Killingworth, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Killingworth is a town
in Middlesex County
, Connecticut
, United States. The town's name can easily be confused with another Connecticut town, Killingly
; or a Vermont
ski area, Killington
. The population was 6,018 at the 2000 census.
tribe
of the same name. The area originally incorporated the town of Clinton
, which were separated along ecclesiastical borders. Part of New London County prior to May 1785, Killingworth was then included in the newly formed Middlesex County, where it remains today.
It was named after Kenilworth
, England in honor of one of the first settlers. Kenilworth's name was more similar to "Killingworth" during the American colonial period, and over time the pronunciation and spelling drifted towards the modern one. Coincidentally, there is a town and village in England called Killingworth
and Killingworth Village
in the county of Tyne and Wear
, which do not seem to have any connection with Killingworth, Connecticut.
In the late 17th century, Killingworth became the birthplace of what would eventually become Yale University
. The Rev. Abraham Pierson, the college's first president, taught some of the first classes in his Killingworth home - which is actually in present-day Clinton, Connecticut
. However in 1701, the college's first official home was constructed in Old Saybrook
on the peninsula known as Saybrook Point. Eventually the school was moved to its present-day home in New Haven
.
, the town has an area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²). Of this total, 35.3 square miles (91.4 km²) is dry land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) – or 1.34% – is water-covered.
Killingworth also contains Chatfield Hollow State Park
.
of 2000, there were 6,018 people, 2,196 households, and 1,765 families residing in the town. The population density
was 170.3 people per square mile (65.8/km²). There were 2,283 housing units at an average density of 64.6 per square mile (24.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.54% White, 0.42% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.25% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.
There were 2,196 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples
living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $80,805, and the median income for a family was $87,874. Males had a median income of $61,650 versus $38,289 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $31,929. None of the families and 0.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 1.4% of those over 64.
, currently headed by First Selectman
, Democrat
Cathy Iino.
and its villages of Haddam Neck (located on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River
) and Higganum
. The high school is called Haddam-Killingworth High School (often abbreviated as simply "HK"), and is located in Higganum. The school's sports teams are called the 'Cougars'. A new middle-school, named Haddam Killingworth Middle School or "HKMS", built in 2006 in Killingworth, houses grades 5 through 8.
provides public transportation throughout Killingworth and the surrounding towns through its 9 Town Transit Service. Services include connections to the Old Saybrook Train Station, served by Amtrak
and Shoreline East railroads.
's poem "The Birds of Killingworth" published in Tales of a Wayside Inn
.
1999: The largest tree in Rockefeller Center history, 100 feet (30.5 m) high, was chosen from Killingworth, CT.
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 Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Connecticut
Middlesex County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was created in 1785 from portions of Hartford and New London counties. As of 2010, the population was 165,676....
, 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 town's name can easily be confused with another Connecticut town, Killingly
Killingly, Connecticut
Killingly is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 16,472 at the 2000 census. It consists of the borough of Danielson and the villages of Attawaugan, Ballouville, Dayville, East Killingly, Rogers, and South Killingly....
; or a Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
ski area, Killington
Killington Ski Resort
Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical in New England as well at 3050 feet.-History:In 1954, Perry H...
. The population was 6,018 at the 2000 census.
History
Killingworth was established from the area called Hammonasset, taken from the local Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe
Tribe
A tribe, viewed historically or developmentally, consists of a social group existing before the development of, or outside of, states.Many anthropologists use the term tribal society to refer to societies organized largely on the basis of kinship, especially corporate descent groups .Some theorists...
of the same name. The area originally incorporated the town of Clinton
Clinton, Connecticut
Clinton is a town located on Long Island Sound in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,094 at the 2000 census. The town center along the shore line was listed as a census-designated place by the U.S...
, which were separated along ecclesiastical borders. Part of New London County prior to May 1785, Killingworth was then included in the newly formed Middlesex County, where it remains today.
It was named after Kenilworth
Kenilworth
Kenilworth is a town in central Warwickshire, England. In 2001 the town had a population of 22,582 . It is situated south of Coventry, north of Warwick and northwest of London....
, England in honor of one of the first settlers. Kenilworth's name was more similar to "Killingworth" during the American colonial period, and over time the pronunciation and spelling drifted towards the modern one. Coincidentally, there is a town and village in England called Killingworth
Killingworth
Killingworth, formerly Killingworth Township, is a town north of Newcastle Upon Tyne, in North Tyneside, United Kingdom.Built as a planned town in the 1960s, most of Killingworth's residents commute to Newcastle, or the city's surrounding area. However, Killingworth itself has a sizeable...
and Killingworth Village
Killingworth Village
Killingworth Village, sometimes known as "Old Killingworth", is a small village south of the modern town of Killingworth, and north of Forest Hall in North Tyneside, North East England.- St. John the Evangelist Church :...
in the county of Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, which do not seem to have any connection with Killingworth, Connecticut.
In the late 17th century, Killingworth became the birthplace of what would eventually become Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. The Rev. Abraham Pierson, the college's first president, taught some of the first classes in his Killingworth home - which is actually in present-day Clinton, Connecticut
Clinton, Connecticut
Clinton is a town located on Long Island Sound in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,094 at the 2000 census. The town center along the shore line was listed as a census-designated place by the U.S...
. However in 1701, the college's first official home was constructed in Old Saybrook
Old Saybrook, Connecticut
Old Saybrook is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,367 at the 2000 census. It contains the incorporated borough of Fenwick, as well as the census-designated places of Old Saybrook Center and Saybrook Manor.-History:...
on the peninsula known as Saybrook Point. Eventually the school was moved to its present-day home in 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...
.
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 an area of 35.8 square miles (92.7 km²). Of this total, 35.3 square miles (91.4 km²) is dry land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) – or 1.34% – is water-covered.
Killingworth also contains Chatfield Hollow State Park
Chatfield Hollow State Park
Chatfield Hollow State Park is a state park of the U.S. state of Connecticut, located in Killingworth, Connecticut. There are trails in the park, a lake beach and a stream. There is trout fishing in the state park, as well as Indian Caves, hiking, birdwatching, historic sites, mountain biking, rock...
.
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 2000, there were 6,018 people, 2,196 households, and 1,765 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 170.3 people per square mile (65.8/km²). There were 2,283 housing units at an average density of 64.6 per square mile (24.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.54% White, 0.42% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.25% 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 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.
There were 2,196 households out of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% 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, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.6% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74 and the average family size was 3.08.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $80,805, and the median income for a family was $87,874. Males had a median income of $61,650 versus $38,289 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 $31,929. None of the families and 0.7% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 1.4% of those over 64.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active Voters | Inactive Voters | Total Voters | Percentage |
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... |
1,149 | 17 | 1,166 | 25.28% |
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... |
892 | 8 | 900 | 19.51% |
Unaffiliated | 2,511 | 33 | 2,544 | 55.15% |
Minor Parties | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.07% | |
| Total | 4,555 | 58 | 4,613 | 100% | |||||||||||||||||||||
Government
Killingworth is governed by a Board of SelectmenBoard of selectmen
The board of selectmen is commonly the executive arm of the government of New England towns in the United States. The board typically consists of three or five members, with or without staggered terms.-History:...
, currently headed by First Selectman
First Selectman
The first selectman is the head of the board of selectmen in some New England towns....
, Democrat
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...
Cathy Iino.
Education
Students attending school in Killingworth are a part of Connecticut's Regional School District #17, which consists of HaddamHaddam, Connecticut
Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 7,157 at the 2000 census. The town was also home to the now decommissioned Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Reactor.-Geography:...
and its villages of Haddam Neck (located on the eastern bank of 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...
) and Higganum
Higganum, Connecticut
Higganum, a census-designated place in the town of Haddam, a part of Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,671 at the 2000 census....
. The high school is called Haddam-Killingworth High School (often abbreviated as simply "HK"), and is located in Higganum. The school's sports teams are called the 'Cougars'. A new middle-school, named Haddam Killingworth Middle School or "HKMS", built in 2006 in Killingworth, houses grades 5 through 8.
Transportation
The Estuary Transit DistrictEstuary Transit District
Estuary Transit District is the public transit provider for Connecticut River Estuary region. ETD provides public transit service through its 9 Town Transit service to the towns of Chester, Clinton, Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook, Connecticut...
provides public transportation throughout Killingworth and the surrounding towns through its 9 Town Transit Service. Services include connections to the Old Saybrook Train Station, served by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
and Shoreline East railroads.
Popular culture
The town was the subject of the poet Henry Wadsworth LongfellowHenry Wadsworth Longfellow
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was an American poet and educator whose works include "Paul Revere's Ride", The Song of Hiawatha, and Evangeline...
's poem "The Birds of Killingworth" published in Tales of a Wayside Inn
Tales of a Wayside Inn
Tales of a Wayside Inn is a collection of poems by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.-Overview:The poems in the collection are told by a group of adults in the tavern of the Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts, 20 miles from Cambridge, and a favorite resort for parties from Harvard College...
.
1999: The largest tree in Rockefeller Center history, 100 feet (30.5 m) high, was chosen from Killingworth, CT.
Notable residents
- Jeff BagwellJeff BagwellJeffrey Robert Bagwell , is a former American professional baseball player and coach. He played his entire fifteen-year Major League Baseball career as a first baseman for the Houston Astros and was a four-time All-Star...
, former Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player for the Houston AstrosHouston AstrosThe Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, lived in Killingworth. - Carleton BealsCarleton BealsCarleton Beals was a radical American journalist, author, historian, and a crusader with special interests in Latin America.-Early years:...
, radical American journalist, author, historian, and a crusader with special interests in Latin AmericaLatin AmericaLatin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. - Abel BuellAbel BuellAbel Buell , born in Killingworth, Connecticut, was a goldsmith, silversmith, jewelry designer, engraver, surveyor, type manufacturer, mint master, textile miller, and counterfeiter in the American colonies...
, publisher of the first map of the new United States created by an American, was born in Killingworth. - Jonathan BushJonathan BushJonathan James Bush , is an American banker and former Republican Party fundraiser.-Education and family:Jonathan Bush graduated from The Hotchkiss School and Yale University, where he was a member of Skull and Bones. He is the fourth child of Prescott Sheldon Bush and Dorothy Walker Bush and is...
, American banker and the uncle of PresidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. - Hugh LoftingHugh LoftingHugh John Lofting was a British author, trained as a civil engineer, who created the character of Doctor Dolittle — one of the classics of children's literature.-Personal life:...
, author of the Doctor Doolittle series.
National Historic Sites
- Emmanuel ChurchEmmanuel Church (Killingworth, Connecticut)Emmanuel Church is a historic church building at 50 Emmanuel Church Road in Killingworth, Connecticut.-History:It was built in 1803 by a group of farmers and originally called Union Church....
, added August 5, 1999 - Oak LodgeOak LodgeOak Lodge is a property in Killingworth, Connecticut that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.It was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The lodge was built on the west side of Schreeder Pond, an artificial pond also built by the CCC. It was part of the...
, added September 4, 1986 - Parmelee House (Killingworth, Connecticut)Parmelee House (Killingworth, Connecticut)The Parmelee House is a property in Killingworth, Connecticut that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The house was built c.1770...
.