Ansonia, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Ansonia is a city in New Haven County
, Connecticut
, United States
, on the Naugatuck River
, immediately north of Derby
and about 12 miles (19.3 km) northwest of New Haven
. The population was 19,249 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code
for Ansonia is 06401. The city is serviced by the Metro North
railroad. Ansonia Station is a stop on the railway passenger commuter service's Waterbury line, connecting to New York's Grand Central Terminal
. It is also serviced by Connecticut Transit
bus carrier. Route 8
state highway serves the city.
Ansonia, also referred to as "The Copper City," is recognized for its heavy machine manufacturing industry located in the heart of the lower Naugatuck Valley. Production includes copper, brass, rubber and plastics processing, molding and tubing, iron castings, sheet metal, electric, automatic screw machine, textiles and foundry products. The well-known Ansonia Clock Company
was founded here in 1851. Birthplace of Revolutionary War Colonel
and Diplomat
David Humphreys
. The city's devotion to its high school football team, the Ansonia Chargers, is legendary. Originally known as "The Lavender", the Chargers' annual game against arch-rival Naugatuck, on Thanksgiving
morning, is one of the more significant events of the year for the two cities.
. In 1844, merchant and philanthropist Anson Greene Phelps
(1781–1853) wanted to expand the old Borough of Birmingham (the present down town of the City of Derby) up along the west side of the Naugatuck River. Unfortunately since he was not able to purchase the land required from its owner, Anson Phelps acquired land along the east side of the river, which today is the city's downtown section, in 1844. A canal was dug to power the factories and businesses in the new industrial village and named it Ansonia. The name came about when Mr. Phelps wanted to call his new industrial village "Phelpsville" but found out there was another village in the region by that name. Under the suggestion of a friend, Mr. Phelps Latinized his first name thus Ansonia came about. Soon Ansonia became the most populous area of Derby and boasted many factories. The state chartered Ansonia as a borough of Derby
in 1864 and amended it once again in 1871 granting full municipal privileges. In 1888, a petition was circulated in the borough of Ansonia for the purpose of becoming a separate township from Derby. In 1889 the State General Assembly granted the separation thus constituting the Borough, Hilltop, West Ansonia, and Elm Street areas as a separate town
known as Ansonia. This was the 168th township in the State of Connecticut. In 1893, Ansonia was incorporated as a city, consolidating with the coterminous town and the old borough.
Ansonia suffered grievous damage in the Great Flood of August 19, 1955, when massive rain from Hurricane Diane
filled the Naugatuck River
beyond its capacity. Submerging the land along the river, the flood destroyed many houses and businesses. The high river waters swept away Maple Street Bridge, one of two bridges linking the east and west sides of the city. After the inundation, the authorities erected a flood wall along the east bank of the river to protect the city's factories and Main Street. On the west bank, federal public housing took the place of blocks of destroyed homes and businesses on Broad Street now known as Olson Drive.
In the decades following the flood, Ansonia's Main Street fell into decline as retail shoppers decamped to the Ansonia Mall at one end of the street (now replaced by a Big Y supermarket
) and for malls in nearby Milford
, Trumbull
, and Waterbury
. In recent years, however, Main Street has perked up with the opening of several antique stores, a wine bar, a coffee shop, a Polish delicatessen, and other businesses.
Ansonia hosted its own daily newspaper, the Evening Sentinel, which enjoyed a wide readership throughout the Naugatuck Valley
. However, the parent company of the Connecticut Post
bought the Sentinel in the 1980s and quickly folded it, despite promises not to do so, in order to consolidate the Post's position as the region's main newspaper.
A non-profit, online only news site named in honor of the Evening Sentinel, The Valley Independent Sentinel
, launched June 22, 2009. The Valley Independent Sentinel
has an office at 158 Main St. in Ansonia.
In the early morning hours of November 6, 1960 Senator John F. Kennedy
's presidential campaign motorcade stopped on its way to Waterbury
for an appearance and brief address in front of City Hall drawing thousands to downtown, many with transistor radios tuned to live reports on WADS of Senator Kennedy's progress towards Ansonia. President Kennedy would make a return visit on October 17, 1962 while on his way to Waterbury.
President George H. W. Bush
paid a visit to Ansonia by helicopter
during the 1992 presidential election campaign. He was running far behind schedule due to severe weather damage to a large area New Jersey, and his late arrival and truncated speech caused many residents to feel he had slighted their city.
In 2000, the Lower Naugatuck Valley
, which includes Ansonia, was named an "All America City" by the National Civic League.
in downtown Ansonia. The fire gutted the 284000 square feet (26,384.5 m²) building, which was the workplace of 250 people. Firefighters from multiple counties fought the fire tirelessly for five days. Lingering clouds of foul-smelling smoke spread over the city and nearby communities, and chemical runoff produced by the fire unbalanced the ecosystem of the nearby river. A Target
store replaced the empty lot and opened in July 2007. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9E07EFDD143AF936A25756C0A9679C8B63&n=Top%2fNews%2fScience%2fTopics%2fChemicals
, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.0 km2), of which 6.0 square miles (15.6 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2) (2.58%) is water.
The city is bisected by the Naugatuck River
and spreads out from the river's banks up the hills – some quite steep – of the river valley. On the west side of the river, the city abuts Derby
and Seymour
along Silver Hill, and on the east side the city's Hilltop neighborhood meets Woodbridge
.
The land along the river is mostly given over to factory sites (both operational and defunct), with an area of wooded land on the west bank close to the city's northern boundary that belongs to the American Brass Company
and was the site proposed by Texas
company American Ref-Fuel for a solid waste to electric energy cogeneration plant in the early 1990s. The proposal was controversial and protests by residents resulted in its defeat.
Residential housing occupies most of the land in Ansonia, chiefly one- or two-family houses on plots of an acre or less. There are larger houses on larger plots in the Hilltop neighborhood. The Ansonia Nature Center on Hilltop preserves some open fields and woodlands and is a favorite for school trips.
An airport
once operated on Hilltop, at the eastern edge of the city; during the Cold War
the United States military deployed Nike missiles
in silos at the airport. Developers have built residential housing on the former airport grounds. The Nike base is now a horse farm with riding stables holding just a few reminders of its former life.
Library District – The neighborhood surrounding the Ansonia Library. Just east of downtown on top of the cliff. Includes the residential neighborhood between State Street and Beaver Street including South Cliff Street, North Cliff Street, Mott Street and Cottage Avenue. Contains mostly single-family historic Queen Anne Victorian homes. While now predominately middle class, this area was settled early in Ansonia's history and was once home to many of the wealthy industrial families of Ansonia.
North End – The area comprising the North Main Street corridor stretching from Downtown town to the Seymour town line.
Derby Hill – The area surrounding the Elm Street and Jewett Street area on the east side. Elm Street is also the town's historic district and was part of the original 1654 settlement of Derby. The name of this section of the town is sometimes disputed.
Hilltop – The area of the city that comprises the area of Prindle Avenue, Pulaski Highway and Ford Street corridors. This section was mainly farm land in the early days of the town and after World War II, it became the largest residential area of the city.
West Ansonia – The name given to the residential village that comprised the west side of the Naugatuck River across from Ansonia (downtown). The actual original West Ansonia neighborhood consisted of High, Maple, and Jersey Streets (the later known today as Olson Drive) and later became synonymous with the entire present west side of the city.
Windy Hill – A section of West Ansonia centered around Murray Street, May Street, and Francis Street. This area is typically encompassing the area from the Derby town line to Grove Street.
Silver Hill – The section of West Ansonia along the Silver Hill Road corridor. Parts of this section are shared with Derby.
As of the 2010 census the population of Ansonia was 19,249. The racial composition of the population was 77.6% white, 11.6% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 5.3% reporting some other race and 3.2% from two or more race. 16.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 18,554 people, 7,507 households, and 4,977 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,076.3 people per square mile (1,188.0/km2). There were 7,937 housing units at an average density of 1,316.0 per square mile (508.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.52% White, 8.42% Black or African American
, 0.34% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.22% from other races
, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.42% of the population.
There were 7,507 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples
living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,026, and the median income for a family was $53,718. Males had a median income of $30,747 versus $28,517 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,504. About 6.2% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
Minor party affiliations include members of the Concerned Citizens Party
and the Green Party
.
, Shelton
, Seymour
, and Beacon Falls
form one of the most important industrial communities in the state. Pulitzer Prize
winning author Theodore H. White
referred to the Naugatuck Valley "as the seedbed of Yankee ingenuity" in his work The Making of the President, 1960
. The city hosts the world headquarters of the Farrel Corporation
, a leading producer of plastics and rubber processing equipment including the Banbury International Mixer
. Ansonia Copper & Brass, which supplies metal rod, wire and tube products to manufacturers of finished commercial products, also makes its home in the city.
The highly successful Ansonia Clock Company
had its start manufacturing Ansonia clocks in the city in 1851. The company moved to Brooklyn, New York
, in 1878 but retained its home city's name.
In recent years, much of the heavy industry moved out and factories sat vacant. In the late 1980s the City began development of the Fountain Lake Commerce Park in the northwest border. It houses Spectrum Plastics and Homa Pump Co. In 2007 work will begin by R.D. Scinto Inc. to further develop the park with a 400000 sq ft (37,161.2 m²). office building. Starting in 2002, city authorities and residents began a revitalization of the downtown area. Two large regional clothing retailers, Marshalls and Bob's, opened stores there in 2006. In 2007, the popular international department store Target
opened a store on the former Latex Foam Company site (see "Rubber Plant Fire" above).
As a result of economic growth and plentiful employment in southwestern Connecticut
, driven by corporate relocations from the New York City
and Fairfield County
metropolitan areas to nearby towns, Ansonia's housing market improved in the early 2000s. On the preferred East Side of the city, the average home price climbed almost 20% in the period from 2001 to 2006. Authorities are in the process of closing down federal housing projects on the West Side of town, where a large percentage of the crime in Ansonia is reported.
Ansonia is a station stop on the Waterbury Branch
of the Metropolitan Transit Authority's
Metro-North Railroad
system. Trains on the Waterbury Branch
run from Waterbury
in the north to Bridgeport
in the south, allowing Ansonia residents access to New York City
via transfer to the main line at Bridgeport
. Travel time from Ansonia to Grand Central Terminal
in New York City
is approximately two hours. Ansonia is also served by buses of the F route of Connecticut Transit New Haven
, connecting the city to New Haven.
.
In addition to the Farrel Corporation
and Ansonia Copper & Brass facilities along the banks of the Naugatuck River
in the center of the city, Ansonia's landmarks include its public library
, YMCA
, National Guard
Armory
and many Victorian
and Queen Anne
houses. The prominent Ansonia Opera House is the oldest opera house in Connecticut built in 1870.
Ansonia is noted for its many churches, including those forming five Catholic
parishes, each historically associated with a particular ethnic group
: Saint Joseph (Polish), Holy Rosary (Italian), Saint Anthony (Lithuanian; now combined with Holy Rosary), Our Lady of the Assumption (Irish), and Saints Peter and Paul (Ukrainian). There are also Congregationalist
, Methodist, Episcopalian, African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist
, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Pentecostal, and other Christian denominations. The region's Sikh
community had a gurdwara
(temple) in one of the buildings on Main Street until an accidental fire burned it down.
In the mid-1930s, after its original high school burned down, Ansonia residents decided to build a new one on Howard Avenue. This is notable in that the building was designed by William Lescaze
, one of the pioneers of modernism in American architecture, who was primarily known for his work in the Philadelphia area. When it opened in 1936, it was one of the first 'modern' high school buildings in the country, and was, for its time, quite unique. By comparison, nearby Hamden (CT) high school was built at about the same time in a traditional, colonial design. Today the former high school is now the Ansonia Middle School.
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on the Naugatuck River
Naugatuck River
The Naugatuck River is a river in the US state of Connecticut. It carves out the Naugatuck River Valley. The river flows from northwest Connecticut southward into the Housatonic River in Derby, Connecticut. One of the river's main uses is hydropower, which is used to power industrial plants...
, immediately north of Derby
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
and about 12 miles (19.3 km) northwest of New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
. The population was 19,249 at the 2010 census. The ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
for Ansonia is 06401. The city is serviced by the Metro North
Metro north
Metro North can refer to either of* Metro-North Railroad, a commuter railroad serving parts of New York and Connecticut in the United States* Dublin Metro#Metro North, a branch of the proposed Dublin Metro, in Dublin, Ireland...
railroad. Ansonia Station is a stop on the railway passenger commuter service's Waterbury line, connecting to New York's Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
. It is also serviced by Connecticut Transit
Connecticut Transit
Connecticut Transit is a bus system serving much of the U.S. state of Connecticut and is a division of that state's Department of Transportation. CT Transit provides bus service via contract providers for seven different metropolitan areas in the state, mostly concentrated in Hartford and New...
bus carrier. Route 8
Route 8 (Connecticut)
Route 8 is the portion of the multistate New England Route 8 within the state of Connecticut. It is a state highway running north–south from Bridgeport, through Waterbury, all the way to the Massachusetts state line where it continues as Route 8...
state highway serves the city.
Ansonia, also referred to as "The Copper City," is recognized for its heavy machine manufacturing industry located in the heart of the lower Naugatuck Valley. Production includes copper, brass, rubber and plastics processing, molding and tubing, iron castings, sheet metal, electric, automatic screw machine, textiles and foundry products. The well-known Ansonia Clock Company
Ansonia Clock Company
Ansonia Clocks were made by a clock manufacturing business which started in Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1851 and which moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1878...
was founded here in 1851. Birthplace of Revolutionary War Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and Diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
David Humphreys
David Humphreys
David Humphreys may refer to:* David Humphreys , British American soldier* David Humphreys , Irish rugby player* David Campbell Humphreys , U.S. federal judge...
. The city's devotion to its high school football team, the Ansonia Chargers, is legendary. Originally known as "The Lavender", the Chargers' annual game against arch-rival Naugatuck, on Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving (United States)
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday,...
morning, is one of the more significant events of the year for the two cities.
History
The area comprising the present Elm Street section of Ansonia and Derby Avenue section of Derby was first settled in 1652 and was originally a part of the township of DerbyDerby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
. In 1844, merchant and philanthropist Anson Greene Phelps
Anson Greene Phelps
Anson Greene Phelps was a co-founder of mining company Phelps Dodge, which he founded in 1833 along with his son-in-law William E. Dodge.-Early life:...
(1781–1853) wanted to expand the old Borough of Birmingham (the present down town of the City of Derby) up along the west side of the Naugatuck River. Unfortunately since he was not able to purchase the land required from its owner, Anson Phelps acquired land along the east side of the river, which today is the city's downtown section, in 1844. A canal was dug to power the factories and businesses in the new industrial village and named it Ansonia. The name came about when Mr. Phelps wanted to call his new industrial village "Phelpsville" but found out there was another village in the region by that name. Under the suggestion of a friend, Mr. Phelps Latinized his first name thus Ansonia came about. Soon Ansonia became the most populous area of Derby and boasted many factories. The state chartered Ansonia as a borough of Derby
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
in 1864 and amended it once again in 1871 granting full municipal privileges. In 1888, a petition was circulated in the borough of Ansonia for the purpose of becoming a separate township from Derby. In 1889 the State General Assembly granted the separation thus constituting the Borough, Hilltop, West Ansonia, and Elm Street areas as a separate town
New England town
The New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. Without a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in other states, but are incorporated, possessing powers like cities in other...
known as Ansonia. This was the 168th township in the State of Connecticut. In 1893, Ansonia was incorporated as a city, consolidating with the coterminous town and the old borough.
Ansonia suffered grievous damage in the Great Flood of August 19, 1955, when massive rain from Hurricane Diane
Hurricane Diane
Hurricane Diane was one of three hurricanes to hit North Carolina during the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season, striking an area that had been hit by Hurricane Connie five days earlier...
filled the Naugatuck River
Naugatuck River
The Naugatuck River is a river in the US state of Connecticut. It carves out the Naugatuck River Valley. The river flows from northwest Connecticut southward into the Housatonic River in Derby, Connecticut. One of the river's main uses is hydropower, which is used to power industrial plants...
beyond its capacity. Submerging the land along the river, the flood destroyed many houses and businesses. The high river waters swept away Maple Street Bridge, one of two bridges linking the east and west sides of the city. After the inundation, the authorities erected a flood wall along the east bank of the river to protect the city's factories and Main Street. On the west bank, federal public housing took the place of blocks of destroyed homes and businesses on Broad Street now known as Olson Drive.
In the decades following the flood, Ansonia's Main Street fell into decline as retail shoppers decamped to the Ansonia Mall at one end of the street (now replaced by a Big Y supermarket
Big Y Foods
Big Y Foods, Inc. is an American supermarket chain. Big Y has stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts; it operates under the names "Big Y World Class Market" or "Big Y Supermarket."...
) and for malls in nearby Milford
Milford, Connecticut
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...
, Trumbull
Trumbull, Connecticut
Trumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
, and Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
. In recent years, however, Main Street has perked up with the opening of several antique stores, a wine bar, a coffee shop, a Polish delicatessen, and other businesses.
Naugatuck River Valley
The Naugatuck River Valley refers to the watershed area of the Naugatuck River in the western part of Connecticut. The Naugatuck Valley straddles parts of Litchfield County, New Haven, and Fairfield counties. The Route 8 corridor and Waterbury Branch of the Metro-North railroad line run along the...
. However, the parent company of the Connecticut Post
Connecticut Post
The Connecticut Post is a daily newspaper located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. It serves the greater Bridgeport area, Fairfield County, and the Lower Naugatuck Valley. Municipalities in the Post's circulation area include Bridgeport, Ansonia,...
bought the Sentinel in the 1980s and quickly folded it, despite promises not to do so, in order to consolidate the Post's position as the region's main newspaper.
A non-profit, online only news site named in honor of the Evening Sentinel, The Valley Independent Sentinel
Valley independent sentinel
The Valley Independent Sentinel is an online-only, non-profit news site covering Connecticut's lower Naugatuck Valley.The site launched June 22, 2009...
, launched June 22, 2009. The Valley Independent Sentinel
Valley independent sentinel
The Valley Independent Sentinel is an online-only, non-profit news site covering Connecticut's lower Naugatuck Valley.The site launched June 22, 2009...
has an office at 158 Main St. in Ansonia.
In the early morning hours of November 6, 1960 Senator John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
's presidential campaign motorcade stopped on its way to Waterbury
Waterbury
Waterbury is a city in Connecticut in the United States.Waterbury may also refer to any one of the following:-Places:United States*Waterbury, Nebraska*Waterbury, Vermont*Waterbury , Vermont,a village within the town of Waterbury, Vermont....
for an appearance and brief address in front of City Hall drawing thousands to downtown, many with transistor radios tuned to live reports on WADS of Senator Kennedy's progress towards Ansonia. President Kennedy would make a return visit on October 17, 1962 while on his way to Waterbury.
President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
paid a visit to Ansonia by helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
during the 1992 presidential election campaign. He was running far behind schedule due to severe weather damage to a large area New Jersey, and his late arrival and truncated speech caused many residents to feel he had slighted their city.
In 2000, the Lower Naugatuck Valley
Lower Naugatuck Valley
The Lower Naugatuck Valley, also known as "The Valley", is a geographic area located around the southern part of the Naugatuck River. The area consists of the municipalities of Seymour, Derby, Ansonia, and Shelton , and is governed by the Valley Council of Governments...
, which includes Ansonia, was named an "All America City" by the National Civic League.
Rubber plant fire
In May 2001, a wind-driven fire destroyed the Latex Foam Company building, a very large rubber plant along the Naugatuck RiverNaugatuck River
The Naugatuck River is a river in the US state of Connecticut. It carves out the Naugatuck River Valley. The river flows from northwest Connecticut southward into the Housatonic River in Derby, Connecticut. One of the river's main uses is hydropower, which is used to power industrial plants...
in downtown Ansonia. The fire gutted the 284000 square feet (26,384.5 m²) building, which was the workplace of 250 people. Firefighters from multiple counties fought the fire tirelessly for five days. Lingering clouds of foul-smelling smoke spread over the city and nearby communities, and chemical runoff produced by the fire unbalanced the ecosystem of the nearby river. A Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
store replaced the empty lot and opened in July 2007. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9E07EFDD143AF936A25756C0A9679C8B63&n=Top%2fNews%2fScience%2fTopics%2fChemicals
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 6.2 square miles (16.0 km2), of which 6.0 square miles (15.6 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km2) (2.58%) is water.
The city is bisected by the Naugatuck River
Naugatuck River Valley
The Naugatuck River Valley refers to the watershed area of the Naugatuck River in the western part of Connecticut. The Naugatuck Valley straddles parts of Litchfield County, New Haven, and Fairfield counties. The Route 8 corridor and Waterbury Branch of the Metro-North railroad line run along the...
and spreads out from the river's banks up the hills – some quite steep – of the river valley. On the west side of the river, the city abuts Derby
Derby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
and Seymour
Seymour, Connecticut
Seymour is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named for Governor Thomas H. Seymour. The population was 15,454 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
along Silver Hill, and on the east side the city's Hilltop neighborhood meets Woodbridge
Woodbridge, Connecticut
Woodbridge is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,983 at the 2000 census. It is one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut, ranking 16th in the state in terms of per capita income, and is home to many of the faculty of Yale University...
.
The land along the river is mostly given over to factory sites (both operational and defunct), with an area of wooded land on the west bank close to the city's northern boundary that belongs to the American Brass Company
American Brass Company
The American Brass Company was an American brass manufacturing company based in Connecticut and active from 1893 to 1960. The company's predecessors were the Wolcottville Brass Company and the Ansonia Brass and Battery Company. It was the first large brass manufacturing firm in the United States,...
and was the site proposed by Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
company American Ref-Fuel for a solid waste to electric energy cogeneration plant in the early 1990s. The proposal was controversial and protests by residents resulted in its defeat.
Residential housing occupies most of the land in Ansonia, chiefly one- or two-family houses on plots of an acre or less. There are larger houses on larger plots in the Hilltop neighborhood. The Ansonia Nature Center on Hilltop preserves some open fields and woodlands and is a favorite for school trips.
An airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
once operated on Hilltop, at the eastern edge of the city; during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
the United States military deployed Nike missiles
Project Nike
Project Nike was a U.S. Army project, proposed in May 1945 by Bell Laboratories, to develop a line-of-sight anti-aircraft missile system. The project delivered the United States' first operational anti-aircraft missile system, the Nike Ajax, in 1953...
in silos at the airport. Developers have built residential housing on the former airport grounds. The Nike base is now a horse farm with riding stables holding just a few reminders of its former life.
Neighborhoods
Downtown – The original industrial village and later borough of Ansonia. Includes the area stretching between the factories at the north side of down town to the newer shopping plazas on the south side of downtown (Big Y, Target, etc.)Library District – The neighborhood surrounding the Ansonia Library. Just east of downtown on top of the cliff. Includes the residential neighborhood between State Street and Beaver Street including South Cliff Street, North Cliff Street, Mott Street and Cottage Avenue. Contains mostly single-family historic Queen Anne Victorian homes. While now predominately middle class, this area was settled early in Ansonia's history and was once home to many of the wealthy industrial families of Ansonia.
North End – The area comprising the North Main Street corridor stretching from Downtown town to the Seymour town line.
Derby Hill – The area surrounding the Elm Street and Jewett Street area on the east side. Elm Street is also the town's historic district and was part of the original 1654 settlement of Derby. The name of this section of the town is sometimes disputed.
Hilltop – The area of the city that comprises the area of Prindle Avenue, Pulaski Highway and Ford Street corridors. This section was mainly farm land in the early days of the town and after World War II, it became the largest residential area of the city.
West Ansonia – The name given to the residential village that comprised the west side of the Naugatuck River across from Ansonia (downtown). The actual original West Ansonia neighborhood consisted of High, Maple, and Jersey Streets (the later known today as Olson Drive) and later became synonymous with the entire present west side of the city.
Windy Hill – A section of West Ansonia centered around Murray Street, May Street, and Francis Street. This area is typically encompassing the area from the Derby town line to Grove Street.
Silver Hill – The section of West Ansonia along the Silver Hill Road corridor. Parts of this section are shared with Derby.
Demographics
| Historical population of Ansonia http://www.sots.state.ct.us/RegisterManual/regman.htm |
|
| 1890 | 10,342 |
| 1900 | 12,681 |
| 1910 | 15,152 |
| 1920 | 17,643 |
| 1930 | 19,898 |
| 1940 | 19,210 |
| 1950 | 18,706 |
| 1960 | 19,819 |
| 1970 | 21,160 |
| 1980 | 19,039 |
| 1990 | 18,403 |
| 2000 | 18,554 |
| 2010 | 19,249 |
As of the 2010 census the population of Ansonia was 19,249. The racial composition of the population was 77.6% white, 11.6% black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 5.3% reporting some other race and 3.2% from two or more race. 16.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 18,554 people, 7,507 households, and 4,977 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,076.3 people per square mile (1,188.0/km2). There were 7,937 housing units at an average density of 1,316.0 per square mile (508.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.52% White, 8.42% Black or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.34% Native American, 1.13% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.22% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.42% of the population.
There were 7,507 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 15.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $43,026, and the median income for a family was $53,718. Males had a median income of $30,747 versus $28,517 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $20,504. About 6.2% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.3% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active Voters | Inactive Voters | Total Voters | Percentage |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
3,846 | 152 | 3,998 | 37.85% |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
1,324 | 86 | 1,410 | 13.35% |
Unaffiliated | 4,826 | 322 | 5,148 | 48.74% |
Minor parties | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0.07% | |
| Total | 10,003 | 560 | 10,563 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Minor party affiliations include members of the Concerned Citizens Party
Concerned Citizens Party
The Concerned Citizens Party is the Connecticut affiliate of the Constitution Party. The party's name is related to ballot access issues in Connecticut which have made it advantageous for the group to retain a name differing from the national organization with which they are affiliated...
and the Green Party
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
.
Economy
The city has manufacturers of heavy machinery, electric supplies, brass and copper products, and silk goods. Ansonia, DerbyDerby, Connecticut
Derby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
, Shelton
Shelton, Connecticut
Shelton is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,559 at the 2010 census.-Origins:Shelton was settled by the English as part of the town of Stratford, Connecticut, in 1639...
, Seymour
Seymour, Connecticut
Seymour is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named for Governor Thomas H. Seymour. The population was 15,454 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, and Beacon Falls
Beacon Falls, Connecticut
Beacon Falls is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,246 at the 2000 census. The population increased to 6,049 at the 2010 census. Beacon Falls is also home to the national-known Meteorologist Jim Cantore. Settlers from Derby, Connecticut settled Beacon...
form one of the most important industrial communities in the state. Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning author Theodore H. White
Theodore H. White
Theodore Harold White was an American political journalist, historian, and novelist, known for his wartime reporting from China and accounts of the 1960, 1964, 1968, 1972 and 1980 presidential elections.-Life and career:...
referred to the Naugatuck Valley "as the seedbed of Yankee ingenuity" in his work The Making of the President, 1960
The Making of the President, 1960
The Making of the President, 1960, written by Theodore White and published by Atheneum Publishers in 1961, analyzes the 1960 election in which John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States. The book won the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and was the first in a series of...
. The city hosts the world headquarters of the Farrel Corporation
Farrel Corporation
Farrel Corporation is a privately held corporation based in Ansonia, Connecticut. Today, they manufacture process equipment for the plastics industry, and employ roughly 300 people-History:...
, a leading producer of plastics and rubber processing equipment including the Banbury International Mixer
Banbury mixer
The Banbury Mixer is a brand of internal batch mixer. The "Banbury" trademark is owned by Farrel Corporation. Internal batch mixers such as the Banbury mixer are used for mixing or compounding rubber and plastics. The original design dates back to 1916. The mixer consists of two rotating spiral...
. Ansonia Copper & Brass, which supplies metal rod, wire and tube products to manufacturers of finished commercial products, also makes its home in the city.
The highly successful Ansonia Clock Company
Ansonia Clock Company
Ansonia Clocks were made by a clock manufacturing business which started in Ansonia, Connecticut, in 1851 and which moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1878...
had its start manufacturing Ansonia clocks in the city in 1851. The company moved to Brooklyn, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, in 1878 but retained its home city's name.
In recent years, much of the heavy industry moved out and factories sat vacant. In the late 1980s the City began development of the Fountain Lake Commerce Park in the northwest border. It houses Spectrum Plastics and Homa Pump Co. In 2007 work will begin by R.D. Scinto Inc. to further develop the park with a 400000 sq ft (37,161.2 m²). office building. Starting in 2002, city authorities and residents began a revitalization of the downtown area. Two large regional clothing retailers, Marshalls and Bob's, opened stores there in 2006. In 2007, the popular international department store Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
opened a store on the former Latex Foam Company site (see "Rubber Plant Fire" above).
As a result of economic growth and plentiful employment in southwestern Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, driven by corporate relocations from the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Fairfield County
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
metropolitan areas to nearby towns, Ansonia's housing market improved in the early 2000s. On the preferred East Side of the city, the average home price climbed almost 20% in the period from 2001 to 2006. Authorities are in the process of closing down federal housing projects on the West Side of town, where a large percentage of the crime in Ansonia is reported.
Ansonia is a station stop on the Waterbury Branch
Waterbury Branch
Metro-North Railroad's Waterbury Branch is a branch of the New Haven Line, running north from a junction east of Stratford to Waterbury. Originally built as the Naugatuck Railroad, it once continued north to Winsted...
of the Metropolitan Transit Authority's
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the U.S...
Metro-North Railroad
Metro-North Railroad
The Metro-North Commuter Railroad , trading as MTA Metro-North Railroad, or, more commonly, Metro-North, is a suburban commuter rail service that is run and managed by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority , an authority of New York State. It is the busiest commuter railroad in the United...
system. Trains on the Waterbury Branch
Waterbury Branch
Metro-North Railroad's Waterbury Branch is a branch of the New Haven Line, running north from a junction east of Stratford to Waterbury. Originally built as the Naugatuck Railroad, it once continued north to Winsted...
run from Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
in the north to Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
in the south, allowing Ansonia residents access to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
via transfer to the main line at Bridgeport
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
. Travel time from Ansonia to Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal —often incorrectly called Grand Central Station, or shortened to simply Grand Central—is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
is approximately two hours. Ansonia is also served by buses of the F route of Connecticut Transit New Haven
Connecticut Transit New Haven
Connecticut Transit New Haven is the second largest division of Connecticut Transit, providing service on 24 routes in 19 towns within the Greater New Haven and Lower Naugatuck River Valley areas, with connections to other CT Transit routes in Waterbury and Meriden, as well as connections to...
, connecting the city to New Haven.
Public safety
The City of Ansonia is protected by three municipal public safety agencies, and maintains an Office of Emergency Management based out of City Hall and the A.R.M.S building on West Main Street.Emergency medical services
The Ansonia Rescue Medical Service provided ambulance and rescue services to the city. Also known as "A.R.M.S.", the service was founded in 1991 out of the old Ansonia Civil Defense Administration. ARMS operates three ambulances, a first responder vehicle, a rescue truck, an air and lighting vehicle, a mass casualty response truck, as well as a number of support and lighting trailers. The organization is composed of volunteer and part-time paid personnel to operate the ambulances. "A.R.M.S." is part of the South Central Regional Emergency Communications System (C-MED New Haven) and provides mutual aid assistance to surrounding communities when the need is requested. A.R.M.S. is led by a chief, two assistant chiefs and a Board of Commissioners along with a paid day-time supervisor and volunteer captains and lieutenants. Ansonia Rescue Medical Service's headquarters is located on West Main Street.Fire department
The Ansonia Fire Department was established in 1871 by the then borough government. In 1875, residents in West Ansonia petitioned for powers of a fire association and the Connecticut General Assembly granted a charter establishing the West Ansonia Fire District in the Town of Derby. Each department had their own fire company and continued to operate separately though working close together. In 1889 when Ansonia became a separate town from Derby, the two fire departments continued to operate separately until 1894, a year after Ansonia was chartered a city, the West Ansonia Fire District was merged into the Ansonia Fire Department. Today the Ansonia Fire Department provides fire and rescue services and is led by a chief engineer, four assistant chief engineers and the Board of Fire Commissioners. The department comprises five incorporated fire companies, each with its own firehouse and led by a captain and lieutenants. Together the department operates five fire engines, a tower-ladder truck, a rescue-squad truck, a utility vehicle and a chief's vehicle. The fire department also has a Office of the Fire Marshal and Fire Alarm Superintendent divisions (which maintains the street box alarm notification system). The F.M.O. operates a investigation truck and a staff vehicle and the F.A.S. operates a utility bucket truck (which is also utilized by the Public Works Department). The fire department comprises the following companies;- Eagle Hose & Hook & Ladder Company No. 6 – Org. 1871 (original borough fire company).
- Fountain Hose Company No. 1 – Org. 1876 (original West Ansonia Fire District company).
- Webster Hose, Hook & Ladder Company No. 3 – Org. 1897.
- Charters Hose Company No. 4 – Org. 1909.
- Hilltop Hose Company No. 5 – Org. 1956.
Police department
The Ansonia Police Department was founded around 1880 when Ansonia was a borough in the Town of Derby and Daniel Hayes was appointed the first police chief of the department. Chief Hayes died in 1882 after he succumbed to his injuries day after when he was shot while making an arrest. The Police Department has 42 sworn officers and 12 civilian personnel. The Police department is split between the patrol and detective divisions. The Police Department headquarters is located on Elm Street..
Landmarks
Farrel Corporation
Farrel Corporation is a privately held corporation based in Ansonia, Connecticut. Today, they manufacture process equipment for the plastics industry, and employ roughly 300 people-History:...
and Ansonia Copper & Brass facilities along the banks of the Naugatuck River
Naugatuck River Valley
The Naugatuck River Valley refers to the watershed area of the Naugatuck River in the western part of Connecticut. The Naugatuck Valley straddles parts of Litchfield County, New Haven, and Fairfield counties. The Route 8 corridor and Waterbury Branch of the Metro-North railroad line run along the...
in the center of the city, Ansonia's landmarks include its public library
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
, YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
, National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...
Armory
Armory (military)
An armory or armoury is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
and many Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
houses. The prominent Ansonia Opera House is the oldest opera house in Connecticut built in 1870.
Ansonia is noted for its many churches, including those forming five Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
parishes, each historically associated with a particular ethnic group
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
: Saint Joseph (Polish), Holy Rosary (Italian), Saint Anthony (Lithuanian; now combined with Holy Rosary), Our Lady of the Assumption (Irish), and Saints Peter and Paul (Ukrainian). There are also Congregationalist
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
, Methodist, Episcopalian, African Methodist Episcopal, Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Pentecostal, and other Christian denominations. The region's Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
community had a gurdwara
Gurdwara
A Gurdwara , meaning the Gateway to the Guru, is the place of worship for Sikhs, the followers of Sikhism. A Gurdwara can be identified from a distance by tall flagpoles bearing the Nishan Sahib ....
(temple) in one of the buildings on Main Street until an accidental fire burned it down.
In the mid-1930s, after its original high school burned down, Ansonia residents decided to build a new one on Howard Avenue. This is notable in that the building was designed by William Lescaze
William Lescaze
William Edmond Lescaze was a Swiss-born American architect, and is one of the pioneers of modernism in American architecture....
, one of the pioneers of modernism in American architecture, who was primarily known for his work in the Philadelphia area. When it opened in 1936, it was one of the first 'modern' high school buildings in the country, and was, for its time, quite unique. By comparison, nearby Hamden (CT) high school was built at about the same time in a traditional, colonial design. Today the former high school is now the Ansonia Middle School.
Notable Ansonians
- Tom CondonTom CondonThomas Joseph Condon is an American football agent. He was named the most powerful agent in American football by Sporting News 2006, and heads the Football Division of Creative Artists Agency with fellow agent Ben Dogra....
, attorney and prominent NFL sports agent. His family maintains a long time law practice in Ansonia. - John CookeJohn CookeJohn Cooke may refer to:*John Cooke , Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University*John Cooke *John Cooke , English cricketer...
, gold medalist 1956 Olympic gamesOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, MelbourneMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Ansonia High School graduate. - Joseph P. FlynnJoseph P. FlynnThe Honorable Joseph P. Flynn was the Chief Judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court. Flynn was appointed judge of the Connecticut Appellate Court on February 7, 2001 and Chief Judge on February 1, 2006. Judge Flynn subsequently assumed in 2010 and Judge Alexandra DiPentima succeeded him...
, distinguished jurist and Chief JudgeChief judgeChief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
of the Connecticut Appellate Court 2006–2010. - Samuel B. GouldSamuel B. GouldSamuel Brookner Gould was an American educator prominent for promoting access to education through non-traditional means such as educational television, college teacher-mentor systems, and universities without walls...
, American educator and innovator, graduated Ansonia High School (1926). - David HumphreysDavid Humphreys (soldier)David Humphreys was a American Revolutionary War colonel and aide de camp to George Washington, American minister to Portugal and then to Spain, entrepreneur who brought Merino sheep to America and member of the Connecticut state legislature...
, aide-de-campAide-de-campAn aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, diplomat, legislator, entrepreneur, poet and wit. - Vincent R. ImpellitteriVincent R. ImpellitteriVincent Richard Impellitteri was an American politician, who served as the 101st Mayor of New York City.-Biography:He was born in Isnello, Sicily, and moved with his family to the United States as an infant in 1901...
, Mayor of New York CityMayor of New York CityThe Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
from 1950 to 1953. He was succeeded by Robert F. Wagner, Jr.Robert F. Wagner, Jr.Robert Ferdinand Wagner II, usually known as Robert F. Wagner, Jr. served three terms as the mayor of New York City, from 1954 through 1965.-Biography:...
, Ansonia High School (1917). - GeneralGeneralA general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Samuel JaskilkaSamuel JaskilkaSamuel Jaskilka is a retired four-star general whose last assignment was Assistant Commandant of the United States Marine Corps . General Jaskilka is a highly decorated veteran of the Korean War, having led the landing at Inchon as a company commander with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines...
, Assistant Commandant of the Marine CorpsCommandant of the Marine CorpsThe Commandant of the Marine Corps is normally the highest ranking officer in the United States Marine Corps and is a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff...
1975–1978, highly decorated veteran of the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Ansonia High School graduate (1937). - Pierre LallementPierre LallementPierre Lallement is considered by some to be the inventor of the bicycle.-Early years:Lallement was born on October 25, 1843 in Pont-à-Mousson near Nancy, France....
, inventor. In 1866 the native of Pont-a-MoussonPont-à-MoussonPont-à-Mousson is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.Population : 14,592 . It is an industrial town , situated on the Moselle River...
, FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, while residing in Ansonia, submitted a patent applicationPatent applicationA patent application is a request pending at a patent office for the grant of a patent for the invention described and claimed by that application. An application consists of a description of the invention , together with official forms and correspondence relating to the application...
for the first pedaled (rotary crank mechanism) bicycleBicycleA bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
. - Nick PietrosanteNick PietrosanteNick Pietrosante was an All-Pro fullback in the National Football League. Raised in Ansonia, Connecticut, he attended Notre Dame High School of West Haven, Connecticut, graduating with the Class of 1954. He was the first All State athlete at Notre Dame High School...
, NFL Rookie of the Year 1959, Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
1959–1965, was all-time leading rusher. Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
1966–1967. Family operated a neighborhood meat market on North State Street for many years. - Major GeneralMajor GeneralMajor general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Reuben Henry Tucker IIIReuben Henry Tucker IIIMajor General Reuben Henry Tucker III was a U.S...
, highly decorated United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
colonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, during World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Colonel Tucker is specifically referenced in Cornelius RyanCornelius RyanCornelius Ryan, was an Irish journalist and author mainly known for his writings on popular military history, especially his World War II books: The Longest Day: June 6, 1944 D-Day , The Last Battle , and A Bridge Too Far .-Early life:Ryan was born in Dublin and educated at Synge Street CBS,...
's well-known work A Bridge Too FarA Bridge Too Far (book)A Bridge Too Far, a non-fiction book by Cornelius Ryan published in 1974, tells the story of Operation Market Garden, a failed Allied attempt to break through German lines at Arnhem across the river Rhine in the occupied Netherlands during World War II in September 1944. The title of the book comes...
, graduated Ansonia High School (1928). - Dr. Lorenzo GreeneLorenzo GreeneDr. Lorenzo Johnston Greene taught history at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri from 1933 - 1972. His book, Missouri’s Black Heritage, co-authored by Antonio Holland and Gary Kremer, was a pioneering work on the African_American experience in Missouri...
, historian and a pioneer in African AmericanAfrican AmericanAfrican Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
history, born in Ansonia on November 18, 1898. First black student to graduate from Ansonia High School. - Pincus "Pinky" SilverbergPinky SilverbergPinky Silverberg was a boxer in the flyweight division who briefly held the National Boxing Association flyweight title in 1927. Silverberg won his the title vacated by Fidel LaBarba, who had recently retired, by defeating Ruby Bradley on October 22, 1927, when Bradley was disqualified due to a...
, Flyweight Boxing Champion of the World in 1927. - Bob SkoronskiBob SkoronskiRobert Skoronski was a tackle in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers. Skoronski attended Indiana University and went to high school in his home state of Connecticut at Fairfield College Preparatory School....
, NFL player for the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. He was a member of the 1961, 1962, and 1965 NFL Champion teams, as well as the Super Bowl ISuper Bowl IThe First AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I and referred to in some contemporary reports as the Supergame, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California.The National Football League ...
and Super Bowl IISuper Bowl IIThe second AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later to be known as Super Bowl II, was played on January 14, 1968 at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida....
Championship teams.
On the National Register of Historic Places
- Ansonia Library — 53 South Cliff St. (added September 23, 1985)
- Ansonia Opera House, at 100 Main St., and built in 1870.
- Gen. David Humphreys HouseDavid Humphreys HouseThe General David Humphreys House, located at 37 Elm St., Ansonia, Connecticut, was built from 1695 to 1698 and is the birthplace of the Revolutionary War Colonel David Humphreys. Humphreys was a friend of and aide de camp to General George Washington and was nominated by President Washington to...
— 37 Elm St. (added April 17, 1972) - Richard Mansfield House — 35 Jewett St. (added April 11, 1971)
- Upper Main Street Historic District (Ansonia, Connecticut) — 36–100, 85–117 Main St. (added 1982) which includes the:
- US Post Office-Ansonia Main — 237 Main St. (added 1985)
See also
- Ansonia High School
- List of high school football rivalries (100 years+)
External links
- City of Ansonia
- Ansonia Public Schools
- Ansonia Public Library
- Derby Historical Society Web site The society was "Founded April 18, 1946, to serve the Naugatuck Valley towns of Ansonia, DerbyDerby, ConnecticutDerby is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,391 at the 2000 census. With of land area, Derby is Connecticut's smallest municipality.The city has a Metro-North railroad station called Derby – Shelton.-History:...
, OxfordOxford, ConnecticutOxford is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,272 at the 2010 Census. There are several areas in Oxford: Quaker Farms, Riverside and Oxford Center. Oxford belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Region and the Central...
, SeymourSeymour, ConnecticutSeymour is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town was named for Governor Thomas H. Seymour. The population was 15,454 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, & SheltonShelton, ConnecticutShelton is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 39,559 at the 2010 census.-Origins:Shelton was settled by the English as part of the town of Stratford, Connecticut, in 1639...
." - Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau