Newtown, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Newtown is a town in Fairfield County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 27,560 at the 2010 census. Newtown was founded in 1705 and incorporated in 1711.
supervise the administration of the affairs of the town, except those matters which by the General Statute or Town Charter are exclusively committed to the Board of Education or other departments. They are led by a First Selectman, who is the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of the town. The Board of Selectmen with the assistance of the departments and boards and commission prepares the annual budget in February. The Legislative Council of 12 members (elected to the same two year terms) acts as the Board of Finance and passes ordinances. The Council recommends the annual education and general government budget to the towns people. The old fashion town meeting and referendum are used to pass the budget. These procedures are set forth in the Town Charter adopted and reviewed by the citizens.
The Borough of Newtown occupies about 1252 acres (506.7 ha) (or roughly two square miles) in the central part of town. Incorporated in 1824 by an act of the Connecticut General Assembly
, it is one of only nine boroughs in the state. The borough adopted zoning for the town center long before the rest of the community. The lot sizes are smaller than the minimum 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) lots of the rest of the community. The borough also has running public water provided by a small town water company. Much of the borough is sewered, and the rest of the town is mostly wells and septic systems.
, the town has a total area of 60.38 square miles (156.4 km²), of which 57.8 square miles (149.7 km²) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), or 2.22%, is water.
Newtown is the state's fifth largest town in area and is bordered by Bethel
, Bridgewater
, Brookfield
, Easton
, Monroe
, Oxford
, Redding
and Southbury
.
Indians in 1705. Settled from Stratford
and incorporated in 1711, Newtown was a stronghold of Tory
sentiment during the early Revolutionary War
. French General Rochambeau
and his troops encamped here in 1781 during their celebrated march on their way to the siege of Yorktown
, Virginia
, which ended the Revolution. An important crossroads throughout its early history, the village of Hawleyville briefly emerged as a railroad center, and the town's population grew to over 4,000 circa 1881. In the following decades, the population dwindled to a low of 2,635 in 1930 before again growing.
Local industry has included the manufacture of furniture, tea bags, combs, fire hoses, folding boxes, buttons, and hats, as well as farming and mica and feldspar mining. The game of Scrabble
was developed here by James Brunot.
Among notable residents have been James Purdy, an African American farmer who was part of the Underground Railroad
, and Mary Elizabeth Hawley, Newtown's benefactress.
for many years. The rooster weather vane
(a town symbol) located atop the meeting house is said to have been used as a target by French soldiers encamped here in 1781 during the Revolutionary War.
Hawley School is another landmark. Constructed in the 1920s, it has been used as a whole-town school, a high school, and an elementary school. It is currently an elementary school. Though it has served many different school functions, its original section has remained much the same. Two additions have been added since its construction.
Newtown is home to the "Fairfield Hills" Hospital, erected in the 1930s. It was closed in 1995. Fairfield Hills was used as the set of the juvenile facility in the film Sleepers
in 1995. Newtown recently purchased the property, and, as of 2007, the town is considering a somewhat controversial plan for its usage. In 2008, the NYA (Newtown Youth Academy) was added, with a fitness section, basketball courts, and a turf field.
The Board of Managers is composed of six members serving six year terms. At each regular Town Election, two members are elected, both of whom may not be members of the same political party. According to Town Charter, the Board "shall have the exclusive care and maintenance of Edmond Town Hall and all grounds and buildings appurtenant thereto, together with all powers and duties prescribed for said Board by Special Act No. 98 of the 1931 session by which it was created, as amended by Special Act No. 517 of the 1953 session".
The architect for this building was Philip Sutherland, who also designed Cyrenius H. Booth Library.
The Edmond Town hall is notable for its cinema. The theater shows popular films shortly after they leave mainstream theaters, and is the only $2 film theater in Connecticut. It is a popular spot for middle school and high school students. The town hall was constructed for the community by a local benefactress Mary Elizabeth Hawley and dedicated in 1930. The building was named for Miss Hawley’s maternal great grandfather Judge William Edmond.
Designed by Philip Sutherland, who also designed Newtown's Edmond Town Hall, the building was considered one of the most modern libraries of its time, with several innovative features. The building was fireproof, had cork floors and acoustic ceiling tiles to deaden sound, and had a built-in humidifying unit and a centralized vacuum cleaner.
In January 1998 an addition to the rear of the building was completed and officially opened. The expansion doubled the available floor space and provides areas for meetings and displays of art and local historical artifacts from the library's large collection.
. Treadwell Park, named after former selectman Timothy Treadwell, contains recreation facilities and the town pool. Dickinson park used to contain a swimming pool (really more like a swimming "pond"), which was a large asphalt-lined bowl-shaped depression surrounded by a grass "beach". It was a uniquely safe design for children because there was no "deep end" anywhere around the periphery of the pool/pond. Unfortunately, it lacked a formal filtration system and required attendants to periodically row out and manually add chlorine to the water. It was removed and filled in in 2006.
of 2000, there were 25,031 people, 8,325 households, and 6,776 families residing in the town. The population density
was 433.4 people per square mile (167.3/km²). There were 8,601 housing units at an average density of 148.9 per square mile (57.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.14% White, 1.75% Black or African American
, 0.14% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races
, and 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.
There were 8,325 households out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.3% were married couples
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $90,193, and the median income for a family was $99,192 (these figures had risen to $101,937 and $119,175 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $68,965 versus $42,217 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $37,786. About 2.2% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Newtown also has several private and parochial schools, including St. Rose of Lima School, the Fraser-Woods School, and the Housatonic Valley Waldorf School.
victims during the American Civil War
; Mary Elizabeth Hawley, Newtown's benefactress; Joseph F. Engelberger, an engineer and entrepreneur who is often credited with being the "Father of Robotics" - the Robotics Industries Association annually presents the Joseph F. Engelberger Awards to "persons who have contributed outstandingly to the furtherance of the science and practice of robotics."; actor Anthony Edwards
, known for his roles in Top Gun
, Gotcha!
, Fast Times at Ridgemont High
, Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
and the television series ER
, lives in Sandy Hook; and Bruce Jenner
, 1976 Summer Olympics
decathlon
gold medalist, attended Newtown High School.
Other notable residents (in alphabetical order):
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 27,560 at the 2010 census. Newtown was founded in 1705 and incorporated in 1711.
Government
Elected to a two-year term, the Board of SelectmenBoard of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
supervise the administration of the affairs of the town, except those matters which by the General Statute or Town Charter are exclusively committed to the Board of Education or other departments. They are led by a First Selectman, who is the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of the town. The Board of Selectmen with the assistance of the departments and boards and commission prepares the annual budget in February. The Legislative Council of 12 members (elected to the same two year terms) acts as the Board of Finance and passes ordinances. The Council recommends the annual education and general government budget to the towns people. The old fashion town meeting and referendum are used to pass the budget. These procedures are set forth in the Town Charter adopted and reviewed by the citizens.
The Borough of Newtown occupies about 1252 acres (506.7 ha) (or roughly two square miles) in the central part of town. Incorporated in 1824 by an act of the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
, it is one of only nine boroughs in the state. The borough adopted zoning for the town center long before the rest of the community. The lot sizes are smaller than the minimum 1 acres (4,046.9 m²) lots of the rest of the community. The borough also has running public water provided by a small town water company. Much of the borough is sewered, and the rest of the town is mostly wells and septic systems.
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 60.38 square miles (156.4 km²), of which 57.8 square miles (149.7 km²) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km²), or 2.22%, is water.
Newtown is the state's fifth largest town in area and is bordered by Bethel
Bethel, Connecticut
Bethel is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, about sixty miles from New York City. Its population was 18,584 at the 2010 census. The town center is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...
, Bridgewater
Bridgewater, Connecticut
Bridgewater is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,824 at the 2000 census. It is the only remaining dry town in Connecticut.-Geography:...
, Brookfield
Brookfield, Connecticut
Brookfield is a town located in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 16,452 at the 2010 census. First settled in 1710 by John Muirwood and several other colonial founders who bartered for the land From the Wyantenuck Nation Under the Sachem Waramaugs who lived...
, Easton
Easton, Connecticut
Easton is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,490 at the 2010 census. Easton contains the historic district of Aspetuck....
, Monroe
Monroe, Connecticut
Monroe is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 19,479 at the 2010 census. The current first selectman is Steve Vavrek....
, Oxford
Oxford, Connecticut
Oxford is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,272 at the 2010 Census. There are several areas in Oxford: Quaker Farms, Riverside and Oxford Center. Oxford belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Region and the Central...
, Redding
Redding, Connecticut
Mark Twain, a resident of the town in his old age, contributed the first books for a public library which was eventually named after him.-Government:...
and Southbury
Southbury, Connecticut
Southbury is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, USA. Southbury is located north of Oxford and Newtown; it also is east of Brookfield. Southbury's population was 18,567 at the 2000 census....
.
Principal communities
- Botsford (ZIP code 06404)
- Dodgingtown
- Hattertown
- HawleyvilleHawleyvilleHawleyville is an unincorporated community in Fairfield County in the Town of Newtown, Connecticut about 1 mile outside of the Incorporated Borough of Newtown.-External links:**...
(ZIP code 06440) - Newtown BoroughNewtown (borough), ConnecticutNewtown is a borough in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, within the town of Newtown. The population was 1,941 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
- Rocky Glen
- Sandy HookSandy Hook (Newtown)Sandy Hook is a village in the town of Newtown, Connecticut. Sandy Hook borders the Botsford section of town, Newtown borough, and the town of Southbury along the Housatonic River...
(ZIP code 06482) (including Berkshire, Riverside, Walnut Tree Hill, and Zoar communities) - Other minor communities include Head of Meadow, Hopewell, Huntingtown, Lands End, Middle Gate, Palestine, and Taunton.
History
The town of Newtown, originally known as Quanneapague, was purchased from the PohtatuckPotatuck
The Potatuck were a Native American tribe that existed during and prior to colonial times in western Connecticut, USA. They were a sub-group of the Paugussett Nation and lived in what is present day Newtown, Woodbury and Southbury...
Indians in 1705. Settled from Stratford
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
and incorporated in 1711, Newtown was a stronghold of Tory
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
sentiment during the early Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. French General Rochambeau
Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau
Marshal of France Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general who participated in the American Revolutionary War as the commander-in-chief of the French Expeditionary Force which came to help the American Continental Army...
and his troops encamped here in 1781 during their celebrated march on their way to the siege of Yorktown
Siege of Yorktown
The Siege of Yorktown, Battle of Yorktown, or Surrender of Yorktown in 1781 was a decisive victory by a combined assault of American forces led by General George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau over a British Army commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Cornwallis...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, which ended the Revolution. An important crossroads throughout its early history, the village of Hawleyville briefly emerged as a railroad center, and the town's population grew to over 4,000 circa 1881. In the following decades, the population dwindled to a low of 2,635 in 1930 before again growing.
Local industry has included the manufacture of furniture, tea bags, combs, fire hoses, folding boxes, buttons, and hats, as well as farming and mica and feldspar mining. The game of Scrabble
Scrabble
Scrabble is a word game in which two to four players score points by forming words from individual lettered tiles on a game board marked with a 15-by-15 grid. The words are formed across and down in crossword fashion and must appear in a standard dictionary. Official reference works provide a list...
was developed here by James Brunot.
Among notable residents have been James Purdy, an African American farmer who was part of the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
, and Mary Elizabeth Hawley, Newtown's benefactress.
Landmarks
Newtown has a number of local landmarks. Perhaps the most famous is the flagpole, first erected in 1876. The Newtown Bee, the local weekly newspaper, has been serving the area since 1877, and has been owned and operated by the Smith family since 1881. Another important building, located across from the flagpole, is Newtown Meeting House, which served as the town's Congregational churchCongregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
for many years. The rooster weather vane
Weather vane
A weather vane is an instrument for showing the direction of the wind. They are typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building....
(a town symbol) located atop the meeting house is said to have been used as a target by French soldiers encamped here in 1781 during the Revolutionary War.
Hawley School is another landmark. Constructed in the 1920s, it has been used as a whole-town school, a high school, and an elementary school. It is currently an elementary school. Though it has served many different school functions, its original section has remained much the same. Two additions have been added since its construction.
Newtown is home to the "Fairfield Hills" Hospital, erected in the 1930s. It was closed in 1995. Fairfield Hills was used as the set of the juvenile facility in the film Sleepers
Sleepers (film)
Sleepers is a 1996 legal drama film written, produced, and directed by Barry Levinson, and based on Lorenzo Carcaterra's 1995 novel of the same name.-Plot:...
in 1995. Newtown recently purchased the property, and, as of 2007, the town is considering a somewhat controversial plan for its usage. In 2008, the NYA (Newtown Youth Academy) was added, with a fitness section, basketball courts, and a turf field.
Edmond Town Hall
The building, completed in the 1930s, contains some town offices and has a variety of rooms for all occasions, including the Alexandria Room for weddings, parties and recitals; and a gymnasium for sports, parties and craft shows. Smaller meeting rooms are also present.The Board of Managers is composed of six members serving six year terms. At each regular Town Election, two members are elected, both of whom may not be members of the same political party. According to Town Charter, the Board "shall have the exclusive care and maintenance of Edmond Town Hall and all grounds and buildings appurtenant thereto, together with all powers and duties prescribed for said Board by Special Act No. 98 of the 1931 session by which it was created, as amended by Special Act No. 517 of the 1953 session".
The architect for this building was Philip Sutherland, who also designed Cyrenius H. Booth Library.
The Edmond Town hall is notable for its cinema. The theater shows popular films shortly after they leave mainstream theaters, and is the only $2 film theater in Connecticut. It is a popular spot for middle school and high school students. The town hall was constructed for the community by a local benefactress Mary Elizabeth Hawley and dedicated in 1930. The building was named for Miss Hawley’s maternal great grandfather Judge William Edmond.
Cyrenius H. Booth Library
Newtown's public library was opened December 17, 1932, with a capacity for 25,000 volumes. The library is a posthumous gift of Mary Elizabeth Hawley and was named after her maternal grandfather, a doctor in town from 1820 until his death in 1871. Hawley's gift not only paid for construction of the building, but included a trust fund of about $250,000 which resulted in the town not financing the library until the 1980s.In January 1998 an addition to the rear of the building was completed and officially opened. The expansion doubled the available floor space and provides areas for meetings and displays of art and local historical artifacts from the library's large collection.
On the National Register of Historic Places
- Caleb Baldwin TavernCaleb Baldwin TavernThe Caleb Baldwin Tavern is part of the Newtown Borough Historic District, located in Newtown, Connecticut, United States. Built c. 1763, the two-and-a-half-story house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 23, 2002...
— 32 Main Street (added September 23, 2002) - Camps Nos. 10 and 41 of Rochambeau's ArmyCamps Nos. 10 and 41 of Rochambeau's ArmyCamps Nos. 10 and 41 of Rochambeau's Army, also known as Site No. 97-87D, is an archeological site that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.It is along the march route taken by French commander Rochambeau's troops in 1781....
(added June 6, 2002) - Glover HouseGlover House (Newtown, Connecticut)The Glover House, also known as Budd House, is a house in Newtown, Connecticut that was built in 1869. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982....
— 50 Main Street (added March 11, 1982) - Hattertown Historic District — Roughly, junction of Aunt Park Lane, Castle Meadow, Hattertown, and Hi Barlow roads (added 1996)
- John Glover HouseJohn Glover HouseThe John Glover House is a house in Newtown, Connecticut that was built in 1708. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.The NRHP listing includes three contributing and two non-contributing buildings.-References:...
— 53 Echo Valley Road (added September 17, 2001) - March Route of Rochambeau's Army: Reservoir RoadMarch Route of Rochambeau's Army: Reservoir RoadMarch Route of Rochambeau's Army: Reservoir Road is a historic site in Newtown, Connecticut. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.It is along the march route taken by French commander Rochambeau's troops in 1781....
— Junction of Reservoir Road and Mount Pleasant Road South (added February 8, 2003) - Nathan B. Lattin FarmNathan B. Lattin FarmThe Nathan B. Lattin Farm is a farm that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. In 1990, it included two contributing buildings and one contributing site....
— 22 Walker Hill Road (added June 24, 1990) - New York Belting and Packing Co.New York Belting and Packing Co.The New York Belting and Packing Co. is located in Newtown, Connecticut. The buildings were built in 1856 and were added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 1982....
— 45-71 and 79-89 Glen Road (added July 2, 1982) - Newtown Borough Historic DistrictNewtown Borough Historic DistrictThe Newtown Borough Historic District is a historic district in the borough of Newtown within the town of Newtown in Fairfield County, Connecticut...
— Roughly, Main Street from Hawley Road to Academy Lane (added 1996) - Nichols Satinet Mill SiteNichols Satinet Mill SiteThe Nichols Satinet Mill Site, also known as Site No. 97-14, is an archeological site in Newtown, Connecticut. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996....
(added March 23, 1996)
Parks and recreation
The town of Newtown offers many programs for area residents, and there are numerous parks and fields offering playgrounds, swimming, tennis, softball, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse, soccer, as well as a nature center and trails. Prominent Newtown parks include Treadwell Park, Dickinson Park, and Collis P. Huntington State ParkCollis P. Huntington State Park
Collis P. Huntington State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Characterized by its life-like sculptures of bears and wolves that welcome visitors, Huntington is a setting featuring open fields and dense woodlands. The park was donated to the citizens of Connecticut by the...
. Treadwell Park, named after former selectman Timothy Treadwell, contains recreation facilities and the town pool. Dickinson park used to contain a swimming pool (really more like a swimming "pond"), which was a large asphalt-lined bowl-shaped depression surrounded by a grass "beach". It was a uniquely safe design for children because there was no "deep end" anywhere around the periphery of the pool/pond. Unfortunately, it lacked a formal filtration system and required attendants to periodically row out and manually add chlorine to the water. It was removed and filled in in 2006.
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 25,031 people, 8,325 households, and 6,776 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 433.4 people per square mile (167.3/km²). There were 8,601 housing units at an average density of 148.9 per square mile (57.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.14% White, 1.75% 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...
, 0.14% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.64% 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 0.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.36% of the population.
There were 8,325 households out of which 44.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.3% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.6% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.24.
In the town the population was spread out with 29.3% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 104.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $90,193, and the median income for a family was $99,192 (these figures had risen to $101,937 and $119,175 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $68,965 versus $42,217 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 $37,786. About 2.2% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Newtown Public school system operates four elementary schools (the Hawley School, Head O'Meadow School, Middle Gate School, and Sandy Hook School) that serve grades K-4, an intermediate school (Reed Intermediate School) serving grades 5-6, Newtown Middle School (serving grades 7-8), and Newtown High School serving grades 9-12.Newtown also has several private and parochial schools, including St. Rose of Lima School, the Fraser-Woods School, and the Housatonic Valley Waldorf School.
Notable residents, past and present
Among notable residents have been James Purdy, who helped slaves escape to Canada in the 1850s and ministered to smallpoxSmallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
victims 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...
; Mary Elizabeth Hawley, Newtown's benefactress; Joseph F. Engelberger, an engineer and entrepreneur who is often credited with being the "Father of Robotics" - the Robotics Industries Association annually presents the Joseph F. Engelberger Awards to "persons who have contributed outstandingly to the furtherance of the science and practice of robotics."; actor Anthony Edwards
Anthony Edwards
Anthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:Edwards was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Erika...
, known for his roles in Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
, Gotcha!
Gotcha! (1985 film)
Gotcha! is a 1985 action film, starring Anthony Edwards and Linda Fiorentino. The movie is directed by Jeff Kanew, who also directed Anthony Edwards in Revenge of the Nerds in 1984....
, Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen comedy film written by Cameron Crowe and adapted from his 1981 book of the same name...
, Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise is the 1987 sequel to the 1984 comedy Revenge of the Nerds. Its cast featured most of the main actors from the earlier film, including Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Curtis Armstrong, Larry B. Scott, Timothy Busfield, Donald Gibb, and Andrew Cassese....
and the television series ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
, lives in Sandy Hook; and Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner
William Bruce Jenner is a former U.S. track and field athlete, motivational speaker, socialite and television personality. He won the gold medal for decathlon in the Montreal 1976 Summer Olympics....
, 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
decathlon
Decathlon
The decathlon is a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events. The word decathlon is of Greek origin . Events are held over two consecutive days and the winners are determined by the combined performance in all. Performance is judged on a points system in each event, not...
gold medalist, attended Newtown High School.
Other notable residents (in alphabetical order):
- Renata AdlerRenata AdlerRenata Adler is an American author, journalist and film critic.-Background and education:Adler was born in Milan, Italy, and grew up in Danbury, Connecticut. After gaining a B.A. in philosophy and German from Bryn Mawr, Adler studied for an M.A. in Comparative Literature at Harvard under I. A...
, author - Joanna ColeJoanna ColeJoanna Cole , is a United States author of children’s books. She is most famous as the author of The Magic School Bus series of children's books...
, author of the Magic School Bus series - Suzanne CollinsSuzanne CollinsSuzanne Collins is an American television writer and novelist.-Early life:Suzanne Collins is the daughter of an Air Force officer. She graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts and earned her M.F.A. from New York University in Dramatic Writing....
, author - Anthony EdwardsAnthony EdwardsAnthony Charles Edwards is an American actor and director. He has appeared in various movies and television shows, including Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Top Gun, Zodiac, Revenge of the Nerds, Northern Exposure and ER.-Early life:Edwards was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Erika...
, actor, lives in Sandy Hook (see Steven Kellogg) - Bruce DegenBruce DegenBruce Degen is a children's literature author and illustrator, with over forty books to his credit.He is probably best known as the illustrator of The Magic School Bus series of books, by Joanna Cole. He has collaborated with Nancy White Charstrom on the popular Jesse Bear books, and the...
, illustrator of the Magic School Bus series - Henry DuttonHenry DuttonHenry Dutton was an American politician and the 38th Governor of Connecticut.- Early life :Dutton was born in Plymouth, Connecticut on February 12, 1796. He studied at Yale University and graduated in 1818. He then studied law. In 1823 he was admitted to the bar. He tutored at Yale University from...
, former Connecticut governor - Charles GoodyearCharles GoodyearCharles Goodyear was an American inventor who developed a process to vulcanize rubber in 1839 -- a method that he perfected while living and working in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1844, and for which he received patent number 3633 from the United States Patent Office on June 15, 1844Although...
, inventor of the vulcanization process - Rea IrvinRea IrvinRea Irvin was an American graphic artist. Although never formally credited as such, he served de facto as the first art editor of The New Yorker. He created the Eustace Tilley cover portrait and the New Yorker typeface. He first drew Tilley for the cover of the magazine's first issue on...
, cartoonist and art editor - Elia KazanElia KazanElia Kazan was an American director and actor, described by the New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history". Born in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, to Greek parents originally from Kayseri in Anatolia, the family emigrated...
, film and stage director - Steven KelloggSteven KelloggSteven Kellogg is an author and illustrator who has contributed over 90 books for children. He is best known for writing books about animals, for which he credits his grandmother ....
, children's author and illustrator, used to live in Sandy Hook , sold house to Anthony Edwards. - Burke MarshallBurke MarshallBurke Marshall was an American lawyer and head of the Civil Rights Division of the United States Department of Justice during the Civil Rights Era.-Early years:...
, head of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice during the Civil Rights Era, retired in Newtown - Ryan T. Murphy, associate director of the Mormon Tabernacle ChoirMormon Tabernacle ChoirThe Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
, was a resident and graduate from Newtown High School - James ThurberJames ThurberJames Grover Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories published in The New Yorker magazine.-Life:...
, cartoonist and playwright - Isaac TouceyIsaac TouceyIsaac Toucey was an American statesman who served as a U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, Attorney General of the United States and the 18th Governor of Connecticut....
(1792–1869), U.S. Senator, Secretary of the Navy, Attorney General of the United States and Governor of Connecticut, was born in town - Jenna Von OyJenna von OÿJenna von Oÿ is an American actress and country music singer best known for her roles as Six LeMeure on the NBC series Blossom, and Stevie van Lowe on the UPN sitcom The Parkers.-Early life and career:...
, actress - TV series Blossom - Joey StylesJoey StylesJoseph Carmine Bonsignore better known by his ring name Joey Styles, is an American professional wrestling play-by-play commentator and former professional in the field of advertising sales...
, announcer for Extreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship WrestlingExtreme Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion that was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1992 by Tod Gordon and closed when his successor, Paul Heyman, declared bankruptcy in April 2001...