Trumbull, Connecticut

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Trumbull, Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°13′59″N 73°13′6″W / 41.23306, -73.21833
NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford
Region Greater Bridgeport
Incorporated 1797
Government
 - Type First selectman-Town council
 - First selectman Raymond G. Baldwin, Jr.
Area
 - Total 60.9 km² (23.5 sq mi)
 - Land 60.3 km² (23.3 sq mi)
 - Water 0.6 km² (0.2 sq mi)
Elevation 81 m (266 ft)
Population (2005)
 - Total 35,299
 - Density 585/km² (1,515/sq mi)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06611
Area code(s) 203
FIPS code 09-77200
GNIS feature ID 0213518
Website: http://www.trumbull-ct.gov/

Trumbull is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 34,243 at the 2000 census.

Contents

History

Trumbull was settled by the English as part of the town of Stratford, Connecticut in 1639. On May 15, 1656, the Court of the Colony of Connecticut in Hartford, affirmed that the town of Stratford included all of the territory twelve miles inland from Long Island Sound, between the Housatonic River and the Fairfield town line. It wasn't until 1662, however, that Stratford selectmen Lt. Joseph Judson, Captain Joseph Hawley and John Minor, had secured all the written deeds of transfer from the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation for this vast territory that comprises the present-day towns of Trumbull, Shelton and Monroe.

Old Farms

The Nichols area located in the southeastern part of Trumbull, commonly called Old Farms as early as 1700, was inhabited first. The early pioneers built their houses and barns close together along the Farm Highway, officially completed to the south side of Mischa Hill in 1696, thereby establishing a new village separate from Stratford center. Their large farms extended east and west from the village for a considerable distance, sometimes a mile. In 1679, Ebenezer Curtiss received land described as lying near Lt. Joseph Judson's farm, now owned by Abraham Nichols. Lt. Joseph Judson removed from Stratford for religious reasons and founded the town of Woodbury in 1672. The Ephraim Hawley house, built in 1683, is located on the original grant made to Captain Joseph Hawley in 1673. The Hawley farm was commonly called Captain's Farm in the land records. Records also show that in 1688, John Curtiss gifted his large farm, simply called Mischa Hill, to his son Benjamin. Zachariah Curtiss built a house and one-story barn sometime before 1721 on land gifted to him by his father Captain William Curtiss located at Old Farm.

Unity Parish established 1725

In 1725 the families residing at Mischa Hill, desiring to have their own meeting house, were given permission to form their own Parish called Unity. They established the Unity Congregational Church in 1730. Soon after others began settling the areas of Trumbull now called Chestnut Hill, Stratfield, Daniel's Farm, Trumbull Center, Long Hill, and Tashua. In 1744, the Parish of Unity and the Long Hill Parish of the Stratfield section of Stratford, asked permission to combine and become the Society of North Stratford. The General Assembly in Hartford referred to the eastern boundaries of Unity at that time as ancient when they approved the new town in 1744.

Revolutionary War

Huldah Hawley was born February 23, 1755 and died June 27, 1856, at the age of 101. The widow of Tory Chauncey Beardsley, Huldah took pleasure in talking of the exciting times of the Revolution and related during her lifetime about the time that two companies of French soldiers, under the command of French General Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, encamped a whole winter during the American Revolutionary War on what is now known as Mountain Hill, a high rocky bluff in the central part of the Village of Nichols Farm's. In December, 1780 two dozen Hussar horsemen deserted and discharged themselves from their winter quarters in Lebanon and fled into the woods to the south. This high rocky bluff, at the time, commanded a view of Long Island Sound for seventy miles and was used to spy on British ships. Hawley said the soldiers would compel her to cook for them and she furnished provisions for them through fear that they would kill her. From June 28 to June 30, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, units of the French army, called Lauzun's Legion, encamped overnight in present day Abraham Nichols Park. The Legion was commanded by Colonel Armand Louis de Gontaut-Biron, duc de Lauzun and was sent ten to fifteen miles ahead to protect the flank of the main French army encamped in Newtown. The army was marching in the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route south to reinforce American troops under the command of General George Washington at the Siege of Yorktown. French coins have since been found near the site of their camp in Abraham Nichols Park.

Trumbull incorporates

After the Revolutionary War, citing their well-established population and the inconvenient distance to attend town meetings in Stratford, they petitioned the Connecticut General Assembly for status as an incorporated town. After several denials, the legislature granted their petition in October, 1797. On November 20, 1797, the first town meeting was held. The new town was named for Jonathan Trumbull, Connecticut governor during the Revolutionary War and a valued advisor to George Washington, who respectfully referred to him as Brother Jonathan.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.5 square miles (60.9 km²), of which, 23.3 square miles (60.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (0.98%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census1 of 2000, there were 34,243 people, 11,911 households, and 9,707 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,470.6 people per square mile (567.7/km²). There were 12,160 housing units at an average density of 522.2/sq mi (201.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.02% White, 1.88% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.70% of the population.

There were 11,911 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living within them, 71.7% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $79,507, and the median income for a family was $88,290. Males had a median income of $62,201 versus $41,384 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,931. About 1.4% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those over age 65.

On the National Register of Historic Places

Historical
population of
Trumbull
[1]
1800 1,291
1810 1,241
1820 1,232
1830 1,242
1840 1,204
1850 1,309
1860 1,474
1870 1,335
1880 1,323
1890 1,453
1900 1,587
1910 1,642
1920 2,597
1930 3,624
1940 5,294
1950 8,641
1960 20,379
1970 31,394
1980 32,989
1990 32,016
2000 34,243
  • Christ Episcopal Church and Tashua Burial Ground — 5170 Madison Ave. (added May 25, 2001)
  • David, Jr. Mallett House — 420 Tashua Road (added March 20, 1986)
  • Kaatz Icehouse — 255 Whitney Ave. (added October 19, 1977)
  • Nichols Farms Historic District — Center Road, 1681-1944 Huntington Turnpike, 5-34 Priscilla Place, and 30-172 Shelton Road (added September 20, 1987)
  • Old Mine Park Archeological Site (added 1990)

Notable people, past and present

High schools

Fire Departments

Fire Service in the Town of Trumbull is served by three independent all-volunteer fire departments. Each fire department handles its own tax structure and fundraising and receives no funding from the Town. The three departments: Trumbull Center Fire Department, Nichols Fire Department and Long Hill Fire Department.

Major roadways

Route 8 runs through the southeast part of town. Route 8 is a freeway that leads to Waterbury and I-84, and continues into Massachusetts as New England Interstate Route 8 and finally terminates in Searsburg, Vermont.

Route 15, also known as the Merritt Parkway, goes north (east) to New Haven (eventually connecting to I-91) and south (west) towards New York City. Route 15 was built through Nichols center displacing the old Nichols Store, Trinity Church and Hawley Tavern in 1939.

Route 25 runs north to south, merging with Route 8 at the Bridgeport line and continues overlapped with Route 8 (commonly known as the Route 8/25 connector) into Bridgeport ending at Interstate 95. Continuing north on Route 25, the freeway ends as it crosses Route 111 and continues as a surface road towards I-84 in Newtown leading to Danbury.

Route 108, also known as Nichols Avenue and Huntington Turnpike, heads north into southeastern Trumbull from Stratford at Hawley Lane. The section in Trumbull was completed in 1696 and is considered by some to be the third oldest documented highway in Connecticut [2]. It terminates in Shelton at the intersection with Route 110 (Howe Avenue). Route 108 can be reached via exit 52 from Route 15 or exit 8 from Route 8.

Route 111, also known as Main Street in Trumbull and Bridgeport, also runs north to south. Continuing north on Route 111, the road crosses Route 25 and eventually heads into Monroe, terminating at Route 34. Main Street continues south past Route 15 (where it is exit 48 from Route 15) and past Westfield Shopping Town Trumbull into the North End of Bridgeport.

Route 127, also known as White Plains Road and Church Hill Road, runs through the town center from south to north from the East Side of Bridgeport. The section in Trumbull was completed to Pulpit Rock in 1705. Route 127 ends at the intersection of (Main Street) Route 111 at the Town Hall.

Leisure activities

Trumbull features nearly two dozen recreational facilities and parks including Abraham Nichols, Beach Memorial, Indian Ledge, Islandbrook, Old Mine, Twin Brooks, and Unity Park.

The Tashua section of town features the Tashua Recreation Facility, which is by far the largest at 268 acres in size and includes basketball and tennis courts, an adult and a children's swimming pool, playground, picnic area and multi-purpose field. Additionally it is also the site of Tashua Knolls, an 18 hole golf course built in 1976 and designed by noted golf architect Al Zikorus. The course features a driving range, two putting greens, pro shop, locker rooms, The Eagle's Nest Grille and a banquet facility. There is also Tashua Glen, a 9 hole "Executive style" course opened in 2004. Both courses feature cart paths. There is a Men's Club, Senior Men's Club, Ladies 9-holer, and Ladies 18-holer organizations active at the course.

The Trumbull Community Women is a group dedicated to promoting civic service. It is open to all women over 18, and runs a Young Women's Club as well. They meet at the Trumbull Library Community Room, generally on the first Tuesday of the month September through June.

The Trumbull Library can be found adjacent to Town Hall at 33 Quality Street and also operates the Fairchild-Nichols Memorial Library at 1718 Huntington Turnpike.

The Town Hall Gazebo is host to concerts most summer Tuesday nights.

The Nichols Improvement Association gazebo is a fine spot for wedding pictures and social gatherings. Every year Christmas trees are sold at this gazebo.

The Trumbull Historical Society was founded in 1964, and maintain a museum of Trumbull's past at 1856 Huntington Turnpike on the site of the first settlement by Abraham Nichols.

The Trumbull Nature & Arts Center is located at 7115 Main Street and coordinate trips for fishing, butterfly searches, gardening, outdoor photography and other nature related activities.

The Trumbull Teen Center is located at the barn at Indian Ledge Park and features activities such as air hockey, foosball, local band concerts, ping pong and basketball.

The Trumbull Senior's Center is located at 23 Priscilla Place. The senior transportation department continues to provide effective door-to-door services to seniors age 60 and over with out transportation or unable to drive. Services include doctor’ s appointments, shopping, nutrition program, dentist appointments and legal appointments. It provides a variety of resources such as Continuing Education and Social Services as well as activities.

Plasko's Farm is very popular in the Fall for their corn maze and fresh produce.

Movies filmed (or partially filmed) in Trumbull

External links

References

  • Reverend Orcutt, History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Fairfield Historical Society, 1886
  • History of Trumbull Dodrasquicentennial 1797-1972 Commemorative Book, Trumbull Historical Society, 1972
  • Isaac William Stuart, Life of Jonathan Trumbull Sen., Governor of Connecticut, Crocker and Brewster, 1859
  • Henry Phelps Johnston, The Yorktown Campaign and the Surrender of Cornwallis, 1781, Ayer Publishing, 1971
  • Charles S. Hall, Life and Letters of Samuel Holden Parsons, Ostenigo Publishing Co., Binghampton, NY, 1905
  • E. Merrill Beach, "They Face the Rising Sun", Trumbull Historical Society, 1971
  • E. Merrill Beach, "Trumbull, Church and Town", Trumbull Historical Society, 1972
  • Dorothy Seeley, "Tales of Trumbull's Past", Trumbull Historical Society, 1984

See also

Wikipedia content modification information:

  • This page was last modified on 28 November 2008, at 17:28.

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