West Hartford, Connecticut
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- "West Hartford" redirects here. For the unincorporated community in Vermont, see West Hartford, Vermont.
| West Hartford, Connecticut | |||
 |
|||
|
|||
| Motto: Where City Style meets Village Charm | |||
 |
|||
| Coordinates: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NECTA | Hartford | ||
| Region | Capitol Region | ||
| Incorporated | 1854 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | Council-manager | ||
| - Town manager | James Francis | ||
| - Town council | Scott Slifka, Mayor Art Spada, Deputy Mayor Shari Cantor Barbara Carpenter Charles Coursey Maureen K. McClay Mark C. Sinatro Carolyn Thornberry Joseph Verrengia |
||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 58.0 km² (22.4 sq mi) | ||
| - Land | 56.9 km² (22.0 sq mi) | ||
| - Water | 1.0 km² (0.4 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 50 m (164 ft) | ||
| Population (2005)[1] | |||
| - Total | 61,173 | ||
| - Density | 1,074/km² (2,781/sq mi) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 06107, 0611x | ||
| Area code(s) | 860 | ||
| FIPS code | 09-82590 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0213529 | ||
| Website: http://www.west-hartford.com/ | |||
West Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford. West Hartford is accessible by major thoroughfares including Interstate 84 which passes through the mid-southern portion of town and U.S. Route 44 which passes through the town from Hartford to Avon Mountain.
As of 2004, the town had an estimated total population of 64,255. The town is a mostly upmarket suburb of Hartford. The town has a vibrant downtown called West Hartford Center. This area is centered around Farmington Avenue and South/North Main Street. West Hartford Center has been the community's hub since the late 1600s.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 57.9 km² (22.4 mi²). 56.9 km² (22.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.70% water.
The west side of West Hartford is flanked by the Metacomet Ridge, a mountainous traprock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border. Notable features of the Metacomet Ridge in West Hartford include Talcott Mountain and a number of highland reservoirs belonging to the Metropolitan District, which maintains watershed and receration resources on the property. The 51 mi (82 km) Metacomet Trail traverses the ridge.
West Hartford is adjacent to and west of Hartford, the State capital, and neighbors Bloomfield, Newington, Farmington, and Avon. West Hartford is approximately 100 miles southwest of Boston, Massachusetts and 100 miles northeast of New York City.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical population of West Hartford[2] |
|
| 1850 | 4,411 |
| 1860 | 1,296 |
| 1870 | 1,533 |
| 1880 | 1,828 |
| 1890 | 1,930 |
| 1900 | 3,186 |
| 1910 | 4,808 |
| 1920 | 8,854 |
| 1930 | 24,941 |
| 1940 | 33,776 |
| 1950 | 32,402 |
| 1960 | 32,382 |
| 1970 | 38,031 |
| 1980 | 41,301 |
| 1990 | 50,110 |
| 2000 | 61,046[3] |
| 2004 | 64,225 |
| 2009 | 64,939[4] |
As of the census[5] of 2004, there are 64,225 people and 25,171 households residing in the town. The population density is 1,117.0/km² (2,892.6/mi²). There are 25,332 housing units at an average density of 445.0/km² (1,152.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 85.96% White, 4.78% African American, 0.12% Native American, 4.80% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.61% from other races, and 1.66% from two or more races. 6.27% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The household demographics can be further characterized as follows: 29.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% are married couples living together, 9.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% are non-families. 29.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 14.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.00.
In the town the population is spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 80.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $66,843. The per capita income for the town is $33,468. 4.5% of the population and 2.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 4.4% of those under the age of 18 and 5.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
In comparison to other neighboring towns, West Hartford boasts a rather diverse population. The town contains the state's largest Jewish population, as evidenced by the numerous synogauges and Kosher markets throughout the town. In more recent years, Blacks and Latinos have become a growing (albeit smaller) presence as well.[citation needed] Greater Hartford's biggest Asian population resides here.[citation needed]
[edit] Educational Institutions
In 2006 Money Magazine ranked West Hartford as the 10th most educated town in the United States, as measured by the percentage of town residents holding graduate or professional degrees.[6] Connecticut Magazine 2006 rankings put West Hartford Public School education in the top three be among all the cities and towns in Connecticut and for its population class of greater than 50,000 people behind only Greenwich and Fairfield.[7]
[edit] Public Schools
The town is home to two public high schools, Conard High School and Hall High School, as well as 11 elementary schools and 3 middle schools in the West Hartford Public Schools. The elementary schools are Aiken, Braeburn, Bugbee, Charter Oak, Duffy, Morley, Norfeldt, Smith, Webster Hill, Whiting Lane and Wolcott. The three middle schools are King Philip, Sedgwick, and the newest Bristow Middle School, located where Kingswood-Oxford Middle school was formerly located. The eleven elementary schools are evenly distributed to either King Philip or Sedgwick, and those that enroll at Bristow are chosen by lottery. After middle school students continue onto high school with their same student body. Those at Sedgwick go on to Conard High School, while those at King Philip go to Hall High School, and students at Bristow return to the same school district they were in during elementary school.
The town also hosts many private and parochial schools including most notably the American School for the Deaf, Kingswood-Oxford School, Renbrook School, the Hebrew High School of New England, the Solomon Schechter Day School, and the German School of Connecticut. Rcently added was Bristow Middle school located on Highland St.
[edit] Private Catholic Schools
- Saint Thomas the Apostle Elementary School
- Saint Timothy Middle School
- Northwest Catholic High School
- Saint Brigid Elementary School
[edit] Colleges and Universities
Institutions of higher learning located in town include the following colleges and universities:
[edit] Notable people
In alphabetical order:
- E. Alexander Bergstrom, conservationist
- Manute Bol, NBA player
- Chris Carrabba, singer/songwriter from Dashboard Confessional
- Joyce Cohen, actress
- Larry Collins, actor[8]
- John Droney, politician and lawyer
- Dominick Dunne (b. 1925) and John Gregory Dunne, (1932-2003), famous writers, were born in Hartford and grew up in West Hartford.
- John Franklin Enders, Nobel Laureate 1954 for Medicine
- Mike Golic, Former Pro Football Player and current television/radio personality for ESPN
- Jared Jordan, Drafted 45th by Los Angeles Clippers in the 2007 NBA Draft.
- Vincent Liff, director[9]
- Edward Lorenz, American mathematician and meteorologist, early pioneer of chaos theory, inventor of the strange attractor notion, and coiner of the term butterfly effect
- Joseph Mascolo, American actor and soap opera veteran
- Edward Morley, namesake of Morley Elementary School, scientist best-known for the Michelson–Morley experiment
- Rita Morley, actress[10]
- William Thompson Sedgwick, professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a key figure in shaping public health in the United States
- John O'Hurley, actor who played Elaine's boss on Seinfeld
- Peter Paige, actor
- Jimmy Shea, gold medalist in the 2002 Winter Olympics
- Cornelius J. Vanderbilt (1830–1882) disowned son of The Commodore, Cornelius Vanderbilt, died shortly after completing his estate (demolished) at West Hill (now part of the town).
- Noah Webster, American lexicographer, textbook author, Bible translator, spelling reformer, writer, and editor
- Korczak Ziolkowski, sculptor of Crazy Horse Memorial in South Dakota
[edit] Conard graduates
- Jim Shea, class of 1987, 2002 Olympic gold medal winner
- James Naughton, actor, winner of the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (1990, 1997)
- David Naughton, class of 1969, actor (An American Werewolf in London)
- Peter Dante, actor
- Jack Sonni, guitarist for Dire Straits (1985–1988)
- Matt Sinatro, class of 1978, Major League Baseball player and coach
[edit] Hall graduates
- Roger Sperry, neuropsychologist and Nobel Prize laureate
- Wavy Gravy, peace activist and "official clown" of the Grateful Dead
- Charlie Kaufman, Academy Award-winning screenwriter (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation, Being John Malkovich)
- David Alan Basche, actor (United 93, War of the Worlds)
- Brian Rosenworcel, musician and member of the band Guster
- Michael Schur, writer and producer (The Office, Saturday Night Live)
- Brad Mehldau, jazz pianist
[edit] Retail
West Hartford is one of the main retail centers of the Greater Hartford region. The community is home to shopping, dining and business districts;
- Bishops Corner, located in the northern part of town, is accessed by U.S. Route 44. The retail area is anchored by multiple grocery and natural-food stores, high-end chain restaurants, medical services, and general stores. West Hartford Citizens often refer to this spot as "The Corner". Most West Hartford Citizens prefer Bishops Corner over "The Center" because it is quick, and more cost effective. Bishops Corner offers a Staples, Liquor Shops, Dunkin' Donuts, Super Cuts, McDonals, Subway, Quiznos, Bertucci's, Whole Foods Market, Starbucks, Marshall's, Walgreens, iParty, Blockbuster, Hartford Hospital (branch), and two security guards roam the area in Ford Focuses to keep shoppers safe.
- West Hartford Center, which features over 140 shops, restaurants and businesses, all with storefronts built to resemble a New England Village. The variety of shops and restaurants is world class, including upscale local and regional restaurants, fine art galleries, local book shops, a doggy bakery, high-end jewelry stores, distinctive gift shops, home furnishings, and unique clothing stores with the latest fashions.
- Westfarms Mall, located on the border of West Hartford and Farmington is an upscale mall with 160 specialty shops, clothing stores and restaurants. The mall includes the first Nordstrom location in Connecticut.
- Blue Back Square is a 20-acre property that recently opened just east of West Hartford Center. Currently, the development includes Criterion Cinemas, Au Bon Pain, Lucy, Munsons Chocolates, The Cheesecake Factory, Moe's Southwest Grill, New York Sports Clubs (NYSC), Hartford Hospital Medical Group, Barnes and Noble, Crate and Barrel, Chow, various professional offices, and condominiums.
- Elmwood Center is neighborhood shopping area which runs along the southern section of town. A variety of businesses are interspersed throughout the area including local and ethnic restaurants, florists, cleaners, pharmacies and a health club.
- Park Road is a diverse shopping area with ethnic markets, local restaurants, a plethora of hair salons, clothing and tailoring, jewelry stores, garden centers, and general service stores. Local and area merchants host a parade every autumn known as the Park Road Parade, Peter Cianfaglione Jr., has made filmographies of the event from the Bazilians (former store) point of view while marching. The parade route runs down Park Road from the Hartford border through the shopping district.
- Corbin's Corner is located across from Westfarms Mall with many national and regional retail shops and restaurants.
[edit] Points of interest
- American School for the Deaf
- Elizabeth Park
- Noah Webster House
- Veterans Memorial Ice Skating Rink
- First Church of Christ, Congregational
- Congregation Beth Israel
- The Children's Museum
- Travelers Science Dome at the Gengras Planetarium
- Wolcott Children's Forest
- Rockledge Golf Course
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
- ^ [1][2][3]
- ^ Previously 63,589 before border dispute with Hartford
- ^ Estimate by Town Hall
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Best Places to Live– Most educated", CNN Money, Cable News Network, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
- ^ "Rating the Towns 2006: Population Over 50,000", Connecticut Magazine, 2006-12-04. Retrieved on 2007-06-11.
- ^ Larry Collins at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Vincent Liff at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Rita Morley at the Internet Movie Database
[edit] External links
- West Hartford, Connecticut is at coordinates Coordinates:
|
|
|||||||||||||
