Winsted, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Winsted is a census-designated place
and an incorporated city in Litchfield County
, Connecticut
, United States
. It is part of the town of Winchester
, Connecticut
. The population was 7,321 at the 2000 census.
Settled in 1750, the city of Winsted was formed at the junction of the Mad River and Still River, and was one of the first mill town
s in Connecticut
. Manufactured products started with scythe
s at the Winsted Manufacturing Company in 1792. The city is within the town of Winchester
, and its name derives from the fact that it is the business center for the towns of Winchester and Barkhamsted.
Winsted, along with New Haven
, Connecticut
, was a center for the production of mechanical clocks in the 1900s. The Gilbert Clock Company, located along the Still River north of town, was founded in 1871 by William L. Gilbert (1806‑1890) and became one of the largest clock companies in the world at the turn of the century.
The Gilbert School is a private secondary school that serves as the public high school for the towns of Winchester and Hartland.
In 1955, Hurricane Connie
and Hurricane Diane
passed over Connecticut within one week, flooding
the Mad River and Still River through downtown. The Mad River, which parallels Main Street, caused flooding up to 10 feet deep through the center of town. This damaged the buildings between Main Street and the river such that all buildings on that side of Main Street through the center of town were subsequently removed and Main Street widened to 4 lanes. The buildings on the north side of Main Street for the most part survived and were repaired. Further downstream, the Still River flowed between the buildings of the Gilbert Clock Company. The flooding caused extensive damage to their buildings, and this was the final blow to a company which was already in poor financial condition.
The Northwestern Connecticut Community College
was founded in 1965 by Winsted residents, including Ralph Nader
's older brother, Shafeek. It occupies the original Gilbert School building. NCCC was one of the first four community colleges in Connecticut, and is accredited by both the Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. The Northwestern Community College Foundation was incorporated in 1981 to support the mission of Northwestern Connecticut Community College to provide higher education to students pursuing post-secondary study. NCCF generates private funds for the purpose of benefiting the students attending NCCC and the community of Winsted.
er Ted Thoben has declared that the area of the town is one of two UFO windows in America, the other being the Michigan Rectangle.
, the CDP has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (3.31%) is water. Winsted is at the confluence of the Still River
and Mad River.
The city is crossed by U.S. Route 44
, Connecticut Route 8, Connecticut Route 183
and Connecticut Route 263
.
of 2000, there were 7,321 people, 3,072 households, and 1,889 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,563.6 people per square mile (604.0/km2). There were 3,370 housing units at an average density of 719.7 per square mile (278.0/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.28% White, 1.53% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races
, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% of the population.
There are 3,072 households of which 27.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples
living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,202, and the median income for a family was $51,044. Males had a median income of $37,837 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $19,804. 7.3% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 9.2% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
, outside of Hartford. Amtrak
stations within a 30-mile radius include Windsor, CT WND, Hartford HFD, Berlin, CT BER, and Springfield, MA SPG. Greyhound Lines
also has a bus station.
The Northwest Connecticut Transit District operates a weekday bus service and dial-a-ride service.
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 an incorporated city in Litchfield County
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
, 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...
. It is part of the town of Winchester
Winchester, Connecticut
Winchester is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,664 at the 2000 census. The Incorporated City of Winsted is located in Winchester.-Geography:...
, 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...
. The population was 7,321 at the 2000 census.
History
Mill town
A mill town, also known as factory town or mill village, is typically a settlement that developed around one or more mills or factories .- United Kingdom:...
s 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...
. Manufactured products started with scythe
Scythe
A scythe is an agricultural hand tool for mowing grass, or reaping crops. It was largely replaced by horse-drawn and then tractor machinery, but is still used in some areas of Europe and Asia. The Grim Reaper is often depicted carrying or wielding a scythe...
s at the Winsted Manufacturing Company in 1792. The city is within the town of Winchester
Winchester, Connecticut
Winchester is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,664 at the 2000 census. The Incorporated City of Winsted is located in Winchester.-Geography:...
, and its name derives from the fact that it is the business center for the towns of Winchester and Barkhamsted.
Winsted, along with 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...
, 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...
, was a center for the production of mechanical clocks in the 1900s. The Gilbert Clock Company, located along the Still River north of town, was founded in 1871 by William L. Gilbert (1806‑1890) and became one of the largest clock companies in the world at the turn of the century.
The Gilbert School is a private secondary school that serves as the public high school for the towns of Winchester and Hartland.
In 1955, Hurricane Connie
Hurricane Connie
Hurricane Connie was the first in a series of hurricanes to strike North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season. Connie struck as a Category 1, causing major flooding and inflicting extensive damage to the Outer Banks and inland to Raleigh....
and Hurricane Diane
Hurricane Diane
Hurricane Diane was one of three hurricanes to hit North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season, striking an area that had been hit by Hurricane Connie five days earlier...
passed over Connecticut within one week, flooding
Flood of 1955 (Connecticut)
The Flood of 1955 in Connecticut is one of the worst floods in Connecticut's history. Two back-to-back hurricanes saturated the land and several river valleys in the state, causing severe flooding in August 1955. The hardest hit were the Mad and Still Rivers in Winsted, the Naugatuck River, the...
the Mad River and Still River through downtown. The Mad River, which parallels Main Street, caused flooding up to 10 feet deep through the center of town. This damaged the buildings between Main Street and the river such that all buildings on that side of Main Street through the center of town were subsequently removed and Main Street widened to 4 lanes. The buildings on the north side of Main Street for the most part survived and were repaired. Further downstream, the Still River flowed between the buildings of the Gilbert Clock Company. The flooding caused extensive damage to their buildings, and this was the final blow to a company which was already in poor financial condition.
The Northwestern Connecticut Community College
Northwestern Connecticut Community College
Northwestern Connecticut Community College is a publiccommunity college in Winsted, Connecticut. As measured by enrollment itis the smallest or second-smallest of the twelve colleges in theConnecticut Community Collegessystem....
was founded in 1965 by Winsted residents, including Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
's older brother, Shafeek. It occupies the original Gilbert School building. NCCC was one of the first four community colleges in Connecticut, and is accredited by both the Connecticut Board of Governors for Higher Education and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. The Northwestern Community College Foundation was incorporated in 1981 to support the mission of Northwestern Connecticut Community College to provide higher education to students pursuing post-secondary study. NCCF generates private funds for the purpose of benefiting the students attending NCCC and the community of Winsted.
Winsted UFO flap
Beginning in February 1967, a series of separate UFOs were reported, lasting until 1977. UFO researchUfology
Ufology is a neologism coined to describe the collective efforts of those who study reports and associated evidence of unidentified flying objects . UFOs have been subject to various investigations over the years by governments, independent groups, and scientists...
er Ted Thoben has declared that the area of the town is one of two UFO windows in America, the other being the Michigan Rectangle.
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 4.8 square miles (12.4 km²), of which, 4.7 square miles (12.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²) of it (3.31%) is water. Winsted is at the confluence of the Still River
Still River (Connecticut)
The Still River is a tributary to the Housatonic River in western Connecticut. Its headwaters emanate from Farringtons Pond at the New York border with Danbury, Connecticut. It meanders through Sanfords Pond and Lake Kenosia before entering a concrete aqueduct near downtown Danbury...
and Mad River.
The city is crossed by U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44 in Connecticut
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west U.S. Highway running from Salisbury to Putnam.-Route description:From the New York state line at Salisbury to the Rhode Island state line at Putnam, US 44 runs for a total of in Connecticut. Most of US 44 is known in the state as the Jonathan Trumbull Highway...
, Connecticut Route 8, Connecticut Route 183
Connecticut Route 183
Route 183 is a state highway in northwestern Connecticut, running from Torrington to the Massachusetts state line in Norfolk.-Route description:...
and Connecticut Route 263
Connecticut Route 263
Route 263 is a state highway in northwestern Connecticut running from Goshen to the city of Winsted in the town of Winchester.-Route description:...
.
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 7,321 people, 3,072 households, and 1,889 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 1,563.6 people per square mile (604.0/km2). There were 3,370 housing units at an average density of 719.7 per square mile (278.0/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.28% White, 1.53% African American, 0.23% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 2.20% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.02% of the population.
There are 3,072 households of which 27.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% 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, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.5% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,202, and the median income for a family was $51,044. Males had a median income of $37,837 versus $25,990 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $19,804. 7.3% of the population and 4.3% of families were below the poverty line. Of the total population, 9.2% of those under the age of 18 and 7.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Public transportation
The closest major airport is 'BDL', Bradley International AirportBradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
, outside of Hartford. 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...
stations within a 30-mile radius include Windsor, CT WND, Hartford HFD, Berlin, CT BER, and Springfield, MA SPG. Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
also has a bus station.
The Northwest Connecticut Transit District operates a weekday bus service and dial-a-ride service.
Notable residents
- Crane BrintonCrane BrintonClarence Crane Brinton was an American historian of France, as well as an historian of ideas...
, historian - James P. GlynnJames P. GlynnJames Peter Glynn was a U.S. Representative from Connecticut.Born in Winsted, Connecticut, Glynn attended the public schools.He studied law.He was admitted to the bar in 1895 and commenced practice in Winsted, Connecticut....
, congressman - David HalberstamDavid HalberstamDavid Halberstam was an American Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and historian, known for his early work on the Vietnam War, his work on politics, history, the Civil Rights Movement, business, media, American culture, and his later sports journalism.-Early life and education:Halberstam...
, journalist and author - Arphaxed LoomisArphaxed LoomisArphaxed Loomis was a U.S. Representative from New York.Born in Winsted, Connecticut, Loomis moved to New York in 1801 with his parents, who settled upon a farm in the town of Salisbury, Herkimer County. He attended the common schools and Fairfield Academy, Fairfield, New York...
, congressman - Ralph NaderRalph NaderRalph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
, author and activist - Rose NaderRose NaderRose Nader was the mother of U.S. activist, consumer advocate, and frequent third-party candidate, Ralph Nader and community advocate Shafeek Nader. She was a well-known activist in her hometown of Winsted, Connecticut.Rose Bouziane was born in Zahlé, Lebanon, to a sheep broker and a teacher...
, activist - Henry R. PeaseHenry R. PeaseHenry Roberts Pease was a United States Senator from Mississippi.-Biography:Born in Winsted, Connecticut, he received a normal-school training, engaged in teaching from 1848 to 1859, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice in Washington, D.C...
, senator - Charles H. SmithCharles H. Smith (historian of science)Charles H. Smith is a professor and science librarian at Western Kentucky University . He was born at Winsted, Connecticut USA...
, historian of science - James WakefieldJames WakefieldJames Beach Wakefield was a United States Representative from Minnesota; born in Winsted, Connecticut; attended the public schools at Westfield, Massachusetts, and Jonesville, New York; was graduated from Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut in 1846; studied law in Painesville, Lake County,...
, congressman