Portland, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Portland is a town
in Middlesex County
, Connecticut
, United States
. The population was 8,732 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place
(CDP). It is situated across the Connecticut River
from Middletown
.
Brownstone
quarried in Portland was used in the construction of Hartford's Old State House
in 1796. The vast majority of the brownstone buildings in Connecticut (see College Row at Wesleyan University
and the Long Walk at Trinity College
) as well as the famous brownstones in New York City were built with brownstone from Portland's quarries
.
About half of the town's perimeter is made up of the Connecticut River. The town has
eight marinas and boat clubs as well as three 18-hole golf courses.
supplied to New York, Boston and even San Francisco, Canada and England. By the 1850s, more than 1,500 people were employed in the quarry industry. More than 25 ships transported the stone. By the 1850s, shipbuilding became more important as an industry, and the economic center of town shifted toward the Gildersleeve area. Immigrants from Ireland, then Sweden, then (to a lesser extent) Italy came to town to work the quarries.
It originally was part of Middletown
and then known as East Middletown. In 1767, Chatham, which then included Portland and East Hampton, was founded.
The town was a part of Chatham until 1841, when it became separate. Its name comes from Portland, England, a place famous for its freestone quarries.
Portland's oldest church is the First Congregational Church. In 1710 a meeting was held for the building of a meetinghouse for preaching. The Connecticut General Assembly approved "parish privileges" in 1714. After a vociferous controversy, a location for the new "Third Ecclesiastical Society of Middletown" meetinghouse was decided upon at "Hall Hill". On October 25, 1721, Rev. Daniel Newell, the first pastor, was ordained. The Bristol
, Connecticut
native and Yale College
graduate died in 1731. In 1748 a new meetinghouse was built, and 1843 the name of the society was changed to the "First Ecclesiastical Society of Portland."
Before quarrying became the town's chief industry in the nineteenth century, Portland was known for its shipbuilding. The Gildersleeve village in town is associated with the Gildersleeve family, prominent shipbuilders in the 1800s. The first vessel built in town was launched in 1741. During the American Revolution
and the War of 1812
many U.S. Navy vessels were built in various shipyards in town. Tinware and enamel ware were produced in town in the late nineteenth century. Tobacco farming has also been a big industry in the town. During the American Civil War
a number of vessels were also constructed in Portland, such as the steamship USS Guard (1857)
and the bark USS J. C. Kuhn (1859)
.
In 1895, the town decided to establish a public library, although private libraries had been in town for more than a century. The Portland Library was originally a room in Town Hall with about 800 books after the private Portland Library Association turned over all of its books. Within months of its establishment, Horace B. Buck, a native resident who later moved to Worcester
, Massachusetts
, donated $2,000 toward the erection of a separate library building, and the town appropriated another $1,000. Shaler & Hall and Brainerd Quarries contributed the brownstone, and before the building was finished, Buck gave another $500 (after his death, his estate gave another $2,500. The library moved into another building in 1981.
In the early twentieth century, brownstone couldn't compete much with concrete, and the industry went into decline. In 1936, the Connecticut River flooded the quarries, which ended the industry in town, and the shipbuilding industry collapsed as well.
In the early eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, schools were managed by school societies. These societies were abolished when the first Board of Education was elected in 1856. The area was divided into school districts.
Gildersleeve Hall, District 1, was built in 1876 and located on Main Street. It offered both elementary and high school. It was the first high school conducted in any town in Connecticut. When fire destroyed it in 1889, it was rebuilt on the same site. It continued to offer high school until 1899. It served students until 1958. It was demolished to make room for the third school on the site. Gildersleeve School opened in 1964 and still stands at 575 ½ Main Street. It now serves grades 3 and 4.
Central School District, District 2, included several schools between 1830–1979. The only remaining building is the Central School Building that is now the Town Hall located at 33 East Main Street. The Central School Building originally named Portland High School, offered high school courses in 1890 to 7 pupils. It consolidated with Gildersleeve High School in 1899. It remained a school building until 1979. It became the Town hall in 2001.
District 3 was located on Rose Hill Road opposite the residence of Walter W Olsen. The Rose Hill School was the first school building in Portland and used until 1936. District 4, Penfield Hill School, 1830–1920, is now owned by Noyes School. District 5, Up City School, 1857–1921, on Glastonbury Road is now a residence. District 6, Pecausett School, 1830–1911, was located at the southwest corner of Grove Street and East Hampton Road. District 7, the Bucktown School, 1830–1872, was built on the eastern end of Cotton Hill Road.
The school currently known as the Brownstone Intermediate School, located at 314 Main Street, was opened in 1932 as the Junior-Senior High School. It was open to grades 7-12. Renovations were made to the school in 1953 and 1967. In 1960, it was renamed Portland Junior High School and then renamed again in 1989 to Portland Middle School where it housed grades 6 through 8. In 2004, it was renamed Brownstone Intermediate School and now houses grades 5 and 6.
Valley View Elementary School located at 81 High Street opened in 1954. An addition was complete in 1958. Valley View currently houses grades K-2.
Portland High School located at 95 High Street opened in 1960 as the new Senior High School. A large addition was completed in 1969 Renovations and a second addition were made to the high school and completed in 2004. The project included a large addition that houses the new Portland Middle School at 93 High Street. The middle school includes grades 7 and 8.
, the town has a total area of 24.9 square miles (64.5 km²), of which, 23.4 square miles (60.6 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (5.99%) is water. The town center CDP has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²). 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (9.71%) is water. The village of Gildersleeve also lies within Portland.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 8,732 people, 3,388 households, and 2,419 families residing in the town. The population density
was 373.1 people per square mile (144.1/km²). There were 3,528 housing units at an average density of 150.7 per square mile (58.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.12% White, 2.44% Black or African American
, 0.16% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.
There were 3,388 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $63,285, and the median income for a family was $73,036. Males had a median income of $48,849 versus $35,104 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $28,229. About 3.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
2 of 2000, there were 5,534 people, 2,225 households, and 1,495 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,121.8 inhabitants per square mile (433.4/km²). There were 2,286 housing units at an average density of 463.4 per square mile (179.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.89% White, 3.22% Black or African American
, 0.22% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races
, and 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.29% of the population.
There were 2,225 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples
living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,949, and the median income for a family was $66,686. Males had a median income of $46,163 versus $30,402 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $26,240. About 4.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 11.8% 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 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 8,732 at the 2000 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP). It is situated across 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...
from Middletown
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
.
Brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
quarried in Portland was used in the construction of Hartford's Old State House
Old State House (Hartford)
The Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut is generally believed to have been designed by noted American architect Charles Bulfinch as his first public building...
in 1796. The vast majority of the brownstone buildings in Connecticut (see College Row at Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
and the Long Walk at Trinity College
Trinity College (Connecticut)
Trinity College is a private, liberal arts college in Hartford, Connecticut. Founded in 1823, it is the second-oldest college in the state of Connecticut after Yale University. The college enrolls 2,300 students and has been coeducational since 1969. Trinity offers 38 majors and 26 minors, and has...
) as well as the famous brownstones in New York City were built with brownstone from Portland's quarries
Portland Brownstone Quarries
The Portland Brownstone Quarries are a set of historic quarries in Portland, Connecticut. The brownstone mined from these quarries was an important source for construction in the latter half of the 19th century. The stone from these quarries was used in a number of landmark buildings in Chicago,...
.
About half of the town's perimeter is made up of the Connecticut River. The town has
eight marinas and boat clubs as well as three 18-hole golf courses.
History
The Wangunk ("Big Bend") tribe lived in the area before European settlement. Their name referred to the bend in the Connecticut River which curves around half of the town's perimeter.Settlement to the nineteenth century
The first European settlers came to Portland in the 1690s. They were attracted by brownstone, which was used both for construction and for gravestones. Proximity to the river meant that the stone could be transported far and wide, and the Portland brownstone quarriesPortland Brownstone Quarries
The Portland Brownstone Quarries are a set of historic quarries in Portland, Connecticut. The brownstone mined from these quarries was an important source for construction in the latter half of the 19th century. The stone from these quarries was used in a number of landmark buildings in Chicago,...
supplied to New York, Boston and even San Francisco, Canada and England. By the 1850s, more than 1,500 people were employed in the quarry industry. More than 25 ships transported the stone. By the 1850s, shipbuilding became more important as an industry, and the economic center of town shifted toward the Gildersleeve area. Immigrants from Ireland, then Sweden, then (to a lesser extent) Italy came to town to work the quarries.
It originally was part of Middletown
Middletown, Connecticut
Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
and then known as East Middletown. In 1767, Chatham, which then included Portland and East Hampton, was founded.
The town was a part of Chatham until 1841, when it became separate. Its name comes from Portland, England, a place famous for its freestone quarries.
Portland's oldest church is the First Congregational Church. In 1710 a meeting was held for the building of a meetinghouse for preaching. The Connecticut General Assembly approved "parish privileges" in 1714. After a vociferous controversy, a location for the new "Third Ecclesiastical Society of Middletown" meetinghouse was decided upon at "Hall Hill". On October 25, 1721, Rev. Daniel Newell, the first pastor, was ordained. The Bristol
Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
, 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...
native and Yale College
Yale College
Yale College was the official name of Yale University from 1718 to 1887. The name now refers to the undergraduate part of the university. Each undergraduate student is assigned to one of 12 residential colleges.-Residential colleges:...
graduate died in 1731. In 1748 a new meetinghouse was built, and 1843 the name of the society was changed to the "First Ecclesiastical Society of Portland."
Late nineteenth and twentieth centuries
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
and the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
many U.S. Navy vessels were built in various shipyards in town. Tinware and enamel ware were produced in town in the late nineteenth century. Tobacco farming has also been a big industry in the town. During 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...
a number of vessels were also constructed in Portland, such as the steamship USS Guard (1857)
USS Guard (1857)
USS Guard was a large steamship with powerful 8-inch rifled guns, acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War.She was placed into service as a storeship and assigned to support the ships blockading the ports of the Confederate States of America...
and the bark USS J. C. Kuhn (1859)
USS J. C. Kuhn (1859)
USS J. C. Kuhn was a capacious bark acquired by the Union Navy during the American Civil War. She was used by the Union Navy as a stores ship in support of the Union Navy blockade of Confederate waterways....
.
In 1895, the town decided to establish a public library, although private libraries had been in town for more than a century. The Portland Library was originally a room in Town Hall with about 800 books after the private Portland Library Association turned over all of its books. Within months of its establishment, Horace B. Buck, a native resident who later moved to Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, 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...
, donated $2,000 toward the erection of a separate library building, and the town appropriated another $1,000. Shaler & Hall and Brainerd Quarries contributed the brownstone, and before the building was finished, Buck gave another $500 (after his death, his estate gave another $2,500. The library moved into another building in 1981.
In the early twentieth century, brownstone couldn't compete much with concrete, and the industry went into decline. In 1936, the Connecticut River flooded the quarries, which ended the industry in town, and the shipbuilding industry collapsed as well.
Education
The Portland Public School District consists of four schools: Portland High School & Middle School, Brownstone Intermediate School, Gildersleeve School and Valley View School. The district serves a total of 1,425 students.In the early eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, schools were managed by school societies. These societies were abolished when the first Board of Education was elected in 1856. The area was divided into school districts.
Gildersleeve Hall, District 1, was built in 1876 and located on Main Street. It offered both elementary and high school. It was the first high school conducted in any town in Connecticut. When fire destroyed it in 1889, it was rebuilt on the same site. It continued to offer high school until 1899. It served students until 1958. It was demolished to make room for the third school on the site. Gildersleeve School opened in 1964 and still stands at 575 ½ Main Street. It now serves grades 3 and 4.
Central School District, District 2, included several schools between 1830–1979. The only remaining building is the Central School Building that is now the Town Hall located at 33 East Main Street. The Central School Building originally named Portland High School, offered high school courses in 1890 to 7 pupils. It consolidated with Gildersleeve High School in 1899. It remained a school building until 1979. It became the Town hall in 2001.
District 3 was located on Rose Hill Road opposite the residence of Walter W Olsen. The Rose Hill School was the first school building in Portland and used until 1936. District 4, Penfield Hill School, 1830–1920, is now owned by Noyes School. District 5, Up City School, 1857–1921, on Glastonbury Road is now a residence. District 6, Pecausett School, 1830–1911, was located at the southwest corner of Grove Street and East Hampton Road. District 7, the Bucktown School, 1830–1872, was built on the eastern end of Cotton Hill Road.
The school currently known as the Brownstone Intermediate School, located at 314 Main Street, was opened in 1932 as the Junior-Senior High School. It was open to grades 7-12. Renovations were made to the school in 1953 and 1967. In 1960, it was renamed Portland Junior High School and then renamed again in 1989 to Portland Middle School where it housed grades 6 through 8. In 2004, it was renamed Brownstone Intermediate School and now houses grades 5 and 6.
Valley View Elementary School located at 81 High Street opened in 1954. An addition was complete in 1958. Valley View currently houses grades K-2.
Portland High School located at 95 High Street opened in 1960 as the new Senior High School. A large addition was completed in 1969 Renovations and a second addition were made to the high school and completed in 2004. The project included a large addition that houses the new Portland Middle School at 93 High Street. The middle school includes grades 7 and 8.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 24.9 square miles (64.5 km²), of which, 23.4 square miles (60.6 km²) of it is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it (5.99%) is water. The town center CDP has a total area of 5.5 square miles (14.2 km²). 4.9 square miles (12.7 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (9.71%) is water. The village of Gildersleeve also lies within Portland.
Demographics
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 8,732 people, 3,388 households, and 2,419 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 373.1 people per square mile (144.1/km²). There were 3,528 housing units at an average density of 150.7 per square mile (58.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.12% White, 2.44% Black or African American
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...
, 0.16% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.46% 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 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.
There were 3,388 households out of which 33.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.6% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $63,285, and the median income for a family was $73,036. Males had a median income of $48,849 versus $35,104 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 $28,229. About 3.0% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Town center
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...
2 of 2000, there were 5,534 people, 2,225 households, and 1,495 families residing in the CDP. 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 1,121.8 inhabitants per square mile (433.4/km²). There were 2,286 housing units at an average density of 463.4 per square mile (179.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.89% White, 3.22% Black or African American
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...
, 0.22% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.56% 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 1.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.29% of the population.
There were 2,225 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% 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, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,949, and the median income for a family was $66,686. Males had a median income of $46,163 versus $30,402 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 CDP was $26,240. About 4.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.8% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable locations
- Arrigoni BridgeArrigoni BridgeThe Arrigoni Bridge carries Route 66 and Route 17 over Route 9 and across the Connecticut River, connecting Middletown, Connecticut to Portland, Connecticut...
links Portland and Middletown, ConnecticutMiddletown, ConnecticutMiddletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the central part of the state, 16 miles south of Hartford. In 1650, it was incorporated as a town under its original Indian name, Mattabeseck. It received its present name in 1653. In 1784, the central...
. - Portland Brownstone QuarriesPortland Brownstone QuarriesThe Portland Brownstone Quarries are a set of historic quarries in Portland, Connecticut. The brownstone mined from these quarries was an important source for construction in the latter half of the 19th century. The stone from these quarries was used in a number of landmark buildings in Chicago,...
, a National Historic LandmarkNational Historic LandmarkA National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, which also placed it on the National Register of Historic Places, in 2000. - Providence & Worcester railroad bridgeProvidence & Worcester railroad bridgeThe Providence and Worcester Railroad Bridge is a swing truss bridge crossing the Connecticut River in Middletown, Connecticut. It carried the New York and Boston Air Line Railroad over the river to Portland, Connecticut. The bridge is used by the Providence & Worcester Railroad to serve two...
, featured prominently in the video for the 1993 Billy JoelBilly JoelWilliam Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
hit "The River of DreamsThe River of Dreams"The River of Dreams" is a single by Billy Joel. It is the title track and first single from his 1993 album River of Dreams. The song was a hit, peaking at #3 on the US and UK charts, making it his highest charting of the 1990s. It also hit the top spot in Australia and on the Billboard Adult...
". - Williams and Stancliff Octagon HousesWilliams and Stancliff Octagon HousesThe Joseph Williams Octagon House and the Gilbert Stancliff Octagon House are identical historic mid-1850s octagon houses located next to each other at 26 and 28 Marlborough Street in Portland, Connecticut. Constructed of Portland brownstone, their architect is unknown but may have been Gilbert...
, located at 26 and 28 Marlborough Street and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Notable residents, past and present
- Julius L. ClarkeJulius L. ClarkeJulius Laurens Clarke was an American newspaper publisher and politician who served as Massachusetts Auditor, and as Massachusetts' Insurance Commissioner....
(1828–1907), newspaper publisher and politician, was born in a part of Chatham that became Portland. - Willard GildersleeveWillard Gildersleeve-References:...
(1886–1976), college football coach was born in the village of Gildersleeve in Portland. - Guy Hedlund (1884–1964), silent movie actor was born in town.
- Oscar HedstromOscar HedstromOscar Hedstrom was a co-founder of the Indian Manufacturing Company, makers of the Indian .-Childhood and adolescence:...
(1871–1960), co-founder of the Indian Motorcycle CompanyIndian (motorcycle)Indian is an American brand of motorcycles. Indian motorcycles were manufactured from 1901 to 1953 by a company in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA, initially known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company but which was renamed the Indian Manufacturing Company in 1928. The Indian factory team took the...
lived in town and is buried in Portland. - Florence Fleming NoyesFlorence Fleming NoyesFlorence Fleming Noyes was an American classical dancer.-Biography:In 1912 she opened her first dance studio in Carnegie Hall and in 1913 she dressed as Liberty at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. as part of a living tableaux to bring publicity for the cause of women's right to vote. In 1921 she...
(1871–1928), dancer and founder of The Noyes School of Rhythm. - John PopielaskiJohn PopielaskiJohn Popielaski is a contemporary poet from Portland, Connecticut. To date, he has published two compilations, Contemporary Martyrdom and A Brief Euereka for the Alchemists of Peace...
(1968-), poet, lives in town.