Prospect Hill (New Haven)
Encyclopedia
Prospect Hill is a neighborhood of the city of New Haven, Connecticut
located in the north central portion of the city, directly north of Downtown New Haven
. The neighborhood contains residences, institutional buildings of Albertus Magnus University and a portion of the main campus of Yale University
, including the Science Hill area, the Hillhouse Avenue
area and the Yale Peabody Museum. The City of New Haven defines the neighborhood to be the region bounded by the town of Hamden
in the north, Winchester Avenue in the west, Munson Street/Hillside Place/Prospect Street in the southwest, Trumbull Street in the south, and Whitney Avenue in the east. Prospect Street is the main thoroughfare through the neighborhood.
that is significant primarily for its architecture. It encompasses most of the residential portion of the Prospect Hill neighborhood. The historic district includes major collections of Queen Anne architecture, Shingle Style architecture
, Colonial Revival architecture
, and Tudor Revival architecture. Numerous other styles are also represented. Some of the more significant properties which are included in the neighborhood are:
The Prospect Hill Historic District excludes Yale University's relatively modern buildings on Science Hill as well as several Yale graduate student housing facilities (the Whitehall Apartment Complex, the Mansfield Apartments, and the Esplanade Apartments).
of East Rock
is technically also within the neighborhood planning zone.
1418.. Census tract 1418 excludes the portion officially within Yale University. As of the 2000 census, the total population of census track 1418 was 4,052. Of the population, 43.02% identified as White, 32.33% as Black, 0.20% as Native American, 19.55% as Asian, 0.10% as Pacific Islander, 2.07% as some other race, and 2.74% as two or more races. Of the total population of any race, 4.94% identified as being Hispanic or Latino, while 11.77% identified as being of Chinese ethnicity.
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...
located in the north central portion of the city, directly north of Downtown New Haven
Downtown New Haven
Downtown New Haven is the neighborhood located in the heart of the city of New Haven, Connecticut. It is made up of the original nine squares laid out in 1638 to form New Haven, including the New Haven Green, and the immediate surrounding central business district, as well as a significant portion...
. The neighborhood contains residences, institutional buildings of Albertus Magnus University and a portion of the main campus of 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...
, including the Science Hill area, the Hillhouse Avenue
Hillhouse Avenue
Hillhouse Avenue, described, according to tradition, by both Charles Dickens and Mark Twain as "the most beautiful street in America," , is in New Haven, Connecticut and is home to many nineteenth century mansions including the president's house at Yale University...
area and the Yale Peabody Museum. The City of New Haven defines the neighborhood to be the region bounded by the town of Hamden
Hamden, Connecticut
Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant." Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University. The population was 58,180 according to the Census Bureau's 2005 estimates...
in the north, Winchester Avenue in the west, Munson Street/Hillside Place/Prospect Street in the southwest, Trumbull Street in the south, and Whitney Avenue in the east. Prospect Street is the main thoroughfare through the neighborhood.
Historic district
The Prospect Hill Historic District is a 185 acres (74.9 ha) historic districtHistoric district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
that is significant primarily for its architecture. It encompasses most of the residential portion of the Prospect Hill neighborhood. The historic district includes major collections of Queen Anne architecture, Shingle Style architecture
Shingle Style architecture
The Shingle style is an American architectural style made popular by the rise of the New England school of architecture, which eschewed the highly ornamented patterns of the Eastlake style in Queen Anne architecture....
, Colonial Revival architecture
Colonial Revival architecture
The Colonial Revival was a nationalistic architectural style, garden design, and interior design movement in the United States which sought to revive elements of Georgian architecture, part of a broader Colonial Revival Movement in the arts. In the early 1890s Americans began to value their own...
, and Tudor Revival architecture. Numerous other styles are also represented. Some of the more significant properties which are included in the neighborhood are:
- Othniel C. Marsh HouseOthniel C. Marsh HouseMarsh Hall, formally known as Othniel C. Marsh House, is a historic house at 360 Prospect Street on Prospect Hill in New Haven, Connecticut. The property, which includes the house and a area, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965....
, home of prominent 19th-century paleontologist (designated 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...
) - Connecticut Agricultural Experiment StationConnecticut Agricultural Experiment StationThe Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is the Connecticut state government's agricultural experiment station, a state government component that engages in scientific research and public outreach in agriculture and related fields. It is the oldest state experiment station in the United...
, 123 Huntington St., home of the first agricultural experiment station in Connecticut (also designated as a National Historic Landmark) - Silk House, Colonial RevivalColonial Revival architectureThe Colonial Revival was a nationalistic architectural style, garden design, and interior design movement in the United States which sought to revive elements of Georgian architecture, part of a broader Colonial Revival Movement in the arts. In the early 1890s Americans began to value their own...
, c. 1915, at 75 Autumn Street, designed by architects Brown & VanBeren - Celentano Public School, 370 Canner Street, VictoriaVictorian architectureThe 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...
, originally built as Yale's first observatoryObservatoryAn observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed... - 237 East Rock Road, Colonial RevivalColonial Revival architectureThe Colonial Revival was a nationalistic architectural style, garden design, and interior design movement in the United States which sought to revive elements of Georgian architecture, part of a broader Colonial Revival Movement in the arts. In the early 1890s Americans began to value their own...
with FederalFederal architectureFederal-style architecture is the name for the classicizing architecture built in the United States between c. 1780 and 1830, and particularly from 1785 to 1815. This style shares its name with its era, the Federal Period. The name Federal style is also used in association with furniture design...
details, c. 1910, former home of Yale University president A. Whitney Griswold
The Prospect Hill Historic District excludes Yale University's relatively modern buildings on Science Hill as well as several Yale graduate student housing facilities (the Whitehall Apartment Complex, the Mansfield Apartments, and the Esplanade Apartments).
Other historic districts
In addition to the main Prospect Hill Historic District, the neighborhood planning zone includes the Hillhouse Avenue Historic District, an area adjoining Downtown New Haven south of Science Hill, and part of Edgerton Park. Because the neighborhood planning zone eastern boundary runs along Whitney Avenue, a row of houses on the west side of the Whitney Avenue Historic DistrictWhitney Avenue Historic District
__notoc__The Whitney Avenue Historic District is a historic district in New Haven, Connecticut. It is a district which included 1,084 contributing buildings when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989....
of East Rock
East Rock (neighborhood)
East Rock is a neighborhood in the city of New Haven, Connecticut, named for nearby East Rock, a prominent trap rock ridge. The area is home to a large group of Yale students, staff, and faculty, as well as many young professionals and families. The neighborhood is divided between New Haven's...
is technically also within the neighborhood planning zone.
Demographics
The residential part of the neighborhood roughly corresponds to census tractCensus tract
A census tract, census area, or census district is a geographic region defined for the purpose of taking a census. Usually these coincide with the limits of cities, towns or other administrative areas and several tracts commonly exist within a county...
1418.. Census tract 1418 excludes the portion officially within Yale University. As of the 2000 census, the total population of census track 1418 was 4,052. Of the population, 43.02% identified as White, 32.33% as Black, 0.20% as Native American, 19.55% as Asian, 0.10% as Pacific Islander, 2.07% as some other race, and 2.74% as two or more races. Of the total population of any race, 4.94% identified as being Hispanic or Latino, while 11.77% identified as being of Chinese ethnicity.
External links
- Prospect Hill Historic District, New Haven Preservation Trust website (text excerpt from NRHP nomination, plus gallery of 12 photos)