Willimantic, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Willimantic is a census-designated place
and former city located in the town of Windham
in Windham County, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was estimated at 15,823 at the 2000 census. It is home to Eastern Connecticut State University
, as well as the Windham Textile and History Museum
. The city was incorporated in 1893 as a section of the town of Windham. The city government was dissolved in 1983 with the area reverting back to the town. It is also the birthplace of U.S Senator Christopher Dodd
of Connecticut
.
term for “land of the swift running water”. Prior to 1821, the village was known as Willimantic Falls, home to about twenty families and a single school district. In 1822, Charles Lee erected a factory
on Main Street made of stone quarried from the Willimantic River
. Although small shops and manufacturers had been built on the banks of the Willimantic before, this was the beginning of industrialized Willimantic. In 1825, the three Jillson brothers built a factory along the Willimantic, and in 1827, they built a second building. By 1828, there were six cotton
factories in Willimantic, all built within a seven year span. Willimantic became known as “Thread City" because American Thread Company had a mill on the banks of the Willimantic River
, and was at one time the largest employer in the state as well as one of the largest producers of thread in the world. Its factory was the first in the world to use electric lighting. In 1833, Willimantic was a borough
of Windham; in 1893, it would become a city.
From the end of the Civil War
to the outbreak of World War II
, Willimantic was a center for the production of silk
and cotton thread
. Immigrants from Europe
arrived to work in the mills -- Irish
, Italians
, Polish, Germans and French Canadian
s. Later, Estonian, Ukraine, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Puerto Rican immigrants moved to the town in search of mill jobs.
Railroads added to the growth of Willimantic; the town was one of only a handful of stops between Boston and New York on the high-speed "White Train" of the 1890s. In the early 20th century, between 50 and 100 trains ran through Willimantic daily. More than 800 ornate Victorian homes multiplied in the town's Prospect Hill
section, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town prospered, growing from a population of less than 5,000 in 1860 to more than 12,100 by 1910.
But hard times followed; American Thread moved to North Carolina in 1985 and without it, the town's economy floundered. In 1983, the city and the town consolidated and became one town again. The unemployment rate in Windham, the town that contains Willimantic, stands at 10.2% as of July 2009. This is 2% above the state average, more than 3% above most towns in the immediate area, and eclipsed only by cities in the state like Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven. In 2002, The Hartford Courant
ran a controversial investigative series called "Heroin Town" describing rampant heroin use in Willimantic, disproportionate to the town's small size. The articles roiled local residents, but a task force was appointed by the state to study the issue. In addition, The Hotel Hooker once infested with drugs and prostitutes has been repurposed as a transitional living facility and now called the Seth Chauncy Hotel.
Today, several projects aiming to revitalize the town are under way. The Willimantic Whitewater Partnership plans to reclaim the town's riverfront
by developing a whitewater park and research facility. Some of the town's distressed factory buildings have been turned into residential space for artist
s by Artspace. Efforts to attract high-tech businesses to the area have turned other former factory buildings into space for small technology startups.
, the CDP has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.6 km²). 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.23%) is water. Williamantic is drained by the Willimantic River
.
The village is served by state routes 14, 32, 66, 195
and 289
.
of 2000, there were 15,823 people, 5,604 households, and 3,166 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 3,607.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,391.6/km²). There were 6,026 housing units at an average density of 1,373.7 per square mile (530.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.35% White, 6.25% African American, 0.59% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 16.87% from other races, and 4.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.19% of the population.
There were 5,604 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples
living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 22.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,155, and the median income for a family was $38,427. Males had a median income of $30,697 versus $23,297 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $15,727. About 14.6% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
Willimantic's largest private employer is Willimantic Waste Paper Company, which specializes in the collection and recycling of fiber products, scrap metal, and co-mingled plastic refuse. Brand-Rex Corporation also maintains a major cable manufacturing facility in Willimantic, which manufactures specialty wire and cable for commercial and industrial customers.
In this college town
are located Eastern Connecticut State University
(ECSU) as well as the downtown campus of Quinebaug Valley Community College
.
filmed portions of his debut film, The Other Side of the Tracks
, in Willimantic. More recently, during the summer of 2011, Calvo returned to film the majority of his third feature, House of Dust
, on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University
and various other locations in town.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
and former city located in the town of Windham
Windham, Connecticut
Windham is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. It contains the city of Willimantic and the villages of Windham Center, North Windham, and South Windham. The city of Willimantic was consolidated with the town in 1983...
in Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was estimated at 15,823 at the 2000 census. It is home to Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System...
, as well as the Windham Textile and History Museum
Windham Textile and History Museum
The Windham Textile and History Museum is a museum in Willimantic, Connecticut, in the New England region of the United States. Its main focus is the American Thread Company's now-closed Willimantic mill; it is located in a building previously owned by the company.-External links:*...
. The city was incorporated in 1893 as a section of the town of Windham. The city government was dissolved in 1983 with the area reverting back to the town. It is also the birthplace of U.S Senator Christopher Dodd
Christopher Dodd
Christopher John "Chris" Dodd is an American lawyer, lobbyist, and Democratic Party politician who served as a United States Senator from Connecticut for a thirty-year period ending with the 111th United States Congress....
of 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...
.
History
Willimantic is an AlgonquianAlgonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
term for “land of the swift running water”. Prior to 1821, the village was known as Willimantic Falls, home to about twenty families and a single school district. In 1822, Charles Lee erected a factory
Factory
A factory or manufacturing plant is an industrial building where laborers manufacture goods or supervise machines processing one product into another. Most modern factories have large warehouses or warehouse-like facilities that contain heavy equipment used for assembly line production...
on Main Street made of stone quarried from the Willimantic River
Willimantic River
The Willimantic River is a tributary of the Shetucket River, approximately 25 mi long in northeastern Connecticut in the New England region of the United States....
. Although small shops and manufacturers had been built on the banks of the Willimantic before, this was the beginning of industrialized Willimantic. In 1825, the three Jillson brothers built a factory along the Willimantic, and in 1827, they built a second building. By 1828, there were six cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
factories in Willimantic, all built within a seven year span. Willimantic became known as “Thread City" because American Thread Company had a mill on the banks of the Willimantic River
Willimantic River
The Willimantic River is a tributary of the Shetucket River, approximately 25 mi long in northeastern Connecticut in the New England region of the United States....
, and was at one time the largest employer in the state as well as one of the largest producers of thread in the world. Its factory was the first in the world to use electric lighting. In 1833, Willimantic was a borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of Windham; in 1893, it would become a city.
From the end of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
to the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World 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...
, Willimantic was a center for the production of silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
and cotton thread
Yarn
Yarn is a long continuous length of interlocked fibres, suitable for use in the production of textiles, sewing, crocheting, knitting, weaving, embroidery and ropemaking. Thread is a type of yarn intended for sewing by hand or machine. Modern manufactured sewing threads may be finished with wax or...
. Immigrants from Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
arrived to work in the mills -- Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, Italians
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
, Polish, Germans and French Canadian
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
s. Later, Estonian, Ukraine, Latvian, Lithuanian, and Puerto Rican immigrants moved to the town in search of mill jobs.
Railroads added to the growth of Willimantic; the town was one of only a handful of stops between Boston and New York on the high-speed "White Train" of the 1890s. In the early 20th century, between 50 and 100 trains ran through Willimantic daily. More than 800 ornate Victorian homes multiplied in the town's Prospect Hill
Prospect Hill Historic District (Willimantic, Connecticut)
The Prospect Hill Historic District in the Willimantic section of Windham, Connecticut, is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003....
section, which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The town prospered, growing from a population of less than 5,000 in 1860 to more than 12,100 by 1910.
But hard times followed; American Thread moved to North Carolina in 1985 and without it, the town's economy floundered. In 1983, the city and the town consolidated and became one town again. The unemployment rate in Windham, the town that contains Willimantic, stands at 10.2% as of July 2009. This is 2% above the state average, more than 3% above most towns in the immediate area, and eclipsed only by cities in the state like Hartford, Bridgeport and New Haven. In 2002, The Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant is the largest daily newspaper in the U.S. state of Connecticut, and is a morning newspaper for most of the state north of New Haven and east of Waterbury...
ran a controversial investigative series called "Heroin Town" describing rampant heroin use in Willimantic, disproportionate to the town's small size. The articles roiled local residents, but a task force was appointed by the state to study the issue. In addition, The Hotel Hooker once infested with drugs and prostitutes has been repurposed as a transitional living facility and now called the Seth Chauncy Hotel.
Today, several projects aiming to revitalize the town are under way. The Willimantic Whitewater Partnership plans to reclaim the town's riverfront
Riverfront
A riverfront is a region along a river; often in larger cities that border a river, the riverfront will be lined with marinas, docks, parks, trees, or minor attractions. Today many riverfronts are a staple of modernism and city beautification....
by developing a whitewater park and research facility. Some of the town's distressed factory buildings have been turned into residential space for artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s by Artspace. Efforts to attract high-tech businesses to the area have turned other former factory buildings into space for small technology startups.
Willimantic highlights
- "Willimantic Boom Box Parade" - Willimantic has received national and international attention for its annual Boom Box Parade. Back in 1986, with the local Windham High School marching Band having disbanded, local parade fan Kathleen Clark approached the local radio station WILIWILI (AM)WILI is a radio station in Willimantic, Connecticut, broadcasting at 1 kW. It is affiliated with the ABC Entertainment Network, the Red Sox Radio Network, the UConn Basketball and Football Networks, and the Connecticut Defenders Radio Network...
with the idea of a people’s parade. She offered her collection of vintage marching music records to the radio station with her idea that they play these patriotic marches throughout the duration of the parade. Parade goers were encouraged to bring their Boom Box radios and tune in to 1400 AM. The parade was a hit, and its unique notion of having no live music has drawn the attention of CBS Evening News and the Washington Post, among others. The parade Grand Marshal is WILI radio host and local celebrity Wayne Norman. Parade participation is equally as important as parade attendance, with the vast majority of parade participants being individual citizens or local citizens groups who simply wish to share their creativity and national pride with spectators. Other cities from Madison, WI and Lubbock, TX, to Newfane, NY and Bullhead City, AZ, have had Boom Box Parades, but none have endured or been as large as Willimantic's. - "3rd Thursday Street Fests" - Every third Thursday from May to September, Willimantic Renaissance, Inc hosts on Main Street a festival of musical, theatrical, visual and olfactory delights. Six stages simultaneously host a wide variety of music and entertainment for audiences of all ages. People sample authentic ethnic international cooking and local micro-brewed beer or soda. The streets are filled with around 100 vendors and crafters, street performers and children's activities. 3rd Thursday Street Fest is a community event, completely organized by volunteers and with no paid staff. The event began in 2002 and draws about 8,000 attendees.
- "Willimantic Food Co-op" - Willimantic is home to the only store front food cooperative in the state. The Willimantic Food Co-op was born of a large buyers' club and opened on Main Street in 1980. 10 years later it moved to a larger space a few blocks away at 27 Meadow Street, and most store items were moved via a human chain of Co-op members. After fifteen more years it moved to an even bigger location at 91 Valley Street where it is now. The Co-op hosts the Downtown Country Fair every autumn with a farmer's market, live music, food, crafts and children's activities.
- "Willimantic FootbridgeWillimantic FootbridgeThe Willimantic Footbridge is a footbridge in the Willimantic section of Windham, Connecticut.It was built in 1906 to connect the northern and southern parts of the city.This bridge is a popular site in Willimantic....
" - Willimantic is the home of the Willimantic FootbridgeWillimantic FootbridgeThe Willimantic Footbridge is a footbridge in the Willimantic section of Windham, Connecticut.It was built in 1906 to connect the northern and southern parts of the city.This bridge is a popular site in Willimantic....
(established in 1907), which is the only footbridge in the United States to connect two state highways, as well as crossing all three major forms of transportation (road, rail, and river).
- "Prospect Hill Historic DistrictProspect Hill Historic District (Willimantic, Connecticut)The Prospect Hill Historic District in the Willimantic section of Windham, Connecticut, is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003....
" - One of the largest National Register-listed historic districts in the state in terms of number of buildings, of which it has 993, a remarkable 88% contribute to its overall historic architectural character. - "Victorian Days in Willimantic" - produced by the Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association, are the first weekend in June and feature Home Tours, Victorian Teas, Trolley Tours, Art Shows, Museums, Concerts and special events.
- "Romantic Willimantic" - Willimantic celebrates Valentine's DayValentine's DaySaint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
as “Romantic Willimantic". Al Saba was proclaimed Mr Romantic Willimantic in 1981. Each year since, a local civic leader or citizen is crowned as Willimantic’s “Cupid” for their contributions to the city. The "Romantic Willimantic Chocolate Fest" is held on the weekend of or following Valentine's Day, and features a vaudeville show, Chocolate Chip Stroll on historic Main Street, restaurants featuring chocolate foods (mole, martinis, pancakes, beer,etc.), and a chocolate cake baking contest.
- "Thread City Bread" - Willimantic had its own local currencyLocal currencyIn economics, a local currency, in its common usage, is a currency not backed by a national government , and intended to trade only in a small area. As a tool of fiscal localism, local moneys can raise awareness of the state of the local economy, especially among those who may be unfamiliar or...
called "Thread City Bread". The currencyCurrencyIn economics, currency refers to a generally accepted medium of exchange. These are usually the coins and banknotes of a particular government, which comprise the physical aspects of a nation's money supply...
was valid tender at a number of local businesses.
- In August 2008, "bizjournals.com" ranked Willimantic the 43rd most desirable town in the country based on quality of life, location and other factors.
- Thread City Crossing - “The Frog Bridge” Architecturally designed bridge, officially opened in June 2001. The landmark is adorned with eight foot high bronze frogs atop concrete thread spools, designed by Leo Jensen. The spools on the bridge represent Willimantic’s prominence in cotton thread and silk manufacturing. The Frogs represent the legendary Windham Frog Fight of 1754.
- The Garden on the Bridge - The narrow stone arch bridge was built in 1857 by Lyman Jordan and Nathaniel Olin. In 1857 the new stone arch cost $3,200 to build and was paid for by the Willimantic Linen Co. (Willimantic Thread) and an eight percent tax hike on the town’s richest citizens. In 1907 the Townspeople wanted to widen the bridge, but this idea was rejected in favor of planning for a new bridge. Ninety years later the “Thread City Crossing” Bridge was dedicated, thus resulting in the October 22nd, 2006 dedication of the Windham Garden on the Bridge. http://www.gardenclubofwindham.org/about.html On June 2, 2007, the Windham Garden on the Bridge was dedicated to Virginia Darrow, Founding president of the Garden Club of Windham. The Gardens are maintained by volunteers of the Windham Garden Club and Public Works employees.
- http://www.cteastrrmuseum.org/ The Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum is located off Bridge Street in downtown Willimantic, Connecticut, on the original site of the Columbia Junction Freight Yard. The collection includes locomotives and rolling stock, as well as vintage railroad buildings and a six-stall roundhouse reconstructed on the original foundation.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 4.5 square miles (11.6 km²). 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (2.23%) is water. Williamantic is drained by the Willimantic River
Willimantic River
The Willimantic River is a tributary of the Shetucket River, approximately 25 mi long in northeastern Connecticut in the New England region of the United States....
.
The village is served by state routes 14, 32, 66, 195
Connecticut Route 195
Route 195 is a state highway in northeastern Connecticut, running from the Willimantic section of Windham to the town center of Tolland via the Storrs section of Mansfield...
and 289
Connecticut Route 289
Route 289 is a state highway in eastern Connecticut, running from Lebanon center to Willimantic in the town of Windham.-Route description:Route 289 begins at an intersection with Route 87 north of the town center of Lebanon. It heads north and northeast for about through rural areas to the ...
.
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 15,823 people, 5,604 households, and 3,166 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,607.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,391.6/km²). There were 6,026 housing units at an average density of 1,373.7 per square mile (530.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.35% White, 6.25% African American, 0.59% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 16.87% from other races, and 4.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.19% of the population.
There were 5,604 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% 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, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 22.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,155, and the median income for a family was $38,427. Males had a median income of $30,697 versus $23,297 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $15,727. About 14.6% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
Willimantic's largest private employer is Willimantic Waste Paper Company, which specializes in the collection and recycling of fiber products, scrap metal, and co-mingled plastic refuse. Brand-Rex Corporation also maintains a major cable manufacturing facility in Willimantic, which manufactures specialty wire and cable for commercial and industrial customers.
Radio
- WILIWILI (AM)WILI is a radio station in Willimantic, Connecticut, broadcasting at 1 kW. It is affiliated with the ABC Entertainment Network, the Red Sox Radio Network, the UConn Basketball and Football Networks, and the Connecticut Defenders Radio Network...
AM 1400, talk radio - WILI-FMWILI-FMWILI-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Top 40 format. Licensed to the village of Willimantic, Connecticut, it serves eastern Connecticut. Willimantic is a village within the town of Windham, Connecticut. It is the sister station to WILI/1400. The station is currently owned by...
"I98.3" FM, top 40 - WECSWECSWECS is a College radio station based in Windham, Connecticut, on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University. The station broadcasts on 90.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 430 watts at a height above average terrain of 116 meters.WECS began in the 1970s as a turntable...
FM 90.1, ECSU owned station
Education
Public Schools- Windham High SchoolWindham High SchoolWindham High School is the name of several high schools in the United States:*Windham High School in Windham, Connecticut*Windham High School in Windham, Maine*Windham High School in Windham, Ohio...
- Windham Middle School
- Windham Technical High School
- Arts at the Capitol Theater Performing Arts High School
- Natchaug School
- North Windham School
- Windham Center School
- W.B. Sweeney School
- St. Mary-St Joseph School
In this college town
College town
A college town or university town is a community which is dominated by its university population...
are located Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System...
(ECSU) as well as the downtown campus of Quinebaug Valley Community College
Quinebaug Valley Community College
Quinebaug Valley Community College is a community college in northeastern Connecticut. Recipient of numerous state and national awards, the college is located in the town of Danielson, Connecticut.- History :...
.
Appearances in pop culture
In 2007, writer-director A.D. CalvoA.D. Calvo
Alejandro Daniel Calvo is an Argentine-born producer, writer, and director.-Biography:Calvo was born in Buenos Aires and moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, when he was four. In 1974, his family relocated to the United States...
filmed portions of his debut film, The Other Side of the Tracks
The Other Side of the Tracks
The Other Side of the Tracks is a 2008 independent fantasy film written and directed by A. D. Calvo.-Plot:...
, in Willimantic. More recently, during the summer of 2011, Calvo returned to film the majority of his third feature, House of Dust
House of Dust
House of Dust is an upcoming 2012 supernatural thriller film directed by A.D. Calvo.-Plot:College students exploring an abandoned insane asylum accidentally shatter canisters holding the cremains of former mental patients; inhaling the dusty ash filling the air, they’re soon possessed by the souls...
, on the campus of Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University
Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, coeducational liberal arts university and is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges. Eastern is located in Willimantic, Connecticut on . Founded in 1889, it is the second-oldest campus in the Connecticut State University System...
and various other locations in town.
Notable residents
- ApathyApathy (rapper)Chad Bromley , better known as Apathy is an underground rapper and producer from Willimantic, Connecticut. He attended high school at various schools in Connecticut. He is a re-founding member and unofficial leader of the Demigodz crew...
, rapper - William BoninWilliam BoninWilliam George Bonin was an American serial killer and a twice-paroled sex offender, also known as the Freeway Killer, a nickname he shares with two other serial killers. Between 1979 and 1980, Bonin tortured, raped and killed a minimum of 21 boys and young men, and is suspected of committing a...
, serial killer known as the Freeway Killer - Chris Dodd, senator
- Eileen FarrellEileen FarrellEileen Farrell was an American soprano who had a nearly 60 year long career performing both classical and popular music in concerts, theatres, on radio and television, and on disc. While she was active as an opera singer, her concert engagements far outnumbered her theatrical appearances...
, soprano opera and concert singer - Jennifer GuthrieJennifer GuthrieJennifer Guthrie is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Annie Sloan on TV's Parker Lewis Can't Lose.-Early life:Guthrie was born in Willimantic, Connecticut. She attended Fox Lane High School in Bedford, NY....
, actress - Skip HoltzSkip HoltzLouis Leo "Skip" Holtz, Jr. is the head coach of the University of South Florida football team. For the previous five years, he served as the head coach of the East Carolina University football team...
, football coach - James A. KowalskiJames A. KowalskiThe Very Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski is the 9th and current dean of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York, and is one of the most prominent Episcopal church clergyman in New York City, the largest city in the United States...
, clergyman - Archduke Leopold of Austria, prince of Tuscany
- John T. LisJohn T. LisJohn T. Lis is the Barbara McClintock Professor of Molecular Biology & Genetics at the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Dr. Lis was a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2000 for his research on protein templating in the propagation of gene activity.-Research:Dr...
, professor of molecular biology and genetics - Fred NorrisFred NorrisEric Fred Norris is an American radio personality known for being the longest-tenured staff member of The Howard Stern Show aside from Stern himself...
, radio personality - Isaiah OgginsIsaiah OgginsIsaiah Oggins was an American communist and spy in the Soviet underground who worked in Europe with his wife and in the Far East before being arrested, sentenced, and eventually executed under the orders of Joseph Stalin.-Early life:The third of four children, Oggins was born 1898 in Willimantic,...
, spy
External links
- Town of Windham, Connecticut
- Willimantic Public Library
- Windham Textile & History Museum
- Windham Visitor Center
- Windham/Willimantic Chamber of Commerce
- Windham Region Today
- Garden Club
- Windham Recreation Department
- Willimantic and Eastern Connecticut History & Tourism
- The Willimantic Frog Bridge
- City data for Willimantic
- WindhamARTS Collaborative
- Frogleap: The Willimantic Multicultural Winter Carnival
- Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- Willimantic Rotary
- Willimantic River Alliance
- Willimantic Camp Meeting