East Lyme, Connecticut

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East Lyme, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°21′11″N, 72°13′46″W
NECTA Norwich-New London
Region Southeastern Connecticut
Incorporated 1839
Government type Selectman-town meeting
First selectman Beth A. Hogan
Area  
 - City 108.8 km²  (42.0 sq mi)
 - Land 88.1 km²  (34.0 sq mi)
Population  
 - City (2005) 18,459
 - Density 210/km² (543/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06333, 06357
Website: http://www.eltownhall.com/

East Lyme is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,118 at the 2000 census. The latitude of East Lyme is 41.353N. The longitude is -72.23W.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 108.7 km² (42.0 mi²). 88.1 km² (34.0 mi²) of it is land and 20.5 km² (7.9 mi²) of it (18.89%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 18,118 people, 6,308 households, and 4,535 families residing in the town. The population density was 205.6/km² (532.3/mi²). There were 7,459 housing units at an average density of 84.6/km² (219.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 87.29% White, 6.37% African American, 0.44% Native American, 2.82% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.59% of the population. A large percentage of the minority population is incarcerated at the Janet York and J.B Gates Correctional Institutes, operated by the State of Connecticut, Department of Corrections. These prisoners are considered residents of East Lyme by the U.S. Census.

There were 6,308 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $66,539, and the median income for a family was $74,430. Males had a median income of $53,333 versus $37,162 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,765. About 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[1]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 3,004 659 3,663 26.30%
Republican 2,678 671 3,349 24.05%
Unaffiliated 5,509 1,407 6,916 49.66%
Minor Parties 0 0 0 0.0%
Total 11,191 2,737 13,928 100%

[edit] Villages

The town consists of two villages, the Village of Flanders, and the Village of Niantic. Its common for the town of East Lyme to be erroneously called Niantic, due to this side of town being the "beach" side which is popular with tourists and visitors in the summer months. Niantic's population doubles in the summer months for the beach season, and its a much higher density than the more sparsely populated Flanders side of town, which is known for its apple orchards, the town's high school, and forest.

[edit] Village of Niantic

The Village of Niantic gets its name from the Nehantic Indians whose ranging grounds once extended from Wecapaug Brook, in what is now Rhode Island, to the Connecticut River. Shortly before the first settlers arrived the Pequots had invaded Nehantic territory and annexed about half of the land claimed by the tribe.

Sportsfishing and marinas predominate the village's industry along with summer tourism and restaurant trade. Strong regional businesses include seafood restaurants and hotels/motels servicing the town's beaches and the casinos at Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. Rocky Neck State Park features camping, swimming and picnic areas along with numerous marinas and sportsfishing companies.

[edit] Village of Flanders

The Village of Flanders gets its name from Flanders, Belgium, due to the fact that in what was originally a farming area along the Old Post Road, a cottage textile industry developed similar to that in Flanders, Belgium.

[edit] Schools

The town's public schools have very good reputations, with high numbers of graduating high-school students attending college.

[edit] High School
Main article: East Lyme High School

The high school, known as East Lyme High School (grades 9-12), is located in the downtown Flanders region, and the mascot is Sven the Viking. Students from the town of Salem, Connecticut in grades 9 through 12 attend high school in East Lyme (as they have no high school of their own); this will be the case until at least 2016, when the current co-op agreement between the two towns expires. The High School's many athletic teams have consistently placed among the top in the region, capturing titles in Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Crew, Swimming, Volleyball, Cross Contry, Track, Lacrosse, Tennis, Fencing, Field Hockey, Wrestling, and Marching Band.

[edit] Middle School

The Middle school, known as East Lyme Middle School, or ELMS, (grades 5-8), is located in Niantic, and the mascot is a Viking (changed from the Hawks) to be similar to the High School. The Middle School is housed in a recently constructed building (2002) that employs a "Kiva" design structure. In this design concept, smaller groups of students (approximately 80) are grouped into a colocated classroom setting, where most of the daily instruction takes place. This setting, or Kiva, consists of four classrooms, restroom facilities, media support facilities, a common meeting area, a Techer preparation Area, and student lockers, all clustered together. As such, the students of each Kiva do not intermingle with students from other Kivas to any large extent. This structure allows a large physical plant to resemble a smaller school, while allowing students the learning opportunities (Life Skills, Technology Education, Music Instruction, and Sports) that are available in a larger institution. ELMS accomodated the 5th graders due to the overcrowding of the elementary schools.

[edit] Grade Schools

Grade Schools in East Lyme service grades pre-K to 4. Originally they served pre-K to 5, but there was an overcrowding in the elementary schools, so when the new Middle School was built it was designed to hold the 5th grade.

  • Lillie B. Haynes, in the building that was formerly East Lyme Middle School until the new one was constructed in 2003, serves a mix of Flanders and Niantic, is located also in Niantic. It is located next to East Lyme Middle School, and is located in the building that until Spring 2002 housed the East Lyme Middle School. The original Lille B. Haynes school building was constructed in 1952 and was demolished in the summer of 2002 to make way for the New Middle School parking lot.
  • Niantic Center School (NCS), is located in the heart of Niantic, serves most of Niantic, and the school is represented by a Scallop shell. It is the oldest of the towns school buildings, with a small portion having been constructed in 1899.
  • Flanders School serves most of Flanders, is located an eighth mile off Flander's four corners, and is adjacent to East Lyme High School and the School Board Offices.

[edit] History

The Thomas Lee house is the oldest home in Connecticut that is maintained in its original state, circa 1660. This building is located in the southwestern section of East Lyme, adjacent to Rocky Neck State Park, at the intersection of Connecticut Route 156 and Giants Neck Road. Co-Located on this site is the one room 'Little Boston Schoolhouse" which was relocated from across CT Route 156.

[edit] Library

The first library was started in 1888 and was called the Niantic Library and Reading Room Association. There were 65 founding members. In 1897 the library was formally incorporated as "The Niantic Public Library Association" by the State of Connecticut. The library moved a few times until a permanent structure was built in 1920 on Main St. In 1966 a wing was added, and in 1979 another addition was added. In 1990 the library moved into the new Community Center/Library complex, where it exists today.

[edit] East Lyme Institutions

A locally famous restaurant called "The Shack" is located right off I-95 in the Flanders section of East Lyme. In addition, the Dairy Queen in Niantic is very popular with the locals offering its services to the community since the 1950s.

[edit] Beaches

[edit] Salt Water

  • Rocky Neck State Park
  • McCook Park Beach (Public)- The McCook Park Beach is located on the Western side of McCooks Point, and immediately adjacent to the private Cressent Beach. This beach, along with its associated public park was aquired by the Town of East Lyme in 1952 from the estate of the McCook Family. This beach is open to the public, on a fee basis, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and is open free of charge during all other times. Access to this beach is controlled via locked gate from 8:00 PM until 8:00AM each day.
  • Cresent Beach (Private)
  • Oak Grove Beach (Private)
  • Black Point Beach (Private)
  • Old Black Point Beach (Private)
  • Attawan Beach (Private)
  • Giants Neck Heights Beach (Private) - The Giants Neck Heights Association beach is a small private beach located at the southeastern end of the Rocky Neck Beach. Use of this beach is restricted to the approximately 400 homeowners of the Giants Neck Height Association.
  • Hole-in-the-Wall Beach (Public) - After years of debate, a walkway was built along the shoreline of the town connecting Hole In The Wall Beach to the Niantic River. Known as the Niantic Bay Overlook, it is approximately 1 1/2 miles in length. The Overlook parallels the north shore of Niantic Bay and runs adjacent to the Northeast Corridor AMTRAK line, it consists of both an elevated boardwalk and a level stone dust filled walkway.
  • Railroad Beach (Public) - The beach at the Eastern end of the Niantic Bay Overlook and is locally known as "Railroad Beach" due to its proximity with the Niantic Railroad Drawbridge and the AMTRAK Northeast Corridor mainline. Access to this beach is from the Niantic Bay Overlook via "Hole in the wall Beach" or Cini Park via the walkway under the Railroad Drawbridge.

[edit] Notable People

[edit] Notable East Lyme High School Graduates

[edit] Other Notable People

[edit] Places of Worship

  • Lighthouse Assembly of God; 315 Flanders Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Assemblies of God
  • Flanders Baptist Church; 138 Boston Post Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Baptist
  • Saint Matthias Church; 317 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Roman Catholic
  • Saint Matthias Parish Center; 317 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Roman Catholic
  • Miracle Temple Church; 18 Dean Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Non-denominational
  • Niantic Community Church; 170 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic CT 06357; United Methodist Church & United Church of Christ
  • Saint Agnes Church; 22 Haigh Avenue, Niantic, CT 06357; Roman Catholic
  • Niantic Baptist Church; 443 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357; Baptist

[edit] References

  1. ^ Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005 (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.

[edit] External links

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