Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Rocky Hill is a town in Hartford County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 17,966 at the 2000 census. Rocky Hill was part of Wethersfield
, the neighboring town to the north, until it was independently incorporated in 1849.
Rocky Hill is a typical bedroom community
as many residents commute to work in the larger urban centers of Hartford
to the north and New Haven
to the south.
In 2003, Rocky Hill was voted the #1 Sportstown in Connecticut
by Sports Illustrated
for demonstrating high quality involvement in facilitating and enhancing community sports.
In 2007, Rocky Hill was named #35 in Money Magazine
's 'Best Places to Live Top 100', citing easy commuting to Hartford, local job availability, strong schools, and a central location between New York City and Boston.
Rocky Hill is the home of one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America, Dinosaur State Park
. Rocky Hill also was once the former headquarters of Ames Department Stores, which ceased business operations in 2002.
WFSB-TV, Channel 3, is currently stationed in Rocky Hill. The Hartford broadcast station takes up residence in a $23 million, 65000 square feet (6,038.7 m²) broadcasting facility in the Corporate Ridge office park. Elden Hale, senior vice president of the Meredith Broadcasting Group and General Manager of WFSB, said Rocky Hill's proximity to I-91, Route 9, Route 2 and I-84 was a crucial element in the decision.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 35.7 km² (13.8 sq mi). 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (2.54%) is water.
Bordering Rocky Hill to the north is Wethersfield
, with Newington
to the north-west, Berlin
to the south-west, and Cromwell
to the south. The Connecticut River
forms the eastern border. I-91
runs through the town with exits at the two main local highways, Route 3 at exit 23 and Route 99 at exit 24. Route 3 travels from Cromwell through Rocky Hill into Wethersfield, eventually crossing the Connecticut River into Glastonbury
. The north-south Route 99 parallels the Connecticut River for the length of town.
The town of Rocky Hill is named after the ridge along the Connecticut River in the northeast section that is now Rocky Hill River Park.
, Rocky Hill had a population of 17,966 in 7,557 households, with 4,519 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,335.4 people per square mile (515.7/km²). There were 7,962 housing units at an average density of 591.8 per square mile (228.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.20% White, 3.42% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.97% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.20% of the population.
There were 7,557 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples
living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.
In terms of age, 19.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% were between 18 and 24, 31.9% were 25 to 44, 25.8% were 45 to 64, and 16.5% were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median household income
in the town was $60,247, and the median income for a family was $72,726. Males had a median income of $48,555 versus $39,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $29,701. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Rocky Hill High School
has a student body of approximately 800 students.
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 17,966 at the 2000 census. Rocky Hill was part of Wethersfield
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Many records from colonial times spell the name Weathersfield, while Native Americans called it Pyquag...
, the neighboring town to the north, until it was independently incorporated in 1849.
Rocky Hill is a typical bedroom community
Commuter town
A commuter town is an urban community that is primarily residential, from which most of the workforce commutes out to earn their livelihood. Many commuter towns act as suburbs of a nearby metropolis that workers travel to daily, and many suburbs are commuter towns...
as many residents commute to work in the larger urban centers of 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...
to the north 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...
to the south.
In 2003, Rocky Hill was voted the #1 Sportstown in 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...
by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
for demonstrating high quality involvement in facilitating and enhancing community sports.
In 2007, Rocky Hill was named #35 in Money Magazine
Money Magazine
Money Magazine is a business news and financial programme that is broadcast on Sundays at 7:00pm in Hong Kong by television channel TVB Pearl.-Producers and reporters:...
's 'Best Places to Live Top 100', citing easy commuting to Hartford, local job availability, strong schools, and a central location between New York City and Boston.
Rocky Hill is the home of one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America, Dinosaur State Park
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum is a unique state park located 20 minutes south of Hartford at 400 West Street, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA. It contains one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America, with early Jurassic fossil tracks in sandstone from about 200 million years...
. Rocky Hill also was once the former headquarters of Ames Department Stores, which ceased business operations in 2002.
WFSB-TV, Channel 3, is currently stationed in Rocky Hill. The Hartford broadcast station takes up residence in a $23 million, 65000 square feet (6,038.7 m²) broadcasting facility in the Corporate Ridge office park. Elden Hale, senior vice president of the Meredith Broadcasting Group and General Manager of WFSB, said Rocky Hill's proximity to I-91, Route 9, Route 2 and I-84 was a crucial element in the decision.
Geography
| Historical population of Rocky Hillhttp://www.sots.state.ct.us/RegisterManual/regman.htm |
|
| 1850 | 1,042 |
| 1860 | 1,102 |
| 1870 | 971 |
| 1880 | 1,108 |
| 1890 | 1,069 |
| 1900 | 1,026 |
| 1910 | 1,187 |
| 1920 | 1,633 |
| 1930 | 2,021 |
| 1940 | 2,679 |
| 1950 | 5,108 |
| 1960 | 7,404 |
| 1970 | 11,103 |
| 1980 | 14,559 |
| 1990 | 16,554 |
| 2000 | 17,966 |
According to the United States Census Bureau
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 35.7 km² (13.8 sq mi). 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (2.54%) is water.
Bordering Rocky Hill to the north is Wethersfield
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Many records from colonial times spell the name Weathersfield, while Native Americans called it Pyquag...
, with Newington
Newington, Connecticut
Newington is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, it had a total population of 29,306. The Connecticut Department of Transportation has its headquarters in Newington....
to the north-west, Berlin
Berlin, Connecticut
Berlin is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 19,866 at the 2010 census. It was incorporated in 1785. The geographic center of Connecticut is located in the town. Berlin is residential and industrial, and served by the Amtrak station of the same name...
to the south-west, and Cromwell
Cromwell, Connecticut
Cromwell is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States located in the middle of the state. The population was 12,871 at the 2000 census.The town was named after Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England.-Points of interest:...
to the south. The Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
forms the eastern border. I-91
Interstate 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...
runs through the town with exits at the two main local highways, Route 3 at exit 23 and Route 99 at exit 24. Route 3 travels from Cromwell through Rocky Hill into Wethersfield, eventually crossing the Connecticut River into Glastonbury
Glastonbury, Connecticut
Glastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, founded in 1693. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, 7 miles southeast of Hartford. The town...
. The north-south Route 99 parallels the Connecticut River for the length of town.
The town of Rocky Hill is named after the ridge along the Connecticut River in the northeast section that is now Rocky Hill River Park.
Demographics
As of the 2000 CensusUnited States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, Rocky Hill had a population of 17,966 in 7,557 households, with 4,519 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 1,335.4 people per square mile (515.7/km²). There were 7,962 housing units at an average density of 591.8 per square mile (228.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.20% White, 3.42% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.97% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.01% 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 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.20% of the population.
There were 7,557 households out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% 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, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93.
In terms of age, 19.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% were between 18 and 24, 31.9% were 25 to 44, 25.8% were 45 to 64, and 16.5% were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median household income
Median household income
The median household income is commonly used to generate data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more...
in the town was $60,247, and the median income for a family was $72,726. Males had a median income of $48,555 versus $39,625 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 $29,701. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.
Rocky Hill High School
Rocky Hill High School
Rocky Hill High School is a four year high school for grades 9 through 12. It is located at 50 Chapin Avenue in Rocky Hill, Connecticut in the United States. The school was constructed in 1980, and has a rated capacity of 750...
has a student body of approximately 800 students.
Points of interest
- The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry to GlastonburyGlastonbury, ConnecticutGlastonbury is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, founded in 1693. The population was 31,876 at the 2000 census. The town was named after Glastonbury in Somerset, England. Glastonbury is located on the banks of the Connecticut River, 7 miles southeast of Hartford. The town...
, which is purported to be the nation's oldest continuously running ferry service (though it closes every winter due to ice) - Dinosaur State ParkDinosaur State Park and ArboretumDinosaur State Park and Arboretum is a unique state park located 20 minutes south of Hartford at 400 West Street, Rocky Hill, Connecticut, USA. It contains one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America, with early Jurassic fossil tracks in sandstone from about 200 million years...
, which displays fossilized dinosaur footprints discovered in Rocky Hill in the 1960s - The Connecticut Library For The Blind and Physically Handicapped
- The State Veteran's Home and Hospital, located in Rocky Hill since 1940
- The former headquarters of Ames Department Stores, which closed in 2002
- The headquarters of the Connecticut LotteryConnecticut LotteryThe Connecticut Lottery Corporation, also called the CT Lottery, is the official lottery in Connecticut. It was created in 1971 by then-Gov. Thomas Meskill, who signed Public Act No. 865. The first tickets were sold on February 15, 1972. The Connecticut Lottery offers five in-house drawing games...
- Academy HallAcademy Hall (Rocky Hill, Connecticut)Academy Hall in Rocky Hill, Connecticut is a Federal style building from 1803. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977....
, a museum run by the Rocky Hill Historical Society - The John Robbins House.
- Elm Street Historic District.