Plainfield, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Plainfield is a town
in Windham County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 14,619 at the 2000 census. The town comprises four villages: Plainfield (south, ZIP code
06374), Moosup
(northeast, 06354), Wauregan
(northwest, 06387), and Central Village (west, 06332). Each village has their own respective United States Post Office
and fire department
. The entire town is serviced by the 860 area code.
in 1699 as the town of Quinebaug and renamed the following year to its current name. Plainfield proved to be an industrial heavyweight in the 19th and early 20th centuries due largely to the ability of the Moosup and Quinebaug River
s to provide power to the different mills throughout town. Combined with the mills, Plainfield had incredible commerce for a small town because four railways from Hartford, New York, Boston, and Providence intersected within the town. There was also a highly acclaimed school on Academy Hill, which is how the present Academy Hill Road got its name.
Plainfield includes the Central Village Historic District
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 43.0 square miles (111.5 km²), of which, 42.3 square miles (109.5 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it (1.81%) is water. From the southernmost point, Plainfield is 20 miles inland of the Long Island Sound
and Block Island Sound
(Atlantic Ocean
). Plainfield is the southernmost town of Windham County. The Quinebaug River generally forms the western border of the town. The Moosup River feeds the Quinebaug and runs across the northern portion of town.
(I-395
and CT 695) and is serviced by three exits: Lathrop Road at exit 87, CT 14A at exit 88, and CT 14 at exit 89. All exits are off the I-395 portion of the Turnpike, which runs north and south. Exit 90 off I-395 North is in Plainfield, but does not offer access to any Plainfield streets. CT 12 generally runs parallel to the west of the Turnpike, and is less than one-half mile from all three Turnpike exits.
There is no direct air, passenger rail, or navigable water access to Plainfield, although the town is serviced by the Providence and Worcester Railroad
(freight only), which also parallels the Connecticut Turnpike corridor
. There is no public transport
system available in the town; combined with a lack of a sidewalk
and/or segregated cycle facilities
network and the large area of the town, this necessitates that most transit is done by car.
Providence
, RI
is the closest major city, 30 miles to the East. Hartford
is 40 miles West. Boston, MA
is 60 miles Northeast; New York
(Manhattan
), NY
is 120 miles Southwest. The closest domestic airport is T. F. Green Airport
(PVD) in Warwick
, RI. Bradley International Airport
(BDL) in Windsor Locks is the closest international gateway. Nearby Amtrak
passenger rail stations include New London
(NLC) and Providence (PVD); both are roughly 40 minute drives. New London is also served by the Shore Line East
commuter railroad, and Providence by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
(MBTA) Commuter Rail.
of 2000, there were 14,619 people, 5,444 households, and 3,908 families residing in the town. The population density
was 345.9 people per square mile (133.5/km²). There were 5,676 housing units at an average density of 134.3 per square mile (51.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.15% White, 0.78% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races
, and 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.
There were 5,444 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,851, and the median income for a family was $47,447. Males had a median income of $36,785 versus $24,026 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,706. About 5.4% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
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 Windham County
Windham County, Connecticut
Windham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 118,428.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
, 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 14,619 at the 2000 census. The town comprises four villages: Plainfield (south, 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...
06374), Moosup
Moosup, Connecticut
Moosup is a village and census-designated place in the town of Plainfield, Connecticut in the United States. The population was 3,237 at the 2000 census.-Pop Culture:...
(northeast, 06354), Wauregan
Wauregan, Connecticut
Wauregan is a village located in the northwestern corner of the town of Plainfield, Connecticut in the United States. Originally a mill village, Wauregan was established around a cotton mill powered by the Quinebaug River....
(northwest, 06387), and Central Village (west, 06332). Each village has their own respective United States Post Office
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
and fire department
Fire station
A fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment...
. The entire town is serviced by the 860 area code.
History
Plainfield was incorporatedMunicipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
in 1699 as the town of Quinebaug and renamed the following year to its current name. Plainfield proved to be an industrial heavyweight in the 19th and early 20th centuries due largely to the ability of the Moosup and Quinebaug River
Quinebaug River
The Quinebaug River is a river in south-central Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut, with watershed extending into western Rhode Island. The name "Quinebaug" comes from the southern New England Native American term, spelled variously Qunnubbâgge, Quinibauge, etc., meaning "long pond", from...
s to provide power to the different mills throughout town. Combined with the mills, Plainfield had incredible commerce for a small town because four railways from Hartford, New York, Boston, and Providence intersected within the town. There was also a highly acclaimed school on Academy Hill, which is how the present Academy Hill Road got its name.
Plainfield includes the Central Village Historic District
Central Village Historic District
Central Village Historic District is a historic district in the Central Village area of Plainfield, Connecticut that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991....
, listed on 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...
.
Geography
Plainfield is located at: 41.6775 N, 71.9220 W.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 43.0 square miles (111.5 km²), of which, 42.3 square miles (109.5 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it (1.81%) is water. From the southernmost point, Plainfield is 20 miles inland of the Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
and Block Island Sound
Block Island Sound
Block Island Sound is a strait in the open Atlantic Ocean, approximately wide, separating Block Island from the coast of Rhode Island in the United States...
(Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
). Plainfield is the southernmost town of Windham County. The Quinebaug River generally forms the western border of the town. The Moosup River feeds the Quinebaug and runs across the northern portion of town.
Transportation
Plainfield is bisected by the Connecticut TurnpikeConnecticut Turnpike
The Connecticut Turnpike, known now as the Governor John Davis Lodge Turnpike, is a freeway in Connecticut that runs from Greenwich to Killingly. It is signed as Interstate 95 from the New York state line at Greenwich to East Lyme, and then as Interstate 395 from East Lyme to Plainfield...
(I-395
Interstate 395 (Connecticut)
Interstate 395 is a 67-mile-long north–south Interstate Highway that begins at Interstate 95 in East Lyme, Connecticut and ends at Interstate 90 in Auburn, Massachusetts, where it becomes Interstate 290. The original designation for the freeway was Route 52...
and CT 695) and is serviced by three exits: Lathrop Road at exit 87, CT 14A at exit 88, and CT 14 at exit 89. All exits are off the I-395 portion of the Turnpike, which runs north and south. Exit 90 off I-395 North is in Plainfield, but does not offer access to any Plainfield streets. CT 12 generally runs parallel to the west of the Turnpike, and is less than one-half mile from all three Turnpike exits.
There is no direct air, passenger rail, or navigable water access to Plainfield, although the town is serviced by the Providence and Worcester Railroad
Providence and Worcester Railroad
The Providence and Worcester Railroad is a Class II railroad in the United States. The railroad connects from Gardner in central Massachusetts, south through its namesake cities of Worcester and Providence, Rhode Island, and west from Rhode Island through Connecticut and into New York City...
(freight only), which also parallels the Connecticut Turnpike corridor
Transport corridor
A transportation corridor is a tract of land in which at least one main line for transport, be it road, rail or canal, has been built...
. There is no public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
system available in the town; combined with a lack of a sidewalk
Sidewalk
A sidewalk, or pavement, footpath, footway, and sometimes platform, is a path along the side of a road. A sidewalk may accommodate moderate changes in grade and is normally separated from the vehicular section by a curb...
and/or segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities
Segregated cycle facilities are marked lanes, tracks, shoulders and paths designated for use by cyclists from which motorised traffic is generally excluded...
network and the large area of the town, this necessitates that most transit is done by car.
Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, RI
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
is the closest major city, 30 miles to the East. Hartford
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...
is 40 miles West. Boston, MA
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...
is 60 miles Northeast; New York
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...
(Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
), NY
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...
is 120 miles Southwest. The closest domestic airport is T. F. Green Airport
T. F. Green Airport
T. F. Green Airport , also known as Theodore Francis Green State Airport, is a public airport located in Warwick, six miles south of Providence, in Kent County, Rhode Island, USA. Dedicated in 1931, the airport was named for former Rhode Island governor and longtime senator Theodore F. Green...
(PVD) in Warwick
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
, RI. Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
(BDL) in Windsor Locks is the closest international gateway. Nearby 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...
passenger rail stations include New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
(NLC) and Providence (PVD); both are roughly 40 minute drives. New London is also served by the Shore Line East
Shore Line East
Shore Line East is a commuter rail service operating in southern Connecticut, USA. A fully owned subsidiary of the Connecticut Department of Transportation , SLE provides service seven days a week along the Northeast Corridor from New London west to New Haven, with continuing service to Bridgeport...
commuter railroad, and Providence by Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, often referred to as the MBTA or simply The T, is the public operator of most bus, subway, commuter rail and ferry systems in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Officially a "body politic and corporate, and a political subdivision" of the...
(MBTA) Commuter Rail.
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 14,619 people, 5,444 households, and 3,908 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 345.9 people per square mile (133.5/km²). There were 5,676 housing units at an average density of 134.3 per square mile (51.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.15% White, 0.78% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.63% 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 1.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.63% of the population.
There were 5,444 households out of which 36.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% 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, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.2% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 32.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $42,851, and the median income for a family was $47,447. Males had a median income of $36,785 versus $24,026 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 $18,706. About 5.4% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
The Plainfield Board of Education (also Plainfield Public Schools) is responsible for the operation of schools, and operates seven facilities throughout the town.Elementary (K-5)
- Moosup Elementary School
- Plainfield Memorial School
- Shepard Hill Elementary School