Plainville, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Plainville is a town in Hartford County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 17,328 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which 9.8 square miles (25.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) is water. The east side of the town is bordered by two prominent peaks of the Metacomet Ridge
: Pinnacle Rock
and Bradley Mountain
. The 51 mile Metacomet Trail
traverses those peaks.
. Robert Lee is the current town manager (as of August 2006). The Town Council comprises 7 members elected every 2 years. The Municipal Center located at 1 Central Square near the center of town.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 17,328 people, 7,385 households, and 4,645 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,776.0 people per square mile (685.5/km²). There were 7,707 housing units at an average density of 789.9 per square mile (304.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.52% White, 2.25% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.19% from other races
, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.57% of the population.
There were 7,385 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% 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 21.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,136, and the median income for a family was $60,586. Males had a median income of $41,541 versus $31,281 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,257. About 4.2% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
There is one middle school, the Middle School of Plainville, which serves grades 6-8. The middle school adopts the same mascot and colors as the town high school, with the exception that they are sometimes known as the "Li'l Blue Devils."
Plainville High School
is the only town high school. The school mascot is the Blue Devil and the colors are blue and white, same as nearby Central Connecticut State University
.
Plainville has also been something of a minor transportation hub. In the nineteenth century, Plainville was served by the Farmington Canal. It also sits on the intersection of two rail lines, one running north from New Haven and the other running east-west between Waterbury
and Berlin. Finally, Plainville is the home of Robertson Airport, the oldest private airport in Connecticut.
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....
, 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 17,328 at the 2000 census.
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 town has a total area of 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²), of which 9.8 square miles (25.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) is water. The east side of the town is bordered by two 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...
: Pinnacle Rock
Pinnacle Rock (Connecticut)
Pinnacle Rock, , is a traprock mountain peak located southwest of Hartford, Connecticut in the towns of Farmington and Plainville.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...
and Bradley Mountain
Bradley Mountain
Bradley Mountain, , is a traprock mountain located west of New Britain, Connecticut, USA, in the town of Southington and PlainvilleIt 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...
. The 51 mile Metacomet Trail
Metacomet Trail
The Metacomet Trail is a Blue-Blazed hiking trail that traverses the Metacomet Ridge of central Connecticut and is a part of the newly designated New England National Scenic Trail. Despite being easily accessible and close to large population centers, the trail is considered remarkably rugged and...
traverses those peaks.
Government
Plainville is run by a Town Manager, Town Council form of governmentGovernment
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
. Robert Lee is the current town manager (as of August 2006). The Town Council comprises 7 members elected every 2 years. The Municipal Center located at 1 Central Square near the center of town.
Demographics
| Historical population of Plainville http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/Population1830.htm http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/Population1900.htm http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/Population1970.htm |
|
| 1870 | 1,433 |
| 1880 | 1,930 |
| 1890 | 1,993 |
| 1900 | 2,189 |
| 1910 | 2,882 |
| 1920 | 4,114 |
| 1930 | 6,301 |
| 1940 | 6,935 |
| 1950 | 9,994 |
| 1960 | 13,149 |
| 1970 | 16,733 |
| 1980 | 16,401 |
| 1990 | 17,392 |
| 2000 | 17,328 |
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 17,328 people, 7,385 households, and 4,645 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 1,776.0 people per square mile (685.5/km²). There were 7,707 housing units at an average density of 789.9 per square mile (304.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.52% White, 2.25% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.19% 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 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.57% of the population.
There were 7,385 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% 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, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% 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 21.2% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $48,136, and the median income for a family was $60,586. Males had a median income of $41,541 versus $31,281 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 $23,257. About 4.2% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Education system
Plainville has three elementary schools: Louis Toffolon School, Frank T. Wheeler School, and Linden Street School.There is one middle school, the Middle School of Plainville, which serves grades 6-8. The middle school adopts the same mascot and colors as the town high school, with the exception that they are sometimes known as the "Li'l Blue Devils."
Plainville High School
Plainville High School
Plainville High School is a public high school in Plainville, Connecticut. It is the only high school in the town of Plainville, Connecticut, serving roughly 873 students...
is the only town high school. The school mascot is the Blue Devil and the colors are blue and white, same as nearby Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922...
.
Culture
Plainville holds an annual Hot Air Balloon Festival at the end of August at Norton Park, gathering many of the townspeople together for fun-filled nights of games, music, and fireworks. The event is sponsored by Plainville Fire Company. However, wanting to improve the soccer fields with an irrigation system at Norton Park, the Plainville Town Council was planning to discontinue the Balloon Festival due to the fire trucks usually parking on the soccer fields. However it did not pass, and the festival went on without a hitch.Plainville has also been something of a minor transportation hub. In the nineteenth century, Plainville was served by the Farmington Canal. It also sits on the intersection of two rail lines, one running north from New Haven and the other running east-west between Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury is a city in Connecticut in the United States.Waterbury may also refer to any one of the following:-Places:United States*Waterbury, Nebraska*Waterbury, Vermont*Waterbury , Vermont,a village within the town of Waterbury, Vermont....
and Berlin. Finally, Plainville is the home of Robertson Airport, the oldest private airport in Connecticut.