East Lyme, Connecticut

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East Lyme, Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°21′11″N 72°13′46″W / 41.35306, -72.22944
NECTA Norwich-New London
Region Southeastern Connecticut
Incorporated 1839
Government
 - Type Selectman-town meeting
 - First selectman Paul Formica
Area
 - Total 108.8 km² (42.0 sq mi)
 - Land 88.1 km² (34.0 sq mi)
 - Water 20.6 km² (7.9 sq mi)
Elevation 64 m (210 ft)
Population (2005)
 - Total 18,459
 - Density 210/km² (543/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06333, 06357
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-23400
GNIS feature ID 0213426
Website: http://www.eltownhall.com/

East Lyme is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 18,118 according to 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 42.0 square miles (108.7 km²), of which, 34.0 square miles (88.1 km²) of it is land and 7.9 square miles (20.5 km²) of it (18.89%) is water.

[edit] Geology

The geology of East Lyme, like most of New England, consists of rolling hills and lush valleys formed by glaciers carving through the bedrock. East Lyme is especially scenic in the summer when the trees are in bloom. The town abuts the Niantic bay, fed by the Niantic River, and the Long Island Sound.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 18,118 people, 6,308 households, and 4,535 families residing in the town. The population density was 532.3 people per square mile (205.6/km²). There were 7,459 housing units at an average density of 219.2/sq mi (84.6/km²). 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[2]
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 it's 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 Morton House Hotel located in the village of Niantic has been in constant operation for more than 100 years.
The Morton House Hotel located in the village of Niantic has been in constant operation for more than 100 years.

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. The Niantic Bay Boardwalk is a popular place for tourists and locals to walk. It is one mile (1.6 km) long, spanning the length of Niantic Bay. In the near future the boardwalk may have to be rebuilt due to a major flaw. Also Amtrak is going to do track work which might cause part of the boardwalk to be taken down.

[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. The part of Flanders most referred to is Flanders four-corners, which is the intersection of Chesterfield Road (Route 161) with the Boston Post Road (Route 1) that is the site of many small stores and businesses.

[edit] Schools

The town's public schools are operated by the East Lyme School District.

The school district consists of one high school, East Lyme High School; one middle school, East Lyme Middle School (grades 5-8); and three elementary schools:

  • Flanders Elementary School (grades K-4),
  • Lillie B. Haynes Elementary School (grades preK-4), and
  • Niantic Center School (grades K-4).

The East Lyme High School has been recognized by both Newsweek Magazine[3] as one of the top 1,000 high schools in the country and the U.S. News and World Report[4] as one of the top 500 high schools in America.

The East Lyme High School also hosts the East Lyme Aquatic & Fitness Center. The center contains an eight-lane, 25-yard (23 m) long, competition swimming and diving pool, and a fitness facility with Nautilus equipment, free weights, and a cardiovascular line. The facility is used by high school swimming and diving teams as well as being open to the public , on a fee basis, when not in use by the school.

[edit] History

The Thomas Lee House, built circa 1660, is the oldest home in Connecticut that is maintained in its original state. 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. The school house was relocated to its current location from across CT Route 156. The town features no less than 6 homes from 1699 or earlier. and the Old Stone Church Burial Ground from 1719 located off Society & Riverview Roads.

The area occupied by the town was originally inhabited by the Nehantic Indians who maintained villages in the modern day Indian Woods section as well as on Black Point, McCooks Beach area and near the Niantic River. The tribe allied itself with the colonists in the 1636 war against the Pequot Indians the Nehantic eventually died out in the mid 1800s. The 1750s Ezra Stiles map shows the village in modern day Indian Woods of the Nehantic people as was described as "12 or 13 huts".

East Lyme, then a part of Lyme, had severals taverns which offered stopping places for travelers such as Sarah Kemble Knight. These included Calkins Tavern on modern day Boston Post Road, Royce's Tavern, and Taber Tavern near modern day I-95. No less than 23 Revolutionary War Veterans are buried within the borders of East Lyme and countless more found resting places in upstate New York, New Hampshire and Ohio. Moses Warren, along with General Samuel Holden Parsons originally of Lyme and Moses Cleveland set out to survey the Ohio Territory in the latter part of the 1790s and has Warren County, Ohio named after him.[5]

[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. Another locally famous restaurant, is the "Flanders Fish Market" located in the Flanders village. It not only serves fish, but you can purchase fish as well.Constantines Restaurant, located on Main Street overlooking Niantic Bay,is a three generation family owned establishment that has been serving the locals since 1929. In recent years, East Lyme has become home to gourmet level restaurants, like Frank's Gourmet Grille and Le Belle Aurore, which have received rave reviews in the media, as well as from locals and tourists alike. Illiano's, with more casual but nonetheless well-loved fare, has become an Italian institution in the area, with its thin crust pizza and classic dishes.

[edit] Beaches

Hole-in-the-Wall Beach in Niantic, CT looking west towards McCook's Point.
Hole-in-the-Wall Beach in Niantic, CT looking west towards McCook's Point.
  • Rocky Neck State Park (Public) - A state park comprised of both East Beach and West Beach.
  • McCook Park Beach (Public)- The McCook Park Beach, locally known as "McCooks," is located on the Western side of McCooks Point, and immediately adjacent to the private Crescent Beach. This beach, along with its associated public park was acquired 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 8:00PM until 8:00AM each day.
  • 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.
  • Crescent Beach (Private) - A beach adjacent to McCooks reserved for homeowners in the area.
  • Oak Grove Beach (Private)
  • Black Point Beach (Private) - A private beach for members of the BPBCA (Black Point Beach Club Association).
  • Old Black Point Beach (Private) - A private beach for homeowners in Old Black Point. Contrary to common belief, members of Old Black Point are not allowed in Black Point beach, vice-versa.
  • Attawan Beach (Private) - Beach adjacent to Black Point for homeowners in the Attawan Beach Community.
  • Giants Neck 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. It features a jetty that is popular with local crabbers and amateur photographers - and seagulls who drop clams and mussels on the cement surface to crack them open for eating. Use of this beach is restricted to the approximately 400 homeowners of the Giants Neck Height Association. The surrounding neighborhood is diverse, both culturally and economically, well-maintained, and friendly.

[edit] Notable People

[edit] Notable East Lyme High School Graduates
  • Evan Andriopoulos is a former defenseman Ice Hockey AIK Hockey (Norway) from 1990-91 & 1997-2003. As player/coach won National League Championship (Norges Mesterskap - NM) in 2003 & Swedish Hockey Games Invitational in Linkoping (2003). Retired as player after 2004-05 season.

[edit] Other Notable People

[edit] Places of Worship

  • Christ Lutheran Church; 24 Society Road, Niantic, CT 06357; Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
  • 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
  • Saint John's Episcopal Church; 400 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357; Episcopal

[edit] Cemeteries

[edit] Active
East Lyme Cemetery
East Lyme Cemetery
  • East Lyme Cemetery, Boston Post Road, East Lyme, CT 06333
  • Stone Church, Intersection of Society and Riverview Roads, Niantic, CT 06357
  • Union Cemetery, East Pattagansett Road, Niantic, CT 06357

[edit] Historical
  • Old Stone Church, SW corner of Society Rd and Riverview Road
  • Union, East Pattagansett Road; North of Hope Street
  • Banty or Niantic Hill, Plants Dam Road & and US Route 1
  • Rogers or Mack's Mill, West side Scott Road; 1/2 mile from Whistletown & Upper Pattagansett Road
  • Pest House (yard), East side Upper Pattagansett Roadl; 400' back from road
  • Center or Riverhead, South of I-95, North of US Route 1 where Rt. 1 intersects I-95 near Waterford town line
  • Huntly, West Main Street & Sessa Court Southwest
  • Powers, End of Gada Road & across railroad tracks
  • Flanders Church, South side US Route 1, east of Baptist Church, lane across from Flanders School
  • Taber Stones (3), On grass divider west of intersection of Rt. 1 and I-95 near Waterford town line
  • Leech, Beaverbrook Rd. on old cart path several hundred feet from road
  • Fosdick, North side of I-95 opposite northwest corner of Riverhead cemetery, 150 feet (46 m) from I-95
  • Barthrick or Champion #3, South side Green Valley Lake Road, South of Frog Hollow Road
  • Tinker, East side of Chesterfield Road opposite and northeast of Walnut Hill Rd., top of hill.
  • Old Fox Farm, East side of Upper Walnut Hill Road
  • Holmes, Rear of Hames Hatt Farm, Dirt lane off of Grassy Hill
  • Brockway, Whistletown Road east side, 1/4 mile from Grassy Hill Road 300 feet (91 m) from road
  • Tilleson, 400 feet (120 m) from south side of Grassy Hill Road, Southwest of The Old School House
  • Reeve, Nehantic State Forest going east on Grassy Hill Road from Whistletown Road

[edit] References

  1. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005 (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
  3. ^ Best High Schools 2008. Newsweek. Retrieved on 2008-01-01.
  4. ^ Best High Schools 2008. U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved on 2008-01-01.
  5. ^ The Original Surveys of Cleveland. Association of Engineering Societies. Retrieved on 2008-01-01.

[edit] External links

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