West Haven, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
West Haven is a city in New Haven County
, Connecticut
, United States
. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 52,721.
. In 1719, it became the separate parish of West Haven, but was still officially a part of New Haven until 1822. During the American Revolution, West Haven was the frequent launch and arrival point for raiding parties on both sides of the war. On July 5, 1779 the British invaded New Haven Harbor
and came ashore in West Haven and East Haven. Thomas Painter, a teenaged militiaman watching for the approaching British ships while standing atop Savin Rock, is depicted on the city seal. The main commercial street, Campbell Avenue, is named for British Adjutant William Campbell, at the time an Ensign in the Third Guards, who rescued the Reverend Noah Williston, the local Congregational minister and outspoken revolutionary, from being bayoneted by British and Hessian troopers, after he broke his leg trying to escape his captors. Campbell then ordered the soldiers to help the minster back to the parsonage and had the regimental surgeon set his leg. Campbell is also credited with keeping the troops in reasonably good order during their march through the village and reportedly had two soldiers arrested after a local woman accused them of stealing her jewelry. Campbell was killed hours later atop Allingtown Hill on his way to New Haven by a local farmer-turned defender. Campbell is buried in the Allingtown section of town off of Prudden Street. Patriot victims of the invasion are buried in the Christ Church and First Society Cemetery. A historical headstone marks Campbell's approximate gravesite and is maintained by the West Haven Historical Society.
While West Haven again attempted to incorporate as its own town in 1784, that attempt failed, primarily due to the protests of neighboring Milford, which opposed North Milford becoming part of the new town. West Haven and North Milford tried again in 1786 and 1787 with the same result. The two finally joined to become Orange
(incorporated as a town in 1822). In 1921, West Haven split from Orange to become a separate town
. It was incorporated as a city in 1961 and is known as "Connecticut's Youngest City.", but it is ironically one of the state's oldest settlements.
The Savin Rock
section of West Haven was the site of the Savin Rock Amusement Park, which began in the late 19th century as a regionally renowned seaside resort. It evolved into a general amusement park in the 20th century and eventually closed in the 1960s. The park ran along the west side of New Haven Harbor beachfront and is today a walk and bike path. One of the last reminders of the area is Jimmies of Savin Rock, a restaurant known for its seafood and split hot dogs.
West Haven has a mayor-council form of government. John M. Picard
, the city's tenth mayor, was elected in 2005 and re-elected in 2007 & 2009. There are three independent fire districts served by the First Fire Taxation (Center), West Shore and Allingtown Fire Districts. Over the years there have been unsuccessful efforts made to consolidate the fire districts, each of which levies its own tax rate.
In 1986, West Haven observed the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution
. During the year-long celebrations, the mayor and council passed numerous resolutions to encourage community involvement, including naming the official ship of West Haven -- the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Edson (DD-946)
-- and the city's official flower, the Day Lily. Public schools included curriculum on the Constitution from K-12, and school children were released from class to participate in a Constitution Day parade up Campbell Avenue.
, the city has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 10.8 square miles (28.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (1.54%) is water. West Haven has 3 1/2 miles of publicly accessible beaches, which is one-quarter of the publicly accessible beaches in Connecticut. The hilly Allingtown district of the city is home to the University of New Haven
.
West Haven is located in the south-central portion of Connecticut's 3rd congressional district
. The city is bound by the southwest by the Oyster River
(the boundary between West Haven and Milford
since colonial times), northwest by Orange
, north by New Haven and northeast by the West River
, which divides West Haven and New Haven
. To the east is New Haven Harbor
and to the south is Long Island Sound
.
of 2000, there were 52,360 people, 21,090 households, and 13,117 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,832.0 people per square mile (1,865.0/km²). There were 22,336 housing units at an average density of 2,061.3 per square mile (795.6/km²). The racial makeup
of the city was 74.15% white, 16.29% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.91% Asian American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.57% from other races and 2.79% from two or more races. 9.09% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 21,090 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples
living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,393, and the median income for a family was $51,631. Males had a median income of $38,024 versus $30,610 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,121. About 6.6% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
shops and, later, Armstrong Rubber Co. The Armstrong Rubber factory now sits empty, except for a few small businesses renting space within. Coleco (originally Connecticut Leather Company- later the toy/video game manufacturer), and Sikorsky Aircraft, a division of United Technologies also had operations in West Haven.
Bayer Pharmaceuticals North America, a branch of Bayer AG
, based in Leverkusen
, North Rhine-Westphalia
, Germany
, had a plant in West Haven, but the company announced in 2006 that it was shutting its operations in the city, affecting about 1,000 workers. The 137 acre (0.55441982 km²) former Bayer campus comprises 17 buildings, mostly in West Haven but partly in Orange
. In 2007, Yale University
purchased the entire campus for biotechnology
, pharmaceutical and other life sciences research.
During the Early 2000s- Wal Mart Corporation established a store in West Haven
Long a blue-collar and middle-class bedroom community of New Haven
, West Haven has had financial problems since the 1990s.
West Haven is home to the University of New Haven
, a U.S. Veterans Affairs
hospital, and Yale Field
, a baseball park for the Yale University teams and formerly the homefield for Minor League baseball teams. The Yale Bowl
, the home field of the Yale
Bulldogs, is in New Haven, near the West Haven border.
The West Haven High School
football team was ranked first in the state and fifth in the nation in 1968. West Haven is also home to Notre Dame High School
, which is a Roman Catholic all-boys school.
(also known as Derby Avenue), and U.S. Route 1 (the Boston Post Road
) run through West Haven, between Orange and New Haven. Route 162
, which both begins and ends at Route 1, starts in Orange, passes through West Haven, and ends in Milford. A north-south state road, Route 122
, begins in New Haven, comprising Forest Road, a stretch of Campbell Avenue and First Avenue up to the junction with I-95. Route 745 begins at that point, turns west at Elm Street and continues into New Haven, ending at Route 10 (Ella T. Grasso Boulevard).
Public transportation is provided by Connecticut Transit New Haven
. West Haven Center is served by the various B routes (main service along Campbell Avenue). The B4 service continues to Saw Mill Road and Bull Hill Lane; the B5/B6 services run along Jones Hill Road and terminate at the Baybrook Shopping Center near Oyster River; the B7 service continues to Savin Rock via Second Avenue. The J routes run along the West Haven shore towards Milford. The O route serves the areas along Route 1. The M route serves the Veterans Affairs Hospital.
A rail line, used by Metro-North Railroad
and Amtrak
, runs through West Haven. The nearest stations are in New Haven and Milford. As of 2006, the Connecticut Department of Transportation
was considering building a Metro-North station in West Haven
, across from the former Armstrong factory, and in Orange, near the Bayer campus. Recently West Haven has received funds for the station.
Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport is the closest facility offering scheduled air service to West Haven.
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
, 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...
. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 52,721.
History
Settled in 1648, West Haven (then known as West Farms) was a part of the original New Haven ColonyNew Haven Colony
The New Haven Colony was an English colonial venture in present-day Connecticut in North America from 1637 to 1662.- Quinnipiac Colony :A Puritan minister named John Davenport led his flock from exile in the Netherlands back to England and finally to America in the spring of 1637...
. In 1719, it became the separate parish of West Haven, but was still officially a part of New Haven until 1822. During the American Revolution, West Haven was the frequent launch and arrival point for raiding parties on both sides of the war. On July 5, 1779 the British invaded New Haven Harbor
New Haven Harbor
New Haven Harbor is an inlet on the north side of Long Island Sound in the state of Connecticut in the United States. The harbor area is an inlet carved by the retreat of the glaciers during the last ice age approximately 13,000 years ago....
and came ashore in West Haven and East Haven. Thomas Painter, a teenaged militiaman watching for the approaching British ships while standing atop Savin Rock, is depicted on the city seal. The main commercial street, Campbell Avenue, is named for British Adjutant William Campbell, at the time an Ensign in the Third Guards, who rescued the Reverend Noah Williston, the local Congregational minister and outspoken revolutionary, from being bayoneted by British and Hessian troopers, after he broke his leg trying to escape his captors. Campbell then ordered the soldiers to help the minster back to the parsonage and had the regimental surgeon set his leg. Campbell is also credited with keeping the troops in reasonably good order during their march through the village and reportedly had two soldiers arrested after a local woman accused them of stealing her jewelry. Campbell was killed hours later atop Allingtown Hill on his way to New Haven by a local farmer-turned defender. Campbell is buried in the Allingtown section of town off of Prudden Street. Patriot victims of the invasion are buried in the Christ Church and First Society Cemetery. A historical headstone marks Campbell's approximate gravesite and is maintained by the West Haven Historical Society.
While West Haven again attempted to incorporate as its own town in 1784, that attempt failed, primarily due to the protests of neighboring Milford, which opposed North Milford becoming part of the new town. West Haven and North Milford tried again in 1786 and 1787 with the same result. The two finally joined to become Orange
Orange, Connecticut
Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2000 census. A 2007 Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 13,813. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.-History:...
(incorporated as a town in 1822). In 1921, West Haven split from Orange to become a separate town
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
. It was incorporated as a city in 1961 and is known as "Connecticut's Youngest City.", but it is ironically one of the state's oldest settlements.
The Savin Rock
Savin Rock
Savin Rock is a section of West Haven, Connecticut.It was the site of the Savin Rock Amusement Park, which began in the late 19th century as a regionally renowned seaside resort. It evolved into a general amusement park in the 20th century and eventually closed in 1966. The park ran along the west...
section of West Haven was the site of the Savin Rock Amusement Park, which began in the late 19th century as a regionally renowned seaside resort. It evolved into a general amusement park in the 20th century and eventually closed in the 1960s. The park ran along the west side of New Haven Harbor beachfront and is today a walk and bike path. One of the last reminders of the area is Jimmies of Savin Rock, a restaurant known for its seafood and split hot dogs.
West Haven has a mayor-council form of government. John M. Picard
John M. Picard
John M. Picard is the tenth Mayor of the City of West Haven, Connecticut.-Political life:Picard was elected in 2005, succeeding Mayor Joseph Cullen who had served as mayor for a period of only two weeks. Cullen was Chairman of the West Haven City Council when Mayor H. Richard Borer, Jr. chose to...
, the city's tenth mayor, was elected in 2005 and re-elected in 2007 & 2009. There are three independent fire districts served by the First Fire Taxation (Center), West Shore and Allingtown Fire Districts. Over the years there have been unsuccessful efforts made to consolidate the fire districts, each of which levies its own tax rate.
In 1986, West Haven observed the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
. During the year-long celebrations, the mayor and council passed numerous resolutions to encourage community involvement, including naming the official ship of West Haven -- the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Edson (DD-946)
USS Edson (DD-946)
USS Edson was a of the United States Navy, named for Major General Merritt “Red Mike” Edson USMC , who was awarded the Medal of Honor while serving as Commanding Officer of the First Marine Raider Battalion on Guadalcanal, and the Navy Cross and Silver Star for other actions in world War...
-- and the city's official flower, the Day Lily. Public schools included curriculum on the Constitution from K-12, and school children were released from class to participate in a Constitution Day parade up Campbell Avenue.
On the National Register of Historic Places
- American Mills Web Shop — 114-152 Orange Ave. (added April 10, 1983)
- Old West Haven High School — 278 Main St. (added November 24, 1985)
- Union School — 174 Center St. (added December 13, 1987)
- Ward-Heitman House — 277 Elm St. (added February 8, 2003)
- West Haven Green Historic DistrictWest Haven Green Historic DistrictWest Haven Green is the town green of the New England town of West Haven, Connecticut. The green is bordered by Church Street on the south, Savin Avenue on the west, Main Street on the north and Campbell Avenue on the east...
Geography
According to the U.S. 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 city has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.5 km²), of which, 10.8 square miles (28.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (1.54%) is water. West Haven has 3 1/2 miles of publicly accessible beaches, which is one-quarter of the publicly accessible beaches in Connecticut. The hilly Allingtown district of the city is home to the University of New Haven
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven is a private university that combines a liberal arts education with professional training. The university comprises five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, the Henry C...
.
West Haven is located in the south-central portion of Connecticut's 3rd congressional district
Connecticut's 3rd congressional district
Connecticut's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in the central part of the state, the district includes the city of New Haven and its suburbs as well as surrounding areas....
. The city is bound by the southwest by the Oyster River
Oyster River (Connecticut)
The Oyster River is a stream located in the state of Connecticut in New Haven County. It flows south through Orange and forms the boundary of West Haven and Orange and further downstream the boundary of West Haven and Milford. It empties into Long Island Sound, just south of Route 162 at Oyster...
(the boundary between West Haven and Milford
Milford, Connecticut
Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census...
since colonial times), northwest by Orange
Orange, Connecticut
Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2000 census. A 2007 Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 13,813. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.-History:...
, north by New Haven and northeast by the West River
West River
-Rivers:Canada*West River in Antigonish County, Nova Scotia*West River in Pictou County, Nova Scotia*West River in Sheet Harbour, Nova Scotia...
, which divides West Haven 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 east is New Haven Harbor
New Haven Harbor
New Haven Harbor is an inlet on the north side of Long Island Sound in the state of Connecticut in the United States. The harbor area is an inlet carved by the retreat of the glaciers during the last ice age approximately 13,000 years ago....
and to the south is 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...
.
Principal communities
The three significant neighborhoods in West Haven correspond to the three fire districts. As communities, not all sections of the city fit neatly into these divisions. For example, the southeast corner, while part of the Center aka First Fire Taxation District, is not contiguous to the central business district.- West Haven center
- Allingtown
- West Shore
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 52,360 people, 21,090 households, and 13,117 families residing in the city. 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 4,832.0 people per square mile (1,865.0/km²). There were 22,336 housing units at an average density of 2,061.3 per square mile (795.6/km²). The racial makeup
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...
of the city was 74.15% white, 16.29% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.91% Asian American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.57% from other races and 2.79% from two or more races. 9.09% of the population were Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
or Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
of any race.
There were 21,090 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% 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, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,393, and the median income for a family was $51,631. Males had a median income of $38,024 versus $30,610 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 city was $21,121. About 6.6% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Education and business
West Haven was a shipping and industrial center, known for its buckleBuckle
The buckle or clasp is a device used for fastening two loose ends, with one end attached to it and the other held by a catch in a secure but adjustable manner. Usually overlooked and taken for granted, the invention of the buckle has been indispensable in securing two ends before the invention of...
shops and, later, Armstrong Rubber Co. The Armstrong Rubber factory now sits empty, except for a few small businesses renting space within. Coleco (originally Connecticut Leather Company- later the toy/video game manufacturer), and Sikorsky Aircraft, a division of United Technologies also had operations in West Haven.
Bayer Pharmaceuticals North America, a branch of Bayer AG
Bayer
Bayer AG is a chemical and pharmaceutical company founded in Barmen , Germany in 1863. It is headquartered in Leverkusen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and well known for its original brand of aspirin.-History:...
, based in Leverkusen
Leverkusen
Leverkusen is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany on the eastern bank of the Rhine. To the South, Leverkusen borders the city of Cologne and to the North is the state capital Düsseldorf....
, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, had a plant in West Haven, but the company announced in 2006 that it was shutting its operations in the city, affecting about 1,000 workers. The 137 acre (0.55441982 km²) former Bayer campus comprises 17 buildings, mostly in West Haven but partly in Orange
Orange, Connecticut
Orange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2000 census. A 2007 Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 13,813. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.-History:...
. In 2007, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
purchased the entire campus for biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
, pharmaceutical and other life sciences research.
During the Early 2000s- Wal Mart Corporation established a store in West Haven
Long a blue-collar and middle-class bedroom community of 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...
, West Haven has had financial problems since the 1990s.
West Haven is home to the University of New Haven
University of New Haven
The University of New Haven is a private university that combines a liberal arts education with professional training. The university comprises five colleges: the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, the Henry C...
, a U.S. Veterans Affairs
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs is a government-run military veteran benefit system with Cabinet-level status. It is the United States government’s second largest department, after the United States Department of Defense...
hospital, and Yale Field
Yale Field
Yale Field is a stadium in West Haven, Connecticut, just across the city line with New Haven, Connecticut. It is primarily used for the Yale University baseball team, the Bulldogs, and, until 2007 was also the home field of the New Haven County Cutters Canadian-American Association of Professional...
, a baseball park for the Yale University teams and formerly the homefield for Minor League baseball teams. The Yale Bowl
Yale Bowl
The Yale Bowl is a football stadium in New Haven, Connecticut on the border of West Haven, about 1½ miles west of Yale's main campus. Completed in 1914, the stadium seats 61,446, reduced by renovations from the original capacity of 70,869...
, the home field of the Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
Bulldogs, is in New Haven, near the West Haven border.
The West Haven High School
West Haven High School
West Haven High School is a secondary school located in West Haven, Connecticut, which educates students in grades 9–12. The mascot of West Haven is the Blue Devil. -Administration and Campus:...
football team was ranked first in the state and fifth in the nation in 1968. West Haven is also home to Notre Dame High School
Notre Dame High School (West Haven)
Notre Dame High School is a private, Roman Catholic, all-male college preparatory school located in West Haven, Connecticut, a coastal suburb of New Haven, Connecticut.- History :...
, which is a Roman Catholic all-boys school.
Transportation
Interstate 95, Route 34Route 34 (Connecticut)
Route 34 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Route 34 is long, and extends from Washington Street near I-84/US 6 in Newtown to the junction of I-95 and I-91 in New Haven. The highways connects the New Haven and Danbury areas via the Lower Naugatuck River Valley...
(also known as Derby Avenue), and U.S. Route 1 (the Boston Post Road
Boston Post Road
The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York City and Boston, Massachusetts that evolved into the first major highways in the United States.The three major alignments were the Lower Post Road The Boston Post Road was a system of mail-delivery routes between New York...
) run through West Haven, between Orange and New Haven. Route 162
Route 162 (Connecticut)
Route 162 is a state highway in southern Connecticut running for from Milford to the West Haven–Orange town line. Because it is located along the Atlantic coast it serves as a more scenic alternate route to US 1, where it both begins and ends....
, which both begins and ends at Route 1, starts in Orange, passes through West Haven, and ends in Milford. A north-south state road, Route 122
Route 122 (Connecticut)
Route 122 is a primary, minor arterial highway beginning at Interstate 95 in West Haven. It runs north of West Haven center and roughly follows the path of the West River. It then enters the Westville neighborhood of New Haven and ends at Route 63...
, begins in New Haven, comprising Forest Road, a stretch of Campbell Avenue and First Avenue up to the junction with I-95. Route 745 begins at that point, turns west at Elm Street and continues into New Haven, ending at Route 10 (Ella T. Grasso Boulevard).
Public transportation is provided by Connecticut Transit New Haven
Connecticut Transit New Haven
Connecticut Transit New Haven is the second largest division of Connecticut Transit, providing service on 24 routes in 19 towns within the Greater New Haven and Lower Naugatuck River Valley areas, with connections to other CT Transit routes in Waterbury and Meriden, as well as connections to...
. West Haven Center is served by the various B routes (main service along Campbell Avenue). The B4 service continues to Saw Mill Road and Bull Hill Lane; the B5/B6 services run along Jones Hill Road and terminate at the Baybrook Shopping Center near Oyster River; the B7 service continues to Savin Rock via Second Avenue. The J routes run along the West Haven shore towards Milford. The O route serves the areas along Route 1. The M route serves the Veterans Affairs Hospital.
A rail line, used by Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
and Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, runs through West Haven. The nearest stations are in New Haven and Milford. As of 2006, the Connecticut Department of Transportation
Connecticut Department of Transportation
The Connecticut Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The current Commissioner of ConnDOT is Jeffrey Parker...
was considering building a Metro-North station in West Haven
West Haven (Metro-North station)
West Haven is a future railroad station on Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line in West Haven, Connecticut. The station is being built on Sawmill Road between Hood Terrace and Railroad Avenue. Plans include 1,229 parking spaces, including 629 in a parking garage in a refurbished industrial...
, across from the former Armstrong factory, and in Orange, near the Bayer campus. Recently West Haven has received funds for the station.
Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport is the closest facility offering scheduled air service to West Haven.
Notable natives
- Marian BergeronMarian BergeronMarian Bergeron was Miss America in 1933.Bergeron, from West Haven, Connecticut, won the crown as the pageant returned to Atlantic City, New Jersey after a five year hiatus see...
, "Miss America" 1933 - Pfc.Private First ClassPrivate First Class is a military rank held by junior enlisted persons.- Singapore :The rank of Private First Class in the Singapore Armed Forces lies between the ranks of Private and Lance-Corporal . It is usually held by conscript soldiers midway through their national service term...
William A. SodermanWilliam A. SodermanWilliam Adolph Soderman was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.-Biography:...
(1912–1980), Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
from World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. A Navy ship was renamed for him. Born in, enlisted from, and buried in West Haven. - Ken StrongKen StrongElmer Kenneth Strong, Jr. was a college and professional American football player. After a college career as multi-year All-American at New York University, he went on to play professional football. As a halfback with a 14-year career he played from 1929–1937, 1939, 1944-1947...
, NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football player, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
in 1967. - Ulish BookerUlish BookerUlish Booker is an offensive tackle who last played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers.Ulish began his football career in West Haven, Connecticut, playing for West Haven High School where he made the All-State team. He went on to play college football for Michigan State University, and he was...
, NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football player - Melanie ChartoffMelanie ChartoffMelanie Chartoff is an American actress. Among her most prominent roles are her voice role in Rugrats, her comedic work on the ABC series Fridays from 1980–1982, and on the early 1990s Fox sitcom Parker Lewis Can't Lose....
, actress - Eleanor EstesEleanor EstesEleanor Estes was an American children's author.She was born in West Haven, Connecticut as Eleanor Ruth Rosenfield.She worked as a children's librarian in New Haven, Connecticut, and New York....
(1906–1988), author of children's literatureChildren's literatureChildren's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes... - Douglas FordDoug Ford (golfer)Douglas Michael Ford, Sr. born Fortunato is an American professional golfer and two-time major golf champion.Ford was born in West Haven, Connecticut. He turned professional in 1949 and won for the first time in 1952 at the Jacksonville Open.The win in Jacksonville was an unusual one...
(born Fortunato; born 1922) professional golferMen's major golf championshipsThe men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf... - William L. HaddenWilliam L. HaddenWilliam L. Hadden was an American politician who was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1943 to 1945.-Early life:...
, Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut from 1943–45 and Attorney GeneralAttorney GeneralIn most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
from 1945–51 - Kevin HeffernanKevin Heffernan (comedian)Kevin Heffernan is an American actor, writer, producer, and director, and member of the Broken Lizard comedy group.Heffernan was born West Haven, Connecticut...
, actor, writer, producer, director, and comedian - Rob JacksonRob Jackson (American football)Robert Gene Jackson is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Redskins in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He was cut from the team on September 4, 2010...
, NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
football player - Jamey JastaJamey JastaJamey Jasta is an American musician from New Haven, Connecticut, best known as the lead vocalist of the hardcore band Hatebreed and sludge metal band Kingdom of Sorrow...
, metalcoreMetalcoreMetalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
musician - Samuel Johnson (1696–1772), clergyman and the first president of the Anglican King's College (which later became Columbia UniversityColumbia UniversityColumbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
). - Rufus PorterRufus PorterFor the American football player see Rufus Porter .For the American poet see Rufus L. Porter.Rufus M. Porter was an American painter, inventor, and founder of Scientific American magazine....
(1792–1884), painter, inventor, founder of Scientific AmericanScientific AmericanScientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics... - Donald Thomas, professional football player
- Smoky Joe Wood (1889–1985), 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...
pitcher - Tony SparanoTony SparanoAnthony "Tony" Sparano III is an American Football head coach of the Miami Dolphins. At age 17, Sparano had an incident which burnt his eyes, which is why he always wears his signature sunglasses even at night...
, NFLNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
coach - Jonathan D. Spence , professor of history at Yale University and author specializing in modern Chinese history