Fairfield, Connecticut

Fairfield
—  Town  —
Aerial view of Fairfield

Seal
Location in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Coordinates:
Country United States
NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford
Region Greater Bridgeport
Settled 1639
Government
 • Type Representative Town Meeting (RTM)
 • First Selectman Michael C. Tetreau (D)
 • Selectmen Cristin McCarthy-Vahey (D)
James F. Walsh (R)
 • Board of Education Chair John Mitola (D)
 • Board of Finance Chair Thomas Flynn (R)
 • RTM Moderator Jeffrey Steele (R)
Area
 • Total 31.3 sq mi (81.1 km2)
 • Land 30.0 sq mi (77.8 km2)
 • Water 1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2)
Elevation 59 ft (18 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 59,404
 • Density 1,927/sq mi (744/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06824
06825
06828 (General Electric)
06890 (Southport)
(formerly 06430, 06432, 06431, 06490, respectively)
Area code(s) 203
FIPS code 09-26620
GNIS feature ID 0213429
Website http://www.fairfieldct.org/

Fairfield is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is bordered by the towns of Bridgeport, Trumbull, Easton, Redding and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the town had a population of 59,404.[1] In July 2006, Money magazine ranked Fairfield the ninth "best place to live" in the United States, and the best place to live in the Northeast.[2]

Contents

History

Colonial era

In 1635, Puritans and Congregationalists in the Massachusetts Bay Colony dissatisfied with the rate of Anglican reforms sought to establish an ecclesiastical society subject to their own rules and regulations. The Massachusetts General Court granted them permission to settle the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford in the area now known as Connecticut.

On January 14, 1639, a set of legal and administrative regulations called the Fundamental Orders was adopted, and established Connecticut as a self-ruled entity. By 1639 these settlers had started new towns in the surrounding areas. Roger Ludlow, framer of the Fundamental Orders, purchased the land presently Fairfield, and established the name.

According to historian John M. Taylor: "Early in 1639 the General Court granted a commission to Ludlow to begin a plantation at Pequannocke. He was on that errand, with a few others from Windsor, afterwards joined by immigrants from Watertown and Concord. He bought a large tract of land from the Pequannocke sachems, - afterwards greatly enlarged by other purchases to the westward,- and recalling the attractive region beyond (Uncoa), which he had personally seen on the second Pequot expedition, he also “set down” there, having purchased the territory embraced in the present town of Fairfield, to which he gave its name."[3]

Towns created from Fairfield

Fairfield was one of the two principal settlements of the Connecticut Colony in southwestern Connecticut (the other was Stratford). The town line with Stratford was set in May 1661 by John Banks, an early Fairfield settler, Richard Olmstead, and Lt. Joseph Judson, who were appointed as a committee by the Colony of Connecticut.[4] The town line with Norwalk was not set until May 1685.[5]

Over time, it gave rise to several new towns that broke off and incorporated separately. The following is a list of towns created from parts of Fairfield.

Revolutionary War

When the Revolutionary War began in the 1770s, Fairfielders were caught in the crisis as much as, if not more than, the rest of their neighbors in Connecticut. In a predominantly Tory section of the state, the people of Fairfield were early supporters of the cause for independence. Throughout the war, a constant battle was being fought across Long Island Sound as men from British-controlled Long Island raided the coast in whaleboats and privateers. Gold Selleck Silliman, whose home still stands on Jennings Road, was put in charge of the coastal defenses.

In the spring of 1779, he was kidnapped from his home by Tory forces in preparation for a British raid on Fairfield County. His wife watched from their home as, on the morning of July 7, 1779, approximately 2,000 enemy troops landed on Fairfield Beach near Pine Creek Point and proceeded to invade the town. When they left the following evening, the entire town lay in ruins, burned to the ground as punishment for Fairfield's support of the rebel cause. Ten years later, President George Washington noted after traveling through Fairfield that "the destructive evidences of British cruelty are yet visible both in Norwalk and Fairfield; as there are the chimneys of many burnt houses standing in them yet."[6]

Fairfield recovered slowly from the burning, but soon after the end of the war its houses and public buildings had all been rebuilt.

Twentieth century

World War I brought Fairfield out of its agrarian past by triggering an unprecedented economic boom in Bridgeport, the center of a large munitions industry. The prosperity created a housing shortage in the city, and many of the workers looked to Fairfield to build their homes. The trolley and later the automobile made the countryside accessible to these newly rich members of the middle class, who brought with them new habits, new attitudes, and new modes of dress. The prosperity lasted through the twenties.

By the time of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the population had increased to 17,000 from the 6,000 it had been just before the war. Even during the Depression, the town kept growing.

The grounding of a barge with two crewmen on Penfield Reef in Fairfield during a gale led to the first civilian helicopter hoist rescue in history, on November 29, 1945. The helicopter flew from the nearby Sikorsky Aircraft plant in Bridgeport.

Fairfield is the home of the corporate headquarters of General Electric (GE), one of the world's largest companies.

The opening of the Connecticut Turnpike in the 1950s brought another wave of development to Fairfield, and by the 1960s the town's residential, suburban character was firmly established.

Fairfield, Connecticut
Postcard from 1932 showing bathers at Fairfield Beach 
Historical Postcard of the Tide Mill Tavern 
Fairfield's Burr Homestead in a 1938 photo 
Pequot Library in Southport, 1966 
Southport Congregational Church, 1966 
Historical Woodcut from c1840 Showing Old Town Hall and Town Green 
Trinity Church in Southport, 1966 
Penfield Reef Lighthouse is located in the Long Island Sound off the coast of Fairfield Beach 
Bellarmine Hall at Fairfield University 

Government

The town government consists of the three-member Board of Selectmen, a Representative Town Meeting (RTM), a Board of Finance, a Board of Education, a Planning and Zoning Commission (TPZ), and many other politically appointed commissions, boards, and committees. The current First Selectman is Michael Tetreau (D).

The town has no criminal or civil court system and all trials are held and handled by the Bridgeport Superior Court system.

Education

Main article: Education in Fairfield, Connecticut

Fairfield has two public high schools, Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe; three public middle schools, Roger Ludlowe, Tomlinson, and Fairfield Woods Middle School; and eleven public elementary schools.

Fairfield has several Catholic schools, including two high schools, Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame, and two primary schools, St. Thomas Aquinas and Our Lady of the Assumption. A third Catholic primary school, Holy Family, was closed by the Diocese of Bridgeport at the end of 2009-2010 academic year.

Non-religious private schools include Fairfield Country Day School and the Unquowa School.

Fairfield is also home to two post-secondary institutions, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University.

Geography

The town is on the shore of the Long Island Sound. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.3 square miles (81 km2), of which 30.0 square miles (78 km2) is land and 3.4 square kilometres (1.3 sq mi), or 4.15%, is water. The Mill River, the waters of which feed Lake Mohegan, flows through the town.

Fairfield consists of many neighborhoods. The best known are wealthy Southport, where General Electric Chief Executive Officer Jack Welch lived for many years, and Greenfield Hill, with its large areas, famous dogwood trees, and picturesque green with its white-spired Congregational church. Other well established neighborhoods include Stratfield, Tunxis Hill, the University area, Grasmere, Mill Plain, Knapp's Village, Melville Village, Holland Hill, and the Fairfield Beach area, which has recently undergone a renaissance with the construction of many new homes by residents wishing to live in proximity to the beach and downtown.[7] Two shopping districts in town include the Post Road (U.S. 1) and Black Rock Turnpike.

Neighborhoods

Points of interest

Historic sites

Other points of interest

Large and distinctive companies

Media

Places of worship

Arts and entertainment

Recreation

Fairfield residents enjoy a wealth of recreational opportunities, many of which stem from Fairfield's enviable location on the Long Island Sound.

Transportation

Fairfield is traversed by U.S. 1, Interstate 95, and the Merritt Parkway. It has three Metro-North Railroad stations, Fairfield Metro, Fairfield and Southport. The town is served by several public bus lines of the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority.

Demographics

As of the census[12] of 2010, there are 59,404 people in the town, organized into 20,457 households and 14,846 families. The population density is 1,927 people per square mile (744/km²). There are 21,648 housing units at an average density of 703 per square mile (277/km²). The racial makeup of the town is 91.6% White, 3.7% Asian, 1.8% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 5.0% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 20,457 households out of which 38.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.6% are married couples living together, 9.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% are non-families. 22.3% of all households are made up of individuals and 15.1% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.69 and the average family size is 3.19.

In the town the population is spread out with 25.4% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 21.1% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $83,512, and the median income for a family is $100,920 (these figures had risen to $103,352 and $121,749 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[13]). Males have a median income of $69,525 versus $44,837 for females. The per capita income for the city is $43,670. 2.9% of the population and 1.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 2.8% of those under the age of 18 and 3.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Fairfield is notable for, among other things, its very low crime rate. There have been only three murders in the last five years in town. Money Magazine's 2006 Best Places to Live Survey ranks Fairfield as the second safest municipality in the United States. [1]

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 26, 2010[14]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
  Republican 10,650 395 11,045 29.41%
  Democratic 10,309 425 10,734 28.58%
  Unaffiliated 14,890 779 15,669 41.72%
  Minor Parties 112 1 113 0.3%
Total 35,961 1,600 37,561 100%

Popular culture

The following movies were at least partially filmed in Fairfield:[15]

Television filmed in Fairfield

Other

Notable residents

References

  1. ^ "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Fairfield town, Connecticut". U.S. Census Bureau, American FactFinder 2. http://factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved August 8, 2011. 
  2. ^ Money Magazine Best Places to Live, 2006 Retrieved on March 11, 2008
  3. ^ Taylor, John M., Roger Ludlow the Colonial Lawmaker, 1900, Google Book Search, Retrieved May 27, 2008
  4. ^ Colonial Records of Connecticut Vol. 1 p. 367
  5. ^ Colonial Records of Connecticut Vol. 3 p. 175
  6. ^ Washington, George. (1860). The Diary of George Washington, from 1789 to 1791: Embracing the Opening of the First Congress.... A.D.F. Randolph & Co. p. 21. Google Book Search. Retrieved on March 11, 2008
  7. ^ Prevost, Lisa (July 3, 2005)."LIVING IN/The Fairfield, Conn., Beach Area; A Beach Community in an Awkward Transition, The New York Times"
  8. ^ Fairfield Online News
  9. ^ Fairfield Citizen-News
  10. ^ Fairfield Sun
  11. ^ Prevost, Lisa (July 3, 2005)."LIVING IN/The Fairfield, Conn., Beach Area; A Beach Community in an Awkward Transition", The New York Times
  12. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  13. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-context=adp&-qr_name=ACS_2007_3YR_G00_DP3YR3&-ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_G00_&-tree_id=3307&-redoLog=false&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=06000US0900126620&-format=&-_lang=en
  14. ^ {{cite web|title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 26, 2010 | publisher = Connecticut Secretary of State | format = PDF | accessdate = 2011-09-29 | url = http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/registration_and_enrollment_stats/2010_registration_and_enrollment_statistics.pdf
  15. ^ http://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&locations=Fairfield,%20Connecticut,%20USA&&heading=18;with+locations+including;Fairfield,%20Connecticut,%20USA
  16. ^ Benton, William - Biographical Information
  17. ^ Dixon, Ken, "Music Hall of Fame proposed for state ", article in Connecticut Post in Bridgeport, Connecticut, April 26, 2007 ("Leonard Bernstein, a longtime Fairfield resident")
  18. ^ James Blake bio
  19. ^ http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org/hof/member.php?member=1026
  20. ^ RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: RJHARMOR
  21. ^ http://www.byrnerobotics.com/FAQ/listing.asp?ID=1&T1=Who+Is+John+Byrne%3F
  22. ^ http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Susan-Cooper/706255/biography
  23. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7583367
  24. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=28540357
  25. ^ Holloway, Lynette (July 12, 1996). "T. F. Gilroy Daly, 65, U.S. Judge, Is Dead". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/12/nyregion/t-f-gilroy-daly-65-us-judge-is-dead.html. Retrieved May 2, 2010. 
  26. ^ After 50 Years in Acting, Fully Relaxed in His Craft, New York Times Web page, The New York Times, April 8, 2007, accessed May 21, 2008
  27. ^ http://www.rlauterborn.com/pubs/pdfs/envy.pdf
  28. ^ http://web.me.com/greenfieldhillchurch/Site/GHCC_History.html
  29. ^ http://www.mofflymedia.com/Moffly-Publications/Westport-Magazine/August-2007/Rock-Royalty/
  30. ^ Canuel, Greg. "Fairfield Candidates' Q&A: Bob Greenberger". The Daily Fairfield. September 28, 2011
  31. ^ "Robert Greenberger". Crazy 8 Press. accessed October 13, 2011.
  32. ^ http://www.pgatour.com/players/02/33/53/
  33. ^ Radomsky, Rosalie R. (October 11, 1992). "If You're Thinking of Living in: Southport". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/11/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-southport.html?pagewanted=1. Retrieved May 2, 2010. 
  34. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0468957/
  35. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0519043/
  36. ^ John Mayer Bounced from His Alma Mater, people.com, by Stephen M, Silverman, December 27, 2004. Retrieved November 9, 2010
  37. ^ http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=514
  38. ^ http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/m/matt-morgan.html
  39. ^ http://www.fairfieldcountysports.com/hall_of_fame_members/nagy.html
  40. ^ http://encyclopedia.stateuniversity.com/pages/9831/Henry-Fairfield-Osborn.html
  41. ^ "Jason Robards, Actor Who Elevated O´Neill, Dies at 78". The New York Times. December 27, 2000. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/27/arts/27ROBA.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved May 2, 2010. 
  42. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000212/bio
  43. ^ Beautiful Life, Westport/Fairfield Magazine Web page, December, 2008, accessed January 5, 2009
  44. ^ http://www.connecticutsar.org/patriots/silliman_gold_selleck.htm
  45. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0880504/bio
  46. ^ Robert Penn Warren, Poet and Author, Dies, obituary article, no byline noted on New York Times Web page, The New York Times, September 16, 1989, page 1, accessed February 6, 2007
  47. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915762/bio
  48. ^ Radomsky, Rosalie R. (October 11, 1992). "If You're Thinking of Living in: Southport". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/11/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-of-living-in-southport.html?pagewanted=1. Retrieved May 2, 2010. 
  49. ^ http://www.cwhf.org/browse_hall/hall/people/wright.php

External links

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