West Hartford, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford.
The population was estimated at 63,268 in 2010. The town is primarily an upmarket inner-ring suburb
of Hartford. The town has a downtown area called West Hartford Center. This area is centered around Farmington Avenue and South/North Main Street. West Hartford Center has been the community's hub since the late 17th century.
In 2010, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Magazine listed West Hartford as one of the nation's "10 Great Cities for Raising Families." In 2010, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Magazine ranked West Hartford #9 on its "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade" list. In 2010, CNN Money ranked West Hartford as the 55th best small city in America. In 2010, the national online magazine travelandleisure.com cited West Hartford as one of 10 "coolest" suburbs in the nation. The magazine called the West Hartford Reservoir
off Farmington Avenue "West Hartford’s version of Central Park
," and it also noted the town's "vacation-worthy hot spots, with cutting-edge restaurants, great shopping, and plenty of parking."
, the town has a total area of 22.4 square miles (57.9 km²), of which 22.0 square miles (56.9 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km² or 1.70%) is water.
The west side of West Hartford is flanked by the Metacomet Ridge
, a mountainous trap rock
ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound
to nearly the Vermont
border. Notable features of the Metacomet Ridge in West Hartford include Talcott Mountain
and a number of highland water reservoirs belonging to the Metropolitan District, which maintains watershed and recreation resources on the property. The 51 miles (82.1 km) Metacomet Trail
traverses the ridge.
West Hartford is adjacent to and west of Hartford
, the State capital, and neighbors Bloomfield
, Newington
, Farmington
, and Avon
. West Hartford is approximately 100 miles (160.9 km) southwest of Boston, Massachusetts
and 100 miles (160.9 km) northeast of New York City
. I-84 runs through West Hartford.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 63,589 people, 24,576 households, and 15,925 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,892.6 people per square mile (1,117.0/km²). There were 25,332 housing units at an average density of 1,152.3/square mile (445.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.96% White, 4.78% African American
, 0.12% Native American, 4.80% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.27% of the population.
There were 24,576 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples
living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $61,665, and the median income for a family was $77,865 (these figures had risen to $79,443 and $97,873 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $52,450 versus $39,051 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $33,468. About 2.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% ages 65 or older.
/US 6
which passes through the mid-southern portion of town. U.S. Route 44
, Albany Avenue, passes through the town from Hartford over Talcott Mountain to Avon, CT. The northern section of town is traversed by CT Route 218 along North Main Street, which starts at the intersection of U.S. Route 44 in Bishops Corner and leads to Bloomfield, CT.
West Hartford is served by several bus routes of Connecticut Transit Hartford
. Major roads served are Albany Avenue (Route 58), New Britain Avenue (Routes 37 and 39), Park Street (Routes 31 and 33), Farmington Avenue (Routes 60, 62, 64, and 66), Asylum Avenue (Route 72), Hillside Avenue (Route 63), and Boulevard/South Quaker Lane (Route 69).
Amtrak's Union Station
in Hartford is approximately ten minutes from the center of town by way of Farmington Avenue.
magazine ranked West Hartford as the 10th most educated town in the United States
, as measured by the percentage of town residents holding graduate
or professional degrees
.
Connecticut Magazine 2006 rankings put West Hartford Public School education in the top three be among all the cities and towns in Connecticut
and for its population class of greater than 50,000 people behind only Greenwich
and Fairfield
.
The town is home to two public high schools, Conard High School
and Hall High School
, as well as 11 elementary schools and three middle schools in the West Hartford Public Schools
. The elementary schools are Aiken, Braeburn, Bugbee, Charter Oak, Duffy, Morley, Norfeldt, Smith, Webster Hill, Whiting Lane and Wolcott. The three middle schools are King Philip
, Sedgwick
, and the newest Bristow Middle School
, located where Kingswood-Oxford Middle school was formerly located. The eleven elementary schools are evenly distributed to either King Philip or Sedgwick, and those that enroll at Bristow are chosen by lottery. After middle school students continue onto high school with their same student body. Those at Sedgwick go on to Conard High School, while those at King Philip go to Hall High School, and students at Bristow return to the same school district they were in during elementary school.
Radio
TV
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 town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford.
The population was estimated at 63,268 in 2010. The town is primarily an upmarket inner-ring suburb
Inner suburbs
Inner suburb is a term used for a variety of suburban communities that are generally located very close to a large city. Their urban density is lower than the inner city or Central Business District ....
of Hartford. The town has a downtown area called West Hartford Center. This area is centered around Farmington Avenue and South/North Main Street. West Hartford Center has been the community's hub since the late 17th century.
In 2010, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Personal Finance is a magazine that has been continuously published, on a monthly basis, from 1947 to the present day. It was the nation's first personal finance magazine, and claims to deliver "sound, unbiased advice in clear, concise language"...
Magazine listed West Hartford as one of the nation's "10 Great Cities for Raising Families." In 2010, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Kiplinger's Personal Finance is a magazine that has been continuously published, on a monthly basis, from 1947 to the present day. It was the nation's first personal finance magazine, and claims to deliver "sound, unbiased advice in clear, concise language"...
Magazine ranked West Hartford #9 on its "10 Best Cities for the Next Decade" list. In 2010, CNN Money ranked West Hartford as the 55th best small city in America. In 2010, the national online magazine travelandleisure.com cited West Hartford as one of 10 "coolest" suburbs in the nation. The magazine called the West Hartford Reservoir
West Hartford Reservoir
The West Hartford Reservoir recreation area is located on the western edge of West Hartford, Connecticut and northeast of Farmington, Connecticut. There are six large reservoirs along the eastern part of the park and a paved cycling trail that winds through the southern portion...
off Farmington Avenue "West Hartford’s version of Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
," and it also noted the town's "vacation-worthy hot spots, with cutting-edge restaurants, great shopping, and plenty of parking."
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 22.4 square miles (57.9 km²), of which 22.0 square miles (56.9 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km² or 1.70%) is water.
The west side of West Hartford is flanked by 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 features of the Metacomet Ridge in West Hartford include Talcott Mountain
Talcott Mountain
Talcott Montain of central Connecticut, with a high point of , is a long trap rock mountain ridge located west of the city of Hartford. The ridge, a prominent landscape feature, forms a continuous line of exposed western cliffs visible across the Farmington River valley from Farmington to Simsbury...
and a number of highland water reservoirs belonging to the Metropolitan District, which maintains watershed and recreation resources on the property. The 51 miles (82.1 km) 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 the ridge.
West Hartford is adjacent to and west 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...
, the State capital, and neighbors Bloomfield
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,626 at the 2009 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.2 square miles is water.Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the...
, 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....
, Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
, and Avon
Avon, Connecticut
Avon is a town in the Farmington Valley region of Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. , the town had a population of 18,098.Avon is a suburb of Hartford. Avon Old Farms School, a prestigious boarding school, is located there. In 2005, Avon was named the third-safest town in America by...
. West Hartford is approximately 100 miles (160.9 km) southwest of Boston, 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 100 miles (160.9 km) northeast of 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...
. I-84 runs through West Hartford.
Demographics
| Historical population of West Hartford |
|
| 1850 | 4,411 |
| 1860 | 1,296 |
| 1870 | 1,533 |
| 1880 | 1,828 |
| 1890 | 1,930 |
| 1900 | 3,186 |
| 1910 | 4,808 |
| 1920 | 8,854 |
| 1930 | 24,941 |
| 1940 | 33,776 |
| 1950 | 32,402 |
| 1960 | 32,382 |
| 1970 | 38,031 |
| 1980 | 41,301 |
| 1990 | 50,110 |
| 2000 | 61,046 |
| 2010 | 63,268 |
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 63,589 people, 24,576 households, and 15,925 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,892.6 people per square mile (1,117.0/km²). There were 25,332 housing units at an average density of 1,152.3/square mile (445.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 85.96% White, 4.78% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.12% Native American, 4.80% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.27% of the population.
There were 24,576 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% 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, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $61,665, and the median income for a family was $77,865 (these figures had risen to $79,443 and $97,873 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $52,450 versus $39,051 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 $33,468. About 2.9% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% ages 65 or older.
Transportation
West Hartford is accessible by major thoroughfares including I-84Interstate 84 in Connecticut
Interstate 84 is an East–West Interstate highway across the state of Connecticut into Danbury, Waterbury, Hartford and Union.-Route description:...
/US 6
U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 6 is the portion of the cross-country U.S. Route 6 within the state of Connecticut. West of Hartford, the route either closely parallels or runs along Interstate 84. Interstate 84 has largely supplanted Route 6 as a through route in western Connecticut. East of Hartford, the route serves...
which passes through the mid-southern portion of town. U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 237 miles through four states in the Northeastern region of the United States. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 209 and New York State Route 55 in Kerhonkson, a hamlet in the Hudson Valley region of New York...
, Albany Avenue, passes through the town from Hartford over Talcott Mountain to Avon, CT. The northern section of town is traversed by CT Route 218 along North Main Street, which starts at the intersection of U.S. Route 44 in Bishops Corner and leads to Bloomfield, CT.
West Hartford is served by several bus routes of Connecticut Transit Hartford
Connecticut Transit Hartford
Connecticut Transit Hartford is the largest division of Connecticut Transit, providing service on 43 local routes, 5 "flyer" limited stop routes and 12 express routes throughout 27 towns in Hartford County including: Bloomfield, East Hartford, Farmington, Glastonbury, Manchester, Newington, New...
. Major roads served are Albany Avenue (Route 58), New Britain Avenue (Routes 37 and 39), Park Street (Routes 31 and 33), Farmington Avenue (Routes 60, 62, 64, and 66), Asylum Avenue (Route 72), Hillside Avenue (Route 63), and Boulevard/South Quaker Lane (Route 69).
Amtrak's Union Station
Union Station (Hartford)
Hartford Union Station is the main railway station in Hartford, Connecticut, United States. . The historic station building is near the State Capitol Building. It is a Richardsonian Romanesque building designed by George Keller and built in 1889. A 1914 fire required that it be completely rebuilt,...
in Hartford is approximately ten minutes from the center of town by way of Farmington Avenue.
Top employers
According to the town's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Town of West Hartford | 1,000–2,000 |
| 2 | University of Hartford University of Hartford The University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of... |
1,000–2,000 |
| 3 | Hebrew Health Care | 500–999 |
| 4 | Wiremold | 500–999 |
| 5 | Goodrich Goodrich Corporation The Goodrich Corporation , formerly the B.F. Goodrich Company, is an American aerospace manufacturing company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded in Akron, Ohio in 1870 as Goodrich, Tew & Co. by Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich. The company name was changed to the "B.F... |
250–499 |
| 6 | University of Connecticut University of Connecticut The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually... |
250–499 |
| 7 | American Medical Response American Medical Response American Medical Response, Inc. or is an American provider of emergency and non-emergency medical transportation, operating in 38 states and the District of Columbia. It employs around 17,000 personnel and has a fleet of 4,400 vehicles... |
250–499 |
| 8 | The Cheesecake Factory The Cheesecake Factory The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. is a restaurant company in the United States. The company operates 165 upscale, casual, full-service dining restaurants: 151 under The Cheesecake Factory mark, 13 under the Grand Lux Cafe mark and one under the RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen mark... |
250–499 |
| 9 | Saint Mary Home | 250–499 |
| 10 | Colt's Manufacturing Company Colt's Manufacturing Company Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century... |
250–499 |
Educational institutions
In 2006 MoneyMoney (magazine)
Money is published by Time Inc. Its first issue was published in October 1972. Its articles cover the gamut of personal finance topics ranging from investing, saving, retirement and taxes to family finance issues like paying for college, credit, career and home improvement...
magazine ranked West Hartford as the 10th most educated town in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, as measured by the percentage of town residents holding graduate
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
or professional degrees
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
.
Connecticut Magazine 2006 rankings put West Hartford Public School education in the top three be among all the cities and towns 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...
and for its population class of greater than 50,000 people behind only Greenwich
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
and Fairfield
Fairfield, Connecticut
Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404...
.
Public schools
Conard High School
Conard High School is a public high school in West Hartford, Connecticut. It opened in 1957, and was named after Frederick Underwood Conard, president of Niles-Bement-Pond Company and chairman of the local Board of Education when plans for the school were approved...
and Hall High School
Hall High School (Connecticut)
William H. Hall High School, also known as Hall High School, is a four-year public high school located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The school colors are blue and white, and the mascot is the "Warrior." It is one of two public high schools in the West Hartford Public Schools, the other being...
, as well as 11 elementary schools and three middle schools in the West Hartford Public Schools
West Hartford Public Schools
West Hartford Public Schools provides education for West Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, United States.- Middle schools :* Bristow Middle School* King Philip Middle School* Sedgwick Middle School- Elementary schools :* Aiken* Braeburn* Bugbee...
. The elementary schools are Aiken, Braeburn, Bugbee, Charter Oak, Duffy, Morley, Norfeldt, Smith, Webster Hill, Whiting Lane and Wolcott. The three middle schools are King Philip
King Philip Middle School
King Philip Middle School is a middle school in the town of West Hartford, Connecticut. It is one of the West Hartford Public Schools as well as one of three public middle schools in the town of West Hartford. The school has 88 teachers, 74% of whom hold a postgraduate degree...
, Sedgwick
Sedgwick Middle School
Sedgwick Middle School is a school in the town of West Hartford, Connecticut and is one of the West Hartford Public Schools.- History :Sedgwick School opened in 1931 as a combination junior high and elementary school. The elementary school, housed in the east wing, was headed by Miss Marie Lipps....
, and the newest Bristow Middle School
Bristow middle school
Bristow Middle School is a middle school in West Hartford, Connecticut. It is one of the three public middle schools in the town of West Hartford.- History :...
, located where Kingswood-Oxford Middle school was formerly located. The eleven elementary schools are evenly distributed to either King Philip or Sedgwick, and those that enroll at Bristow are chosen by lottery. After middle school students continue onto high school with their same student body. Those at Sedgwick go on to Conard High School, while those at King Philip go to Hall High School, and students at Bristow return to the same school district they were in during elementary school.
Private Schools
- Watkinson SchoolWatkinson SchoolWatkinson School is a private coeducational day school in Hartford, Connecticut. Watkinson is situated on Bloomfield Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut, adjacent to the University of Hartford and serves students from sixth through 12th grade...
- Saint Thomas the Apostle Elementary School
- Saint Timothy Middle School
- Northwest Catholic High School
- Saint Brigid Elementary School
- American School for the DeafAmerican School for the DeafThe American School for the Deaf is the oldest permanent school for the deaf in the United States. It was founded April 15, 1817 in Hartford, Connecticut by Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and Laurent Clerc and became a state-supported school in 1817.-History:...
- Kingswood-Oxford SchoolKingswood-Oxford SchoolKingswood Oxford School is a private day school located in West Hartford, Connecticut. Originally two separate schools, Kingswood School and Oxford School for boys and girls respectively, KO is now a co-educational institution and offers grades 6 through 12...
- Renbrook SchoolRenbrook SchoolRenbrook School is an independent, private day school in West Hartford, Connecticut for children age 3 through Grade 9.- History :In 1935, Mr. and Mrs. John Lee of Farmington and seven other families established a progressive school in the spirit of John Dewey. This school, called the Tunxis...
- the Hebrew High School of New EnglandHebrew High School of New EnglandThe Hebrew High School of New England is a private Jewish high school located in West Hartford, Connecticut, USA. The school was created by members of the New Haven, Springfield, Hartford communities, and its students hail from communities throughout Central Connecticut and Western Massachusetts...
- the Solomon Schechter Day School
- the German School of Connecticut.
Colleges and universities
Institutions of higher learning located in town include the following colleges and universities:- University of HartfordUniversity of HartfordThe University of Hartford is a private, independent, nonsectarian, coeducational university located in West Hartford, Connecticut. The degree programs at the University of Hartford hold the highest levels of accreditation available in the US, including the Engineering Accreditation Commission of...
- Saint Joseph College
- University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus
Media
Print- The Jewish LedgerJewish LedgerThe Jewish Ledger is Connecticut's only weekly Jewish newspaper.It was founded in April 1929 by Samuel Neusner and Rabbi Abraham Feldman. Berthold Gaster, whose father had survived the Dachau and Buchenwald concentration camps, became the newspaper's managing editor in 1958...
, weekly newspaper - West Hartford Life, monthly newspaper
- West Hartford News, weekly newspaper
Radio
- WCCC (AM)
- WWUHWWUHWWUH is a non-commercial radio station licensed to the University of Hartford in West Hartford, Connecticut, USA. The station was started on July 15, 1968 and has a Public Alternative Radio format....
TV
- West Hartford Community Television (WHCTV)
- WVITWVITWVIT, virtual channel 30, is the NBC owned and operated television station for the state of Connecticut, licensed to New Britain. WVIT has its offices and studios located in West Hartford, and transmitter based in Farmington, Connecticut....
Utilities serving the town
- Electric Grid:: Connecticut Light & Power
- Water: Metropolitan District Commission
- Natural Gas: Connecticut Natural GasConnecticut Natural GasConnecticut Natural Gas is a natural gas distribution company that delivers natural gas and energy services to more than 165,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Greater Hartford area and Greenwich, Connecticut areas. CNG is a subsidiary of UIL Holdings Corporation,...
- Telephone, ADSL/Fiber Internet, IPTV Television American Telephone & TelegraphAmerican Telephone & TelegraphAT&T Corp., originally American Telephone and Telegraph Company, is an American telecommunications company that provides voice, video, data, and Internet telecommunications and professional services to businesses, consumers, and government agencies. AT&T is the oldest telecommunications company...
- Cable Television/Cable Internet: ComcastComcastComcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
Notable people
In alphabetical order:- Chip ArndtChip ArndtChip Arndt is an American gay activist, best known as a winner of The Amazing Race 4 in 2003 with former partner Reichen Lehmkuhl. The team was the first out gay couple to win a reality television competition...
, gay rights activist, philanthropist, and co-winner of The Amazing Race 4The Amazing Race 4The Amazing Race 4 is the fourth installment of the reality television show on US television The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 4 featured 12 teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world... - Stephen BarnettStephen BarnettStephen Roger Barnett was an American law professor and legal scholar who campaigned against the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970 and the effects its antitrust exemptions had on newspaper consolidation...
(1935–2009) legal scholar who opposed the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970The Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970 was an Act of the United States Congress, signed by President Richard Nixon, authorizing the formation of joint operating agreements among competing newspaper operations within the same market area. It exempted newspapers from certain provisions of antitrust... - E. Alexander BergstromE. Alexander BergstromE. Alexander Bergstrom was an ornithologist, scientific journal editor, and conservationist, doing all of his work in these fields as a volunteer.-Life:...
, (1919–73) conservationist - Manute BolManute BolManute Bol was a Sudanese-born basketball player and activist. At 7 feet, 7 inches , Bol was one of the tallest players ever to appear in the National Basketball Association, along with Gheorghe Mureşan. Unlike Mureşan, however, Bol was naturally tall and did not have a Pituitary disease...
, (1962–2010) NBA player - Ben BovaBen BovaBenjamin William Bova is an American science-fiction author and editor. He is the recipient of six Hugo Awards for Best Professional Editor for his work at Analog Science Fiction in the 1970's.-Personal life:...
, science fact and fiction author - Chris CarrabbaChris CarrabbaChristopher Ender Carrabba is the lead singer and guitarist of the band Dashboard Confessional, and is the vocalist for the American emo/indie rock band Further Seems Forever.-Biography:...
, singer–songwriter from Dashboard ConfessionalDashboard ConfessionalDashboard Confessional is an American rock band from Boca Raton, Florida, led by singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba. The name of the band is derived from the song "The Sharp Hint of New Tears" from the debut album The Swiss Army Romance.... - Joyce CohenJoyce CohenJoyce Cohen is an American actress. She is known for playing Mrs. Gallagher in the Disney Channel Original Movie Read it and Weep.-Career:She has also acted as:*Ms. Falstaff in High School Musical...
, actress - Larry Collins, actor
- John DroneyJohn DroneyJohn Droney is a Connecticut politician and lawyer. He is the senior partner of Levy & Droney, a large law firm based in Farmington, Connecticut.-Career:...
, politician and lawyer - Dominick DunneDominick DunneDominick John Dunne was an American writer and investigative journalist, whose subjects frequently hinged on the ways in which high society interacts with the judicial system...
(1925–2009) and John Gregory DunneJohn Gregory DunneJohn Gregory Dunne was an American novelist, screenwriter and literary critic.-Life:He was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and was a younger brother of author Dominick Dunne. He suffered from a severe stutter and took up writing to express himself. Eventually he learned to speak normally by...
, (1932–2003), writers, were born in Hartford and grew up in West Hartford - John Franklin EndersJohn Franklin EndersJohn Franklin Enders was an American medical scientist and Nobel laureate. Enders had been called "The Father of Modern Vaccines."-Life:...
, Nobel Laureate 1954 for MedicineNobel Prize in Physiology or MedicineThe Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will... - Katharine Houghton HepburnKatharine Martha Houghton HepburnKatharine Martha Houghton Hepburn was an American feminist social reformer and a leader of the suffrage movement in the United States. Hepburn served as president of the Connecticut Woman's Suffrage Association before joining the National Woman's Party. Alongside Margaret Sanger, Hepburn co-founded...
, (1878-1951), social activist - Liz JanangeloLiz JanangeloElizabeth Janangelo is an American professional golfer currently playing on the Futures Tour.-Early life and amateur career:Born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, Janangelo began playing golf at age two....
, professional golfer on the LPGA Tour - Jared JordanJared JordanJared Ahern Jordan is an American professional basketball player.-College career:Jordan, who graduated from Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford, Connecticut in 2003, became the point guard for the Marist College basketball team until his graduation in 2007...
, drafted 45th by Los Angeles Clippers in the 2007 NBA Draft - Vincent Liff, (1950–2003) director
- Frank LuntzFrank LuntzFrank I. Luntz is an American political consultant and pollster. His most recent work has been with the Fox News Channel as a frequent commentator and analyst, as well as running focus groups after presidential debates...
, Notable Republican Pollster - Edward LorenzEdward Norton LorenzEdward Norton Lorenz was an American mathematician and meteorologist, and a pioneer of chaos theory. He discovered the strange attractor notion and coined the term butterfly effect.-Biography:...
, mathematicianMathematicianA mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
and meteorologist, early pioneer of chaos theoryChaos theoryChaos theory is a field of study in mathematics, with applications in several disciplines including physics, economics, biology, and philosophy. Chaos theory studies the behavior of dynamical systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions, an effect which is popularly referred to as the...
, inventor of the strange attractor notion, and coiner of the term butterfly effectButterfly effectIn chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions; where a small change at one place in a nonlinear system can result in large differences to a later state... - Joseph MascoloJoseph MascoloJoseph Mascolo is an American musician and dramatic actor. During his long career, he has acted in numerous motion pictures and television series. He is best known for playing Stefano DiMera, a role he originated in 1982 on NBC's long running Days of our Lives.-Early life:Mascolo was born and...
, actor and soap operaSoap operaA soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
veteran - Edward MorleyEdward MorleyEdward Williams Morley was an American scientist famous for the Michelson–Morley experiment.-Biography:...
, namesake of Morley Elementary School, scientist best-known for the Michelson–Morley experiment - Rita Morley, actress
- William Thompson SedgwickWilliam Thompson SedgwickWilliam Thompson Sedgwick was a key figure in shaping public health in the United States.William T...
, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyMassachusetts Institute of TechnologyThe Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and a key figure in shaping U.S. public healthPublic healthPublic health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health... - John O'HurleyJohn O'HurleyJohn George O'Hurley is an American actor, voice actor, and television personality. He is known for the role of J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and was the host of the game show Family Feud from 2006 to 2010.-Early life:...
, actor who played J. Peterman, clothing proprietor and Elaine Benes's boss on SeinfeldSeinfeldSeinfeld is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, lasting nine seasons, and is now in syndication. It was created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, the latter starring as a fictionalized version of himself...
television series - Peter PaigePeter PaigePeter Paige is an American actor, director, and screenwriter. His debut as director and writer was on the film Say Uncle.-Biography:Paige was born in West Hartford, Connecticut...
, actor - John P. ReeseJohn P. ReeseJohn P. Reese is an American author, financial columnist, and money manager. He has written two books about investing, The Guru Investor: How to Beat the Market Using History's Best Investment Strategies , and The Market Gurus: Stock Investing Strategies You Can Use From Wall Street's Best...
, money manager and financial columnist - Jimmy SheaJimmy SheaJames Edmound Shea, Jr. is a retired American skeleton racer who won the Gold medal in dramatic fashion at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Shea also was chosen by fellow athletes to recite the Athlete's Oath during the Opening Ceremonies and along with his father, Jim Shea Sr., passed...
, gold medalist in the 2002 Winter Olympics2002 Winter OlympicsThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout... - Noah WebsterNoah WebsterNoah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...
, lexicographer, textbook author, Bible translator, spelling reformer, writer, and editor - John WoodruffJohn Woodruff (representative)John Woodruff was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut.Born in West Hartford, Connecticut, Woodruff received a limited schooling.He moved to Catskill, New York, in 1835....
, U.S. Representative - Korczak ZiolkowskiKorczak ZiólkowskiKorczak Ziolkowski was the Polish American designer and sculptor of Crazy Horse Memorial.-Early life:...
(1908–82), sculptor of Crazy Horse MemorialCrazy Horse MemorialThe Crazy Horse Memorial is a mountain monument complex that is under construction on privately held land in the Black Hills, in Custer County, South Dakota. It represents Crazy Horse, an Oglala Lakota warrior, riding a horse and pointing into the distance. The memorial was commissioned by Lakota...
in South DakotaSouth DakotaSouth Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over... - Brian RosenworcelBrian RosenworcelBrian Andrew Rosenworcel is the drummer for the band Guster. For many years, Rosenworcel, the youngest member of the band, played a combination of bongos, congas, djembe, hand snares and cymbals instead of using a traditional drumset. He now alternates between hand percussion and drum set, and he...
, hand percussionist/drummer from GusterGusterGuster is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1991, the group is known for its live performances and humor, founding members Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller, and Brian Rosenworcel came about to begin practice sessions while attending Tufts University in Medford,...
Conard graduates
- Marcus CambyMarcus CambyMarcus D. Camby is an American professional basketball player, who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. He is a former Defensive Player of the Year during the 2006–07 NBA season, leading the league in blocked shots per game...
, professional basketball player (attended, Graduated From Hartford High School) - Peter DantePeter DantePeter Francis Dante is an American actor. He has been in most Happy Madison films with his friend, Adam Sandler. His roles are usually alongside Jonathan Loughran and/or Allen Covert. His role in Little Nicky was named "Peter". Similarly, his role in Grandma's Boy was named after his last name...
, actor - Kevin GalvinKevin GalvinKevin Galvin is a Connecticut-based business activist. He is the founding chair of the Small Business for Health Care Reform advisory committee and is best known for his efforts as an advocate for the interests of small business in the reform of health care systems...
, business/health care advocate - David NaughtonDavid Naughton (actor)David Walsh Naughton is an American actor and singer best known for his starring roles in the 1981 horror film An American Werewolf in London, the 1980 Walt Disney comedy, Midnight Madness, the 1984 comedies Hot Dog.....
, class of 1969, actor (An American Werewolf in LondonAn American Werewolf in LondonAn American Werewolf in London is a 1981 British-American horror film, written and directed by John Landis. It stars David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, and Griffin Dunne....
) - James NaughtonJames NaughtonJames Naughton is an American director, theater, film and television actor.-Early life:Naughton was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Rosemary and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers He is the brother of actor David Naughton.-Career:Naughton graduated from Brown University and...
, actor, winner of the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalTony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalThe Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical is awarded to the actor who was voted as the best actor in a musical play, whether a new production or a revival...
(1990, 1997) - Robert RomanusRobert RomanusRobert Romanus , also billed as Bob Romanus, is an American actor and musician who has starred in film and television. He is best remembered for his role in the 1982 comedy Fast Times at Ridgemont High as the ticket scalper Mike Damone, and as Natalie Green's boyfriend Snake on The Facts of Life...
, actor Fast Times at Ridgemont HighFast Times at Ridgemont HighFast 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...
, class of 1974 - Jim Shea, class of 1987, 2002 Olympic2002 Winter OlympicsThe 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
gold medalGold medalA gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
winner - Matt SinatroMatt SinatroMatthew Stephen Sinatro is a former major league catcher and currently handling administrative duties for the Chicago Cubs after being replaced as 1st base coach in January 2010. He attended Conard High School in West Hartford, Connecticut...
, class of 1978, Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player and coach - Jack SonniJack SonniJack Sonni is a writer, musician, marketing executive with an emerging web presence as a cultural commentator and best known as "the other guitarist" in Dire Straits during the band's "Brothers In Arms" era.In the late 1970s Jack's band The Leisure Classhad become a Monday night fixture at Kenny's...
, guitarist for Dire StraitsDire StraitsDire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
(1985–1988)
Hall graduates
- Roger Sperry, (1913–94) neuropsychologist and Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate - Wavy GravyWavy GravyWavy Gravy is an American entertainer and activist for peace, best known for his hippie appearance, personality and beliefs. His moniker...
, peace activist and "official clown" of the Grateful DeadGrateful DeadThe Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long... - Charlie KaufmanCharlie KaufmanCharles Stuart "Charlie" Kaufman is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. His film work includes Being John Malkovich, Human Nature, Adaptation, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Synecdoche, New York...
, Academy AwardAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
-winning screenwriter (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindEternal Sunshine of the Spotless MindEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American romantic science fiction film about an estranged couple who have each other erased from their memories, scripted by Charlie Kaufman and directed by the French director, Michel Gondry. The film uses elements of science fiction, psychological...
, AdaptationAdaptationAn adaptation in biology is a trait with a current functional role in the life history of an organism that is maintained and evolved by means of natural selection. An adaptation refers to both the current state of being adapted and to the dynamic evolutionary process that leads to the adaptation....
, Being John MalkovichBeing John MalkovichBeing John Malkovich is a 1999 American black comedy-fantasy film written by Charlie Kaufman and directed by Spike Jonze. It stars John Cusack, Cameron Diaz, Catherine Keener, and John Malkovich, who plays a fictional version of himself...
) - David Alan BascheDavid Alan Basche-Life and career:Basche was born in Hartford, Connecticut. His first acting role was in a school production of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer when he was in the sixth grade at West Hartford's Norfeldt Elementary School...
, actor (United 93United 93 (film)United 93 is a 2006 fact-based historical drama film written, co-produced, and directed by Paul Greengrass that chronicles events aboard United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the September 11 attacks...
, War of the WorldsWar of the Worlds (2005 film)War of the Worlds is a 2005 American science fiction film adaptation of H. G. Wells' novel of the same name, directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Josh Friedman and David Koepp. It is one of three film adaptations of War of the Worlds released that year, alongside The Asylum's version and...
) - Brian RosenworcelBrian RosenworcelBrian Andrew Rosenworcel is the drummer for the band Guster. For many years, Rosenworcel, the youngest member of the band, played a combination of bongos, congas, djembe, hand snares and cymbals instead of using a traditional drumset. He now alternates between hand percussion and drum set, and he...
, musician and member of the band GusterGusterGuster is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1991, the group is known for its live performances and humor, founding members Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller, and Brian Rosenworcel came about to begin practice sessions while attending Tufts University in Medford,... - Sara RoySara RoySara Roy is an American political economist and scholar. She is a Senior Research Scholar at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University....
, Middle East scholar - Michael SchurMichael SchurMichael Herbert Schur is an American television producer and writer, best known for his work on the NBC comedy series The Office and Parks and Recreation, the latter of which he co-created along with Greg Daniels...
, writer and producer (The OfficeThe Office (US TV series)The Office is an American comedy television series broadcast by NBC. An adaptation of the original BBC series of the same name, it depicts the everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania, branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company...
, Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
) - Brad MehldauBrad MehldauBrad Mehldau is an American jazz pianist. Besides leading his own group, the Brad Mehldau Trio, he has performed with many renowned artists, including Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, Larry Grenadier, Peter Bernstein, Jeff Ballard, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Kurt...
, jazz pianist
Points of interest
- West Hartford Center
- Blue Back SquareBlue Back SquareBlue Back Square, located east of West Hartford Center, and South of Bishops Corner, is a new commercial development. Talk of the new square started in 2003. Construction lasted from late 2006 to early 2008. Blue Back Square was named after the Blueback Speller, by Noah Webster, who was once a West...
- Bishops Corner (West Hartford)Bishops Corner (West Hartford)Bishops Corner is a crossroads between Albany Avenue and North Main Street in West Hartford, Connecticut. It is one of the major shopping venues in Connecticut, along with Simsbury Commons, West Hartford Center, Westfarms Mall, and the new Blue Back Square.- Improvements:* In the summer of 2006,...
- Elizabeth ParkElizabeth Park, HartfordElizabeth Park is a city park located in Hartford and West Hartford, Connecticut. It is covers and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
- Noah Webster HouseNoah Webster HouseThe Noah Webster House is a historic house museum located at 227 South Main Street, West Hartford, Connecticut. It was the home of American lexicographer Noah Webster, and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962.Yet, has been reportingly haunted....
- Elmwood (West Hartford)
- Park Road (West Hartford)
- Westfarms MallWestfarms MallWestFarms Mall, sometimes referred to as WestFarms, is a mall located seven miles southwest of Hartford, Connecticut. The mall developer is The Taubman Company. It is the third largest indoor mall in the state....