Wethersfield, Connecticut

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Another Wethersfield is in Wyoming County, New York.
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield, Connecticut (Connecticut)
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Location within the state of Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°42′04″N 72°40′10″W / 41.70111, -72.66944
NECTA Hartford
Region Capitol Region
Named 1637
Incorporated 1822
Government
 - Type Council-manager
 - Town manager Bonnie L. Therrien
 - Town council Andrew S. Adil, Mayor
Paul F. Montinieri, Deputy Mayor
John F. Cascio
John Console
Matthew J. Forrest
Donna Hemmann
Jeffrey R. Kotkin
Gerri Roberts
Martin H. Walsh
Area
 - Total 33.9 km² (13.1 sq mi)
 - Land 32.1 km² (12.4 sq mi)
 - Water 1.9 km² (0.7 sq mi)
Elevation 41 m (135 ft)
Population (2005)[1]
 - Total 26,220
 - Density 816/km² (2,115/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06109
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-84900
GNIS feature ID 0213533
Website: http://www.wethersfieldct.com/

Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Many records from colonial times spell the name Weathersfield, while Native Americans called it Pyquag[2]. The population was 26,271 at the 2000 census.

Contents

[edit] History

Founded in 1633–34 by a group of Puritans led by John Oldham, Wethersfield has its niche in history, being "Ye Most Auncient Towne" in Connecticut, as set out by the Code of 1650 — "Colonial Records of Connecticut."

Four witch trials and three executions for witchcraft occurred in the town in the 17th century. Mary Johnson was convicted of witchcraft and executed in 1648, Joan and John Carrington in 1651.[2] Landowner Katherine Harrison was convicted, and although her conviction was reversed, she was banished and her property seized by her neighbors.[3][4]

Silas Deane, commissioner to France during the American Revolutionary War, lived in the town. His house is now part of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum. In May 1781, at the Webb House on Main Street, General George Washington and French Lt. Gen. Rochambeau[5] planned the battle of Yorktown, which culminated in the independence of the then rebellious colonies.

The Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department was chartered by the Connecticut Legislature on May 12, 1803, making it the first formally chartered fire department in Connecticut, and is the oldest chartered volunteer fire department in continuous existence in the United States [6].

[edit] Popular culture

Wethersfield was the setting for Elizabeth George Speare's novel The Witch of Blackbird Pond, also the setting of the one-act play The Valiant by Holworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass.

[edit] Geography

Wethersfield is located at 41° 42' 43" North, 72° 39' 48" West (41.7122° -72.6636°).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.1 square miles (34.0 km²), of which, 12.4 square miles (32.1 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (5.49%) is water.

Wethersfield is bordered by Hartford on the north, Rocky Hill on the south and Newington on the west, and across the Connecticut River by East Hartford on the Northeast, and Glastonbury on the east.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 26,268 people, 11,214 households, and 7,412 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,119.9 people per square mile (818.7/km²). There were 11,454 housing units at an average density of 924.3/sq mi (356.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.19% White, 2.09% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.19% of the population.

There were 11,214 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,289, and the median income for a family was $68,154. Males had a median income of $43,998 versus $37,443 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,930. About 2.4% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Transportation

Greater Hartford's only major method of public transportation is Connecticut Transit (CTTransit), a Connecticut Department of Transportation-owned bus service operating routes throughout the New Haven, Stamford and Hartford metro areas, including Wethersfield.

[edit] Education

The Wethersfield public school system encompasses five elementary schools (Highcrest School, Charles Wright School, Emerson-Williams School, A.W. Hanmer School and Webb Elementary School), one middle school (Silas Deane Middle School) and one high school (Wethersfield High School).

Wethersfield is also the home of Corpus Christi School, a Catholic K-8 school of 440 students.

[edit] Places

[edit] Streets and paths

Major streets include

Heritage Way, a "linear park" developed in the 1990s, is a multi-use path that connects Wethersfield's open areas and recreation facilities [8].

[edit] Points of interest

  • Wethersfield Cove
  • Keeney Memorial Culture Center
  • Broad Street Green
  • Great Meadows
  • Ancient Burying Ground

[edit] Landmarks and historic districts

Four buildings in Wethersfield are designated as historic landmarks by the National Register of Historic Places:

In 1970, Old Wethersfield, the district bounded by Hartford, the railroad tracks, I-91 and Rocky Hill, was added as a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.

[edit] Notable people

[edit] References

  1. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
  2. ^ List of New England witchcraft cases
  3. ^ Another list of New England witchcraft cases
  4. ^ Brief summary of Katherine Harrison case
  5. ^ [1]
  6. ^ Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Dept
  7. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  8. ^ Introduction to Heritage Way

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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