Pomfret, Connecticut

Pomfret, Connecticut
—  Town  —

Seal
Motto: Picturesque Pomfret
Location within Windham County, Connecticut
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Connecticut
NECTA Danielson
Region Northeastern Connecticut
Incorporated 1713
Government
 • Type Selectman-town meeting
 • First selectman James S. Rivers
Area
 • Total 40.6 sq mi (105.2 km2)
 • Land 40.3 sq mi (104.4 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation 430 ft (131 m)
Population (2005)
 • Total 4,142
 • Density 103/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06259, 06258
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-61030
GNIS feature ID 0213490
Website http://www.pomfretct.com/

Pomfret is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,798 at the 2000 census.

Contents

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.6 square miles (105 km2), of which, 40.3 square miles (104 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) of it (0.64%) is water.

Villages

Pomfret includes several villages, neighborhoods, or sections:

Other geographic features

The principal roads through the town are U.S. Route 44 (running east-west) and Routes 169 (running north-south), and 101 (running east-west).

Mashamoquet State Park and Wolf Den State Park are both located in Pomfret, near the intersection of US 44 and CT 101. Wolf Den State Park is the alleged site of General Israel Putnam's slaying of the last wolf in Connecticut. Rocky paths connect join the small cave which is the actual wolf den with a glacially-positioned boulder called the Indian Chair. Camping and cook-out facilities are available for a nominal fee.

The Airline Trail, a former railroad bed, joins the town of Pomfret with its neighbor to the east, Putnam. The Airline Trail runs seven miles (11 km), much of it through an Audubon Society property named the Bafflin Sanctuary, a 700-acre (2.8 km2) nature preserve.

Pomfret has no formal town center; the town office is located on US Route 44. The Congregational Church stands on the eastern edge of the old town green on Pomfret Hill, across from the Pomfret School, founded in 1894. About a mile north of the Congregational Church is Christ Episcopal Church, which contains several windows designed and constructed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Across from Christ Church on the west side of Route 44 is The Rectory School, founded in 1920. At the divergence point of US 44 and CT 169 is Most Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, and the Vanilla Bean Café, a small restaurant. It was in this very café that the Coca-Cola company first launched its Vanilla Coke beverage in 2002.

Town House Road is the location of the former Town House, a location that was chosen by a committee of Selectmen from neighboring towns when Pomfret citizens could not agree on a location. The building, Pomfret Town House, was built in 1841 and is listed on the National Register. The geography and lack of traditional center can be best understood by remembering after its initial founding, Pomfret was expanded southward significantly, first around Mortlake, later absorbing the town. Pomfret First Church was established in today's Pomfret Hill area; Pomfret Second Church covered what is largely today's Town of Brooklyn; while Pomfret Third Church was established in today's Abington area.

Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,798 people, 1,433 households, and 1,053 families residing in the town. The population density was 94.2 people per square mile (36.4/km²). There were 1,503 housing units at an average density of 37.3 per square mile (14.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.24% White, 0.39% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.74% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 1.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.61% of the population.

There were 1,433 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 20.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,938, and the median income for a family was $64,650. Males had a median income of $43,333 versus $28,901 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,029. About 1.7% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Major firms in Pomfret include Loos & Co.

Education

Pomfret residents are zoned to the Pomfret Community School [1] for grades Kindergarten through 8. Pomfret students are eligible to attend Woodstock Academy [2]; Woodstock Academy became Pomfret's zoned high school in 1987 [3].

Two private schools, the Pomfret School and the The Rectory School, are also located in Pomfret.

Historic sites

A 380-acre (1.5 km2) portion of the town, along Pomfret Street, is listed as a historic district on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The Pomfret Street Historic District comprises properties along Route 169, from Bradley Road to Woodstock Road. The district was added to the National Register in 1998.[2]

Other properties listed on the National Register in the town are:

Notable people, past and present

See also

References

External links