Southbury, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Southbury is a town
located in western New Haven County
, Connecticut
, USA
. Southbury is located north of Oxford
and Newtown
; it also is east of Brookfield
. Southbury's population was 18,567 at the 2000 census.
Southbury comprises rural country areas, suburban neighborhoods, and historic districts. It is located a short distance from major business and commercial centers, and is within 100 miles (160.9 km) of New York City and 50 miles (80.5 km) of Hartford
; the latter the capital of Connecticut.
Southbury is the only community in the country with the name 'Southbury', which is believed why the town seal reads "Unica Unaque," meaning "The One and Only."
, Southbury has a total area of 40 square miles (103.6 km²), of which, 39.1 square miles (101.3 km²) of it (97.72%) is land, and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) is water.
Towns that border Southbury are Middlebury
, Woodbury
, Roxbury
, Bridgewater
, Brookfield
, Oxford
and Newtown
.
South Britain and Southford are included in the incorporated township of Southbury.
, which was settled in 1673. A meetinghouse for the Southbury Ecclesiastical Society was built in 1733, and in 1787 the town of Southbury was incorporated. Although incorporated as part of Litchfield County, Southbury has been in New Haven County
for most of its existence.
In the 1800s, water power became essential to the growth of Southbury's industries, which included mills, tanneries, and distilleries. The power for these industries came primarily from the Pomperaug River
and the Housatonic River
. As the industrial revolution progressed, many of these businesses left for Waterbury
.
In the 1920s, Russian expatriates Count Ilia Tolstoy (son of author Leo Tolstoy) and George Grebentschikoff founded an artists' colony at one end of Main Street, known as Churaevka (or "Russian Village".) At its peak, Churaevka had a printing press used by Russian and Ukrainian scholars and novelists. Visitors to the colony included the composer Sergei Rachmaninoff
. Most of its immigrant population is now gone; however, St. Sergius Chapel, designed by Nobel peace prize nominee Nicholas Roerich
and built in 1932-1933, remains. Churaevka is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Southbury was a rural farming town for most of its history. However, with the development of the Eisenhower Interstate System, that changed. With the opening of I-84 through Southbury by 1963, Southbury gained easy access to New York and Hartford, also improving its access to Danbury and Waterbury. Heritage Village opened in 1967, on a 1000 acres (4 km²) site. In 1987, IBM built an extensive office and research building in Southbury, employing over 2,500 workers. Southbury was no longer a small, rural town. Today, Southbury has approximately 17% open space, with a goal of 20%.
In the early 1990s, Southbury was the subject of a lawsuit by the Golden Hill Paugusett Indian tribe. The 100-member tribe sought to take the land of roughly 1,200 property holders in the town. The lawsuit was thrown out in 1993 based on the fact that the man who brought the suit was not a chieftain, contrary to his claims, and had no standing to bring the suit.
, there were 18,567 people comprising 7,225 households, including 4,833 families residing in Southbury. The population density
was 475.4 people per square mile (183.5/km²). There were 7,799 housing units at an average density of 199.7 per square mile (77.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.45% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% from other races
, and 0.62% from multiple races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.
Of Southbury's 7,225 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% were married couples
living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41, and the average family size was 3.02.
Southbury's population consisted of 22.8% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in Southbury is $75,970 in 2007, compared to $61,919 in 1999; the median income for a family in 1999 was $81,109. In 1999, males had a median income of $87,365 versus $68,657 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $62,731. About 1.9% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those 65 or over. The median home value was $532,650.
In July 2008, it was estimated that there were 19,702 (+6.1% from 2000) people in Southbury. The estimated median household income was $75,970 (+22.7% from 2000). The estimated median home (or condominium
) value was to $374,178 (+92.6% from 2000).
By 2013, about 30% of the population of Southbury is expected to be 60 years of age or older. By 2020, about 40% will 60 or older. Southbury has developed a three-phase plan to increase services for the services. The former Southbury Library was converted into a senior center; it also houses the new home of the area Parks & Recreations Department.
In addition to the "active living" area of Heritage Village, Southbury contains several "assisted living facilities", including:
Other "active senior living" options that provide independent living, assisted living, and memory care in Southbury include:
, including First Selectman, Bill Davis
Soutbury's other Board of Selectmen are:
Other members of Souhbury's government:
Southbury utilizes up to five polling stations. for most elections, only the firehouse is used.
Consistent with Connecticut law, citizens have the option of choosing a party when they register to vote. A citizen may join, or change, their affiliation later. Primary voting is limited to members of that party. (For the 2008 primaries, the day before the February 5 primary was the final day to select that party .
Christopher Murphy
, who carried Southbury, 51-49%. Junior U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman dropped his Democratic party affiliation, but was re-elected as an independent, carrying Southbury with 57% of the vote; his closest opponent, Democrat Ned Lamont
, had only 32% of Southbury's support.
In 2008, Southbury supported Republican
John McCain
for President over Democrat Barack Obama
by a vote of 53-46%. For the U.S. House, the town narrowly supported Republican David Cappiello
over Murphy, the Democratic incumbent who ultimately won in a landslide.
In 2010, Southbury voted in favor of Republican candidates Tom Foley
for Governor and Linda McMahon
for U.S. Senate. Though neither of the Republicans won state-wide, they carried Southbury with 61% and 56% of the vote, respectively. Southbury again supported the Republican for U.S. House, voting for Sam Caligiuri
over the Democrat Murphy by a 56-44% margin.
U.S. Senators: Joseph Lieberman, Richard Blumenthal
U.S. Congressman: Christopher Murphy
State Senator: Robert Kane
State Representatives: Arthur J. O'Neill, David Labriola
There has long been a "battle" going between the two towns over the amount each pays towards the system. Southbury is considerably larger than Middlebury, with considerably more tax base. This has resulted in Southbury taking up the vast majority of the school system, yet because of the substantial tax base in Southbury, each resident pays less per student. In recent times the truth of this assumption has been challenged, especially during the struggle to pass the school system's 2008-2009 budget.
Schools physically located in Southbury include:
Students from Region 15 also have the option to attend:
Controversy has arisen over town sports since the Parks & Rec department began enforcing a policy banning out-of-town players from participating in town-sanctioned sports in 2006. This policy stems from the fact of overcrowding at town fields, a problem which is plaguing Southbury.
The town water provider is Aquarion. The gas provider is Yankee Gas Company. The cable (TV, internet, and soon, phone) provider is Charter Communications
. The electric provider is Connecticut Light & Power (a Northeast Utilities
Company). The phone provider (POTS & DSL) is AT&T
.
Planning for the library began in 1998, with an original projected bond issue of $7.35m. The planning committee solicited donations from the public, which resulted in two single donations of $100,000 or more, and five more of between $25,000 and $99,000, in addition to smaller donations.
The old library building, at 561 Main Street South, has been converted to hold offices for the Parks and Recreation department, as well as a new senior center. The old library was built in 1969, and expanded in 1979.
The oldest library building was located in South Britain (a section and Historic District
of Southbury) and was replaced in 1969. It was built in 1904 and contained approximately 1,000 volumes.
. Near the power station, FirstLight also operates an eagle observation area first opened by the utility's predecessor, Northeast Utilities, in the mid-1980s. Access is free, and some telescopes are provided. Utility company employees and volunteers from the Connecticut Audubon Society and other groups are at the observation area to assist visitors. Advanced reservations are required. Eagles are attracted to the spot because the water churning through the dam's hydroelectric turbine keeps the surface from icing over, allowing the birds to fish. Red-tailed hawks, goshawks, great blue herons and other waterfowl are also attracted to the spot. The dam flooded an area now known as Lake Lillinonah.
FirstLight Power Resources has submitted a plan to the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control to build a new peak-power plant next to the existing hydroelectric facility.
. IBM located its facilities on between Kettletown Road and Bullet Hill Road, up a hill from Main Street Southbury on a 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) site. Access to the site is restricted to authorized personnel only. Its original design and construction allowed for 1100000 square feet (102,193.3 m²) of office space, intended for 2,500 people (later increased as around the clock operations began). It also had 250000 square feet (23,225.8 m²) of "raised floor" data center space, originally designed for large-scale water-cooled mainframe operations. It is an "off the grid" facility, with its power plant taking advantage of jet turbine technology to generate power for the entire site. In 2006, this power plant was replaced with a larger one as power demands increased. IBM Southbury was originally designed to be one of IBM's new corporate headquarters buildings, as IBM's "North Castle" facility in Armonk became outdated. It was never used for this purpose, and has been primarily used as an IBM Global Services facility. There are four buildings, labeled A, B, C, and Central Services. Due to decreasing demand for office space, building A is currently shut down.
.
. A state judge in New London
rejected a request by state officials to have Pollitt placed somewhere else, such as an inpatient treatment center. Judge Susan Handy said Pollitt has paid his debt to society. Neighbors however held several protests and town-wide meetings to discuss this event. Many were disgusted that a convicted rapist could move into their quiet neighborhood on Fox Run Road, despite that Pollitt was put under house arrest and electronic monitoring. Many town residents reacted to Mr. Pollitt's family, in one case holding a candlelight vigil for his victims a block away from his sister's home. Neighbors concerns included the fact that during his nearly 25 years in prison, David Pollitt refused all offers for rehabilitation therapy. Pollitt's teenage nieces, who would be living in the same house upon his release, represented the lone voices defending him. As part of the terms of his probation, Pollitt has to wear a global positioning satellite tracking device and register as a sex offender
. One interesting fact is that five other convicted sex offenders live in Southbury yet residents have not protested their status in town. However, it was the severity and repetitive nature 8 rapes) of David Pollitt's crimes which created the issue. David Pollitt's serial rape convictions is tied with only by one other sex offender in the state of Connecticut.
Due to the uproar over Mr. Pollitt, lawmakers have introduced a bill which would mandate that halfway housing be available for sex offenders on parole or probation. Southbury has received some criticism as well as praise for its reaction to Mr. Pollitt.
In February 2008 Mr. Pollitt's neighbors approached the town's tax appeals board demanding a tax cut, claiming their home values have dropped since the presence of Mr. Pollitt. As of right now the head of the board has not made a final decision.
In September 2008, David Pollitt was arrested for a probation violation when his GPS system showed him in an unapproved location. It was determined that his GPS tracking device was in error as it had been since he began to wear it. The Department of Probation had touted the GPS tracking system as a key deterrent to his ability to commit additional crimes. Southbury First Selectman Mark Cooper was commended by the Board of Selectman for using the Code Red system to alert Southbury residents to David Pollitt's arrest and release on bond.
In March of 2011, David Pollitt moved out of the Southbury neighborhood.
, an organization of ethnic Germans living in the United States who supported Adolf Hitler
and Nazi Germany
. Its leader, Fritz Kuhn
, was considered the leading anti-Semite in the country. Word soon got out that they were in fact planning to build their largest training facility in the country. Residents objected by calling a town meeting and set up a zoning
department with one simple rule, no military activity excluding the United States army. The law was adopted December 14 and the Bund stopped work and eventually sold the land.
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 western New Haven County
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
, 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...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Southbury is located north of Oxford
Oxford, Connecticut
Oxford is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,272 at the 2010 Census. There are several areas in Oxford: Quaker Farms, Riverside and Oxford Center. Oxford belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Region and the Central...
and Newtown
Newtown, Connecticut
Newtown is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 27,560 at the 2010 census. Newtown was founded in 1705 and incorporated in 1711.-Government:...
; it also is east of Brookfield
Brookfield, Connecticut
Brookfield is a town located in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 16,452 at the 2010 census. First settled in 1710 by John Muirwood and several other colonial founders who bartered for the land From the Wyantenuck Nation Under the Sachem Waramaugs who lived...
. Southbury's population was 18,567 at the 2000 census.
Southbury comprises rural country areas, suburban neighborhoods, and historic districts. It is located a short distance from major business and commercial centers, and is within 100 miles (160.9 km) of New York City and 50 miles (80.5 km) of 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...
; the latter the capital of Connecticut.
Southbury is the only community in the country with the name 'Southbury', which is believed why the town seal reads "Unica Unaque," meaning "The One and Only."
Geography
According to the US 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...
, Southbury has a total area of 40 square miles (103.6 km²), of which, 39.1 square miles (101.3 km²) of it (97.72%) is land, and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) is water.
Towns that border Southbury are Middlebury
Middlebury, Connecticut
Middlebury is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,451 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water....
, Woodbury
Woodbury, Connecticut
Woodbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,198 at the 2000 census. The town center is also designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place . Woodbury was founded in 1672....
, Roxbury
Roxbury, Connecticut
Roxbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,136 at the 2000 census.-History:Roxbury, whose Indian name was "Shepaug", a Mahican name signifiying "rocky water", was settled about the year 1713...
, Bridgewater
Bridgewater, Connecticut
Bridgewater is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,824 at the 2000 census. It is the only remaining dry town in Connecticut.-Geography:...
, Brookfield
Brookfield, Connecticut
Brookfield is a town located in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 16,452 at the 2010 census. First settled in 1710 by John Muirwood and several other colonial founders who bartered for the land From the Wyantenuck Nation Under the Sachem Waramaugs who lived...
, Oxford
Oxford, Connecticut
Oxford is a town located in western New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,272 at the 2010 Census. There are several areas in Oxford: Quaker Farms, Riverside and Oxford Center. Oxford belongs to the Naugatuck Valley Economic Development Region and the Central...
and Newtown
Newtown, Connecticut
Newtown is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 27,560 at the 2010 census. Newtown was founded in 1705 and incorporated in 1711.-Government:...
.
South Britain and Southford are included in the incorporated township of Southbury.
History
The town of Southbury was one of several towns formed out of a parcel of land purchased from the Paugussett Indians in 1659. Southbury was originally part of WoodburyWoodbury, Connecticut
Woodbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,198 at the 2000 census. The town center is also designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place . Woodbury was founded in 1672....
, which was settled in 1673. A meetinghouse for the Southbury Ecclesiastical Society was built in 1733, and in 1787 the town of Southbury was incorporated. Although incorporated as part of Litchfield County, Southbury has been in New Haven County
New Haven County, Connecticut
New Haven County is a county located in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 Census, the county population is 862,477 making it the third most populated county in Connecticut. There are 1,340 people per square mile...
for most of its existence.
In the 1800s, water power became essential to the growth of Southbury's industries, which included mills, tanneries, and distilleries. The power for these industries came primarily from the Pomperaug River
Pomperaug River
The Pomperaug River is a river in the US state of Connecticut. The two main tributaries to the Pomperaug are the Nonnewaug River and the Weekeepeemee River. It is at the confluence of these two rivers in Woodbury that the Pomperaug forms...
and the Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
. As the industrial revolution progressed, many of these businesses left for Waterbury
Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Naugatuck River, 33 miles southwest of Hartford and 77 miles northeast of New York City...
.
In the 1920s, Russian expatriates Count Ilia Tolstoy (son of author Leo Tolstoy) and George Grebentschikoff founded an artists' colony at one end of Main Street, known as Churaevka (or "Russian Village".) At its peak, Churaevka had a printing press used by Russian and Ukrainian scholars and novelists. Visitors to the colony included the composer Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Rachmaninoff
Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff was a Russian composer, pianist, and conductor. Rachmaninoff is widely considered one of the finest pianists of his day and, as a composer, one of the last great representatives of Romanticism in Russian classical music...
. Most of its immigrant population is now gone; however, St. Sergius Chapel, designed by Nobel peace prize nominee Nicholas Roerich
Nicholas Roerich
Nicholas Roerich, also known as Nikolai Konstantinovich Rerikh , was a Russian mystic, painter, philosopher, scientist, writer, traveler, and public figure. A prolific artist, he created thousands of paintings and about 30 literary works...
and built in 1932-1933, remains. Churaevka is 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...
.
Southbury was a rural farming town for most of its history. However, with the development of the Eisenhower Interstate System, that changed. With the opening of I-84 through Southbury by 1963, Southbury gained easy access to New York and Hartford, also improving its access to Danbury and Waterbury. Heritage Village opened in 1967, on a 1000 acres (4 km²) site. In 1987, IBM built an extensive office and research building in Southbury, employing over 2,500 workers. Southbury was no longer a small, rural town. Today, Southbury has approximately 17% open space, with a goal of 20%.
In the early 1990s, Southbury was the subject of a lawsuit by the Golden Hill Paugusett Indian tribe. The 100-member tribe sought to take the land of roughly 1,200 property holders in the town. The lawsuit was thrown out in 1993 based on the fact that the man who brought the suit was not a chieftain, contrary to his claims, and had no standing to bring the suit.
Demographics
As of the 2000 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...
, there were 18,567 people comprising 7,225 households, including 4,833 families residing in Southbury. 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 475.4 people per square mile (183.5/km²). There were 7,799 housing units at an average density of 199.7 per square mile (77.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.34% White, 0.45% African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.15% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.35% 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 0.62% from multiple races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.
Of Southbury's 7,225 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.8% 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, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41, and the average family size was 3.02.
Southbury's population consisted of 22.8% under the age of 18, 3.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in Southbury is $75,970 in 2007, compared to $61,919 in 1999; the median income for a family in 1999 was $81,109. In 1999, males had a median income of $87,365 versus $68,657 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 $62,731. About 1.9% of families and 4.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those 65 or over. The median home value was $532,650.
In July 2008, it was estimated that there were 19,702 (+6.1% from 2000) people in Southbury. The estimated median household income was $75,970 (+22.7% from 2000). The estimated median home (or condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
) value was to $374,178 (+92.6% from 2000).
| Historical population of Southbury | ||||||||
| 1800 | 1850 | 1900 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 |
| 1,757 | 1,484 | 1,238 | 3,828 | 5,186 | 7,852 | 14,156 | 15,818 | 18,567 |
Heritage Village and the aging population
Southbury is home to a variety of retirement facilities, including Heritage Village, New England's largest retirement community. Heritage Village sits on 1000 acres (4 km²) and includes approximately 2,580 homes with 4,000 people. It is billed as being an "active retirement" community, offering many activities. Heritage Village was planned in the 1960s, as I-84 was completed in the area. Potential Heritage Village residents must be 55 years of age or older.By 2013, about 30% of the population of Southbury is expected to be 60 years of age or older. By 2020, about 40% will 60 or older. Southbury has developed a three-phase plan to increase services for the services. The former Southbury Library was converted into a senior center; it also houses the new home of the area Parks & Recreations Department.
In addition to the "active living" area of Heritage Village, Southbury contains several "assisted living facilities", including:
- Kensington Green
- Lutheran Home of Southbury
- River Glen Health Care Center
Other "active senior living" options that provide independent living, assisted living, and memory care in Southbury include:
- Pomperaug Woods
- Watermark at East Hill
Government and voting
Southbury has a six-member 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:...
, including First Selectman, Bill Davis
Soutbury's other Board of Selectmen are:
- Edward Gittines
- Carol Hubert
- Chad Landmon
- Joseph Santonocito
- John Turk
Other members of Souhbury's government:
- Town Treasurer William Sarosky
- Director of Elderly Services: Sharon Gesek
- Head Librarian: Shirley Thorson
- Town Clerk: Ginger Salisbury
- Fire Marshal: Henry Stormer
- Assessor: Michael Moriarty
- Chief Animal Control Officer: Marilyn Muratori
- Building Official: Mark Cody
- Director of Public Works: Thomas Crowe
- Inland Wetlands Enforcement Officer: Mark Massoud
- Director of Parks and Recreation: Diane Schaefer
- Resident Trooper: Sgt. Kenneth Kramer
- Director of Social Services: Sandra Saren
- Tax Collector: Penny Cognato
- Zoning Enforcement Officer: Mark Massoud
Method of voting
Southbury used mechanical voting machines until 2007, when it switched to optical scanning machines. The new system has been criticized for several reasons, including lack of privacy.Southbury utilizes up to five polling stations. for most elections, only the firehouse is used.
Consistent with Connecticut law, citizens have the option of choosing a party when they register to vote. A citizen may join, or change, their affiliation later. Primary voting is limited to members of that party. (For the 2008 primaries, the day before the February 5 primary was the final day to select that party .
Voting results for Connecticut and Federal elected officials
In 2006, veteran U.S. House Representative Nancy Johnson was ousted in favor of DemocratDemocratic 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...
Christopher Murphy
Chris Murphy (politician)
Christopher Scott "Chris" Murphy is the U. S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party.Murphy previously served in the Connecticut House of Representatives and the Connecticut Senate....
, who carried Southbury, 51-49%. Junior U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman dropped his Democratic party affiliation, but was re-elected as an independent, carrying Southbury with 57% of the vote; his closest opponent, Democrat Ned Lamont
Ned Lamont
Edward Miner "Ned" Lamont, Jr. is a businessman and heir and most recently an unsuccessful candidate for the 2010 Democratic nomination for Governor of Connecticut. On May 22, 2010, Lamont received more than fifteen percent of the vote at the state Democratic convention, and appeared on the...
, had only 32% of Southbury's support.
In 2008, Southbury supported 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...
John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
for President over Democrat Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
by a vote of 53-46%. For the U.S. House, the town narrowly supported Republican David Cappiello
David Cappiello
David J. Cappiello , is a businessman and former State Senator representing Connecticut’s 24th Senate District, which includes the communities of Danbury, New Fairfield, Sherman, and part of Bethel...
over Murphy, the Democratic incumbent who ultimately won in a landslide.
In 2010, Southbury voted in favor of Republican candidates Tom Foley
Thomas C. Foley
Thomas Coleman "Tom" Foley is a former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Connecticut businessman, and was the Republican candidate in the 2010 gubernatorial election in Connecticut.-Early life and education:...
for Governor and Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon
Linda Marie McMahon is an American professional wrestling magnate and politician. She is notable for her career developing WWE with her husband Vince McMahon. She was in the company from 1980 to 2009. During this time, WWE grew from a small regional business in New York to a large multinational...
for U.S. Senate. Though neither of the Republicans won state-wide, they carried Southbury with 61% and 56% of the vote, respectively. Southbury again supported the Republican for U.S. House, voting for Sam Caligiuri
Sam Caligiuri
Sam S. F. Caligiuri is a lawyer and former Connecticut State Senator. In 2010, he ran for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, but switched for a House seat in Connecticut's 5th congressional district...
over the Democrat Murphy by a 56-44% margin.
U.S. Senators: Joseph Lieberman, Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal
Richard Blumenthal is the junior United States Senator from Connecticut and a member of the Democratic Party. Previously, he served as Attorney General of Connecticut....
U.S. Congressman: Christopher Murphy
State Senator: Robert Kane
State Representatives: Arthur J. O'Neill, David Labriola
Parties
- Southbury Democratic Town Committee, 2,967 members (+283 from previous totals)
- Southbury Republican Town Committee, 4,583 members (+57 from previous totals) - Members are elected to serve two year terms on the RTC.
Schools
Southbury is part of the Pomperaug Regional School District 15 school system, which includes only itself and Middlebury, CT. The system contains four elementary, two middle and one high school. Both middle schools are national blue ribbon schools.There has long been a "battle" going between the two towns over the amount each pays towards the system. Southbury is considerably larger than Middlebury, with considerably more tax base. This has resulted in Southbury taking up the vast majority of the school system, yet because of the substantial tax base in Southbury, each resident pays less per student. In recent times the truth of this assumption has been challenged, especially during the struggle to pass the school system's 2008-2009 budget.
Schools physically located in Southbury include:
- Gainfield Elementary School
- Pomperaug Elementary School
- Rochambeau Middle School
- Pomperaug High SchoolPomperaug High SchoolPomperaug High School is a public high school in Southbury, Connecticut. It is part of Regional School District 15 which serves Southbury in addition to Middlebury.-History:...
Students from Region 15 also have the option to attend:
- W.F. Kaynor Technical High School (Waterbury)
- Henry Abbot Technical High School (Danbury)
- Nonnewaug High SchoolNonnewaug High SchoolNonnewaug High School is a public school based out of Woodbury, Connecticut USA which serves the towns of Woodbury and Bethlehem, Connecticut. It is part of Regional School District #14. The school houses the Ellis Clark Regional Agri-Science and Technology Center, which draws students from...
(Region 14, Woodbury, accessible as an agricultural school for Region 15 students)
Parks & Recreation Department, sports
The Southbury Parks & Recreations Department moved into the old Southbury Library in 2007. Southbury town sports include:- Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken Baseball
- Basketball
- Pop Warner Football
- Soccer
- Lacrosse
Controversy has arisen over town sports since the Parks & Rec department began enforcing a policy banning out-of-town players from participating in town-sanctioned sports in 2006. This policy stems from the fact of overcrowding at town fields, a problem which is plaguing Southbury.
Local media
- Voices - A local newspaper serving Southbury, Middlebury, Oxford, Seymour, Naugatuck, Woodbury, Bethelhem, New Preston, Washington, Washington Depot, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Monroe, Sandy Hook and Newtown.
- Waterbury Republican-AmericanWaterbury Republican-AmericanThe Republican-American, headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut is the United States' 193rd-largest newspaper with an average Sunday circulation of 61,100...
- A Waterbury based independent daily newspaper. - The Danbury News-Times - A Danbury based MediaNews Group-owned daily newspaper.
- WTCH - A local student & staff run television station broadcast by Pomperaug High SchoolPomperaug High SchoolPomperaug High School is a public high school in Southbury, Connecticut. It is part of Regional School District 15 which serves Southbury in addition to Middlebury.-History:...
in Southbury. Channel 17 in Southbury, Channel 16 in Middlebury.
Town utility services
Only a small area of Southbury is covered by water or sewer systems, with the vast majority left to wells & septic. Southbury is generally concerned with its water table, to the point where the only car wash in town is required to recycle all of their water used, an expensive process.The town water provider is Aquarion. The gas provider is Yankee Gas Company. The cable (TV, internet, and soon, phone) provider is Charter Communications
Charter Communications
Charter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
. The electric provider is Connecticut Light & Power (a Northeast Utilities
Northeast Utilities
Northeast Utilities is a publicly-traded, Fortune 500 energy company headquartered in Berlin, Connecticut, with several regulated subsidiaries offering retail electricity and natural gas service to more than 2.1 million customers in New England....
Company). The phone provider (POTS & DSL) is AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
.
National Historic Registry
- Aaron Bronson House — 846 Southford Rd.
- Adin Wheeler House and Theodore F. Wheeler Wheelwright Shop — 125 Quaker Farms Rd.
- Bullet Hill School — Main St. and Seymour Rd.
- Hurley Road Historic District — 6 and 17 Hurley Rd.
- Little Pootatuck Brook Archeological Site
- Plaster House — 117 Plaster House Rd.
- Reuben Curtiss House — 1770 Bucks Hill Rd.
- Russian Village Historic DistrictRussian Village Historic DistrictThe Russian Village Historic District in Southbury, Connecticut, also known as Churaevka, is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988....
— Roughly Kiev Dr. and Russian Village Rd. between US 6 and the Pomperaug River - Sanford Road Historic District — 480 and 487 Sanford Rd.
- South Britain Historic DistrictSouth Britain Historic DistrictSouth Britain Historic District in Southbury, Connecticut, USA, is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It represents the central portion of South Britain, an unincorporated village. The district is bordered by the Pomperaug River on the west...
— E. Flat Hill, Hawkins, Library, and Middle Rds., and 497-864 S. Britain Rd. - Southbury Historic District No. 1 — Main St. from Woodbury Town Line to Old Waterbury Rd.
- Southbury Training SchoolSouthbury Training SchoolSouthbury Training School is a large residential facility in the towns of Southbury and Roxbury, Connecticut. It was built in the 1930s as a large state funded and operated residential and habilitative facility for adults with mental retardation. It consists of 125 buildings situated on a campus of...
— 1484 S. Britain Rd., a 1600 acres (6.5 km²) section of Southbury developed as a facility for mentally retarded adults. - William Hurd House — 327 Hulls Hill Rd.
Southbury Public Library
The Southbury Public Library is a department of the town, with its own 9-member Board of Directors. On May 1, 2006 Southbury officially opened its new library (its 3rd, though no two have ever been in use concurrently) at 100 Poverty Road. This $6 million project was the first public building constructed in Southbury in 30 years. It is a 32000 square feet (2,972.9 m²), 2 floor, state-of-the-art facility. It contains around 90,000 books. It has computers, audiobooks, DVDs, recording rooms for recording books for the blind, meeting rooms, internet, a fireplace and a coffee bar. Selections recorded for the blind at the Southbury Public Library become part of the National Library Service catalog.Planning for the library began in 1998, with an original projected bond issue of $7.35m. The planning committee solicited donations from the public, which resulted in two single donations of $100,000 or more, and five more of between $25,000 and $99,000, in addition to smaller donations.
The old library building, at 561 Main Street South, has been converted to hold offices for the Parks and Recreation department, as well as a new senior center. The old library was built in 1969, and expanded in 1979.
The oldest library building was located in South Britain (a section and Historic District
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
of Southbury) and was replaced in 1969. It was built in 1904 and contained approximately 1,000 volumes.
Shepaug Dam and eagle observation area
The Shepaug Dam on the Housatonic River is part of a hydroelectric power plant, operated by FirstLight Power Resources, capable of a peak power output of 42,600 kW. This dam is a popular nesting and feeding ground for wintering eagles and hawks, including the Bald EagleBald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a bird of prey found in North America. It is the national bird and symbol of the United States of America. This sea eagle has two known sub-species and forms a species pair with the White-tailed Eagle...
. Near the power station, FirstLight also operates an eagle observation area first opened by the utility's predecessor, Northeast Utilities, in the mid-1980s. Access is free, and some telescopes are provided. Utility company employees and volunteers from the Connecticut Audubon Society and other groups are at the observation area to assist visitors. Advanced reservations are required. Eagles are attracted to the spot because the water churning through the dam's hydroelectric turbine keeps the surface from icing over, allowing the birds to fish. Red-tailed hawks, goshawks, great blue herons and other waterfowl are also attracted to the spot. The dam flooded an area now known as Lake Lillinonah.
FirstLight Power Resources has submitted a plan to the Connecticut Department of Public Utility Control to build a new peak-power plant next to the existing hydroelectric facility.
Parks
- Kettletown State Park, a state park located on the Housatonic River that includes camp grounds located off I-84 Exit 15.
- Southford Falls State ParkSouthford Falls State ParkSouthford Falls State Park is a state park in Southbury, Connecticut.At the turn of the 20th century, this was the site of the Diamond Match Company factory that manufactured cardboard. The factory was destroyed by fire in 1923...
, a state park off I-84 Exit 15 and I-84 Exit 16. - George Waldo State Park, a state park located on the Housatonic River, off Purchase Brook Road.
- Ballentine Park, a town park with fields, basketball courts and a public pool (town residents only).
- George Ewald Park, a town park consisting of little league baseball fields.
- Audubon Center at Bent of the River, a 700 acres (2.8 km²) nature sanctuary with about 15 miles (24.1 km) of hiking trails, an extensive nature library, and a bird-watching balcony.
Golf
- Pomperaug Golf Club, a nine-hole, 35 par public course.
- Gainfield Farms Golf Course, a nine-hole, 28 par public course.
- Heritage Village Golf Club, an eighteen-hole, 72 par private course.
Notable people, past and present
- Howard Malcolm BaldrigeHoward M. BaldrigeHoward Malcolm Baldrige or H. Malcolm Baldrige was a Nebraska Republican politician.-Early life and ancestors:He was born on June 23, 1894 at Omaha, Douglas County, Nebraska, the son of Nebraska state senator Howard Hammond Baldrige and Letitia Blanche Coffey and died on January 19, 1985, in...
a Politician and Lawyer and father of Howard M. Baldrige, Jr. and Letitia BaldrigeLetitia BaldrigeLetitia Baldrige is an American etiquette expert and public relations executive.A graduate of Vassar College, she is a former State Department employee and was the White House Social Secretary to Jacqueline Kennedy....
. - Philip EvergoodPhilip EvergoodPhilip Howard Francis Dixon Evergood was an American painter, etcher, lithographer, sculptor, illustrator and writer. He was particularly active during the Depression and World War II era.-Life:...
(1901–1973), a painter, etcher, lithographer, sculptor, illustrator and writer, resided in town. - Wallace NuttingWallace NuttingWallace Nutting was a U.S. minister, photographer, artist, and antiquarian, who is most famous for his pictures. He also was an accomplished author, lecturer, furniture maker —some of whose reproductions pass as antiques— antiques expert and collector...
(1861–1941) a famed photographer (and also a minister, author, lecturer, furniture maker) moved his photography studio to a farm in town from New York City in 1899. in 1912, he moved again to FraminghamFramingham, MassachusettsFramingham is a New England town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 68,318 as of the United States 2010 Census. -History:...
, MassachusettsMassachusettsThe 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...
. - Leland StoweLeland StoweLeland Stowe was a Pulitzer Prize winning American journalist noted for being one of the first to recognize the expansionist character of the German Nazi regime.- Biography :...
(1899–1994) Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and one of the first to recognize the expansionist character of the German Nazi regime. - Ed SullivanEd SullivanEdward Vincent "Ed" Sullivan was an American entertainment writer and television host, best known as the presenter of the TV variety show The Ed Sullivan Show. The show was broadcast from 1948 to 1971 , which made it one of the longest-running variety shows in U.S...
(1901–1974), iconic television personality & host of a popular television variety show, had a country home in town. - Joel HinmanJoel HinmanChief Justice Joel Hinman was born in to Colonel Joel Hinman in Southbury, New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, grandson of Benjamin Hinman.- Connecticut Supreme Court :...
(1802–1870), Chief Justice, Connecticut Supreme Court of Errors, was born in Southbury. - James LedbetterJames LedbetterFor the Welsh rugby union player of a similar name see James LeadbeaterJames Ledbetter is an author and editor based in New York City. In 2008, he joined online magazine Slate, where he will oversee an upcoming business news Web site called The Big Money . Prior to joining Slate, he was at...
, authorAuthorAn author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and editorEditorThe term editor may refer to:As a person who does editing:* Editor in chief, having final responsibility for a publication's operations and policies* Copy editing, making formatting changes and other improvements to text...
based in New York CityNew York CityNew 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...
, is a former resident of Southbury. - Gladys TaberGladys TaberGladys Taber , author of 59 books, including the Stillmeadow books, and columnist for Ladies' Home Journal and Family Circle, was born in Colorado Springs on April 12, 1899, and spent most of her early years moving because of her father's work as a mining engineer...
(1899–1980), Author of 59 books and columnist in the Lady's Home Journal, lived in "Stillmeadow," a 1690 farmhouse off of Jeremy Swamp Road, Southbury starting in 1933 (summers only) and 1935 (full time). - Victor BorgeVictor BorgeVictor Borge ,born Børge Rosenbaum, was a Danish comedian, conductor and pianist, affectionately known as The Clown Prince of Denmark,The Unmelancholy Dane,and The Great Dane.-Early life and career:...
(1909–2000), comedian, owned the Colonial House in Southbury, which now serves as a community center. His estate & cornish hen game farm is now Heritage Village. - Polly BergenPolly BergenPolly Bergen is an American actress, singer, and entrepreneur.-Career:Bergen appeared in many film roles, most notably in the original Cape Fear opposite Gregory Peck and Robert Mitchum...
actress, recording artist and successful entrepreneur. Bergen calls a vintage house on several wooded acres in the South Britain area her home. - Sada ThompsonSada ThompsonSada Carolyn Thompson was an American stage, film, and television actress.-Life and career:Born in Des Moines, Iowa in 1927 to Hugh Woodruff Thompson and his wife Corlyss , and raised in New Jersey, Thompson earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre at the Carnegie Institute of Technology, after...
, actress of stage, screen, and television, perhaps best known for her role on the long-running ABC drama FamilyFamily (TV series)Family is an American television drama series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1980. Creative control of the show was split between executive producers Leonard Goldberg, Aaron Spelling and Mike Nichols...
. - Jan MinerJan MinerJan Miner was an American actress best known for her iconic role as the manicurist Madge in a 27-year series of television commercials for Palmolive dish-washing detergent....
(1917–2004) actress. Miner's prolific career began in radio and spanned all media for decades, with an emphasis on many highly regarded stage performances. She most likely will be forever remembered as "Madge the Manicurist", a role she enjoyed for nearly 3 decades in dozens of TV commercials for Palmolive dishwashing soap. - Linda CohnLinda CohnLinda Cohn is an American sportscaster. She regularly anchors ESPN's SportsCenter.-Early life and education:As a teenager, Cohn, a New Yorker, demonstrated talent at ice hockey, making her high school's boys team...
, sportscasterSportscasterIn sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
on the ESPNESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
network.
IBM Southbury
By far the largest corporate complex in Southbury is that of IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
. IBM located its facilities on between Kettletown Road and Bullet Hill Road, up a hill from Main Street Southbury on a 230 acre (0.9307778 km²) site. Access to the site is restricted to authorized personnel only. Its original design and construction allowed for 1100000 square feet (102,193.3 m²) of office space, intended for 2,500 people (later increased as around the clock operations began). It also had 250000 square feet (23,225.8 m²) of "raised floor" data center space, originally designed for large-scale water-cooled mainframe operations. It is an "off the grid" facility, with its power plant taking advantage of jet turbine technology to generate power for the entire site. In 2006, this power plant was replaced with a larger one as power demands increased. IBM Southbury was originally designed to be one of IBM's new corporate headquarters buildings, as IBM's "North Castle" facility in Armonk became outdated. It was never used for this purpose, and has been primarily used as an IBM Global Services facility. There are four buildings, labeled A, B, C, and Central Services. Due to decreasing demand for office space, building A is currently shut down.
Southbury Corporate Park
Southbury Corporate Park is a largely theoretical 125 acre (0.5058575 km²) site between I-84 exits 13 and 14. It is approved for roughly 900000 square feet (83,612.7 m²) of zone R60-C compliant corporate offices. The town purchased the site for a total of $5 million. It is designed to attract large corporate partners, or at worst, non-"big box" retailers. An arts center has also been proposed for the site, though this proposal was later revoked in favor of a possible location inside the Southbury Training SchoolSouthbury Training School
Southbury Training School is a large residential facility in the towns of Southbury and Roxbury, Connecticut. It was built in the 1930s as a large state funded and operated residential and habilitative facility for adults with mental retardation. It consists of 125 buildings situated on a campus of...
.
Retail
Southbury is home to a significant amount of retail space, primarily consolidated into one of several plazas, and entirely concentrated around Main Street South:- Southbury Plaza's anchor tenants include: DressBarnDressBarnDress Barn is an American retailer of women's clothing. The first Dress Barn was opened in 1962 in Stamford, Connecticut, by Roslyn Jaffe. The company began trading on NASDAQ in 1982...
, HallmarkHallmark CardsHallmark 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....
, K-mart, McDonald'sMcDonald'sMcDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
, RadioShackRadioShackRadioShack Corporation is an American franchise of electronics retail stores in the United States, as well as parts of Europe, South America and Africa. As of 2008, RadioShack reported net sales and operating revenues of $4.81 billion. The headquarters of RadioShack is located in Downtown...
, and Stop & ShopStop & ShopThe Stop & Shop Supermarket Company is a chain of supermarkets located mostly in the northeastern United States. Its main rivals are Shaw's Star Market and Hannaford in New England, while ShopRite and the A&P family of supermarkets are its main competition in New York and New Jersey.- History :Stop... - Southbury Green's anchor tenants include: GapGap (clothing retailer)The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
, StarbucksStarbucksStarbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
, Staples, Shop Rite, and Victoria's SecretVictoria's SecretVictoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales of over US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006...
Southbury Volunteer Firemen's Association
The Southbury Volunteer Firemen's Association, Inc. is a private, member governed corporation, operating as a non-profit organization and is chartered for the purpose of providing emergency service to the community. Serving a rural territory which includes several miles of Interstate 84, single family homes, industrial, heavy commercial, institutional, and some multi-family occupancies. Founded in 1932, they operate out of 4 facilities, with 16 specialty fire vehicles, and 107 department members. They provide services including Fire Suppression, Motor Vehicle Extrication, Operations level HAZMAT, Confined Space and Water Rescue to the community. title = SVFASouthbury Ambulance Association
The Southbury Ambulance Association was started as a volunteer organization in 1953 by the Southbury Lions Club, handling both Southbury and Woodbury. The SAA had some of the first EMT's in the state in the 1970s. Until 1978, only SLC members were allowed to join the SAA, which caused difficulties in finding sufficient crew for the ambulance service. As of 1997, the SAA was responding to more than 1,500 service calls a year. Today, the SAA still operates as a volunteer organization which receives zero funding from the town. It currently operates three ambulances.Southbury Land Trust
The Southbury Land Trust is a "private nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the protection and preservation of Southbury Connecticut's natural resources for the enjoyment and benefit of all present and future generations." Basically, the SLT purchases or is gifted with land which it places development restrictions on. They currently control more than 800 acres (3.2 km²) of land in Southbury. Much of this land is open to the public.David Pollitt
David Pollitt is a convicted serial rapist who had moved into his sister's home in a Southbury neighborhood in October 2007 which was met with heavy protestProtest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
. A state judge in 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....
rejected a request by state officials to have Pollitt placed somewhere else, such as an inpatient treatment center. Judge Susan Handy said Pollitt has paid his debt to society. Neighbors however held several protests and town-wide meetings to discuss this event. Many were disgusted that a convicted rapist could move into their quiet neighborhood on Fox Run Road, despite that Pollitt was put under house arrest and electronic monitoring. Many town residents reacted to Mr. Pollitt's family, in one case holding a candlelight vigil for his victims a block away from his sister's home. Neighbors concerns included the fact that during his nearly 25 years in prison, David Pollitt refused all offers for rehabilitation therapy. Pollitt's teenage nieces, who would be living in the same house upon his release, represented the lone voices defending him. As part of the terms of his probation, Pollitt has to wear a global positioning satellite tracking device and register as a sex offender
Sex offender
A sex offender is a person who has committed a sex crime. What constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and by legal jurisdiction. Most jurisdictions compile their laws into sections such as traffic, assault, sexual, etc. The majority of convicted sex offenders have convictions for crimes of a...
. One interesting fact is that five other convicted sex offenders live in Southbury yet residents have not protested their status in town. However, it was the severity and repetitive nature 8 rapes) of David Pollitt's crimes which created the issue. David Pollitt's serial rape convictions is tied with only by one other sex offender in the state of Connecticut.
Due to the uproar over Mr. Pollitt, lawmakers have introduced a bill which would mandate that halfway housing be available for sex offenders on parole or probation. Southbury has received some criticism as well as praise for its reaction to Mr. Pollitt.
In February 2008 Mr. Pollitt's neighbors approached the town's tax appeals board demanding a tax cut, claiming their home values have dropped since the presence of Mr. Pollitt. As of right now the head of the board has not made a final decision.
In September 2008, David Pollitt was arrested for a probation violation when his GPS system showed him in an unapproved location. It was determined that his GPS tracking device was in error as it had been since he began to wear it. The Department of Probation had touted the GPS tracking system as a key deterrent to his ability to commit additional crimes. Southbury First Selectman Mark Cooper was commended by the Board of Selectman for using the Code Red system to alert Southbury residents to David Pollitt's arrest and release on bond.
In March of 2011, David Pollitt moved out of the Southbury neighborhood.
Denying Nazi group a pre-war foothold
In November 1937 residents of the farming outpost got word that a man by the name of Wolfgang Jung had purchased 178 acre (0.72034108 km²) in the town. Residents quickly looked into his plans and discovered that he was a member of the German-American BundGerman-American Bund
The German American Bund or German American Federation was an American Nazi organization established in the 1930s...
, an organization of ethnic Germans living in the United States who supported Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and Nazi Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Its leader, Fritz Kuhn
Fritz Kuhn (Nazi)
Fritz Julius Kuhn was a controversial leader of the German American Bund, prior to World War II. He was a naturalized citizen of the United States. He was an American supporter of the German government led by Adolf Hitler....
, was considered the leading anti-Semite in the country. Word soon got out that they were in fact planning to build their largest training facility in the country. Residents objected by calling a town meeting and set up a zoning
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
department with one simple rule, no military activity excluding the United States army. The law was adopted December 14 and the Bund stopped work and eventually sold the land.
External links
- Town of Southbury
- Tribury Chamber of Commerce
- Southbury Public Library
- Pomperaug Regional School District 15
- The Pomperaug Health District serves Southbury, Woodbury and Oxford.
- Northwest Connecticut Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Southbury.org Community Site & Discussion
- Heritage Village Retirement Community
- Southbury Land Trust
- Southbury Democratic Town Committee
- Southbury Republican Town Committee
- Sacred Heart Church
- Calvary Chapel Church of Southbury, CT