| Litchfield County, Connecticut | |
Location in the state of Connecticut |
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Connecticut's location in the U.S. |
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| Founded | 1751 |
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| Seat | none; since 1960 Connecticut counties no longer have a county government |
| Largest city | Torrington |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
944.57 sq mi (2,446 km²) 919.92 sq mi (2,383 km²) 24.65 sq mi (64 km²), 2.61% |
| Population - (2010) - Density |
189,927 206/sq mi (79.7/km²) |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 5th |
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927. It is part of the New York-Newark-Bridgeport Combined Statistical Area.
As is the case with all eight counties in Connecticut, there is no county government; there is no county seat: in Connecticut, each town is responsible for all local services such as schools, snow removal, sewers, fire department and police departments. However, in some cases in rural areas, adjoining towns may agree to jointly provide services or even establish a joint school system.
Contents |
Litchfield County was created on October 9, 1751, by an act of the Connecticut General Court from land belonging to Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties. The act establishing the county states:
Between 1780 and 1807, several new towns were created at the boundaries between Litchfield County and other counties in Connecticut. The town of Watertown was established in 1780 from Waterbury and was placed under Litchfield County jurisdiction. The establishment of the town of Brookfield from part of New Milford in 1788 resulted in Litchfield County losing territory to Fairfield County. In 1796, the town of Hartland was transferred to Hartford County. In 1798, the town of Oxford was established from part of Southbury causing Litchfield County to lose territory to New Haven County. The establishment of the town of Canton in 1806 from part of New Hartford caused loss of territory to Hartford County. In 1807, the town of Southbury was transferred to New Haven County. The final boundary change occurred on October 8, 1807, when the town of Middlebury was established from part of Woodbury.[2]
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 944.57 square miles (2,446.4 km2), of which 919.92 square miles (2,382.6 km2) (or 97.39%) is land and 24.65 square miles (63.8 km2) (or 2.61%) is water.[3] Litchfield County is roughly contiguous with the portion of the Appalachian Mountains range known as the Berkshire Mountains (sometimes locally, this area is called the Litchfield Hills).
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 38,635 |
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| 1800 | 41,214 | 6.7% | |
| 1810 | 41,375 | 0.4% | |
| 1820 | 41,267 | −0.3% | |
| 1830 | 42,858 | 3.9% | |
| 1840 | 40,448 | −5.6% | |
| 1850 | 45,253 | 11.9% | |
| 1860 | 47,318 | 4.6% | |
| 1870 | 48,727 | 3.0% | |
| 1880 | 52,044 | 6.8% | |
| 1890 | 53,542 | 2.9% | |
| 1900 | 63,672 | 18.9% | |
| 1910 | 70,260 | 10.3% | |
| 1920 | 76,262 | 8.5% | |
| 1930 | 82,556 | 8.3% | |
| 1940 | 87,041 | 5.4% | |
| 1950 | 98,872 | 13.6% | |
| 1960 | 119,856 | 21.2% | |
| 1970 | 144,091 | 20.2% | |
| 1980 | 156,769 | 8.8% | |
| 1990 | 174,092 | 11.1% | |
| 2000 | 182,193 | 4.7% | |
| 2010 | 189,927 | 4.2% | |
| [4][5][6] | |||
As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 182,193 people, 71,551 households, and 49,584 families residing in the county. The population density was 198 people per square mile (76/km²). There were 79,267 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile (33/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.77% White, 1.10% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 2.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.8% were of Italian, 14.8% Irish, 10.6% English, 9.2% German and 6.3% French ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.3% spoke English, 2.1% Spanish, 1.6% Italian and 1.2% French as their first language.
There were 71,551 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $56,273, and the median income for a family was $66,445 (these figures had risen to $67,591 and $81,752 respectively as of a 2007 estimate).[8] Males had a median income of $45,586 versus $31,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,408. About 2.70% of families and 4.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.30% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.
Litchfield County has gone Republican more often than the rest of the state. In 2004 Bush won 51% to Kerry's 46%, making Litchfield the only county in southern New England that Bush carried. Litchfield was one of two Connecticut counties won by George H. W. Bush in 1992.[9] In 2008, no county in Connecticut, including Litchfield, was won by Republican candidate John McCain. The county also went for the Democratic candidate in 1964, 1996, and 2000.
* Boroughs are incorporated portions of one or more towns with separate borough councils, zoning boards, and borough officials. Villages are named localities, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.
All areas of the county are in area code 860 except for the towns of Woodbury, Bethlehem and a small part of Roxbury, which are in the area code 203/area code 475 overlay. The geographical Woodbury Telephone Exchange (of the now defunct Woodbury Telephone Company) serves the two towns as well as the town of Southbury, which is in New Haven County and the small part of Roxbury. Ten digit dialing took effect for both area codes on November 14, 2009 as a result of the 203/475 overlay and the planned but not implemented 860/959 overlay.
| Columbia County, New York | Berkshire County, Massachusetts | Hampden County, Massachusetts | ||
| Dutchess County, New York | Hartford County | |||
| Litchfield County, Connecticut | ||||
| Fairfield County | New Haven County |
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