Thompsonville, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Thompsonville is a census-designated place
(CDP) in the town of Enfield in Hartford County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 8,125 at the 2000 census.
community. Orrin Thompson, from whom the community takes its name, built a dam
across Freshwater Brook in 1828 and opened the first carpet
mill in 1829. Thompson's first mill, named "White Mill," employed skilled weaver
s brought from Scotland
. Initially its product was largely flat-woven ingrain carpeting, an inexpensive type of carpeting, but over time it added more expensive weaves, such as three-ply ingrain and loop brussels. The mill had 230 loom
s in operation as of 1846.
Carpeting continued to be manufactured in Thompsonville until 1971, by which time most production had shifted to the southern United States
.
, the CDP has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (9.70%) is water.
of 2000, there were 8,125 people, 3,442 households, and 1,896 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 3,797.9 people per square mile (1,465.9/km2). There were 3,728 housing units at an average density of 1,742.6 per square mile (672.6/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.01% White, 3.96% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.50% from other races
, and 2.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.70% of the population.
There were 3,442 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% were married couples
living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,154, and the median income for a family was $42,692. Males had a median income of $38,000 versus $29,550 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $19,851. About 7.3% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in the town of Enfield in Hartford County
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 8,125 at the 2000 census.
History
Thompsonville was established in the 19th century as a carpet-manufacturingManufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
community. Orrin Thompson, from whom the community takes its name, built a dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
across Freshwater Brook in 1828 and opened the first carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...
mill in 1829. Thompson's first mill, named "White Mill," employed skilled weaver
Weaving
Weaving is a method of fabric production in which two distinct sets of yarns or threads are interlaced at right angles to form a fabric or cloth. The other methods are knitting, lace making and felting. The longitudinal threads are called the warp and the lateral threads are the weft or filling...
s brought from Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Initially its product was largely flat-woven ingrain carpeting, an inexpensive type of carpeting, but over time it added more expensive weaves, such as three-ply ingrain and loop brussels. The mill had 230 loom
Power loom
A power loom is a mechanized loom powered by a line shaft. The first power loom was designed in 1784 by Edmund Cartwright and first built in 1785. It was refined over the next 47 years until a design by Kenworthy and Bullough, made the operation completely automatic. This was known as the...
s in operation as of 1846.
Carpeting continued to be manufactured in Thompsonville until 1971, by which time most production had shifted to the southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
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 CDP has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (9.70%) is water.
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 8,125 people, 3,442 households, and 1,896 families residing in the CDP. 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 3,797.9 people per square mile (1,465.9/km2). There were 3,728 housing units at an average density of 1,742.6 per square mile (672.6/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.01% White, 3.96% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.61% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.50% 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 2.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.70% of the population.
There were 3,442 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.3% 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, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.9% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 34.0% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,154, and the median income for a family was $42,692. Males had a median income of $38,000 versus $29,550 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 CDP was $19,851. About 7.3% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.