New Milford, Connecticut
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| New Milford, Connecticut | |
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| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| NECTA | Danbury |
| Region | Housatonic Valley |
| Settled | 1707 |
| Incorporated | 1712 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Mayor-council |
| - Mayor | Patricia A. Murphy |
| Area | |
| - City | 165.0 km² (63.7 sq mi) |
| Population (2005)[1] | |
| - City | 28,667 |
| - Density | 180/km² (465/sq mi) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 06755, 06776 |
| Website: http://www.newmilford.org/ | |
New Milford (Incorporated 1712) is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States 14 miles (23 km) north of Danbury, on the Housatonic River.
New Milford is the home of Canterbury School, a well known Catholic college prep school. The school's Chapel of Our Lady at Canterbury School has the Jose M. Ferrer Memorial Carillon.
Buck's Rock Creative and Performing Arts Camp is an educational summer camp in town for children aged 11-16.
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[edit] History
[edit] Colonial times
In 1707, John Noble, Sr., previously of Westfield, Massachusetts and his eight-year-old daughter, Sarah, were the first white settlers in 1707, but they were soon joined by others who had also bought land there.[2]
On October 17, 1711, 12 families including about 70 people petitioned the General Assembly to create the town, together with the associated privilege of levying a tax to support a minister. With the legislature's approval, the town was organized the next year. Shortly thereafter Daniel Boardman was secured to preach [2] and was ordained as the minister of the Congregational Church on November 21, 1716.
[edit] American Revolution
Roger Sherman's house was near the present Town Hall until he moved to New Haven in 1761.[2] He later became a member of the Continental Congress and signed both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.
During the American Revolution, the 7th Connecticut Regiment (also known as 19th Continental Regiment) was raised in town on September 16, 1776. The regiment, and the New Milford men in it, would see action in the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown and the Battle of Monmouth. In total, the town "sent 285 men to fight in the War out of a total population of 2,776."[2]
[edit] The prominent Boardman family
- David Sherman Boardman (1786-1864), was the youngest child of Deacon Sherman and Sarah (Bostwick) Boardman. He became a lawyer in town and later chief judge in Litchfield County Court. He then served as judge of probate for the district of New Milford in 1805, and held the place by successive annual appointments for sixteen years. He was elected Representative to the General Assembly eight times.
- Elijah Boardman (1760-1823) was a U.S. Senator representing Connecticut. Born in New Milford, he was educated by private tutors, and served in the American Revolutionary War.
- William Whiting Boardman (1794-1871), a U.S. Representative born in town, was the son of Elijah Boardman. He was a Connecticut state senator in the fourth district, 1830-32, a member of the Connecticut State House of Representatives, 1836-39, 1845, and 1849-51, Speaker of the Connecticut State House of Representatives, 1836, 1839, and 1845, United States Representative from Connecticut's second district, 1840-43. He died in New Haven, Connecticut, and is interred at Grove Street Cemetery.
[edit] 19th and 20th centuries
In the second half of the 19th century many new industries came to town. The Water Witch Engine Company, local telephone and electricity companies, and newspapers were all founded. Factories in town made buttons, paint and varnish, hats, furniture, pottery, lime, dairy products and pasteboard, among other goods. Tobacco became the major crop in the area, and tobacco warehouses sprang up.[2] In 1942 Buck's Rock Camp was founded off of Bucks Rock Road, and has remained in operation ever since, bringing a large draw of tourists and economical growth for the town.[citation needed]
The population of New Milford was only 4,804 in 1900, however by 1910 the population had grown to 5,010. As of 2002, the town had a population of approximately 28,000.
[edit] On the National Registry of Historic Sites
| Historical population of New Milford[3] |
|
| 1756 | 1,137 |
| 1774 | 2,776 |
| 1782 | 3,015 |
| 1790 | 3,167 |
| 1800 | 3,221 |
| 1810 | 3,537 |
| 1820 | 3,830 |
| 1830 | 3,979 |
| 1840 | 3,974 |
| 1850 | 4,058 |
| 1860 | 3,535 |
| 1870 | 3,586 |
| 1880 | 3,907 |
| 1890 | 3,917 |
| 1900 | 4,804 |
| 1910 | 5,010 |
| 1920 | 4,781 |
| 1930 | 4,700 |
| 1940 | 5,559 |
| 1950 | 5,799 |
| 1960 | 8,318 |
| 1970 | 14,601 |
| 1980 | 19,420 |
| 1990 | 23,629 |
| 2000 | 27,121 |
- Boardman's Bridge — Boardman Rd. at Housatonic River, NW of New Milford (added June 13, 1976)
- Carl F. Schoverling Tobacco Warehouse — 1 Wellsville Ave. (added May 12, 1982)
- E. A. Wildman & Co. Tobacco Warehouse — 34 Bridge St. (added November 20, 1988)
- Hine-Buckingham Farms — 44,46, 48 Upland Rd., 78,81 Crossman Rd. (added June 7, 2004)
- Housatonic Railroad Station — Railroad St. (added April 1, 1984)
- J. S. Halpine Tobacco Warehouse — West and Mill Sts. (added 1982)
- John Glover Noble House (added September 29, 1977)
- Lover's Leap Bridge — S of New Milford on Pumpkin Hill Rd. (added June 13, 1976)
- Merritt Beach & Son Building — 30 Bridge St. (added May 28, 1992)
- Merryall Union Evangelical Society Chapel — Chapel Hill Rd. (added July 5, 1986)
- New Milford Center Historic District — Bennett and Elm Sts., Center Cemetery, East, S. Main, Mill, and Railroad Sts. (added July 13, 1986)
- United Bank Building — 19-21 Main St. (added May 12, 1982)
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 165.0 km² (63.7 mi²), making it the largest town in Connecticut. 159.5 km² (61.6 mi²) of it is land and 5.5 km² (2.1 mi²) of it (3.31%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 27,121 people, 10,018 households, and 7,273 families residing in the town. The population density was 170.0/km² (440.4/mi²). There were 10,710 housing units at an average density of 67.1/km² (173.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.33% White, 1.41% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 1.91% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.77% of the population.
There were 10,018 households out of which 38.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.0% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.15.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $65,354, and the median income for a family was $75,775. Males had a median income of $50,523 versus $34,089 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,630. About 2.1% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Movies filmed in New Milford
The following movies have been filmed in New Milford[3]:
- The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
- BlackMale (2000)
- The Brass Ring (1983) (TV)
- The Case of the Cosmic Comic (1976)
- Mr. Deeds (2002)
- Psychoanalysis Changed My Life (2003)
- Retribution (2006/II)
- Seepage! (2005)
[edit] Notable New Milford residents, past and present
- Roger Sherman, (1721-1793) signer of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, was born in Newton, Massachusetts but moved to New Milford after his father's death in 1743 and helped his brother set up the first store in town.
- Fortunato Depero (1892-1960) was an Italian futurist painter, writer, sculptor and graphic designer who lived in a cottage in town from the winter of 1947 to late October 1949. His host was William Hillman, an associate of the then-President, Harry S. Truman.
- Léonie Fuller Adams (1899–1988) the poetry consultant to the Library of Congress (now referred to as Poet Laureate) from 1948–1949. She died in town at the age of 88.
- Hap Moran NFL football player and former star of the New York Giants lived in New Milford for the last five years of his life.
- M. Scott Peck (1936-2005) Self-help author, was a psychiatrist with a private practice in town.
- Skitch Henderson (1918-2005) Pianist, composer and conductor; founder of the New York Pops Orchestra. From 1972 until his death, Henderson and his wife, Ruth, owned and operated The Silo, a store, cooking school and art gallery in town.
- Diane von Furstenberg (1945- ) Fashion Designer
- Joan Rivers Fashion Consultant
- Peter Gallagher Actor
- Kenny Coolbeth (1977- ) 2006 AMA Grand National Flat Track champion (U.S.)
- Theodore H. White Noted political author of the 1960s and 1970s
- Jean Simmons British actress
- Lillian Hellman Playwrite
- Frederick March Actor
- Henry Kissinger Diplomat, former Secretary of State
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
- ^ a b c d e [1]Web site of the Historical Society of New Milford; "Learning Zone" section; "New Milford History" subsection, accessed August 2, 2006
- ^ [2] "Internet Movie DataBase" Web site, "New Milford, Connecticut" Web page, accessed August 2, 2006
[edit] External links
- Official website
- New Milford Chamber of Commerce
- New Milford First Congregational Church
- New Milford Historical Society
- New Milford Public Library
- New Milford Public Schools
- New Milford Tricentennial Celebration in 2007
- Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Online reprint of "History of the Towns of New Milford and Bridgewater, Connecticut, 1703-1882" by Samuel Orcutt
See also: New Milford (CDP), Connecticut
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