Wolcott, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Wolcott is a town
in New Haven County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 15,215 at the 2000 census.
Wolcott was founded in 1796 and was originally named Farmingbury. It is primarily residential.
, the town has a total area of 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²), of which, 20.4 square miles (52.8 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (3.22%) is water.
of 2000, there were 15,215 people, 5,414 households, and 4,249 families residing in the town. The population density
was 744.7 people per square mile (287.5/km²). There were 5,544 housing units at an average density of 271.4 per square mile (104.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.23% White, 1.24% Black, 0.14% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races
, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.
There were 5,414 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $61,376, and the median income for a family was $67,582. Males had a median income of $45,682 versus $31,964 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,018. About 1.0% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Elementary Schools (Grades Pre-K - 5):
-Alcott Elementary School - Mascot is "All Star"
-Frisbie Elementary School - Mascot is "Bee"
-Wakelee Elementary School - Mascot is "Wildcat"
Middle Schools (Grades 6-8):
-Tyrrell Middle School (TMS) - Mascot is "Tornado"
High Schools (Grades 9-12):
-Wolcott High School (WHS) - Mascot is "Eagle"
All of the elementary schools offer a latchkey program, though the latchkey program is traditionally run at Wakelee Elementary School.
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...
in New Haven County
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...
. The population was 15,215 at the 2000 census.
Wolcott was founded in 1796 and was originally named Farmingbury. It is primarily residential.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 21.1 square miles (54.6 km²), of which, 20.4 square miles (52.8 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (3.22%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 15,215 people, 5,414 households, and 4,249 families residing in the town. 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 744.7 people per square mile (287.5/km²). There were 5,544 housing units at an average density of 271.4 per square mile (104.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.23% White, 1.24% Black, 0.14% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.59% 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 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.
There were 5,414 households out of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.0% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.5% were non-families. 18.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.79 and the average family size was 3.17.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $61,376, and the median income for a family was $67,582. Males had a median income of $45,682 versus $31,964 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $25,018. About 1.0% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Amos Bronson AlcottAmos Bronson AlcottAmos Bronson Alcott was an American teacher, writer, philosopher, and reformer. As an educator, Alcott pioneered new ways of interacting with young students, focusing on a conversational style, and avoided traditional punishment. He hoped to perfect the human spirit and, to that end, advocated a...
, (1799–1888), father of Louisa May AlcottLouisa May AlcottLouisa May Alcott was an American novelist. She is best known for the novel Little Women and its sequels Little Men and Jo's Boys. Little Women was set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House in Concord, Massachusetts, and published in 1868...
, born in Wolcott, teacher, writer, and founder of the utopian community "FruitlandsFruitlands (transcendental center)Fruitlands was a Utopian agrarian commune established in Harvard, Massachusetts by Amos Bronson Alcott and Charles Lane in the 1840s, based on Transcendentalist principles...
" - William Andrus Alcott, (1798–1859), born in Wolcott, teacher and noted author of over 100 books
- Seth ThomasSeth Thomas (clockmaker)Seth Thomas was an American clock maker and a pioneer of mass production at his Seth Thomas Clock Company.-Biography:Thomas was born in Wolcott, Connecticut, in 1785. He started in the clock business in 1807, working for clockmaker Eli Terry...
(1785–1859), famous clock maker born in Wolcott
Wolcott Public Schools
There are five public schools within the Wolcott Public Schools system:Elementary Schools (Grades Pre-K - 5):
-Alcott Elementary School - Mascot is "All Star"
-Frisbie Elementary School - Mascot is "Bee"
-Wakelee Elementary School - Mascot is "Wildcat"
Middle Schools (Grades 6-8):
-Tyrrell Middle School (TMS) - Mascot is "Tornado"
High Schools (Grades 9-12):
-Wolcott High School (WHS) - Mascot is "Eagle"
All of the elementary schools offer a latchkey program, though the latchkey program is traditionally run at Wakelee Elementary School.
Further reading
- History of the town of Wolcott (Connecticut) from 1731 to 1874 by Samuel Orcutt, 1874 (copy) (copy)