Stafford, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Stafford is a town
in Tolland County
, Connecticut
, United States
, settled in 1719. The population was 11,307 at the 2000 census.
agricultural community. The easy availability of water power from the tributaries of the Willimantic River
led to industrialization, and this abundance of power helped generate local population growth. By the mid-19th century, Stafford was connected by railroad to markets across New England
, and before the State Highway projects of the 1920s and 1930s, the town had a trolley
connection to Rockville, CT.
During the Civil War, factories in Stafford made cannonballs and other war supplies for the northern forces.
, the town has a total area of 58.8 square miles (152.2 km²), of which, 58.0 square miles (150.1 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (1.38%) is water. At 58.8 square miles, Stafford is the 3rd largest town in Connecticut based on area.
Stafford is located at the intersection of Routes 190 and 32
, in the northeastern region of the state. The community consists of the downtown area known as Stafford Springs and the more rural villages of Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, Hydeville
, Orcuttsville, Staffordville, Stafford Hollow
, Village Hill, and West Stafford.
While the town has managed to maintain its New England
mill-town charm and culture, it is rapidly becoming a bedroom commuter town feeding into larger area communities. Many residents drive into Hartford
, Manchester
, and Enfield
, Connecticut
, as well as Springfield
, Massachusetts
, all of which can be reached in about a 30-minute auto commute. It is also about a half-hour drive to the University of Connecticut
's main campus in Storrs
.
of 2000, there were 11,307 people, 4,353 households, and 3,086 families residing in the town. The population density
was 195.1 people per square mile (75.3/km²). There are 4,616 housing units at an average density of 79.6 per square mile (30.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.90% White, 0.64% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.50% from other races
, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.
There were 4,353 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples
living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there are 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,699, and the median income for a family was $61,694. Males had a median income of $42,157 versus $29,896 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $22,017. About 4.3% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older.
At the present time there are three elementary, one middle and one high school in Stafford, in addition to a parochial
K-8 school
, Saint Edwards School .
Two of the elementary schools, West Stafford and Staffordville serve children pre-k through first grade;while the third elementary school, Stafford Elementary serves children second grade to fifth.
The school system serving pre-K through 12 has earned an excellent reputation.
Stafford High School
fields competitive teams in football, basketball, cross country, track, soccer, field hockey, baseball and softball and in more recent years wrestling, as well as offering an active intramural sports program. Each spring the music, arts, and drama departments of the high and middle schools put on plays and musical productions. A variety of extracurricular activities rounds out the school program.
and gynecology, pediatrics
, mental health, intensive/coronary care, oncology, physical rehabilitation and emergency care. The facility was built in 1975. It has an adjoining professional building which houses the practices of area doctors.
Evergreen Health Care Center opened in 1989, is a nursing facility located on the hospital campus consisting of 120 long term care beds and a 30-bed sub-acute rehabilitation unit and a 30-bed Memory Support Unit for residents with Alzheimer's Disease. Evergreen and JMH serve several area towns.
Family Birth Suites at the Nirenberg Center is a state of the art birthing center featuring six private birthing suites designed to accommodate patients throughout their stay, for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum care.
Evergreen, JMH, and the Nirenberg Center serve several area towns.
Stafford hosts offices of a number of physician
s, dentists, optometrists, chiropractor
s, physical therapists and other health professionals. The Stafford Veterinary Center serves the needs of animals, both large and small.
program, youth softball, adult softball for men and women, and a summer recreational program offering swimming lessons and martial arts instruction for children. There are programs for youth football, basketball, soccer and hockey.
The Stafford Motor Speedway
attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year and is a fixture of spring and summer. There is a small public beach on Staffordville Lake which is a summertime destination for many residents. Stafford also has (limited) access to Sandy Beach on Crystal Lake in Ellington. Plans are being developed to provide hiking and multi-use trails within Stafford. There are two bed and breakfast
s as well as a few campgrounds (Sun Valley , Roaring Brook and Mineral Springs ) that provide accommodation for visitors.
Stafford is served by the Connecticut State Police through the Resident State Trooper program. The State Police Troop C Barracks is located nearby, just off I-84 in Tolland. There are also full-time and part-time constables that serve with resident troopers. Two volunteer fire departments cover Stafford with strategically located firehouses (West Stafford Fire , Staffordville Fire #1 ). The Town also hosts a volunteer ambulance organization , which serves the area.
The new Stafford Public Library continually offers public service programs and unique special events for the community.
A modern sewer plant, constructed in 1972, services approximately one-third of the town, including the commercial and industrial area in the Service District. Curbside pick-up of municipal refuse and recyclables to be recycled is available within the Stafford Springs Service District.
In the Connecticut General Assembly
, Stafford is represented by State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi
and State Sen. Tony Guglielmo.
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 Tolland County
Tolland County, Connecticut
Tolland County is a county located in the northeastern part of Connecticut. As of 2010, the population was 152,691.Counties in Connecticut have no governmental function: all legal power is vested in the state, city, and town governments...
, 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...
, settled in 1719. The population was 11,307 at the 2000 census.
History
The Colonial Town of Stafford began as a ruralRural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
agricultural community. The easy availability of water power from the tributaries of the Willimantic River
Willimantic River
The Willimantic River is a tributary of the Shetucket River, approximately 25 mi long in northeastern Connecticut in the New England region of the United States....
led to industrialization, and this abundance of power helped generate local population growth. By the mid-19th century, Stafford was connected by railroad to markets across New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, and before the State Highway projects of the 1920s and 1930s, the town had a trolley
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
connection to Rockville, CT.
During the Civil War, factories in Stafford made cannonballs and other war supplies for the northern forces.
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 58.8 square miles (152.2 km²), of which, 58.0 square miles (150.1 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (1.38%) is water. At 58.8 square miles, Stafford is the 3rd largest town in Connecticut based on area.
Stafford is located at the intersection of Routes 190 and 32
Route 32 (Connecticut)
Route 32 is a primary north–south state highway in the U.S. state of Connecticut, beginning in New London and continuing via Willimantic to the Massachusetts state line, where it continues as Route 32 in that state.-Route description:...
, in the northeastern region of the state. The community consists of the downtown area known as Stafford Springs and the more rural villages of Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, Hydeville
Hydeville, Connecticut
Hydeville is a rural village in the town of Stafford, Connecticut.The Lafayette blast furnace, established in Hydeville in 1799 to process bog iron, is reputed to have been the first iron furnace in the state to cast stoves.It operated until 1840, when the local ore supply had been used...
, Orcuttsville, Staffordville, Stafford Hollow
Stafford Hollow, Connecticut
Stafford Hollow, also known as Stafford, Stafford Village, or Furnace Hollow, is a village in the town of Stafford, in Tolland County, Connecticut, located at the junction of Route 19 and Route 319...
, Village Hill, and West Stafford.
While the town has managed to maintain its New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
mill-town charm and culture, it is rapidly becoming a bedroom commuter town feeding into larger area communities. Many residents drive into 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...
, Manchester
Manchester, Connecticut
Manchester is a township and city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 58,241.- History :...
, and Enfield
Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 45,212 at the 2000 census. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Ellington to the south, and the...
, 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...
, as well as Springfield
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, 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...
, all of which can be reached in about a 30-minute auto commute. It is also about a half-hour drive to the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
's main campus in Storrs
Storrs, Connecticut
Storrs is a census-designated place and part of the town of Mansfield, Connecticut located in eastern Tolland County. The population was 10,996 at the 2000 census...
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 11,307 people, 4,353 households, and 3,086 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 195.1 people per square mile (75.3/km²). There are 4,616 housing units at an average density of 79.6 per square mile (30.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.90% White, 0.64% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.91% Asian, 0.50% 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 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.
There were 4,353 households out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% 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, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town the population is spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there are 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,699, and the median income for a family was $61,694. Males had a median income of $42,157 versus $29,896 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 $22,017. About 4.3% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older.
Education
Parochial school
A parochial school is a school that provides religious education in addition to conventional education. In a narrower sense, a parochial school is a Christian grammar school or high school which is part of, and run by, a parish.-United Kingdom:...
K-8 school
K-8 school
A K-8 school in the United States is a school that combines both elementary school and middle school students in the range from kindergarten through eighth grade.- Examples :* David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center, North Miami, Florida...
, Saint Edwards School .
Two of the elementary schools, West Stafford and Staffordville serve children pre-k through first grade;while the third elementary school, Stafford Elementary serves children second grade to fifth.
The school system serving pre-K through 12 has earned an excellent reputation.
Stafford High School
Stafford Municipal School District
Stafford Municipal School District is a school district based in Stafford, Texas, United States. The district covers all of the city of Stafford and is controlled by the city, the only school district in Texas that is not an independent school district operated by an independent school board.There...
fields competitive teams in football, basketball, cross country, track, soccer, field hockey, baseball and softball and in more recent years wrestling, as well as offering an active intramural sports program. Each spring the music, arts, and drama departments of the high and middle schools put on plays and musical productions. A variety of extracurricular activities rounds out the school program.
Medical
Johnson Memorial Medical Center is a 90-bed acute care facility, located on Route 190 in Stafford, The Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient services, including medical and surgical, obstetricsObstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and gynecology, pediatrics
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
, mental health, intensive/coronary care, oncology, physical rehabilitation and emergency care. The facility was built in 1975. It has an adjoining professional building which houses the practices of area doctors.
Evergreen Health Care Center opened in 1989, is a nursing facility located on the hospital campus consisting of 120 long term care beds and a 30-bed sub-acute rehabilitation unit and a 30-bed Memory Support Unit for residents with Alzheimer's Disease. Evergreen and JMH serve several area towns.
Family Birth Suites at the Nirenberg Center is a state of the art birthing center featuring six private birthing suites designed to accommodate patients throughout their stay, for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum care.
Evergreen, JMH, and the Nirenberg Center serve several area towns.
Stafford hosts offices of a number of physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s, dentists, optometrists, chiropractor
Chiropractor
A Chiropractor, according to the Association of Chiropractic Colleges , "focuses on the relationship between the body's main structures – the skeleton, the muscles and the nerves – and the patient's health. Chiropractors believe that health can be improved and preserved by making adjustments to...
s, physical therapists and other health professionals. The Stafford Veterinary Center serves the needs of animals, both large and small.
Recreation
The town has several tennis courts, ball fields, soccer fields, and several parks. In addition, there are private hunting and fishing clubs, as well as recreational swimming and tennis clubs. During the spring and summer there is an active Little LeagueLittle League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
program, youth softball, adult softball for men and women, and a summer recreational program offering swimming lessons and martial arts instruction for children. There are programs for youth football, basketball, soccer and hockey.
The Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Motor Speedway
Stafford Motor Speedway is a semi-banked 1/2 mile paved oval located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. It is part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. It hosts four events on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2010....
attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year and is a fixture of spring and summer. There is a small public beach on Staffordville Lake which is a summertime destination for many residents. Stafford also has (limited) access to Sandy Beach on Crystal Lake in Ellington. Plans are being developed to provide hiking and multi-use trails within Stafford. There are two bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
s as well as a few campgrounds (Sun Valley , Roaring Brook and Mineral Springs ) that provide accommodation for visitors.
Government
Stafford is governed by a Board of Selectmen consisting of three members, elected by town voters on odd years for a two-year term. The town has no charter, but is governed in general by Connecticut General Statutes (laws) and specifically by ordinances voted upon at town meetings.Stafford is served by the Connecticut State Police through the Resident State Trooper program. The State Police Troop C Barracks is located nearby, just off I-84 in Tolland. There are also full-time and part-time constables that serve with resident troopers. Two volunteer fire departments cover Stafford with strategically located firehouses (West Stafford Fire , Staffordville Fire #1 ). The Town also hosts a volunteer ambulance organization , which serves the area.
The new Stafford Public Library continually offers public service programs and unique special events for the community.
A modern sewer plant, constructed in 1972, services approximately one-third of the town, including the commercial and industrial area in the Service District. Curbside pick-up of municipal refuse and recyclables to be recycled is available within the Stafford Springs Service District.
In the Connecticut General Assembly
Connecticut General Assembly
The Connecticut General Assembly is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. There are no term limits for either chamber.During...
, Stafford is represented by State Rep. Penny Bacchiochi
Penny Bacchiochi
Penny Bacchiochi is an American Republican politician, currently serving as a state representative in Connecticut. She was first elected to the House in 2002 and was reelected in 2004 and 2006....
and State Sen. Tony Guglielmo.
Notable residents, past and present
- Jack AruteJack AruteJack Arute, Jr. currently covers the NFL and college sports for Sirius XM Radio. He is the president of the Stafford Motor Speedway in Connecticut...
(1952?-), sports commentator and president Stafford Motor SpeedwayStafford Motor SpeedwayStafford Motor Speedway is a semi-banked 1/2 mile paved oval located in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. It is part of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series. It hosts four events on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2010....
. - Penny BacchiochiPenny BacchiochiPenny Bacchiochi is an American Republican politician, currently serving as a state representative in Connecticut. She was first elected to the House in 2002 and was reelected in 2004 and 2006....
(1961?-), current Connecticut House of RepresentativesConnecticut House of RepresentativesThe Connecticut House of Representatives is the lower house in the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The house is composed of 151 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing nearly 22,600 residents...
legislator was raised in town. - Moses G. LeonardMoses G. LeonardMoses Gage Leonard was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:Born in Stafford, Connecticut, Leonard attended the public schools.He moved to New York City.City alderman and judge of the city court 1840-1842....
(1809–1899), US Congressman for New York was born in town. - Erasmus D. PeckErasmus D. PeckErasmus Darwin Peck was a U.S. Representative from Ohio.Born in Stafford, Connecticut, Peck attended the common schools of Monson, Massachusetts and graduated from the medical department of Yale College in 1829. He moved to Portage County, Ohio in 1830 and later to Perrysburg, Ohio to practice...
(1808–1876), US Congressman for Ohio was born in town. - Charles LewandoskiCharles LewandoskiCharles Lewandoski is a driver in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.-Background:...
(1985-), Current NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
Nationwide Series driver.