Plainfield, Connecticut

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Plainfield, Connecticut
Location of Plainfield, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°42′02″N, 71°53′41″W
NECTA Danielson
Region Northeastern Connecticut
Incorporated 1699
Government type Selectman-town meeting
First selectman Kevin M. Cunningham
Area  
 - City 111.4 km²  (43.0 sq mi)
Population  
 - City (2005) 15,443
 - Density 141/km² (365/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06354, 06374
Website: http://www.plainfieldct.org/

Plainfield is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 14,619 at the 2000 census. The town is comprised of four villages: Plainfield (south, ZIP code 06374), Moosup (northeast, 06354), Wauregan (northwest, 06387), and Central Village (west, 06332). Each village has their own respective United States Post Office and fire department. The entire town is serviced by the 860 area code. The town name can be confused with Plainville, Connecticut, in the central part of the state.

Contents

[edit] History

Plainfield was incorporated in 1699. Le Comte de Rochambeau, Jean Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, marched through and camped in the town during the American Revolutionary War on his way from landing at Narragansett Bay to join George Washington's forces on the Hudson River in 1781.

Plainfield proved to be an industrial heavyweight in the 19th and early 20th centuries due largely to the ability of the Moosup and Quinebaug Rivers to provide power to the different mills throughout town. Combined with the mills, Plainfield had incredible commerce for a small town because four railways from Hartford, New York, Boston, and Providence intersected within the town. There was also a highly acclaimed school on Academy Hill, which is how the present Academy Hill Road got its name.

Plainfield's most famous son is the 1950 American League Rookie of the Year, Walt Dropo.

[edit] Geography

Plainfield is located at: 41.67753 N, 71.921968 W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 111.5 km² (43.0 mi²). 109.5 km² (42.3 mi²) of it is land and 2.0 km² (0.8 mi²) of it (1.81%) is water. From the southernmost point, Plainfield is 20 miles inland of the Long Island Sound and Block Island Sound (Atlantic Ocean). Plainfield is the southernmost town of Windham County, which is a considered a coastal county. The Quinebaug River generally forms the western border of the town. The Moosup River feeds the Quinebaug and runs across the northern portion of town.

[edit] Access

Plainfield is bisected by the Connecticut Turnpike (also I-395 and CT 695) and is serviced by three exits: Lathrop Road at exit 87, CT 14A at exit 88, and CT 14 at exit 89. All exits are off the I-395 portion of the Turnpike, which runs north and south. Exit 90 off of I-395 North is in Plainfield, but does not offer access to any Plainfield streets. CT 12 generally runs parallel to the west of the Turnpike, and is less than one-half mile from all three Turnpike exits.

There is no direct air, passenger rail, or navigable water access to Plainfield, although the town is serviced by the Providence and Worcester Railroad (freight only), which also parallels the Connecticut Turnpike corridor. There is no public transport system. The lack of alternative transportation, along with the absence of a sidewalk and/or segregated cycle facilities network makes it impossible to walk or bike safely along most roads. Thus, the town's mobility is excessively dependent on private vehicles.

Highway travel times to major cities via quickest route: Providence, RI: 40 minutes; Hartford: 60 minutes; New Haven: 70 minutes; Boston, MA: 80 minutes; New York (Manhattan), NY: 150 minutes. The closest domestic airport is T. F. Green Airport (PVD) in Warwick, RI, 50 minutes. Logan International Airport (BOS) in Boston is the closest international gateway, 85 minutes. Nearby Amtrak passenger rail stations include New London (NLC) and Providence (PVD); both are roughly 40 minute drives. New London is also served by the Shore Line East commuter railroad, Providence by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Commuter Rail.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 14,619 people, 5,444 households, and 3,908 families residing in the town. The population density was 133.5/km² (345.9/mi²). There were 5,676 housing units at an average density of 51.8/km² (134.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.15% White, 0.78% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.

There were 5,444 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 21.4% 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 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $42,851, and the median income for a family was $47,447. Males had a median income of $36,785 versus $24,026 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,706. About 5.4% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] External links

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