Milford, Connecticut

Milford, Connecticut
City

Aerial view of Milford's downtown and harbor

Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): A Small City with a Big Heart

Location in New Haven County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°13′27″N 73°03′35″W / 41.22417°N 73.05972°W
Country United States
State Connecticut
County New Haven County
NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford Region
Region South Central Region
Settled 1639
Incorporated (city) 1959
Government
 • Type Mayor–Board of Aldermen
 • Mayor Benjamin G. Blake (D)
Area
 • Total 26.1 sq mi (67.7 km2)
 • Land 22.2 sq mi (57.4 km2)
 • Water 3.9 sq mi (10.2 km2)
Population (2010)
 • Total 52,759
 • Density 2,000/sq mi (780/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06460, 06461
Area code(s) 203/475
FIPS code 09-47515
Website www.ci.milford.ct.us

Milford is a coastal city in southwestern New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, located between Bridgeport and New Haven. The population was 52,759 at the 2010 census.[1] The city contains the incorporated borough of Woodmont and the unincorporated village of Devon.

History

Early history

The land which today comprises Milford, Orange and West Haven was purchased on February 1, 1639 from Ansantawae, chief of the local Paugussets (an Algonquian tribe) by English settlers affiliated with the contemporary New Haven Colony. Originally, the area was known as "Wepawaug", after the small river which runs through the town, and which has given its name to several streets in both Milford and Orange.

The Eells-Stow House, circa 1700, is believed to be the oldest extant house in Milford

A grist mill was first built over the Wepawaug River in 1640.[2]

During the Revolutionary War the Milford section of the Boston Post Road, a vital route connecting Boston, New York and other major coastal cities, was blockaded by Continental forces, and Fort Trumbull was constructed to protect the town. The site of the blockade is commemorated by the Liberty Rock monument.

Oyster Huts on Milford Point, a sketch by John Warner Barber for his Historical Collections of Connecticut (1836). Barber wrote that he found 15 or 20 of these seaweed-covered huts along the shore when he visited the town in 1836. Oystermen used the huts in the winter.

By 1822, the town had grown large enough that residents in the northern and eastern sections of Milford chartered their own independent course as the town of Orange. During the next century and a half, the remaining section of Milford was known for shipbuilding, farming and oystering, although a small subset of industrial facilities also developed in town. During this time, Milford also became known as a beach resort for residents of New Haven and Bridgeport.

Milford Green, the second-longest green in New England

Interestingly, the boundaries of the final town charter granted by the State of Connecticut in 1899 to Laurel Beach are contained entirely within Milford. Residents of Laurel Beach must therefore pay taxes to both Laurel Beach as well as Milford, and all mail to Laurel Beach residents is mailed to Milford.

Also in 1899, the "Memorial Bridge" (a "stone bridge and tower commemorating the town's history and founders")[3] was built at the site of the last mill over the Wepawaug after it was closed in 1894.[2] "The stone bridge is simple in design, its broad copings surmounted with rough hewn blocks of granite, bearing the names of the first settlers. There are ten blocks on the south and twenty on the north coping. At each end of the former is a stone four feet wide by five and a half high."[2] It is located where Broad Street crosses the Wepawaug River.

In 1903, the southeastern portion of the town was incorporated as the Borough of Woodmont. In 1959, the town of Milford including the Borough of Woodmont was incorporated as the City of Milford.

Towns created from Milford

Map showing Milford and neighboring towns: Stratford, Shelton, Orange, and West Haven

Milford was one of the early settlements in south central Connecticut and, over time, gave rise to several new towns that broke off and incorporated separately. The following is a list of towns created from parts of Milford.

The "oatmeal lots" of Liberty Park

Starting in 1902, Quaker Oats oatmeal boxes came with a coupon redeemable for the legal deed to a tiny lot in Milford. The lots, sometimes as small as 10 feet (3 m) by 10 feet, were carved out of a 15-acre (6.1 ha) tract in a never-built subdivision called "Liberty Park". A small number of children (or their parents), often residents living near Milford, collected the deeds and started paying the extremely small property taxes on the "oatmeal lots". The developer of the prospective subdivision hoped the landowners would hire him to build homes on the lots, although several lots would need to be combined before building could start. Since the subdivision into small lots predated Milford's planning and zoning regulations, the deeds were entirely legal, although they created a large amount of paperwork for town tax collectors, who frequently couldn't find the property owners and received almost no tax revenue from the lots.[4]

In the mid-1970s, when the town wanted to develop the area, town officials put an end to the oatmeal lots in a "general foreclosure" that avoided the enormous expense of individual foreclosures by condemning nearly all of the property in one legal filing. One of the streets in the Liberty Park subdivision plans, Shelland Street, was later built in the late 1990s as an access road to the Milford Power Company. The site is currently home to the BIC Corporation's lighter factory at 565 Bic Drive. (In a separate land giveaway in 1955 tied to the Sergeant Preston of the Yukon television show, Quaker Oats offered in its Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice cereal boxes genuine deeds to land in the Klondike.)[4]

Post-World War II development

In the post-World War II period, Milford—like many other New England towns—underwent significant suburbanization. Interstate 95 was routed through town, and the Milford section was completed in 1958.

River Street in Downtown Milford is lined with restaurants and boutiques

The 1960s and 1970s witnessed the construction of the Connecticut Post Mall, one of the state's largest shopping malls, and the extensive commercial development of the town's stretch of the Boston Post Road. One notable small business located on the Boston Post Road during the 1970s was SCELBI Computer Consulting, credited by many as being the world's first personal-computer manufacturer. Starting in 1975, the city began hosting the Milford Oyster Festival, which has since become firmly established as an annual Milford tradition that is held "rain or shine".[5][6]

The city became host to several headquarters of multinational corporations, including the Schick Shaving company,[7] and Doctor's Associates, Inc., owners of the Subway chain of fast-food restaurants. The US operations of BIC were headquartered in Milford, but in March 2008 moved most of its operations to Shelton. Milford Hospital has also developed into an important health care resource for the area. It has also become home of smaller national corporations such as K-Mart and Orchid Medical.

Government

Government in the city is set up with the mayor as chief executive and the Board of Aldermen as a legislative body. The mayor is permitted to propose legislation to the Board of Aldermen and introduces the city budget, but possesses no veto power over what the Aldermen chooses to pass.

Taxes

In 2005, the mill rate for Milford was 34.36[8] and is reportedly 26.28 mills for fiscal year 2013-2014.[9]

Elected positions

Milford's city hall, the fifth building to occupy the site

The following is a list of city government positions elected by city residents and the terms thereof:[10]

List of mayors

After becoming incorporated as a city in 1959, the city reformed its system of government by establishing a mayor–board of aldermen format. It elected its first mayor, Charles Iovino,[11] the incumbent city manager under Milford's previous form of government, on November 3, 1959.

Since 1959, 10 people have held the office of mayor in the city.[12]

# Name In office Political party
1 Charles Iovino 1959–1963 Independent
2 Alan Jepson 1963–1969 Democratic
3 Edward Kozlowski 1969–1971 Republican
4 Clifton Moore 1971–1973 Republican
5 Joel Baldwin 1973–1977 Democratic
6 Henry Povinelli 1977–1981 Republican
7 Alberta Jagoe 1981–1989 Democratic
8 Frederick L. Lisman 1989–2001 Republican
9 James L. Richetelli, Jr. 2001–2011 Republican
10 Benjamin G. Blake 2011–present Democratic

Education

The Taylor Memorial Library, built in 1894

Milford public schools currently operates eight Elementary schools, three Middle schools, two High schools, and one Alternative Education High school. There are also a number of private schools in the city.

High Schools

Middle Schools

Elementary Schools

Technical Schools

Private Schools

Former Schools

Emergency services

Fire Department

The city of Milford is protected 24/7, 365 by the 114 paid, full-time firefighters of the city of Milford Fire Department - ISO Class 1. The Milford Fire Department currently operates out of five fire stations, located throughout the city, under the command of a Battalion Chief and a Shift Commander. The Milford Fire Department also maintains and operates a fire apparatus fleet of seven engines (including one Quint), one tower ladder, two rescue ambulances, two HazMat units, one dive rescue unit, one collapse rescue unit, two fireboats, a canteen unit, and numerous other special, support, and reserve units. The Milford Fire Department is one of only two fire departments in the state of Connecticut to maintain an ISO Class 1 rating. The current Fire Chief is Douglas Edo.[31]

Fire station locations and apparatus

Below is a complete listing of all fire station locations and apparatus in the city of Milford.[32]

Engine company Truck company Rescue ambulance Special unit Command unit Address
Engine 1 Tower 1 Medic 2 Car 4 (Shift Commander), Car 5 (Battalion Chief) 72 New Haven Ave.
Quint 3, Engine 4 Haz-Mat. 1, Haz-Mat. 2, Dive Rescue Unit 349 Naugatuck Ave.
Quint 5, Engine 6 Rescue 234 (Collapse Unit) 980 New Haven Ave.
Engine 7 Medic 1, Medic 3 Decon. Trailer 55 Wheelers Farms Rd.

The Milford Fire Department also operates four reserve engines. Engine 2 (Reserve) is located at the quarters of Engine 1 and Tower 1. Engines 8 and 10 (Reserve) are located at the quarters of Quint 3 (Quint) and Engine 4, while Engine 9 (Reserve) is located at the quarters of Quint 5 and Engine 6. The Canteen Unit is operated out of a garage at 3 Charles Street. As of February 2013, The East Side Fire Station,located at 980 New Haven Avenue was occupied by the Milford Fire Department. The East Side Fire Station houses Quint 5, Engine 6, and the Collapse Unit.

Police department

The Milford Police Department is led by Chief Keith L. Mello, a 1981 graduate of the town's police academy.[33] On May 12, 2011, the Police Officer Standards & Training Council re-accredited the department's Tier I & II State Accreditation.[34]

Principal communities of Milford

Seaside Avenue, 1911 postcard

Other minor communities and geographic features are Anchor Beach, Bayview Heights, Burwells Beach, Cedar Beach, Downtown Historic District, Ettadore Park, Far View Beach, Forest Heights, Fort Trumbull, Great River, Gulf Beach, Laurel Beach, Lexington Green, Merwin's Beach, Merwin's Point, Milford Lawns, Milford Point, Myrtle Beach, Naugatuck Gardens, Point Lookout, Silver Sands Beach, South of the Green, Walnut Beach, Wheelers Farms.

†denotes that the community is chartered by Special Act of the Connecticut General Assembly and have been granted some of the powers normally held only by a municipality including taxing authority. ‡The Borough of Woodmont is chartered by Special Act of the Connecticut General Assembly as a municipality and has been granted all statutory powers of an municipality while simultaneously remaining part of the city of Milford.[35]

Culture

2006 Milford Oyster Festival Banner

Every year on the third Saturday in August, Milford celebrates its annual Oyster Festival, which serves as a combination of a typical town fair with a culinary celebration of the town's location on historically shellfish-rich Long Island Sound. This festival takes place in and around the Milford Green, near the center of town, as well as in various locations throughout the downtown area, and features a wide variety of events including canoe and kayak races, musical performances, and classic car shows.

The Milford Oyster Festival has drawn large musical acts over the years including Joan Jett, The Marshall Tucker Band, John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band, Soul Asylum, and many more.

There are also other features such as carnival rides, food stands, crafts, face painting, and even opening your own oyster for a pearl.

The Milford Cultural Center, operated by the Milford Council for the Arts, offers various events throughout the year. The Firehouse Art Gallery was recently opened in Devon. The beach resort quality of the town lives on, with several rocky beaches, Silver Sands State Park, the Connecticut Audubon Society Coastal Center at Milford Point, Charles Island, two golf courses, and numerous other recreational facilities available for residents and tourists.

Starting in 2011, the Walnut Beach Concert Series has taken place under the pavilion at Walnut Beach. It features a different band playing every Sunday afternoon during the summer.[36]

Economy

Top employers

According to the City's 2014 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[37] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer Employees
1 City of Milford, Board of Education 1,076
2 Subway 870
3 Milford Hospital 774
4 Schick 696
5 City of Milford 542
6 Neopost Hasler 390
7 Macy's 325
8 Stop & Shop 288
9 Costco 240
10 Alinabal 226

Geography and environment

According to the United States Census Bureau, Milford, including the borough of Woodmont, has a total area of 26.1 square miles (67.7 km2), of which 22.2 square miles (57.4 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10.2 km2), or 15.11%, is water.[38]

Milford's Devon neighborhood[39] is located at the mouth of the Housatonic River near Stratford, and features the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center overlooking the estuary.

Islands and coastline

View of Long Island Sound from a Milford beach

Milford has over 14 miles (23 km) of shoreline facing Long Island Sound, the most of any town in Connecticut.[40] A large portion of Milford's shoreline forms the Silver Sands State Park. A newly built 3/4 mile boardwalk was opened in 2011 that connects Silver Sands to Walnut Beach in Devon. Charles Island is also a part of the park and is a protected bird nesting ground. There is a sand bar (called a tombolo since it is perpendicular, not parallel to the coast) accessible during low tide that people can walk on from Silver Sands Beach to Charles Island.

The island is a part of the Hamonasset-Ledyard Moraine and was formed as glaciers retreated at the end of the last ice age. The Wisconsin glaciation formed drumlins in Milford: Clark, Burwell, Eels, Bryan and Merwin hills.[41]

Milford owns three islands in the Housatonic River: Fowler Island, just to the south of the Igor I. Sikorsky Memorial Bridge, Duck Island, and Nells Island, both near the mouth of the river. In addition to Silver Sands State Park, Milford has five public beaches with lifeguard services for its residents - Gulf Beach, Anchor Beach, Hawley Avenue Beach, Walnut Beach, and Middle Beach - as well as seven private beaches.

Transportation

The Milford Metro North Rail Station

Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 pass through the southern part of Milford. The Wilbur Cross Parkway cuts across the northern part of the city and is connected to I-95 and Route 1 via the Milford Parkway, also known as the Daniel S. Wasson connector, named for the first police officer to die in the line of duty in the city of Milford. He was killed on April 12, 1987, when he was shot by a motorist he had pulled over. The Metro-North New Haven Line has a station stop in downtown Milford (Milford station). The Milford Transit District provides in-town service to major attractions. Connections with the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority and Connecticut Transit New Haven are also available.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
17561,633—    
17742,127+30.3%
17822,195+3.2%
17902,098−4.4%
18002,417+15.2%
18102,674+10.6%
18202,785+4.2%
18302,256−19.0%
18402,455+8.8%
18502,465+0.4%
18602,828+14.7%
18703,405+20.4%
18803,347−1.7%
18903,811+13.9%
19003,783−0.7%
19104,366+15.4%
192010,193+133.5%
193012,660+24.2%
194016,439+29.8%
195026,870+63.5%
196041,662+55.1%
197050,858+22.1%
198050,898+0.1%
199049,938−1.9%
200052,212+4.6%
201052,759+1.0%
Source: [42]

As of the census[43] of 2000, there were 52,212 people, 20,138 households, and 13,613 families residing in Milford. The population density was 2,270.7 people per square mile (876.8/km²). There were 21,145 housing units at an average density of 949.0 per square mile (366.4/km²). The racial makeup of Milford was 93.55% White, 1.91% African American, 0.13% Native American, 2.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.88% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.34% of the population.

There were 20,138 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.

In Milford the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.

As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household was $61,183. The per capita income was $28,773. About 2.4% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

The Census Bureau's 2010-2012 American Community Survey showed that (in 2012 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $77,925 and the median family income was $93,697. Year-round male workers had a median income of $67,631 versus $59,992 for females. The per capita income for the city was $38,560.[44]

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 30, 2014[45]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
  Democratic 9,049 355 9,404 27.48%
  Republican 7,002 224 7,226 21.12%
  Unaffiliated 16,618 625 17,243 50.39%
  Minor parties 331 17 348 1.02%
Total 33,000 1,221 34,221 100%

Minor Parties include Green Party, Independent Party, and Libertarian Party.

On the National Register of Historic Places

Notable people

Movies filmed in Milford

Movies filmed at least in part in Milford include:[67]

References

  1. ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Milford town, New Haven County, Connecticut". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Greene, M. Louise (March 1899). "Early Milford". The Connecticut Magazine V (3).
  3. ↑ South Central Regional Council of Governments (1991). "#5 Milford Center Historic Walk". Milford Center Historic Walk.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Juliano, Frank (October 3, 2010). "'Oatmeal lots' gave officials indigestion". Connecticut Post. pp. A1, A12. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Milford Oyster Festival 2010." Daily Postal. August 21, 2010
  6. ↑ Misur, Susan. "Annual Oyster Festival draws thousands in Milford." New Haven Register. Sunday, August 22, 2010
  7. ↑ "Schick® | Shaving History". Schick.com. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  8. ↑ http://www.courant.com/classified/realestate/hc-class-real-millrates0501,0,4623522.htmlstory
  9. ↑ http://www.ci.milford.ct.us/public_documents/MilfordCT_Tax/index
  10. ↑ An Act Concerning a Charter for the City of Milford, Articles II-III. City of Milford, Connecticut. Effective November 9, 1959. Revised November 8, 1983.
  11. ↑ "EX-CITY MANAGER BECOMING MAYOR; Iovino Takes Post Tomorrow in Milford, Conn., After Old Job Is Abolished". The New York Times. November 8, 1959. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  12. ↑ John H. O'Connell (November 1, 2009). "Historic City Election Ahead". Milford Republican Town Committee. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  13. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3233
  14. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=4910
  15. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3234
  16. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3230
  17. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3229
  18. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3231
  19. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3222
  20. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3228
  21. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3224
  22. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3225
  23. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3226
  24. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3221
  25. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3223
  26. ↑ http://www.milforded.org/page.cfm?p=3227
  27. ↑ http://www.foundationschool.org/Site/Home.html
  28. ↑ https://www.bgvillage.org/Content/Day_School.asp
  29. ↑ http://www.stgabrielschool.com/
  30. ↑ http://www.saintmaryschoolmilford.org/
  31. ↑ City of Milford, CT (2013-05-08). "City of Milford, CT - Milford Fire Department". Ci.milford.ct.us. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  32. ↑ City of Milford, CT (2013-02-28). "City of Milford, CT - Fire Stations". Ci.milford.ct.us. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  33. ↑ City of Milford, CT. "City of Milford, CT - Chief Of Police". Ci.milford.ct.us. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  34. ↑ City of Milford, CT. "City of Milford, CT - Public Announcements". Ci.milford.ct.us. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  35. ↑ Number 92 of the Special Acts of 1957 of the Connecticut General Assembly
  36. ↑ http://www.walnutbeachassociation.com/summerconcertseries.html
  37. ↑
  38. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Milford town, New Haven County, Connecticut". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  39. ↑ Village of Devon official website
  40. ↑ Charles, Eleanor "If You're Thinking of Living In/Milford, Conn.; Long Shoreline and a Wealth of Activities", The New York Times, April 7, 2002, accessed July 3, 2011.
  41. ↑ Skehan, James W., Roadside Geology of Connecticut and Rhode Island, p 218, Missoula, Montana: Mountain Press Publishing Co., 2008, ISBN 978-0-8784-2547-1
  42. ↑ Enter your Company or Top-Level Office. "Office of the Secretary of the State". Sots.state.ct.us. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  43. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  44. ↑ SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS more information 2010-2012 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 1, 2013.
  45. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 30, 2014" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved 2015-03-18.
  46. ↑
  47. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0116465/
  48. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1662443/
  49. ↑
  50. ↑ "Inventor & Engineer". Simonlake.com. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  51. ↑ "Jonathan Law". Cslib.org. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  52. ↑
  53. ↑ "NavigatorHomeSubpage". Oceanvoyaging.com. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  54. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0616091/bio
  55. ↑
  56. ↑ Finley, Bill (February 12, 2006). "IN PERSON; When the Cheers Aren't Enough". The New York Times. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  57. ↑ "Governors of Connecticut". Cslib.org. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  58. ↑ "POND, PETER - Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online". Biographi.ca. 2007-10-18. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  59. ↑ Mooney, Tom, "Peter Pond's War," Providence Journal, Oct 15, 1989 p. M-06.
  60. ↑ "Jonathan Quick Los Angeles Kings - 2012-2013 Stats - Los Angeles Kings - Team". Kings.nhl.com. 1986-01-21. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  61. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005579/
  62. ↑ "Dan Rusanowsky, Radio Play-By-Play Broadcaster - San Jose Sharks - Front Office Staff". Sharks.nhl.com. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  63. ↑ "Edwards and Dowdle, New York | Obituaries". Edwardsanddowdle.com. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  64. ↑ "The Inventors (E)". Theelevatormuseum.org. 1934-10-25. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  65. ↑ "Robert Treat". Cslib.org. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  66. ↑ "MIAP - About Us". Miap.us. Retrieved 2013-05-19.
  67. ↑ Internet Movie DataBase Web site's page for Milford, Connecticut
  68. ↑ Dooling, Michael C. Milford Lost & Found, The Carrollton Press, 2009

External links

 Shelton / Housatonic River Orange West Haven
Stratford / Housatonic River Long Island Sound
   Milford  
Long Island Sound
Laurel Beach, 1910