks in Meriden include the Hanging Hills
(West Peak
, East Peak
, South Mountain
, and Cathole Mountain
); Lamentation Mountain
, Chauncey Peak
, and Besek Mountain
. Castle Craig
, a city landmark for over a century, was constructed among the Hanging Hills in Hubbard Park
.
The Quinnipiac River
cuts through the southwest quadrant of the city, which is known to area residents as "South Meriden". Here, the river cuts through two hills for almost a mile, resulting in a gorge full of exposed sandstone
and brownstone
cliffs. Harbor Brook (originally named Pilgrim Harbor Brook) cuts through the town from the north east to the south west (passing underneath downtown Meriden in a culvert) before emptying into Hanover Pond (part of the Quinnipiac River) in South Meriden.
of 2000, there were 58,244 people, 22,951 households, and 14,964 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,452.8 people per square mile (946.9/km²). There were 24,631 housing units at an average density of 1,037.3 per square mile (400.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.2% White, 6.4% Black or African American
, 0.4% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.6% from other races
, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.4% of the population.
There were 22,951 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples
living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,237, and the median income for a family was $52,788. Males had a median income of $39,633 versus $10,268 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,597. About 17.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 23.8% of those age 65 or over.
Population
Total Population 60,868
Housing Status
( in housing units unless noted )
Total 25,892
Occupied 23,977
Owner-occupied 14,594
Population in owner-occupied
( number of individuals ) 37,167
Renter-occupied 9,383
Population in renter-occupied
( number of individuals ) 22,746
Households with individuals under 18 6,942
Vacant 1,915
Vacant: for rent 688
Vacant: for sale 249
Vacant: for seasonal/recreational/occasional use 78
Population by Sex/Age
Male 29,446
Female 31,422
Under 18 14,553
18 & over 46,315
20 - 24 3,695
25 - 34 8,581
35 - 49 12,855
50 - 64 11,887
65 & over 7,834
Population by Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino 17,590
Non Hispanic or Latino 43,278
Population by Race
White 44,727
African American 5,876
Asian 1,277
American Indian and Alaska Native 302
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 34
Other 6,506
Identified by two or more 2,146
, Hartford
, and Springfield
, Massachusetts
by regional rail service provided by Amtrak
, which runs north-to-south through the center of the city. This rail line opened in 1839, and operated for many years under the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
. The city was also serviced by the Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad, which provided both freight and passenger service to Waterbury
and Middletown
from 1888 until its abandonment in 1924.
Currently, Amtrak runs 16 trains through the Meriden station on most weekdays, but these are not widely used for commuting. However, the success of the state's subsidized commuter rail line, Shoreline East, has spurred the state to open a New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail Line
in 2011. Funds from the state will pay for a new station in Meriden, and city officials are hoping to capitalize on the commuters that will use the station and create a transit village
in the city. They hope this will spur revitalization of the downtown area.
In the Quinnipiac River Gorge in South Meriden, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) of the original MW&CR Railroad right of way has been converted into a recreational linear trail
as the Meriden Linear Trail
. Open to the public in December 2006, the formal dedication occurred on November 3, 2007.
Meriden is linked to the Connecticut Transit System, Connecticut's extensive public transit bus network. Three bus lines loop throughout the city of Meriden once per hour. The "B" bus route departs The Meriden Railroad station for the southern terminus of Kohls Plaza, connecting for New Haven; The "A" bus route departs the Rail Station for the northern terminus of Meriden Square with connections to New Britain and Hartford. The East/West "C" bus travels along East Main and West Main streets, with a handful of departures to Middletown and Waterbury.
is the city owned airport, located 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the city center on the border of South Meriden and Yalesville, and serves private and charter planes.
, which provides access to Hartford
, Springfield
, Massachusetts
, and New Haven
. Interstate 691
provides access to Interstate 84
and points west such as Waterbury
. The Wilbur Cross Parkway
, which provides access to points south such as Wallingford
, New Haven
, and New York City
becomes the Berlin Turnpike
on the northern end of Meriden.
film Jacknife
. Many Meriden landmarks can be seen in the film, and many Meriden residents boast of encountering De Niro during the filming.
Dan Petriw's investigative special for Channel 8
News about the "tail pipe golf ball" craze of the 1990s was filmed at Fantozzi's Oldsmobile
Dealership on Broad Street. Several commuters and car dealers in Meriden had reported that tail pipes on their new and used vehicles were randomly being stuffed with golf balls, thereby causing major damage to their exhaust systems. Petriw assisted the Meriden Police Department in the capture of the suspects by placing hidden cameras in the Meriden City commuter parking lot as well in several locations at Fantozzi's Oldsmobile
dealership. The juveniles were tried and sentenced by the Hon. Judge Jared Steinberg at the Meriden Superior Court
.
Meriden's Ted's Steamed Cheeseburger Restaurant
was featured in the documentary Hamburger America, as well as the Travel Channel
show Man v. Food
.
The 2006 movie The Quiet
was based here.
Tomie dePaola
's 26 Fairmount Avenue
is based on the author's Meriden childhood.
Many towns in the western United States
were named for Meriden, Connecticut, including Meriden, Iowa
, Meriden, Kansas
, Meriden, Wyoming
, and Meriden Township, Minnesota
.
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
, 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...
. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.
History
Meriden was originally part of WallingfordWallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
. It was granted a separate meetinghouse in 1727, became a town
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 1806, and incorporated as a city in 1867. It was named for the town of Meriden
Meriden, West Midlands
-External links:*****...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, England.
The oldest house in town still standing, built by Solomon Goffe in 1711, is now a museum, the Solomon Goffe House
Solomon Goffe House
The Solomon Goffe House is located on North Colony Street in Meriden, Connecticut, United States. It was built in 1711, and is the oldest remaining building in the city of Meriden...
.
In the 1800s, Meriden earned the nickname “Silver City,” due to the large number of cutlery and related products which were manufactured here by companies such as International Silver and Meriden Cutlery.
Charles Parker and his younger brother, opened their first manufacturing factory in Meriden in 1832, with a capital outlay of $70.00. Over the years they manufactured a wide variety of products‚ from steam engines, train wheels and printing presses to piano stools. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
Parker's Meriden Machine Company was under Union contract to produce 10,000 repeating rifle
Repeating rifle
A repeating rifle is a single barreled rifle containing multiple rounds of ammunition. These rounds are loaded from a magazine by means of a manual or automatic mechanism, and the action that reloads the rifle also typically recocks the firing action...
s and 15,000 Springfield rifle
Springfield Rifle
The term Springfield Rifle may refer to any one of several types of small arms produced by the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts, for the United States armed forces....
s. Parker began producing his own shotgun, referred to as “The Gun of 1866”. In 1868, Charles and his sons, Wilbur, Charles and Dexter started the Parker Brothers Gun Company, which continued as an independent company until 1934 when it was purchased by the Remington Arms Company.
Hubbard Park
Hubbard Park, located in the Hanging Hills of Connecticut, is a wooded, mountainous park located just north of downtown urban Meriden, Connecticut. It comprises approximately of carefully kept woodlands, streams, dramatic cliff faces, flower gardens, and the James Barry bandshell and picnic...
was financed by Walter Hubbard, local entrepreneur and president of the Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Company. Hubbard elicited the assistance of notable landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
in drawing up the design.
Edwin Howard Armstrong, a network radio pioneer who invented FM radio, used West Peak for the location of one of the first FM radio broadcasts in 1939. His original 70 feet (21 m) tall radio mast still stands on the peak. Currently West Peak is home to six FM broadcast stations, including WPKT, WWYZ, WKSS, WDRC-FM, WPHH and WHCN.
In 1900, Castle Craig
Castle Craig
Castle Craig, located on East Peak in the Hanging Hills, is constructed of trap rock and is in height and has a base in circumference . A metal interior stairway is used to ascend the observation deck on top...
was dedicated in Hubbard Park.
The Curtis Memorial Library
Curtis Memorial Library
The Curtis Memorial Library is the main public library of the city of Meriden, Connecticut. The library opened in 1903 and is located on East Main Street. It was designed by architect Richard Williams in the Classical Revival style....
opened in 1903.
The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women. The motherhouse is in Meriden, Connecticut in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford....
have their mother house in Meriden as do the Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist
Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist
The Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist is a Roman Catholic, Franciscan religious order for men.The religious order was founded in 2002 as a complement to the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. The mother house of the order is in Meriden, Connecticut in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of...
.
Geography
United 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 city has a total area of 24.1 square miles (62.5 km²), of which, 23.8 square miles (61.5 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) of it (1.66%) is water.
Meriden is a showcase for a number of prominent peaks of the Metacomet Ridge
Metacomet Ridge
The Metacomet Ridge, Metacomet Ridge Mountains, or Metacomet Range of southern New England, United States, is a narrow and steep fault-block mountain ridge known for its extensive cliff faces, scenic vistas, microclimate ecosystems, and communities of plants considered rare or endangered...
, a mountainous trap rock
Trap rock
Trap rock is a form of igneous rock that tends to form polygonal vertical fractures, most typically hexagonal, but also four to eight sided. The fracture pattern forms when magma of suitable chemical composition intrudes as a sill or extrudes as a thick lava flow, and slowly cools.Because of the...
ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
to nearly the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
border. Notable peaks in Meriden include the Hanging Hills
Hanging Hills
The Hanging Hills of south central Connecticut, USA are a range of mountainous trap rock ridges overlooking the city of Meriden and the Quinnipiac River Valley below. They are a sub-range of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north...
(West Peak
West Peak (New Haven County, Connecticut)
West Peak, , of the Hanging Hills, is the highest traprock peak in the state of Connecticut. The peak hangs above the city of Meriden below and is characterized by its vertical cliffs and sweeping views of southern Connecticut, Long Island Sound, and the Berkshires to the west...
, East Peak
East Peak (New Haven County, Connecticut)
East Peak, , is a prominent traprock mountain in the Hanging Hills of Meriden, Connecticut. Rugged and scenic, the peak rises steeply above the city of Meriden below and is characterized by its vertical cliffs and sweeping views of southern Connecticut and Long Island Sound...
, South Mountain
South Mountain (New Haven County, Connecticut)
South Mountain, , is a prominent traprock peak in the Hanging Hills of Meriden, Connecticut. Rugged and scenic, the peak rises steeply above the city of Meriden below and is characterized by its vertical cliffs and sweeping views of southern Connecticut and Long Island Sound.Most of South Mountain...
, and Cathole Mountain
Cathole Mountain
Cathole Mountain, , is the lowest peak in the trap rock Hanging Hills of Meriden, Connecticut. The rugged southern ledges of the mountain rise steeply above the city of Meriden...
); Lamentation Mountain
Lamentation Mountain
Lamentation Mountain, or Mount Lamentation, , is a traprock mountain located north of Meriden, Connecticut. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont...
, Chauncey Peak
Chauncey Peak
Chauncey Peak, , is a traprock mountain located 2 miles northeast of the center of Meriden, Connecticut. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts to the Vermont border...
, and Besek Mountain
Besek Mountain
Besek Mountain also known as Black Mountain, est. , is a traprock mountain ridge located southeast of Meriden, Connecticut. It is part of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north through the Connecticut River Valley of Massachusetts...
. Castle Craig
Castle Craig
Castle Craig, located on East Peak in the Hanging Hills, is constructed of trap rock and is in height and has a base in circumference . A metal interior stairway is used to ascend the observation deck on top...
, a city landmark for over a century, was constructed among the Hanging Hills in Hubbard Park
Hubbard Park
Hubbard Park, located in the Hanging Hills of Connecticut, is a wooded, mountainous park located just north of downtown urban Meriden, Connecticut. It comprises approximately of carefully kept woodlands, streams, dramatic cliff faces, flower gardens, and the James Barry bandshell and picnic...
.
The Quinnipiac River
Quinnipiac River
The Quinnipiac River is a river in the New England region of the United States, located entirely in the state of Connecticut.It rises in west central Connecticut from Dead Wood Swamp west of the city of New Britain...
cuts through the southwest quadrant of the city, which is known to area residents as "South Meriden". Here, the river cuts through two hills for almost a mile, resulting in a gorge full of exposed sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
cliffs. Harbor Brook (originally named Pilgrim Harbor Brook) cuts through the town from the north east to the south west (passing underneath downtown Meriden in a culvert) before emptying into Hanover Pond (part of the Quinnipiac River) in South Meriden.
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 58,244 people, 22,951 households, and 14,964 families residing in the city. 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 2,452.8 people per square mile (946.9/km²). There were 24,631 housing units at an average density of 1,037.3 per square mile (400.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 80.2% White, 6.4% Black or African American
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...
, 0.4% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.6% 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 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.4% of the population.
There were 22,951 households out of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% 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, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,237, and the median income for a family was $52,788. Males had a median income of $39,633 versus $10,268 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 city was $20,597. About 17.5% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.3% of those under age 18 and 23.8% 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... |
9,225 | 524 | 9,749 | 30.15% |
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... |
4,275 | 213 | 4,488 | 13.88% |
Unaffiliated | 16,927 | 1,147 | 18,074 | 55.90% |
Minor Parties | 19 | 2 | 21 | 0.06% | |
| Total | 30,446 | 1,886 | 32,332 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Population
Total Population 60,868
Housing Status
( in housing units unless noted )
Total 25,892
Occupied 23,977
Owner-occupied 14,594
Population in owner-occupied
( number of individuals ) 37,167
Renter-occupied 9,383
Population in renter-occupied
( number of individuals ) 22,746
Households with individuals under 18 6,942
Vacant 1,915
Vacant: for rent 688
Vacant: for sale 249
Vacant: for seasonal/recreational/occasional use 78
Population by Sex/Age
Male 29,446
Female 31,422
Under 18 14,553
18 & over 46,315
20 - 24 3,695
25 - 34 8,581
35 - 49 12,855
50 - 64 11,887
65 & over 7,834
Population by Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino 17,590
Non Hispanic or Latino 43,278
Population by Race
White 44,727
African American 5,876
Asian 1,277
American Indian and Alaska Native 302
Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander 34
Other 6,506
Identified by two or more 2,146
Transportation
Railroad
The city of Meriden is connected to the cities of New HavenNew Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, and Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
by regional rail service provided by 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...
, which runs north-to-south through the center of the city. This rail line opened in 1839, and operated for many years under the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad , was a railroad that operated in the northeast United States from 1872 to 1968 which served the states of Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts...
. The city was also serviced by the Middletown, Meriden and Waterbury Railroad, which provided both freight and passenger service to Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
and Middletown
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
from 1888 until its abandonment in 1924.
Currently, Amtrak runs 16 trains through the Meriden station on most weekdays, but these are not widely used for commuting. However, the success of the state's subsidized commuter rail line, Shoreline East, has spurred the state to open a New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail Line
New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Commuter Rail Line
The New Haven–Hartford–Springfield commuter rail line is a planned commuter rail line with a southern terminus at Union Station in New Haven, Connecticut, and a northern terminus at Union Station in Springfield, Massachusetts, United States...
in 2011. Funds from the state will pay for a new station in Meriden, and city officials are hoping to capitalize on the commuters that will use the station and create a transit village
Transit village
A transit village is a residential development planned around a transportation hub, such as a train station, with the intent to make it convenient for village dwellers to get to/from work or run errands and travel via a public transportation network....
in the city. They hope this will spur revitalization of the downtown area.
In the Quinnipiac River Gorge in South Meriden, 1.3 miles (2.1 km) of the original MW&CR Railroad right of way has been converted into a recreational linear trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
as the Meriden Linear Trail
Meriden Linear Trail
The Meriden Linear Trail is a rail trail that follows the original route of the Meriden, Waterbury, and Connecticut River Railroad through the city of Meriden, Connecticut. Currently, the trail follows of the former railroad right-of-way through the Quinnipiac River Gorge, starting at Red Bridge ...
. Open to the public in December 2006, the formal dedication occurred on November 3, 2007.
Bus
Beginning in 1784, Meriden had a stop on the New Haven-Hartford Stage Coach on Route 5 near the intersection of East Main St. Years later, the same stop served as the bus stop for Greyhound and Peter Pan Buses. Meriden had 4 daily departures to/from Hartford/Boston, and 4 daily departures to/from New Haven/New York daily from the 1970s through 2007, when intercity bus service ceased serving Meriden.Meriden is linked to the Connecticut Transit System, Connecticut's extensive public transit bus network. Three bus lines loop throughout the city of Meriden once per hour. The "B" bus route departs The Meriden Railroad station for the southern terminus of Kohls Plaza, connecting for New Haven; The "A" bus route departs the Rail Station for the northern terminus of Meriden Square with connections to New Britain and Hartford. The East/West "C" bus travels along East Main and West Main streets, with a handful of departures to Middletown and Waterbury.
Airport
Meriden Markham Municipal AirportMeriden Markham Municipal Airport
Meriden Markham Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Meriden, a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. This general aviation airport is owned by City of Meriden....
is the city owned airport, located 3 miles (4.8 km) south of the city center on the border of South Meriden and Yalesville, and serves private and charter planes.
Highway
The city of Meriden is located on Interstate 91Interstate 91
Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
, which provides access to Hartford
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
, Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, and New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. Interstate 691
Interstate 691
Interstate 691 is a portion of the Interstate Highway System in Connecticut beginning at Interstate 91 in Meriden and ending at Interstate 84 near the Cheshire-Southington town line. It is in length, including of the exit ramp to the merge with westbound I-84.I-691 is also known as the Henry D...
provides access to Interstate 84
Interstate 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...
and points west such as Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
. The Wilbur Cross Parkway
Wilbur Cross Parkway
The Wilbur Cross Parkway is a limited access road in Connecticut, comprising the portion of Route 15 between Milford and Meriden. It is named after Wilbur Lucius Cross, a former governor of the state...
, which provides access to points south such as Wallingford
Wallingford, Connecticut
Wallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
, New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
becomes the Berlin Turnpike
Berlin Turnpike
The Berlin Turnpike is a 4-lane/6-lane divided arterial road carrying U.S. Route 5 and Route 15 through the towns of Berlin, Newington, and Wethersfield, Connecticut, United States. The road begins at the Meriden-Berlin town line. The official length of the Berlin Turnpike is 11.02 miles but the...
on the northern end of Meriden.
Schools
The Meriden Board of Education operates public schools.- Public Elementary (K-5):
- John Barry
- Benjamin Franklin
- Nathan Hale
- Hanover
- Thomas Hooker
- Casimir Pulaski
- Israel Putnam
- Roger Sherman
- Public Middle (6-8)
- Lincoln
- Washington
- Public High (9-12)
- Francis T. Maloney
- Orville H. Platt
- Magnet Middle
- Thomas A. Edison, run by ACES of North Haven
- State Technical High
- Horace C. Wilcox
- Private Schools
- St. Stanislaus School (K-8)
- St. Joseph School (K-8)
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel (K-8)
Points of interest
- Castle CraigCastle CraigCastle Craig, located on East Peak in the Hanging Hills, is constructed of trap rock and is in height and has a base in circumference . A metal interior stairway is used to ascend the observation deck on top...
- Curtis Memorial LibraryCurtis Memorial LibraryThe Curtis Memorial Library is the main public library of the city of Meriden, Connecticut. The library opened in 1903 and is located on East Main Street. It was designed by architect Richard Williams in the Classical Revival style....
- Hanging HillsHanging HillsThe Hanging Hills of south central Connecticut, USA are a range of mountainous trap rock ridges overlooking the city of Meriden and the Quinnipiac River Valley below. They are a sub-range of the narrow, linear Metacomet Ridge that extends from Long Island Sound near New Haven, Connecticut, north...
- Hubbard ParkHubbard ParkHubbard Park, located in the Hanging Hills of Connecticut, is a wooded, mountainous park located just north of downtown urban Meriden, Connecticut. It comprises approximately of carefully kept woodlands, streams, dramatic cliff faces, flower gardens, and the James Barry bandshell and picnic...
- Moses Andrew Homestead
- Ted's RestaurantTed's RestaurantTed's Restaurant in Meriden, Connecticut is a hamburger restaurant that is known for their steamed cheeseburger. Steamed cheeseburgers are a regional food particular to very few establishments in Meriden, Connecticut where it was invented in the early 1900s...
- Old Traffic Tower
- Solomon Goffe HouseSolomon Goffe HouseThe Solomon Goffe House is located on North Colony Street in Meriden, Connecticut, United States. It was built in 1711, and is the oldest remaining building in the city of Meriden...
- Meriden Linear TrailMeriden Linear TrailThe Meriden Linear Trail is a rail trail that follows the original route of the Meriden, Waterbury, and Connecticut River Railroad through the city of Meriden, Connecticut. Currently, the trail follows of the former railroad right-of-way through the Quinnipiac River Gorge, starting at Red Bridge ...
- Red Bridge
- Meriden Square Mall
- Hunter Golf Course
- Giuffrida Park offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, with a variety of hiking trails and a lake.
Meriden in popular culture
Meriden was the location chosen for the filming of the 1989 Robert De NiroRobert De Niro
Robert De Niro, Jr. is an American actor, director and producer. His first major film roles were in Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets, both in 1973...
film Jacknife
Jacknife
Jacknife is a 1989 American film directed by David Jones and starring Robert De Niro and Ed Harris. The film focuses on a small, serious story, with emphasis on characterization and the complex tension between people in a close relationship...
. Many Meriden landmarks can be seen in the film, and many Meriden residents boast of encountering De Niro during the filming.
Dan Petriw's investigative special for Channel 8
Channel 8
Channel 8, as a television channel, may refer to*MediaCorp Channel 8, Singapore*TVB8*Channel 8 Australia, a now defunct erotic TV channel*Canal 8 de Tucumán, a television station in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina...
News about the "tail pipe golf ball" craze of the 1990s was filmed at Fantozzi's Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
Dealership on Broad Street. Several commuters and car dealers in Meriden had reported that tail pipes on their new and used vehicles were randomly being stuffed with golf balls, thereby causing major damage to their exhaust systems. Petriw assisted the Meriden Police Department in the capture of the suspects by placing hidden cameras in the Meriden City commuter parking lot as well in several locations at Fantozzi's Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
dealership. The juveniles were tried and sentenced by the Hon. Judge Jared Steinberg at the Meriden Superior Court
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
.
Meriden's Ted's Steamed Cheeseburger Restaurant
Ted's Restaurant
Ted's Restaurant in Meriden, Connecticut is a hamburger restaurant that is known for their steamed cheeseburger. Steamed cheeseburgers are a regional food particular to very few establishments in Meriden, Connecticut where it was invented in the early 1900s...
was featured in the documentary Hamburger America, as well as the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
show Man v. Food
Man v. Food
Man v. Food is an American food reality television series. It premiered on December 3, 2008, on the Travel Channel. The program is hosted by actor and food enthusiast Adam Richman. In each episode, Richman explores the "big food" offerings of a different American city before facing off against a...
.
The 2006 movie The Quiet
The Quiet
The Quiet is a 2005 American drama and thriller film directed by Jamie Babbit, and starring Camilla Belle and Elisha Cuthbert. It focuses on a mute teenage girl, Dot who goes to live with her godparents after her father dies, where she slowly learns the disturbing secrets of the family, primarily...
was based here.
Tomie dePaola
Tomie dePaola
Thomas Anthony "Tomie A." dePaola , is an American author and illustrator of over 200 children's books, including Caldecott Honor book Strega Nona and Newbery Honor book 26 Fairmount Avenue. DePaola was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 2011.-Biography:DePaola was born in Meriden,...
's 26 Fairmount Avenue
26 Fairmount Avenue
26 Fairmount Avenue is a 1999 children's novel by Tomie dePaola that won a Newbery Honor.-Plot:The book deals with the early life of Tomie dePaola. He has just moved to a new house in Connecticut and the 1938 hurricane has just hit...
is based on the author's Meriden childhood.
Many towns in the western United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
were named for Meriden, Connecticut, including Meriden, Iowa
Meriden, Iowa
Meriden is a city in Cherokee County, Iowa, United States. The population was 184 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Meriden is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Meriden, Kansas
Meriden, Kansas
Meriden is a city in Jefferson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 706 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Meriden is located at ....
, Meriden, Wyoming
Meriden, Wyoming
Meriden is an unincorporated crossroads in Laramie County, Wyoming, United States. It is part of the Cheyenne, Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located about 45 miles northeast of Cheyenne.The community was named after Meriden, Connecticut....
, and Meriden Township, Minnesota
Meriden Township, Minnesota
Meriden Township is a township in Steele County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 631 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 36.2 square miles , of which, 36.1 square miles of it is land and 0.1 square...
.