West Haven, Connecticut
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| West Haven, Connecticut | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| NECTA | New Haven |
| Region | South Central Region |
| Incorporated (town) | 1921 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1961 |
| Government type | Mayor-council |
| Mayor | John M. Picard |
| Area | |
| - City | 28.5 km² (11.0 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| - City (2005) | 52,923[1] |
| - Density | 1,892/km² (4,900/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 06516 |
| Website: http://www.cityofwesthaven.com/ | |
West Haven is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 52,923.[2]
Contents |
[edit] History
Settled in 1648, West Haven (then known as West Farms) was a part of the original New Haven Colony. In 1719, it became the separate parish of West Haven. In 1779 the British attacked New Haven Harbor and came ashore in West Haven. Thomas Painter, a militiaman watching for the approaching British ships while standing atop Savin Rock, is depicted on the city seal. The main commercial street, Campbell Avenue, is named for British Adjutant William Campbell, who stopped to help a minister who had been shot. He is buried in the Allingtown section. West Haven and North Milford joined to become Orange (incorporated as a town in 1822). In 1921, West Haven split from Orange to become a separate town. It was incorporated as a city in 1961 and is known as "Connecticut's Youngest City."
West Haven is best known for the Savin Rock Amusement Park, which began in the late 19th century, thrived in the 1940s and '50s and was closed in the 1960s. The park ran along the New Haven Harbor beachfront. One of the last reminders of the area is Jimmies of Savin Rock, a restaurant known for its seafood and split hot dogs.
West Haven was a shipping and industrial center, known for its buckle shops and, later Armstrong Rubber Co. The factory now sits empty. Long a blue-collar and middle-class bedroom community of New Haven, West Haven has had financial problems since the 1990s.
West Haven has a mayor-City Council form of government. John Picard, the city's 10th mayor, was elected in 2005. There are three independent fire districts served by the West Haven, West Shore and Allingtown fire departments.
West Haven is home to the University of New Haven, a U.S. Veterans Affairs hospital and Yale Field, a baseball park. The West Haven High School football team was ranked first in the state and fifth in the nation in 1968. West Haven is also home to Notre Dame High School, which is a Roman Catholic all-boys school
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.5 km² (11.0 mi²). 28.1 km² (10.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.54%) is water. West Haven has 3 1/2 miles of publicly accessible beaches, which is one-quarter of the publicly accessible beaches in Connecticut. The hilly Allingtown district of the city is home to the University of New Haven.
West Haven is located in the south central portion of Connecticut's 3rd congressional district.
Both Interstate 95 and Route 34 also known as Derby Avenue, run through West Haven. Route 162 which both begins and ends on US 1 passes through large portions of West Haven. US 1 connecting Orange and Milford with New Haven, CT runs accross the northen end of town.
West Haven is bound by the southwest by Milford, north west by Orange, north and north east by New Haven. To the east is New Haven Harbor, and to the south Long Island Sound.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 52,360 people, 21,090 households, and 13,117 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,865.0/km² (4,832.0/mi²). There were 22,336 housing units at an average density of 795.6/km² (2,061.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.15% white, 16.29% African American, 0.24% Native American, 2.91% Asian American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.57% from other races and 2.79% from two or more races. 9.09% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 21,090 households out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.9% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.8% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $42,393, and the median income for a family was $51,631. Males had a median income of $38,024 versus $30,610 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,121. About 6.6% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
- ^ Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Connecticut (CSV). 2005 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division (June 21, 2006). Retrieved on November 21, 2006.
[edit] External links
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