Pawcatuck is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Stonington which is located in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,474 at the 2000 census. It is located across the Pawcatuck River from Downtown Westerly in Rhode Island. It includes the Mechanic Street Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The historic district includes sites of shipbuilding, mills, and worker housing in a 147-acre (0.59 km2) area.[1]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2), of which, 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) of it (0.54%) is water.
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 5,474 people, 2,427 households, and 1,439 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,479.9 people per square mile (571.2/km2). There were 2,598 housing units at an average density of 702.4 per square mile (271.1/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.53% White, 0.75% African American, 0.69% Native American, 2.12% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.69% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.44% of the population.
There were 2,427 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $39,799, and the median income for a family was $53,087. Males had a median income of $40,625 versus $28,203 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,942. About 6.6% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.
Some of the schools are West Vine Street School, West Broad St. School, Pawcatuck Middle School, and the newly renovated Stonington High School. Another is Saint Michael School, a private Catholic school for grades kindergarten through eight.