Connecticut Route 37
Encyclopedia
Route 37 is a north–south state highway
in Connecticut
running for 18.66 miles (30 km) from Route 39
in Danbury
, through New Fairfield, to U.S. Route 7
in New Milford
. The northernmost section between the town centers of Sherman
and New Milford was once part of an early toll road known as the New Milford and Sherman Turnpike chartered in 1818.
and Route 53 in downtown Danbury
, where one can also access I-84 (Exit 6). It heads northeast as North Street, crossing under I-84 at Exit 7 with access to the eastbound direction only. North of I-84, the road continues as Padanaram Road for about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) then shifts to Pembroke Road. Route 37 crosses into the town of New Fairfield
after another 2.1 miles (3.4 km), as it skirts the banks of the Margerie Lake Reservoir. Route 37 interects with Route 39 for a second time in New Fairfield center, where the road name changes to Sherman-New Fairfield Road. Route 37 continues through the northwest section of New Fairfield. Along the way it intersects with Patterson Road, an unsigned state highway known as State Road 850, which connects to Putnam County Road 68 in New York state. Route 37 then enters the town of Sherman
as Greenwoods Hill Road and passes through the Pootatuck State Forest. About 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of the town line, Route 37 meets Route 39 for the third time in Sherman center. After overlapping Route 39 for about 0.4 mile (0.643736 km), the two routes split, with Route 37 heading east (as Barnes Hill Road) and Route 39 heading north. Route 37 crosses into the town of New Milford
after another 1.4 miles (2.3 km). Route 37 ends at U.S. Route 7
in New Milford at the banks of the Housatonic River
about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) later.
was established as a turnpike
in 1818, called the New Milford and Sherman Turnpike. It used Housatonic Avenue and Boardman Road in New Milford center, crossing the Housatonic River on the Boardman Bridge. West of the river it used modern Route 37 to reach Sherman center. West of Sherman center, it used Briggs Hill Road to the state line.
The old turnpike (west of the Housatonic River) later became a state highway and given the designation Highway 131 in the early 1920s. At the same time, the Danbury-New Fairfield-Sherman route was designated as Highway 136. Modern Route 37 was created in the 1932 state highway renumbering
from old highways 131 and 136 (except for the Briggs Hill Road segment)
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in 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...
running for 18.66 miles (30 km) from Route 39
Route 39 (Connecticut)
Route 39 is a north–south state highway in Connecticut. It is one of the main roads in downtown Danbury. Route 39 begins at the junction of Route 53 and 37, near I-84 , and runs for north through New Fairfield and Sherman, ending at Route 55 in Sherman.- Route description:Route 39 begins...
in Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
, through New Fairfield, to U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7 is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for from Norwalk, Connecticut, to Highgate, Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut...
in New Milford
New Milford, Connecticut
New Milford is a town in southern Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States north of Danbury, on the Housatonic River. It is the largest town in the state in terms of land area at nearly . The population was 28,671 according to the Census Bureau's 2006 estimates...
. The northernmost section between the town centers of Sherman
Sherman, Connecticut
Sherman is the northernmost and least populous town of Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,581 at the 2010 census. The town is named for New Haven's Founding Father, Roger Sherman....
and New Milford was once part of an early toll road known as the New Milford and Sherman Turnpike chartered in 1818.
Route description
Route 37 begins at an intersection with Route 39Route 39 (Connecticut)
Route 39 is a north–south state highway in Connecticut. It is one of the main roads in downtown Danbury. Route 39 begins at the junction of Route 53 and 37, near I-84 , and runs for north through New Fairfield and Sherman, ending at Route 55 in Sherman.- Route description:Route 39 begins...
and Route 53 in downtown Danbury
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
, where one can also access I-84 (Exit 6). It heads northeast as North Street, crossing under I-84 at Exit 7 with access to the eastbound direction only. North of I-84, the road continues as Padanaram Road for about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) then shifts to Pembroke Road. Route 37 crosses into the town of New Fairfield
New Fairfield, Connecticut
New Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,881 at the 2010 census. The town is considered part of the greater New York Metropolitan Area and lies approximately from New York City...
after another 2.1 miles (3.4 km), as it skirts the banks of the Margerie Lake Reservoir. Route 37 interects with Route 39 for a second time in New Fairfield center, where the road name changes to Sherman-New Fairfield Road. Route 37 continues through the northwest section of New Fairfield. Along the way it intersects with Patterson Road, an unsigned state highway known as State Road 850, which connects to Putnam County Road 68 in New York state. Route 37 then enters the town of Sherman
Sherman, Connecticut
Sherman is the northernmost and least populous town of Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,581 at the 2010 census. The town is named for New Haven's Founding Father, Roger Sherman....
as Greenwoods Hill Road and passes through the Pootatuck State Forest. About 4.5 miles (7.2 km) north of the town line, Route 37 meets Route 39 for the third time in Sherman center. After overlapping Route 39 for about 0.4 mile (0.643736 km), the two routes split, with Route 37 heading east (as Barnes Hill Road) and Route 39 heading north. Route 37 crosses into the town of New Milford
New Milford, Connecticut
New Milford is a town in southern Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States north of Danbury, on the Housatonic River. It is the largest town in the state in terms of land area at nearly . The population was 28,671 according to the Census Bureau's 2006 estimates...
after another 1.4 miles (2.3 km). Route 37 ends at U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7 is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for from Norwalk, Connecticut, to Highgate, Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 in Norwalk, Connecticut...
in New Milford at the banks of the Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) later.
History
The road from New Milford to Sherman to the state line in Pawling, New YorkPawling (town), New York
Pawling is a town in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The population was 7,521 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Catherine Pauling, the daughter of Henry Beekman, who held the second largest land patent in the county. A misprint caused the U to change to a W and the name...
was established as a turnpike
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
in 1818, called the New Milford and Sherman Turnpike. It used Housatonic Avenue and Boardman Road in New Milford center, crossing the Housatonic River on the Boardman Bridge. West of the river it used modern Route 37 to reach Sherman center. West of Sherman center, it used Briggs Hill Road to the state line.
The old turnpike (west of the Housatonic River) later became a state highway and given the designation Highway 131 in the early 1920s. At the same time, the Danbury-New Fairfield-Sherman route was designated as Highway 136. Modern Route 37 was created in the 1932 state highway renumbering
1932 state highway renumbering (Connecticut)
In 1932, the Highway Department of the U.S. state of Connecticut , decided to completely renumber all its state highways. The only exceptions were the U.S. Highways and some of the New England Interstate Routes. Between 1922 and 1932, Connecticut used a state highway numbering system shared with...
from old highways 131 and 136 (except for the Briggs Hill Road segment)
Junction list
| Town | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danbury Danbury, Connecticut Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut.... |
0.00 | ||
| 0.59 | |||
| New Fairfield New Fairfield, Connecticut New Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,881 at the 2010 census. The town is considered part of the greater New York Metropolitan Area and lies approximately from New York City... |
5.09 | ||
| Sherman Sherman, Connecticut Sherman is the northernmost and least populous town of Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,581 at the 2010 census. The town is named for New Haven's Founding Father, Roger Sherman.... |
15.19 | Begin concurrency | |
| 15.64 | End concurrency | ||
| New Milford New Milford, Connecticut New Milford is a town in southern Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States north of Danbury, on the Housatonic River. It is the largest town in the state in terms of land area at nearly . The population was 28,671 according to the Census Bureau's 2006 estimates... |
18.66 |