Enfield, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Enfield is a 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...

 located in Hartford County, 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. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,633 people, 5,734 households, and 4,432 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 5,879 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 95.42% White, 0.69% African American, 0.05% Native American, 2.90%...

 and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts
East Longmeadow, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,187 people, 5,248 households, and 3,988 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,087.1 people per square mile . There were 5,363 housing units at an average density of 413.5 per square mile...

 to the north, Somers
Somers, Connecticut
Somers is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, USA. The population was 10,417 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...

 to the east, East Windsor
East Windsor, Connecticut
East Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 11,162 at the 2010 census.The town has five villages: Broad Brook, Melrose, Scantic, Warehouse Point and Windsorville.-Area:...

 and Ellington
Ellington, Connecticut
Ellington is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Ellington was incorporated in May, 1786, from East Windsor. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 12,921...

 to the south, and the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...

 (towns of Suffield
Suffield, Connecticut
Suffield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It had once been within the boundaries of Massachusetts. The town is located in the Connecticut River Valley with the town of Enfield neighboring to the east. In 1900, 3,521 people lived in Suffield; and in 1910, 3,841. As of the...

 and Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...

) to the west.

Nearby King's Island, previously known as Terry Island (or Terry's Island, or Great Island), was the location of pivotal meetings of Adventist
Adventist
Adventism is a Christian movement which began in the 19th century, in the context of the Second Great Awakening revival in the United States. The name refers to belief in the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It was started by William Miller, whose followers became known as Millerites...

 Christians in 1872 and 1873.

Bordering Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...

, Enfield, Connecticut is considered part of the City of Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...

 NECTA. Enfield is only 4 miles from the City of Springfield, Massachusetts, and considered more oriented toward it than the City of Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...

 which lies 20 miles to the south.

Demographics

According to the United States Census Bureau
United 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 34.2 square miles (88.6 km²), of which, 33.4 square miles (86.5 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (2.43%) is water.

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 45,212 people, 16,418 households, and 11,394 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 1,354.3 people per square mile (523.0/km²). There were 17,043 housing units at an average density of 510.5 per square mile (197.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.74% White, 5.61% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.57% 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 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.74% of the population.

There were 16,418 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $52,810, and the median income for a family was $60,528. Males had a median income of $42,335 versus $31,082 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 $21,967. About 2.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.7% 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...

9,137 200 9,337 34.67%
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...

4,765 312 5,077 18.85%
Unaffiliated 11,997 497 12,494 46.40%
Minor Parties 21 0 21 0.08%
Total 25,920 1,009 26,929 100%

History

Enfield was originally inhabited by the Pocomtuc
Pocomtuc
The Pocumtuck, also Pocomtuc or Deerfield Indians, were a Native American tribe formerly inhabiting western Massachusetts, especially around the confluence of the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers in Franklin County. Their territory also included parts of Hampden and Hampshire County, as well as...

 tribe, and contained their two villages of Scitico and Nameroke. Enfield was settled in 1679 by settlers from Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...

. Enfield was incorporated in Massachusetts in 1683. In 1749, following the settlement of a lawsuit in which it was determined that a surveyor's error placed a section of present-day Hartford County (including Enfield) within the boundaries of Massachusetts, the town seceded and became part of Connecticut.

Jonathan Edwards preached his famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" is a sermon written by American Christian theologian Jonathan Edwards, preached on July 8, 1741 in Enfield, Connecticut. Like Edwards' other sermons and writings, it combines vivid imagery of Hell with observations of the world and citations of scripture...

" in Enfield. This sermon is one of the most famous sermons ever scripted. It was part of the Great Awakening
First Great Awakening
The First Awakening was a Christian revitalization movement that swept Protestant Europe and British America, and especially the American colonies in the 1730s and 1740s, leaving a permanent impact on American religion. It resulted from powerful preaching that gave listeners a sense of personal...

 Revival that struck New England in the mid-18th century and spread throughout Western civilization.

The modern town of Enfield was formed through the merging of Enfield, Thompsonville
Thompsonville, Connecticut
Thompsonville is a census-designated place in the town of Enfield in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,125 at the 2000 census.-History:...

, and Hazardville. Hazardville was named for Colonel Augustus George Hazard
Augustus George Hazard
Augustus George Hazard , known as Colonel Augustus Hazard, was an American manufacturer of gunpowder and the namesake of Hazardville, Connecticut....

 (1802–1868), whose company manufactured gun powder in the Powder Hollow area of Hazardville from the 1830s to the 1910s. In the 1989 film Glory, boxes of gun powder can be seen with the words Enfield, CT printed on the sides. Also, in an episode in the 1970s cop-drama Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...

, Jack Lord's character Steve McGarrett traces explosives back to "The Hazard Gunpowder Company- Enfield, CT". The capacity of the mill at the time of the Civil War was 1200 pounds (544.3 kg) per day. Over 60 people died in explosions in Powder Hollow during the years when gun powder was manufactured there. The mill blew up several times, but was set up so that if one building blew up, the rest would not follow in a chain reaction. The ruins of these buildings and the dams are open to the public. Powder Hollow is now home to baseball fields and hiking trails.

Enfield Shaker village

In 1793, a historic Shaker village, one of nineteen scattered from Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

 to Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...

, was established in the town. The Utopia
Utopia
Utopia is an ideal community or society possessing a perfect socio-politico-legal system. The word was imported from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. The term has been used to describe both intentional communities that attempt...

n religious sect
Sect
A sect is a group with distinctive religious, political or philosophical beliefs. Although in past it was mostly used to refer to religious groups, it has since expanded and in modern culture can refer to any organization that breaks away from a larger one to follow a different set of rules and...

 practiced celibate, communal living, and is today renowned for its simple architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...

 and furniture
Furniture
Furniture is the mass noun for the movable objects intended to support various human activities such as seating and sleeping in beds, to hold objects at a convenient height for work using horizontal surfaces above the ground, or to store things...

. Membership eventually dwindled, however, and the village disbanded. The property has since been redeveloped by the Enfield Correctional Institution, still located on "Shaker Road."
The presumption that Enfield was named for the Enfield
London Borough of Enfield
The London Borough of Enfield is the most northerly London borough and forms part of Outer London. It borders the London Boroughs of Barnet, Haringey and Waltham Forest...

 area of London is incorrect. According to Dr. Frank Taylor, a noted historian of the town, Enfield was named, in a pattern similar to its neighboring towns of Springfield, Massachusetts (once Northfield) and Suffield, Connecticut (once Southfield). The neighborhood of Old Enfield in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

 is a namesake of Enfield, Connecticut, largely named by the family of Elisha M. Pease
Elisha M. Pease
Elisha Marshall Pease was a U.S. politician from the 1830s through the 1870s. He served as the fifth and 13th Governor of Texas .A native of Enfield, Connecticut, Pease moved to Mexican Texas in 1835...

 former governor of Texas who was born in Enfield, and whose great-great grandfather helped found Enfield as part of Massachusetts in the late 17th century.

Industry

Enfield was home to the U.S. headquarters of Danish plastic building toy manufacturer Lego
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...

, which was also the town's largest employer. In June 2006, the company announced that they would be laying off over 290 employees and begin outsourcing jobs to Mexico. Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards
Hallmark Cards is a privately owned American company based in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 1910 by Joyce C. Hall, Hallmark is the largest manufacturer of greeting cards in the United States. In 1985, the company was awarded the National Medal of Arts....

 is the town's second-largest employer.

Enfield was once the home to the headquarters of the Casual Corner
Casual Corner
Casual Corner was an American retail clothing chain founded in 1950. It operated stores under the names Casual Corner and Petite Sophisticate. The chain operated more than 525 stores at its peak.-History:...

 clothing company.

Formerly and most notably, Enfield had booming carpet
Carpet
A carpet is a textile floor covering consisting of an upper layer of "pile" attached to a backing. The pile is generally either made from wool or a manmade fibre such as polypropylene,nylon or polyester and usually consists of twisted tufts which are often heat-treated to maintain their...

 and gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...

 industries. Orrin Thompson set up shop for the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co. in the Thompsonville section of town, employing many Swedish immigrants and building housing for them, which still stand today.

The gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...

 industry was founded by Colonel Augustus Hazard. Hazard was instrumental in implementing water power and other technologies to allow his business to prosper. Hazard's company was among the biggest gunpowder suppliers for the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

.

Enfield is currently the headquarters of Precision Camera and Video Repair
Precision Camera and Video Repair
Precision Camera & Video Repair, Inc. is the world's largest camera and camcorder repair facility. The company has its headquarters in Enfield, Connecticut and operations in El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico...

.

The town contains several shopping centers, including the Enfield Square Mall
Enfield Square Mall
Enfield Square Mall, formerly Westfield Shoppingtown Enfield Square, is an enclosed shopping mall located in Enfield, Connecticut. At 788,000 square feet, Enfield Square is the 10th largest mall in the State of Connecticut, containing 81 shops, all on one level. The anchors include Macy's, Sears,...

. Neighboring shopping areas include The Shoppes at Buckland Hills
The Shoppes at Buckland Hills
The Shoppes at Buckland Hills, formerly known as Buckland Hills Mall and The Pavilions at Buckland Hills, is a shopping mall located in Manchester, Connecticut....

 in Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester is a township and city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 58,241.- History :...

, the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside in Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke, Massachusetts
Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...

, and Westfarms Mall
Westfarms Mall
WestFarms Mall, sometimes referred to as WestFarms, is a mall located seven miles southwest of Hartford, Connecticut. The mall developer is The Taubman Company. It is the third largest indoor mall in the state....

 in Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...

.

Neighborhoods

The neighborhoods of Enfield, Connecticut are as follows:

Enfield Historical District- Listed in the National Register of Historical Districts, the Enfield Historical District runs along Enfield Street/King Street (U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5
U.S. Route 5 is a north–south United States highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Connecticut; and Springfield, Massachusetts. From Hartford northward to St...

). Many old homes dating back to the mid-18th century were built from 1106-1492 Enfield Street. Varying styles of architecture are noted including Late 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...

, Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...

 and 19th Century Revival. The Enfield Town Hall museum as well as one of the oldest Congregational Churches in America can be found here.

Hazardville - Named after Colonel Augustus Hazard, this neighborhood encompasses a few smaller burbs, including Powder Hollow, and more recently, the center of Enfield began to encroach on this historical area. The center of Hazardville is located between the streets of Park Street and North Street on Hazard Avenue. Notable small shops include The Connecticut Valley Tobacconist, Gayle's Thyme Herbal Apothecary, The Cranberry Scoop Gift Shop, Smoke n' Leather, and numerous pizzarias. The Powder Hollow Park is located in the Hazardville neighborhood district.

North Thompsonville - Contains mostly residential and partially commercial areas of Enfield with many parks and schools.

Presidential Section - This entirely residential area contain streets that are all named after former Presidents of The United States of America. Houses are mid-sized to large in this area.

Scitico - Scitico is on the eastern end of town. Green Manor is considered part of Scitico. This is a suburb in the purest sense, with winding roads, sidewalks, a park, and cul-de-sacs. Green Manor is approximately 4.5 miles from the main highway Interstate 91 and borders Somers, Connecticut
Somers, Connecticut
Somers is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, USA. The population was 10,417 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place...

. Across from the elementary school Nathan Hale Elementary School is a residential park with tennis court, skate boarding ramps, and a playground for younger kids. Green Manor Park did contain a pool at one time but was removed due to the lack of maintenance by the town.

Shaker Pines - This Neighborhood consists mostly of tall pine trees towering above the quaint lakeside houses (hence the name). Shaker Pines was originally part of the Shaker settlement in Enfield. The lake was built by the Shakers to power a mill. The mill stood, vacant, at the dam located at the end of the lake into the late 1990s. This mill provided shelter for Frederick Merrill in 1987 after he escaped from the local high security prison. He was dubbed "The Peanut Butter Bandit" after his mother sneaked him supplies for his first prison escape in 1968 in a jar of peanut butter. The mill was subsequently torn down for safety reasons.

Sherwood Manor
Sherwood Manor, Connecticut
Sherwood Manor is a census-designated place within the town of Enfield in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,689 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...



Southwood Acres - A residential neighborhood in the south part of town.

Thompsonville
Thompsonville, Connecticut
Thompsonville is a census-designated place in the town of Enfield in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,125 at the 2000 census.-History:...

- Named after Orrin Thompson, Thompsonville is the town center of Enfield with a more urban environment. In the past few years, there has been an attempt to revitalize the downtown area. On the southbound portion of Pearl Street there are many old Victorians
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...

. There are also many boat launches onto the bordering Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...

. Commuter rail service is expected to begin in 2013, and planning has started for renovating an old building into a commuter rail station and transportation hub, on the proposed New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Line. Enfield and Thompsonville are currently served by the CT Transit commuter bus services for easy commuting to and from Hartford.

Parks and recreation

  • Brainerd Park: on Brainard Road, features softball fields, children's swing sets. Note the difference in spelling.
  • Connecticut River
    Connecticut River
    The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...

  • Green Manor Recreational Area: off Taylor Road, features playscape, skate park
  • Hazardville Park: off Hazard Avenue, features playscapes, basketball courts, covered picnic area
  • Mark Twain Recreational Area: off South Road, features tennis courts, ball fields
  • Scantic River State Park
    Scantic River State Park
    Scantic River State Park is a Connecticut state park in the towns of Enfield, East Windsor and Somers. It consists of several separated parcels....

    : near South Maple Street Bridge, rapids for canoeing and kayaking, fishing


Enfield is also home of the New England Lightning girls AAU basketball program.

Government and infrastructure

Connecticut Department of Correction
Connecticut Department of Correction
The Connecticut Department of Correction is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. state of Connecticut. The agency operates 18 correctional institutions. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield.-History:...

 prisons are located in Enfield. Enfield Correctional Institution, Robinson Correctional Institution, and Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution are in Enfield.

Education

Asnuntuck Community College
Asnuntuck Community College
Asnuntuck Community College is a community college in Enfield, Connecticut. It offers associate degree and certificate programs.-History:...

 is a two-year college in Enfield.

Enfield Public Schools operates the town's public schools.

Enfield High School
Enfield High School
Enfield High School is a secondary school located in Enfield, Connecticut. Enfield High School was established in 1893. The facility used currently was built in the 1960s and replaced the previous building which is now used as Thomas Alcorn Elementary School. The Enfield High School Complex and...

 and Enrico Fermi High School
Enrico Fermi High School
Enrico Fermi High School is a high school located in Enfield, Connecticut. Enrico Fermi High School was established in 1971 and serves the Enfield community along with the previously-built Enfield High School...

 are the district's high schools. 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....

 Middle School is the town's middle school. There are nine elementary schools in the district. The Enfield Elementary School
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...

 System runs from kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...

 through grade 6, the Enfield School Junior High School runs from grade 7 through grade 8, and the Senior High Schools run from grade 9 through grade 12.

Thomas G. Alcorn School was originally a high school until it was converted to an elementary school when the current high school (Enfield High School
Enfield High School
Enfield High School is a secondary school located in Enfield, Connecticut. Enfield High School was established in 1893. The facility used currently was built in the 1960s and replaced the previous building which is now used as Thomas Alcorn Elementary School. The Enfield High School Complex and...

) was built. It was later extensively renovated in 1993. As of 2005, Enfield Public Schools manages approximately 3,500 students.

Capitol Region Education Council
Capitol Region Education Council
Capitol Region Education Council or CREC provides programs and services to meet the educational needs of children in the Capitol Region of Connecticut...

 has its own magnet school in Enfield. The Public Safety Academy ranges from grade 6 through 12

There is also a presence of parochial schools in Enfield. Three Catholic schools, grades K-8, serve the Enfield community. Typically, these schools operate on the same academic calendar as the public schools.

Notable residents, past and present

  1. Jeremiah Mervin Allen, (1833–1903), born in Enfield, noted educator, engineer, and president of the 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...

    .
  2. Johnny April, bassist for the alternative metal/hard rock band Staind.
  3. John Ashton
    John Ashton (actor)
    John David Ashton is an American actor born in Springfield, Massachusetts, and graduate of the University of Southern California School of Theatre.John Ashton attended Enfield High School in Enfield, Connecticut....

    , actor, attended Enfield High School (former resident).
  4. Elijah Churchill
    Elijah Churchill
    Elijah Churchill , was a soldier for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. Born in Enfield, Connecticut, a carpenter, he entered the 8th Connecticut Regiment as a private on 7 July 1775...

    , soldier in the American Revolutionary War
    American Revolutionary War
    The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...

     and recipient of the medal later known as the Purple Heart
    Purple Heart
    The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...

    .
  5. Kevin Foxe
    Kevin Foxe
    Kevin J. Foxe is a producer, writer, and storyteller, most known for the successful independent film The Blair Witch Project.He has worked in several capacities, including editing and post production, production managing, assistant directing, location managing, producing and writing with filmmakers...

    , Film Producer, Writer, Executive Producer of The Blair Witch Project
    The Blair Witch Project
    The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur footage. The film was produced by the Haxan Films production company. The film relates the story of three student filmmakers The Blair Witch Project is a 1999 American horror film pieced together from amateur...

     was born and grew up in Enfield, graduated Enfield High School. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0289320/
  6. Paul Herscu
    Paul Herscu
    Paul Herscu is an American naturopathic doctor and biomedical researcher. In 2008 he established Herscu Laboratory, a multi-disciplinary non-profit medical research center focused on integrating diverse fields of medical and biological science, as well as public health and education...

    , naturopathic doctor
    Naturopathic medicine
    Naturopathy, or Naturopathic Medicine, is a form of alternative medicine based on a belief in vitalism, which posits that a special energy called vital energy or vital force guides bodily processes such as metabolism, reproduction, growth, and adaptation...

     noted for his homeopathic work. (www.nhcmed.com)
  7. Craig Janney
    Craig Janney
    Craig Harlan Janney is a retired professional ice hockey center who played twelve seasons in the National Hockey League from 1987–88 until 1998–99, when blood clots ended his career prematurely.-Playing career:...

    , Olympian and professional ice hockey center (former resident).
  8. Peter King
    Peter King (sportswriter)
    Peter King is an American sportswriter. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated and its Web site, including the weekly multiple-page column Monday Morning Quarterback. He is the author of five books, most notably Inside the Helmet, as well as a TV analyst and reporter...

    , football columnist for Sports Illustrated
    Sports Illustrated
    Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...

     and author.
  9. Elisha M. Pease
    Elisha M. Pease
    Elisha Marshall Pease was a U.S. politician from the 1830s through the 1870s. He served as the fifth and 13th Governor of Texas .A native of Enfield, Connecticut, Pease moved to Mexican Texas in 1835...

    , politician and two-term Governor of Texas (elected in 1853 and 1855). Renamed 15th Street in Austin, Texas
    Austin, Texas
    Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

     Enfield Road after the town where he was born.
  10. Paul Robeson
    Paul Robeson
    Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...

    , singer and actor (former resident).
  11. Karen Scavotto
    Karen Scavotto
    Karen Patricia Scavotto is an American archer. She now resides in Enfield, Connecticut, and is an alumna of Enfield High School. She is currently ranked fifth in the world by the International Archery Federation. She competed in archery at the 2000 Summer Olympics. -References:*...

    , Olympic archer.
  12. Bill Spanswick
    Bill Spanswick
    William Henry Spanswick is a former left-handed starting pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox in 1964.-References:...

    , baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.
  13. Nathaniel Terry
    Nathaniel Terry
    Nathaniel Terry was a United States Representative from Connecticut. He was born in Enfield, Connecticut. He attended the common schools, Dartmouth College, and was graduated from Yale College in 1786. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1790 and commenced practice in Enfield...

    , Representative from Connecticut in the 15th United States Congress
    15th United States Congress
    -Leadership:- Senate :* President: Daniel D. Tompkins * President pro tempore:** John Gaillard , elected March 4, 1817** James Barbour , elected February 15, 1819- House of Representatives :*Speaker: Henry Clay -Members:...

     (served 1817-1819).
  14. The Last Goodnight
    The Last Goodnight
    The Last Goodnight was an alternative rock/pop band from Enfield, Connecticut, USA. Their major label debut, Poison Kiss, was released on 28 August 2007...

    , Upcoming band originally from Enfield and formerly called Renata, attended Enfield High School
    Enfield High School
    Enfield High School is a secondary school located in Enfield, Connecticut. Enfield High School was established in 1893. The facility used currently was built in the 1960s and replaced the previous building which is now used as Thomas Alcorn Elementary School. The Enfield High School Complex and...

    .

Notable historical sites

  • The Strand Theatre: (a.k.a. Enfield Cinema) Most prominently active in the '40s and '50s, in the '70s the Strand had to resort to X-rated films to remain afloat until finally closing doors in the 1980s. Locals have many ideas for the future of the theater, but it is in great disrepair.

  • Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co.: Now Bigelow Commons, a renovated upscale condominium complex, these buildings were the site of a large carpet company that employed many in the town. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places
    National Register of Historic Places
    The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...

    .

Sister cities

Enfield has two official sister cities
Town twinning
Twin towns and sister cities are two of many terms used to describe the cooperative agreements between towns, cities, and even counties in geographically and politically distinct areas to promote cultural and commercial ties.- Terminology :...

 as designated by Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International
Sister Cities International is a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between United States and international communities. More than 2,000 cities, states and counties are partnered in 136 countries around the world...

 http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/CT: Jhongli City, Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...

 (Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...

). Ronneby
Ronneby
Ronneby is a locality and the seat of Ronneby Municipality in Blekinge County, Sweden with 11,767 inhabitants in 2005.Ronneby is regarded as the heart of "the Garden of Sweden", and in 2005 the park "Brunnsparken" in Ronneby was voted Sweden's most beautiful park. 2006 the park was voted Europe's...

, Sweden.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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