Beacon Falls, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
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 Falls in 1678. The town was incorporated in 1871 on lands carved from the neighboring towns of Bethany
, Seymour
, Naugatuck
and Oxford
.
, the town has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.6 km²), of which, 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.01%) is water.
The village of Pine Bridge, once known as Pines Bridge, is located within the town, south of the town center. Beacon Falls has been known as Beacon Falls Station, Beacon Falls Village, and the Beacon Falls Postal District within Bethany.
The Beacon Falls (Metro-North station)
is on the Waterbury
branch of the New Haven
line.
of 2010, there were 6,049 people, divided into 2,509 total households, with 2,360 occupied households in the town. The racial makeup (population) of the town was 5,741 White, 95 African American, 2 Native American, 70 Asian, 2 Pacific Islander, 52 from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. There are 300 Hispanic or Latino.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 5,246 people, 2,032 households, and 1,450 families residing in the town. The population density
was 536.6 people per square mile (207.1/km²). There were 2,104 housing units at an average density of 215.2 per square mile (83.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.97% White, 0.72% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.
There were 2,032 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $56,592, and the median income for a family was $62,461. Males had a median income of $41,696 versus $34,844 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,285. About 4.2% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Beacon Falls is home to Woodland Regional High School
, which opened in 2001. Woodland is part of Regional School District #16 (Beacon Falls and Prospect
), which also consists of Long River Middle School (P), Laurel Ledge Elementary School (BF), Community School (P), and Algonquin School (P).
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...
in New Haven County
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...
. 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
Jim Cantore
James D. Cantore is an American meteorologist. He is best known as an on-air personality for The Weather Channel.- Career :...
. Settlers from 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:...
, 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...
settled Beacon Falls in 1678. The town was incorporated in 1871 on lands carved from the neighboring towns of Bethany
Bethany, Connecticut
Bethany is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,040 at the 2000 census. Bethany was first settled in 1717 but it was not until May 1832 that Bethany separated from Woodbridge to become incorporated as a town. This slightly remote, sparsely populated,...
, 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:...
, Naugatuck
Naugatuck, Connecticut
Naugatuck is a consolidated borough and town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town spans both sides of the Naugatuck River just south of Waterbury, and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, which has its own post office, Straitsville on the...
and Oxford
Oxford, Connecticut
Oxford 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...
.
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 town has a total area of 9.9 square miles (25.6 km²), of which, 9.8 square miles (25.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.01%) is water.
The village of Pine Bridge, once known as Pines Bridge, is located within the town, south of the town center. Beacon Falls has been known as Beacon Falls Station, Beacon Falls Village, and the Beacon Falls Postal District within Bethany.
The Beacon Falls (Metro-North station)
Beacon Falls (Metro-North station)
The Beacon Falls Metro-North Railroad station serves residents of Beacon Falls, Connecticut via the Waterbury Branch of the New Haven Line. All service on the Waterbury Branch is shuttle service to Bridgeport running on very light frequencies ; travel time to Bridgeport is 37 minutes.The station is...
is on the 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...
branch of the 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...
line.
On the National Register of Historic Places
- Depot Street Bridge - added March 9, 2007
- Home Woolen Company - added November 29, 1984
On the State Register of Historic Places
- Tracy S. Lewis HouseTracy S. Lewis HouseThe Tracy S. Lewis House is a historic house located in Beacon Falls, Connecticut. There is currently a debate over the town's decision to raze the house.-Description:...
, Wolfe Avenue - added January 3, 2011 - Rimmon School - One room schoolhouse ca. 1830, Pinesbridge Road (RT-42)
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
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 2010, there were 6,049 people, divided into 2,509 total households, with 2,360 occupied households in the town. The racial makeup (population) of the town was 5,741 White, 95 African American, 2 Native American, 70 Asian, 2 Pacific Islander, 52 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 0.76% from two or more races. There are 300 Hispanic or Latino.
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 5,246 people, 2,032 households, and 1,450 families residing in the town. 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 536.6 people per square mile (207.1/km²). There were 2,104 housing units at an average density of 215.2 per square mile (83.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.97% White, 0.72% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% 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 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.
There were 2,032 households out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% 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, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 23.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $56,592, and the median income for a family was $62,461. Males had a median income of $41,696 versus $34,844 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 town was $25,285. About 4.2% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Beacon Falls is home to Woodland Regional High School
Woodland Regional High School
Woodland Regional High School is a high school located in the western part of Beacon Falls, Connecticut, near the town line shared with Oxford.The school is operated by Regional School District 16. The school mascot is the hawk...
, which opened in 2001. Woodland is part of Regional School District #16 (Beacon Falls and Prospect
Prospect, Connecticut
Prospect is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,707 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water...
), which also consists of Long River Middle School (P), Laurel Ledge Elementary School (BF), Community School (P), and Algonquin School (P).
| 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... |
939 | 51 | 990 | 27.21% |
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... |
761 | 31 | 792 | 21.77% |
Unaffiliated | 1,742 | 109 | 1,851 | 50.89% |
Minor Parties | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0.13% | |
| Total | 3,447 | 191 | 3,638 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||