Ledyard, Connecticut

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Ledyard, Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°26′23″N 72°00′54″W / 41.43972, -72.015
NECTA Norwich-New London
Region Southeastern Connecticut
Incorporated 1836
Government
 - Type Mayor-council
 - Mayor Fred Allyn
Area
 - Total 103.6 km² (40.0 sq mi)
 - Land 98.8 km² (38.1 sq mi)
 - Water 4.8 km² (1.9 sq mi)
Elevation 90 m (295 ft)
Population (2005)[1]
 - Total 15,172
 - Density 154/km² (398/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06335, 06339
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-42600
GNIS feature ID 0213450
Website: http://www.town.ledyard.ct.us/

Ledyard is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States, located along the Thames River. The population was 14,687 according to the 2000 census. The Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Native American tribe, was located in the northeastern section of Ledyard, until the land was annexed by the tribe. Ledyard's zip code is 06339. Within the southwestern area of Ledyard is the district known as Gales Ferry with postal code 06335.

Contents

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.0 square miles (103.6 km²), of which, 38.1 square miles (98.8 km²) of it is land and 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) of it (4.62%) is water.

Ledyard is situated north of Groton, and borders the east bank of the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile (148.7/km²). There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8/sq mi (55.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was:

There were 5,286 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.

The ages of Ledyard's population were spread out with:

  • 28.3% under 18
  • 6.3% from 18 to 24
  • 31.0% from 25 to 44
  • 25.4% from 45 to 64
  • 9.0% from 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,647, and the median income for a family was $69,214. Males had a median income of $46,582 versus $32,339 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,953. About 2.9% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[3]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
  Republican 2,350 104 2,454 27.07%
  Democratic 1,879 85 1,964 21.66%
  Unaffiliated 4,404 245 4,649 51.27%
  Minor Parties 0 0 0 0.0%
Total 8,633 434 9,067 100%

[edit] Schools

Ledyard has four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.

Elementary Schools:

  • Gales Ferry School (Grades K through 2)
  • Gallup Hill School (Grades K through 6)
  • Juliet W. Long School (Grades 3 through 6)
  • Ledyard Center School (Grades K through 6)

Middle School:

  • Ledyard Middle School (Grades 7 & 8)

High School:

  • Ledyard High School (Grades 9 through 12)

[edit] Sub Base

Historical
population of
Ledyard[1]
1840 1,871
1850 1,558
1860 1,615
1870 1,392
1880 1,373
1890 1,183
1900 1,236
1910 1,079
1920 1,161
1930 1,144
1940 1,426
1950 1,749
1960 5,395
1970 14,837
1980 13,735
1990 14,913
2000 14,687

The Sub Base which is mainly located in the town of Groton in also a part of the town of Ledyard. The Captain of the base's house, the officers' housing, North Lake, and the golf course are located on the Ledyard side. Depending on what side of the base you live on determines the school district you attend.(Groton or Ledyard.)

[edit] Background

The town of Ledyard is named after Colonel William Ledyard, a Revolutionary War soldier who was killed with his own saber after surrendering to the British at the end of the Battle of Groton Heights.

[edit] Trivia

Ledyard is among the areas of the United States that was covered by a continental ice sheet during the last Ice Age. Therefore, Ledyard has its share of interesting glacial geology. The glaciers that covered Ledyard carried the many large boulders that litter the town and most of northern United States. The town has set aside land designated as a 'Glacial Park' which consists of a section of end moraine and outwash deposits (containing kettles). This area encompasses a segment of the 'Ledyard Moraine,'--a clast-supported boulder deposit that is anamolous in nature.

Also, Ledyard was featured on an episode of the MTV show, MADE, in which Katherine, a shy, book-loving teenager, is made into Miss Congeniality in her town's beauty pageant for Miss Ledyard Fair.

Ledyard is also stereotyped as a "cowtown" , the legacy of the remaining few, large, scattered farms which used to pervade throughout the region's early agricultural history, the majority of which have given way to development.

It is also known as home to Foxwoods Resort Casino.

[edit] References

  1. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ 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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