Windsor, Connecticut
Encyclopedia
Windsor is a town
in Hartford County
, Connecticut
, United States
, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford
. The population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005.
Poquonock is a northern area of Windsor that has its own zip code
(06064) for PO Box purposes. Other areas in Windsor, which are not incorporated, include Rainbow and Hayden Station in the north, and Wilson and Deerfield in the south.
The Day Hill Road area is known as Windsor's Corporate Area, although other centers of business include New England Tradeport, Kennedy Industry Park and Kennedy Business Park, all near Bradley International Airport
and the Addison Road Industrial Park
.
, who had been in the region for thousands of years. They relied on the rivers for fishing, water and transportation. Before European contact, the historic Pequot
and Mohegan
tribes had been one Algonquian
-speaking people. After they separated, they became competitors and traditional enemies in the Connecticut region.
During the first part of the 17th century, the Pequot
and Mohegan
Nations had been at war. The Podunk
were forced to pay tribute to the more powerful Pequot, who claimed their land. Eventually, the Podunk
invited a small party of settlers from Plymouth, Massachusetts to settle as a mediating force between the other tribes. In exchange they granted them a plot of land at the confluence of the Farmington River
and the west side of the Connecticut River
. After Edward Winslow
came from Plymouth to inspect the land, William Holmes led a small party, arriving at the site on September 26, 1633 where they founded a trading post.
Native Americans referred to the area as Matianuck. It was about 50 miles (80.5 km) up river, at the end of waters navigable by ship and above the Dutch fort at Hartford
, offering an advantageous location for the English to trade with the Indians before they reached the Dutch. (The Sicaog tribe had made a similar offer to mediate to the Dutch
in New Amsterdam
. New Netherland had far fewer European settlers than New England and were not in a position to take up the opportunity.)
In 1634, a party of around 30 people, sponsored by Sir Richard Saltonstall, and led by the Stiles brothers, Francis, John and Henry settled in the Windsor area. Governor John Winthrop
of the Massachusetts Bay Company acknowledged in a letter to Sir Richard Saltonstall that the Stiles party was, in fact, the first group to settle Connecticut.
In 1635, 60 or more people, led by the Reverends Maverick and Warham arrived, having trekked overland from Dorchester
, Massachusetts. They had arrived in the New World five years earlier on the ship "Mary and John" from Plymouth, England
and settled in Dorchester. Reverend Warham promptly renamed the settlement Dorchester. During the next few years, more settlers arrived from Dorchester, outnumbering and soon displacing the original Plymouth contingent, who mostly returned to Plymouth.
In 1637, the colony's General Court changed the name of the settlement from Dorchester to Windsor, named after the town of Windsor England
on the River Thames.
Several towns that border Windsor were once entirely or partially part of Windsor including: Windsor Locks
; South Windsor
; East Windsor
; Ellington
, (which was later part of East Windsor); and Bloomfield
, (originally called "Wintonbury"; a composite of the town names Windsor, Farmington
and Simsbury
).
The first "highway" in the Connecticut Colony
opened in 1638 between Windsor and Hartford
. Two years later, the highway was extended north to the 1636 settlement at Springfield
, and thus the three settlements that came to dominate the region for much of colonial history were connected. In 1648, an event took place that would forever change the boundaries of the Connecticut River Valley. During a grain famine, the founder of Springfield
, William Pynchon
, was given consent by Windsor and Hartford to negotiate a price for grain for the three settlements with the Natives. First, the Natives refused to sell grain at the usual market price, and then refused to sell it at "a reasonable price." Pynchon refused to buy it, attempting to teach the Natives a peaceful lesson about integrity and reliability. Windsor's cattle were starving, however, and the citizens of Hartford were furious. With Windsor's consent, Hartford commissioned the famous Indian-fighter John Mason to travel to Springfield with "money in one hand and a sword in the other" to threaten the Natives, and thereby force the grain trade. The Natives capitulated and ultimately sold their grain. After "negotiating the trade," Mason refused the share the grain with Springfield, and to add further insult, insisted that Springfield pay a tax when sailing ships past Windsor. Outraged, Springfield forever sided with the Massachusetts Bay Colony
, a faraway, theocracy based in Boston
, rather than with the Connecticut Colony, which was much closer geographically and far more compatible ideologically. Windsor played a neutral role in the colonial rivalry between Hartford and Springfield; however, Windsor's direct border with both settlements caused many discussions about whether to align with Massachusetts or Connecticut. Ultimately, Windsor sided with Connecticut.
The Hartford & Springfield Street Railway, a trolley, connected with the Connecticut Company in Windsor Center until 1925. Buses replaced trolleys between Rainbow (a northern section of Windsor) and Windsor Center in 1930. Trolley cars continued to run from Windsor to Hartford until 1940.
The original Windsor settlers have many descendants around the country and beyond. Many are members of The Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor (DFAW).
Across the street on the Palisado green stands a statue of John Mason
(a founder of Windsor and colonial leader in the Pequot War). The historic plaque also lists and honors Robert Seeley
, his second in command.
Further north is the home of Oliver Ellsworth
, third Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
The town center is well-planned in comparison to many of the others in the Greater Hartford
area. It has a relative diversity of chains and local shops, as well as a recently restored Amtrak
train station
dating to the 1850s. The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut is located in Windsor.
Windsor is home to the following locations on the National Register of Historic Places
:
farming in Connecticut has a long history. When the first settlers came to the valley in the 1630s, tobacco was already being grown by the native population. By 1700, tobacco was being exported via the Connecticut River
to Europe
an ports. The use of Connecticut tobacco as a cigar
wrapper leaf began in the 1820s. By the 1830s, tobacco farmers were experimenting with different seeds and processing techniques.
Area farmers grew tobacco for the two outside layers of cigars, the binder and the wrapper. A tobacco leaf type named Shoestring, then Broadleaf and Havana Seed were used. In the late 19th century a fine grained leaf type imported from Sumatra began to replace the wrapper from the Connecticut River valley. The tobacco farmers matched the Sumatran leaf by making shade tents of cloth to cut sunlight and raise humidity. The first tent was raised in 1900 on River Street in Windsor. Windsor tobacco leaves are highly prized by fine cigar makers, and are used as the cigar's outer wrapping. The former president of U.S. operations for Davidoff
, a Swiss maker of luxury goods company including premium Cuban cigars, praised Connecticut shade tobacco as "A nice Connecticut wrapper" and "…very silky, very fine. From a marketing point of view, it is considered at the moment to be one of the best tasting and looking wrappers available" in a Cigar Aficionado
article on why the world's best cigars use Connecticut tobacco wrapper leaves.
The technique of growing shade tobacco has changed little in the past hundred years. To form the shade tents, a tobacco field is set with posts in a grid layout. Wires are stretched from post to post, and a light, durable fabric (once cotton
but now a synthetic fiber
) is tied across them and draped along the sides. For example, twenty posts in four rows of five will create twelve square cells in three rows of four. Under the tents the sunlight
is soft and diffused the air is humid and the ambient temperature is slightly warmer than outside. Filtering the sun produces a thinner and more elastic tobacco leaf that cures
to a lighter, even color often desired by the Cuban and Dominican cigar producers.
At its height, there was greater than 15000 acres (60.7 km²) of tobacco being cultivated under shade in the Connecticut River valley. Currently, the amount of tobacco being grown in the valley is just over a steady 2000 acres (8.1 km²). Approximately 34000 acres (137.6 km²) of land in Connecticut is covered by Windsor Soil
, named after the town.
The movie "Parrish", starring Troy Donoahue and Karl Malden, was set in the tobacco farms of Windsor, and filmed here in 1961.
The Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum containing authentic farming implements and tools can be found at Northwest Park
located in Windsor.
Windsor's highest point is on Day Hill at 230 feet (70 m).
Windsor's lowest point is at the Connecticut River
shore at 5 feet (2 m). The Connecticut River defines Windsor's east border. The city of Hartford
, the Capital of Connecticut
, is adjacent to Windsor to the south. The town of Windsor Locks
, home of Bradley International Airport
, is adjacent to Windsor to the north. Prior to its incorporation in 1854, it was known as the Pine Meadow section of Windsor. The towns of East Windsor
and South Windsor
are on east side of the Connecticut River, which defines Windsor's eastern border. The town of Bloomfield
is to the west. The town of East Granby
is to the northwest.
The Farmington River
joins the Connecticut River in Windsor. The Farmington River is dammed in the northwest corner of Windsor to form the 234 acre (0.94696524 km²) Rainbow Reservoir.
Population density
was 953.0 inhabitants per square mile (368.0/km²).
In the town the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males. 7,604 families residing in the town. 10,900 housing units at an average density of 367.9 per square mile (142.0/km²). 10,577 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families.
23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.
Windsor was one of a handful of towns in the country where, in the United States Census, 2000
, median income for black households ($64,159) was larger than white households ($63,624). Asian households had a median income of $75,716. Hispanic or Latino (of any race) households have a median income of $69,808.
The per capita income
for the town was $27,633 (risen to $33,242, in 2007 census estimate). About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Windsor High School
has 1471 students enrolled and demographics for 2004–2005 were:
:
Connecticut Senate
:
United States House of Representatives
:
Minor party registrations in Windsor include Green
, Libertarian
, and Working Families
.
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 Hartford County
Hartford County, Connecticut
Hartford County is a county located in the north central part of the US state of Connecticut. The 2010 Census records show that the county population is at 894,014 making it the second most populated county in Connecticut....
, 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...
, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, 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 population was estimated at 28,778 in 2005.
Poquonock is a northern area of Windsor that has its own zip code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
(06064) for PO Box purposes. Other areas in Windsor, which are not incorporated, include Rainbow and Hayden Station in the north, and Wilson and Deerfield in the south.
The Day Hill Road area is known as Windsor's Corporate Area, although other centers of business include New England Tradeport, Kennedy Industry Park and Kennedy Business Park, all near Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
and the Addison Road Industrial Park
Industrial park
An industrial park is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development...
.
History
The coastal areas and riverways were traditional areas of settlement by various cultures of indigenous peoplesIndigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
, who had been in the region for thousands of years. They relied on the rivers for fishing, water and transportation. Before European contact, the historic Pequot
Pequot
Pequot people are a tribe of Native Americans who, in the 17th century, inhabited much of what is now Connecticut. They were of the Algonquian language family. The Pequot War and Mystic massacre reduced the Pequot's sociopolitical influence in southern New England...
and Mohegan
Mohegan
The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking tribe that lives in the eastern upper Thames River valley of Connecticut. Mohegan translates to "People of the Wolf". At the time of European contact, the Mohegan and Pequot were one people, historically living in the lower Connecticut region...
tribes had been one Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
-speaking people. After they separated, they became competitors and traditional enemies in the Connecticut region.
During the first part of the 17th century, the Pequot
Pequot
Pequot people are a tribe of Native Americans who, in the 17th century, inhabited much of what is now Connecticut. They were of the Algonquian language family. The Pequot War and Mystic massacre reduced the Pequot's sociopolitical influence in southern New England...
and Mohegan
Mohegan
The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking tribe that lives in the eastern upper Thames River valley of Connecticut. Mohegan translates to "People of the Wolf". At the time of European contact, the Mohegan and Pequot were one people, historically living in the lower Connecticut region...
Nations had been at war. The Podunk
Podunk
In American English, Podunk, podunk, or Podunk Hollow denotes or describes a place of small size or "in the middle of nowhere", and is often used in the upper case as a placeholder name in a context of dismissing significance or importance....
were forced to pay tribute to the more powerful Pequot, who claimed their land. Eventually, the Podunk
Podunk (people)
The Podunks were an indigenous people living in some of the southern parts of what came to be known as New England. The Europeans referred to these people as the Podunk, but they did not have a name for themselves, or a written language, and they spoke an Algonquian dialect...
invited a small party of settlers from Plymouth, Massachusetts to settle as a mediating force between the other tribes. In exchange they granted them a plot of land at the confluence of the Farmington River
Farmington River
The Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
and the west side of the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. After Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow
Edward Winslow was an English Pilgrim leader on the Mayflower. He served as the governor of Plymouth Colony in 1633, 1636, and finally in 1644...
came from Plymouth to inspect the land, William Holmes led a small party, arriving at the site on September 26, 1633 where they founded a trading post.
Native Americans referred to the area as Matianuck. It was about 50 miles (80.5 km) up river, at the end of waters navigable by ship and above the Dutch fort at Hartford
Fort Hoop
Fort Hoop was a settlement in the seventeenth century colonial province of New Netherland that eventually developed into Hartford, Connecticut.-History:...
, offering an advantageous location for the English to trade with the Indians before they reached the Dutch. (The Sicaog tribe had made a similar offer to mediate to the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
in New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam
New Amsterdam was a 17th-century Dutch colonial settlement that served as the capital of New Netherland. It later became New York City....
. New Netherland had far fewer European settlers than New England and were not in a position to take up the opportunity.)
In 1634, a party of around 30 people, sponsored by Sir Richard Saltonstall, and led by the Stiles brothers, Francis, John and Henry settled in the Windsor area. Governor John Winthrop
John Winthrop
John Winthrop was a wealthy English Puritan lawyer, and one of the leading figures in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first major settlement in New England after Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of migrants from England in 1630, and served as governor for 12 of...
of the Massachusetts Bay Company acknowledged in a letter to Sir Richard Saltonstall that the Stiles party was, in fact, the first group to settle Connecticut.
In 1635, 60 or more people, led by the Reverends Maverick and Warham arrived, having trekked overland from Dorchester
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Dorchester is a dissolved municipality and current neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It is named after the town of Dorchester in the English county of Dorset, from which Puritans emigrated and is today endearingly nicknamed "Dot" by its residents. Dorchester, including a large...
, Massachusetts. They had arrived in the New World five years earlier on the ship "Mary and John" from Plymouth, England
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
and settled in Dorchester. Reverend Warham promptly renamed the settlement Dorchester. During the next few years, more settlers arrived from Dorchester, outnumbering and soon displacing the original Plymouth contingent, who mostly returned to Plymouth.
In 1637, the colony's General Court changed the name of the settlement from Dorchester to Windsor, named after the town of Windsor England
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
on the River Thames.
Several towns that border Windsor were once entirely or partially part of Windsor including: Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
; South Windsor
South Windsor, Connecticut
-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
; East Windsor
East Windsor, Connecticut
East Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 11,162 at the 2010 census.The town has five villages: Broad Brook, Melrose, Scantic, Warehouse Point and Windsorville.-Area:...
; Ellington
Ellington, Connecticut
Ellington is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Ellington was incorporated in May, 1786, from East Windsor. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 12,921...
, (which was later part of East Windsor); and Bloomfield
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,626 at the 2009 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.2 square miles is water.Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the...
, (originally called "Wintonbury"; a composite of the town names Windsor, Farmington
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town located in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 25,340 at the 2010 census. It is home to the world headquarters of several large corporations including Carrier Corporation, Otis Elevator Company, and Carvel...
and Simsbury
Simsbury, Connecticut
Simsbury is a suburban town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 23,234 at the 2000 census. The town was incorporated as Connecticut's twenty-first town in May 1670.-Early history:...
).
The first "highway" in the Connecticut Colony
Connecticut Colony
The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut was an English colony located in British America that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. Originally known as the River Colony, it was organized on March 3, 1636 as a haven for Puritan noblemen. After early struggles with the Dutch, the English...
opened in 1638 between Windsor and 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...
. Two years later, the highway was extended north to the 1636 settlement at 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...
, and thus the three settlements that came to dominate the region for much of colonial history were connected. In 1648, an event took place that would forever change the boundaries of the Connecticut River Valley. During a grain famine, the founder of 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...
, William Pynchon
William Pynchon
William Pynchon was an English colonist in North America best known as the founder of Springfield, Massachusetts, United States. He was also a colonial treasurer, original patentee of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the iconoclastic author of the New World's first banned book...
, was given consent by Windsor and Hartford to negotiate a price for grain for the three settlements with the Natives. First, the Natives refused to sell grain at the usual market price, and then refused to sell it at "a reasonable price." Pynchon refused to buy it, attempting to teach the Natives a peaceful lesson about integrity and reliability. Windsor's cattle were starving, however, and the citizens of Hartford were furious. With Windsor's consent, Hartford commissioned the famous Indian-fighter John Mason to travel to Springfield with "money in one hand and a sword in the other" to threaten the Natives, and thereby force the grain trade. The Natives capitulated and ultimately sold their grain. After "negotiating the trade," Mason refused the share the grain with Springfield, and to add further insult, insisted that Springfield pay a tax when sailing ships past Windsor. Outraged, Springfield forever sided with the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
, a faraway, theocracy based in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, rather than with the Connecticut Colony, which was much closer geographically and far more compatible ideologically. Windsor played a neutral role in the colonial rivalry between Hartford and Springfield; however, Windsor's direct border with both settlements caused many discussions about whether to align with Massachusetts or Connecticut. Ultimately, Windsor sided with Connecticut.
The Hartford & Springfield Street Railway, a trolley, connected with the Connecticut Company in Windsor Center until 1925. Buses replaced trolleys between Rainbow (a northern section of Windsor) and Windsor Center in 1930. Trolley cars continued to run from Windsor to Hartford until 1940.
The original Windsor settlers have many descendants around the country and beyond. Many are members of The Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor (DFAW).
Other points of interest
On historic Palisado Avenue, one can find the First Church In Windsor, Congregational and adjacent graveyard.Across the street on the Palisado green stands a statue of John Mason
John Mason (c.1600-1672)
John Mason was an English Army Major who immigrated to New England in 1632. Within five years he had joined those moving west from the Massachusetts Bay Colony to the nascent settlements along the Connecticut River that would become the Connecticut Colony...
(a founder of Windsor and colonial leader in the Pequot War). The historic plaque also lists and honors Robert Seeley
Robert Seeley
Robert Seeley, also Seely, Seelye, or Ciely, was an early Puritan settler in the Massachusetts Bay Colony who helped establish Watertown, Wethersfield, and New Haven. He also served as second-in-command to John Mason in the Pequot War.-Early life:Robert Seeley was born in Bluntisham-cum-Earith,...
, his second in command.
Further north is the home of Oliver Ellsworth
Oliver Ellsworth
Oliver Ellsworth was an American lawyer and politician, a revolutionary against British rule, a drafter of the United States Constitution, and the third Chief Justice of the United States. While at the Federal Convention, Ellsworth moved to strike the word National from the motion made by Edmund...
, third Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
The town center is well-planned in comparison to many of the others in the Greater Hartford
Greater Hartford
Greater Hartford is a region located in the state of Connecticut, centered on the state's capital of Hartford.Hartford's role as a focal point for the American insurance industry is known nationally. The vibrant music and arts scene defines the region's culture...
area. It has a relative diversity of chains and local shops, as well as a recently restored Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
train station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
dating to the 1850s. The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut is located in Windsor.
Historic sites
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...
:
- Allyn, Capt. Benjamin, II, House – 119 Deerfield Rd. (added 1979)
- Giles Barber House – 411—413 Windsor Avenue (added 1988)
- Bissell Tavern-Bissell's Stage House – 1022 Palisado Avenue (added 1985)
- Broad Street Green Historic District – Roughly along Broad Street from Batchelder Rd. to Union St. (added 1999)
- Benomi Case House – 436 Rainbow Rd. (added 1988)
- Hartford & New Haven Railroad Depot – 41 Central St. (added 1988)
- Hartford & New Haven Railroad-Freight DepotHartford & New Haven Railroad-Freight DepotThe Hartford & New Haven Railroad Freight Depot building is located at the end of Central Street in Downtown Windsor, Connecticut, across the street from the equally historic Hartford & New Haven Railroad Depot, which now serves as an Amtrak station....
– 40 Central St. (added 1988) - Hezekiah Chaffee HouseHezekiah Chaffee HouseThe Hezekiah Chaffee House is a historic home in Windsor, Connecticut.The home was built in 1765 for Dr. Hezekiah Chaffee and is a "true 15 room Georgian Colonial." Today the house is a museum located in the Palisado Avenue Historic District...
– Meadow Lane, off Palisado Green (added 1972) - Taylor Chapman House – 407 Palisado Avenue (added 1988)
- Horace H. Ellsworth House – 316 Palisado Avenue (added 1988)
- Oliver Ellsworth HomesteadOliver Ellsworth HomesteadOliver Ellsworth Homestead, also known as Elmwood, was the home of the American lawyer and politician Oliver Ellsworth from 1782 to 1807. The house is in Windsor, Connecticut...
– 778 Palisado Avenue (added 1970) - Farmington River Railroad Bridge – Spans Farmington River and Pleasant St. W of Palisado Ave. (added 1972)
- Palisado Avenue Historic District – Palisado Ave. between the Farmington River and Bissell Ferry Rd. (added 1987)
Connecticut Shade Tobacco
TobaccoTobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
farming in Connecticut has a long history. When the first settlers came to the valley in the 1630s, tobacco was already being grown by the native population. By 1700, tobacco was being exported via the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an ports. The use of Connecticut tobacco as a cigar
Cigar
A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...
wrapper leaf began in the 1820s. By the 1830s, tobacco farmers were experimenting with different seeds and processing techniques.
Area farmers grew tobacco for the two outside layers of cigars, the binder and the wrapper. A tobacco leaf type named Shoestring, then Broadleaf and Havana Seed were used. In the late 19th century a fine grained leaf type imported from Sumatra began to replace the wrapper from the Connecticut River valley. The tobacco farmers matched the Sumatran leaf by making shade tents of cloth to cut sunlight and raise humidity. The first tent was raised in 1900 on River Street in Windsor. Windsor tobacco leaves are highly prized by fine cigar makers, and are used as the cigar's outer wrapping. The former president of U.S. operations for Davidoff
Davidoff
Davidoff is a Swiss luxury tobacco goods brand name, which is carried by a range of products including cigars, cigarettes and pipe tobaccos. Its cigarette brand is currently owned by Imperial Tobacco but the company is otherwise independently owned....
, a Swiss maker of luxury goods company including premium Cuban cigars, praised Connecticut shade tobacco as "A nice Connecticut wrapper" and "…very silky, very fine. From a marketing point of view, it is considered at the moment to be one of the best tasting and looking wrappers available" in a Cigar Aficionado
Cigar Aficionado
Cigar Aficionado is an American magazine that is dedicated to the world of cigars. Published since September 1992, the magazine is known for its articles about different brands of cigars worldwide, and for the celebrities that have appeared on its cover. It is also noted for its opposition to the...
article on why the world's best cigars use Connecticut tobacco wrapper leaves.
The technique of growing shade tobacco has changed little in the past hundred years. To form the shade tents, a tobacco field is set with posts in a grid layout. Wires are stretched from post to post, and a light, durable fabric (once cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
but now a synthetic fiber
Synthetic fiber
Synthetic fibers are the result of extensive research by scientists to improve on naturally occurring animal and plant fibers. In general, synthetic fibers are created by forcing, usually through extrusion, fiber forming materials through holes into the air, forming a thread...
) is tied across them and draped along the sides. For example, twenty posts in four rows of five will create twelve square cells in three rows of four. Under the tents the sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
is soft and diffused the air is humid and the ambient temperature is slightly warmer than outside. Filtering the sun produces a thinner and more elastic tobacco leaf that cures
Curing (food preservation)
Curing refers to various food preservation and flavoring processes, especially of meat or fish, by the addition of a combination of salt, nitrates, nitrite or sugar. Many curing processes also involve smoking, the process of flavoring, or cooking...
to a lighter, even color often desired by the Cuban and Dominican cigar producers.
At its height, there was greater than 15000 acres (60.7 km²) of tobacco being cultivated under shade in the Connecticut River valley. Currently, the amount of tobacco being grown in the valley is just over a steady 2000 acres (8.1 km²). Approximately 34000 acres (137.6 km²) of land in Connecticut is covered by Windsor Soil
Soil type
In terms of soil texture, soil type usually refers to the different sizes of mineral particles in a particular sample. Soil is made up in part of finely ground rock particles, grouped according to size as sand, silt and clay...
, named after the town.
The movie "Parrish", starring Troy Donoahue and Karl Malden, was set in the tobacco farms of Windsor, and filmed here in 1961.
The Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum containing authentic farming implements and tools can be found at Northwest Park
Northwest Park
Northwest Park is a municipally owned park in the town of Windsor, Connecticut, which includes walking trails, soccer fields and a nature center...
located in Windsor.
Education
- One public school for pre-school and kindergarten: Roger Wolcott Early Childhood Center,
- Four public elementary schools (Grades 1–5): Oliver Ellsworth Elementary School, Clover Street Elementary School, John F. Kennedy Elementary School, and Poquonock Elementary School,
- One public middle school (Grades 6–8): Sage Park Middle School and
- One public high school (Grades 9–12): Windsor High SchoolWindsor High School (Connecticut)Windsor High School is a public high school located in Windsor, Connecticut. This school serves students from 9th through 12th from the City Of Windsor, which is part of the Hartford County.-History:...
. - Two public libraries: Windsor Public Library and Wilson Public Library
- Loomis ChaffeeLoomis ChaffeeThe Loomis Chaffee School is a premier coeducational boarding school for grades 9–12 and postgraduates located on a 300-plus acre campus in the Connecticut River Valley in Windsor, Connecticut, six miles north of Hartford...
, the well-known college preparatory school is located in Windsor, on a 320 acres (1.3 km²) campus at the confluence of the ConnecticutConnecticut RiverThe Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
and FarmingtonFarmington RiverThe Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
rivers. - Saint Gabriel's School is a private school that teaches grades kindergarten through eighth.
- Trinity Christian School is a private school that teaches grades kindergarten through seventh.
- Praise, Power, Prayer Christian School is a private school that teaches grades kindergarten through twelfth.
- Branford HallBranford HallBranford Hall Career Institute is an independent career college with campuses in Albany, New York, Bohemia, New York, Branford, Connecticut, Windsor, Connecticut, Southington, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts....
Career Institute is located on Day Hill Road. - Baran Institute of TechnologyLincoln Group of SchoolsThe Lincoln Group of Schools is a group of for-profit vocational institutions consisting of 43 campuses in the United States. Each campus is owned and operated by Lincoln Educational Services Corporation...
is located on Day Hill Road.
Parks
- Windsor Meadows State Park is in the south east corner of town. The park runs down the shore of the Connecticut RiverConnecticut RiverThe Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
. - Keney Park, in the south, straddles Windsor and HartfordHartford, ConnecticutHartford 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...
; it includes CricketCricketCricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
Fields and a GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
Course. - Northwest ParkNorthwest ParkNorthwest Park is a municipally owned park in the town of Windsor, Connecticut, which includes walking trails, soccer fields and a nature center...
, Windsor's largest park, is located in the northwest corner of Windsor. It includes a nature center, trails and an animal barn showcasing a burro, sheep, chickens, goats, rabbits, ducks, and a turkey. - Welch Park is in the neighborhood of Poquonock on the Farmington RiverFarmington RiverThe Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
. Welch Park is home to a public pool and numerous baseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
diamonds, along with a small playground. - Stroh Park is off of Route 159 near Wilson Congregational Church towards the south end of town. Stroh Park is home to a public pool, tennis courts, a playground, and a pond.
- Strawberry Hills Park is located on River Street. A popular location in the summer months for those interested in canoeingCanoeingCanoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
and kayakingKayakingKayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
the Farmington RiverFarmington RiverThe Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
.
Events
- The Northwest Park Country Fair is held every fall.
- The Shad Derby Festival is held every spring in the town center.
Entertainment
- Tradition Golf Club.
- Keney Park Golf Club.
- The Troy Donahue movie Parrish, was filmed on Windsor's tobacco "plantations" in 1961.
- The movie Academy Boyz was shot at Loomis ChaffeeLoomis ChaffeeThe Loomis Chaffee School is a premier coeducational boarding school for grades 9–12 and postgraduates located on a 300-plus acre campus in the Connecticut River Valley in Windsor, Connecticut, six miles north of Hartford...
in 1997.
Religion
- Hopewell Baptist Church
- Windsor Home Church
- Pilgrim Way Baptist Church
- Grace Baptist Church
- Greater St. Paul's Baptist Church of Deliverance
- Saint Gabriel's Church, Roman Catholic
- Saint Gertrude's Church, Roman Catholic
- Saint Joseph's Church, Roman Catholic
- The First Church in Windsor, United Church of Christ
- Poquonock Community Church, Independent Congregational
- Wilson Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
- Holy Zion Church of the Jubilee
- Mount Carmel Christian Ministries
- Faith Community Church
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Archer Memorial AME Zion Church
- Trinity United Methodist Church
- Christ the King Lutheran Church
- Congregation Beth Ahm, Jewish
- River of Life Christian Church
- Tohrah Judea
- Connecticut Valley Church of Christ
- Praise Power & Prayer Christian Temple
- Islamic Center of Connecticut
Transportation
- Windsor, Connecticut (Amtrak station)Windsor, Connecticut (Amtrak station)Windsor is a historic train station in Downtown Windsor, Connecticut located on the New Haven-Springfield Line, as well as a spur of the Northeast Regional....
- Bradley International AirportBradley International AirportBradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
, which serves Greater HartfordGreater HartfordGreater Hartford is a region located in the state of Connecticut, centered on the state's capital of Hartford.Hartford's role as a focal point for the American insurance industry is known nationally. The vibrant music and arts scene defines the region's culture...
as well as the greater Pioneer ValleyPioneer ValleyThe Pioneer Valley is the colloquial name for the U.S. Commonwealth of Massachusetts's portion of the Connecticut River Valley. The Pioneer Valley consists of three counties in Massachusetts which collectively feature much of New England's most fertile farmland...
, is located in the adjacent town of Windsor LocksWindsor Locks, ConnecticutWindsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
to the north. - Connecticut TransitConnecticut TransitConnecticut Transit is a bus system serving much of the U.S. state of Connecticut and is a division of that state's Department of Transportation. CT Transit provides bus service via contract providers for seven different metropolitan areas in the state, mostly concentrated in Hartford and New...
: There are eight routes serving Windsor: 15, 30, 32, 34, 36, 40, 54, and 92.- The 30-Bradley Flyer route bus runs between HartfordHartford, ConnecticutHartford 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...
and Bradley International AirportBradley International AirportBradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
through Windsor. - The 32, 34, and 36 routes run between Windsor Center and Downtown Hartford along Windsor and Poquonock Avenues. While the 32 route terminates at the Poquonock Park & Ride Lot, the 34 route continues on to serve the WalgreensWalgreensWalgreen Co. , doing business as Walgreens , is the largest drugstore chain in the United States of America. As of August 31st, the company operates 8,210 locations across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1901, and has since expanded...
Distribution Center in the Rainbow neighborhood, and the 36 route continues on to connect with the 54 route in the Day Hill Road Corporate Area. - The 92 route provides crosstown trips through Windsor beginning at Copaco in Bloomfield and ending at the Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester.
- The 40-North Main Street-Wilson route terminates at the Wilson Park & Ride Lot.
- Service to the Poquonock Park & Ride Lot is provided by the local 30, 32, 34, 36, and 54 routes as well as the 15-Windsor Express route, which provides express service between Poquonock Avenue and Downtown Hartford via I-91.
- The 30-Bradley Flyer route bus runs between Hartford
- Interstate 91Interstate 91Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
has 7 exits in Windsor, including an High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) LaneHigh-occupancy vehicle laneIn transportation engineering and transportation planning, a high-occupancy vehicle lane is a lane reserved for vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers...
traveling north and south between Hartford and the Bradley Airport ConnectorBradley Airport ConnectorThe Bradley Airport Connector is a expressway built to connect Bradley International Airport to Interstate 91 in Windsor, Connecticut. It begins at Exit 40 of I-91 and heads west as Route 20 roughly along the town line between Windsor and Windsor Locks...
(Route 20). - Interstate 291 (Connecticut)Interstate 291 (Connecticut)Interstate 291 is a short Interstate Highway in the state of Connecticut that starts at I-91 at its junction with Route 218 in Windsor and ends at I-84 in Manchester. It serves as a northeastern bypass of Hartford...
begins in Windsor with 3 exits; it connects Interstate 91Interstate 91Interstate 91 is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It provides the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of New England...
with Interstate 84 (east)Interstate 84 (east)Interstate 84 is an Interstate Highway extending from Dunmore, Pennsylvania at an interchange with Interstate 81 to Sturbridge, Massachusetts, at an interchange with the Massachusetts Turnpike . I-84 has mile-log junction numbering in Pennsylvania; otherwise, exit numbers are roughly sequential...
. - A rail line runs along the Connecticut RiverConnecticut RiverThe Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
through Windsor, with one stop for AmtrakAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
trains in Windsor's Center. An 1856 brownstone bridge carries the tracks over Pleasant St and the Farmington River. Incorporating a horizontal curve, its engineering was noteworthy when built.
Public safety
- Windsor Police Department is located at the Windsor Safety Complex, in the middle of town, next to I-91, on Bloomfield Avenue.
- Windsor Volunteer Fire Department has 5 stations: Windsor Station (at the Windsor Safety Complex), Wilson Station, Poquonock Station, Rainbow Road Station and Hayden Station.
- Windsor Volunteer Ambulance is also located at the Windsor Safety Complex.
Notable residents
- Al AndersonAl Anderson (NRBQ)Alan Gordon "Al" Anderson is an American guitarist, singer, and songwiter. Between 1971 and the early 1990s, he was the lead guitarist in the rock band NRBQ, also releasing several solo albums. He also played electric guitar on Jonathan Edwards' 1973 album Have a Good Time for Me...
, guitarist, singer and songwiter, best known for his 20-year stint in NRBQNRBQNRBQ is an American rock band founded in 1967. It is known for its live performances, containing a high degree of spontaneity and levity, and blending rock, pop, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley styles. Its best known line-up is the 1974–1994 quartet of pianist Terry Adams, bassist Joey Spampinato,...
. - Moe DrabowskyMoe DrabowskyMyron Walter Drabowsky was a Polish-American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , Milwaukee Braves , Cincinnati Reds , Kansas City Athletics , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Royals , St...
, major league baseball pitcher. - Oliver EllsworthOliver EllsworthOliver Ellsworth was an American lawyer and politician, a revolutionary against British rule, a drafter of the United States Constitution, and the third Chief Justice of the United States. While at the Federal Convention, Ellsworth moved to strike the word National from the motion made by Edmund...
, third Chief Justice of the United StatesChief Justice of the United StatesThe Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
, a drafter of the Constitution and American founding father, was born in town. - John FitchJohn Fitch (inventor)John Fitch was an American inventor, clockmaker, and silversmith who, in 1787, built the first recorded steam-powered boat in the United States...
, inventor of the steamboat. - Mike JoyMike JoyMike Joy is an American TV sports announcer, who currently serves as the lap-by-lap voice of FOX Sports' NASCAR Sprint Cup coverage. His color analysts are Darrell Waltrip and Larry McReynolds. Joy has broadcast more than 30 Daytona 500s, NASCAR's biggest event...
(b. 1949), TV sports announcer who serves as the lap-by-lap voice of FOX Sports' NASCAR coverage, served four elected terms on the Windsor Town Cou - Lancelot PhelpsLancelot PhelpsLancelot Phelps was a United States Representative from Connecticut. He was the father of James Phelps who was also a United States Representative from Connecticut. He was born in Windsor, Connecticut before moving with his family to Colebrook, Connecticut in 1794...
, (1784–1866), US Representative from Connecticut. - Oliver PhelpsOliver PhelpsOliver Phelps was born in Poquonock, Connecticut and moved to Suffield, Connecticut, where he apprenticed to a local merchant. He shortly thereafter became a tavern keeper in Granville, Massachusetts. During the Revolution he was Deputy Commissary of the Continental Army and served until the end...
, (1749–1809) - Joseph Hayne Rainey(June 21, 1832 – August 1, 1887), first African American to be elected to Congress, US Congressman from South Carolina, lived in a summer house with his family
- Iceman John ScullyIceman John ScullyIceman' John Scully is an American boxer. Formerly a world-ranked professional light heavyweight, he is now a boxing trainer and an analyst for the ESPN Classic television network.-Amateur career:...
, professional boxer, world title challenger, ESPN Classic Boxing Broadcaster - Oliver Wolcott, American founding father, born in town.
- Roger WolcottRoger Wolcott (Connecticut)Roger Wolcott was an American weaver and statesman from Windsor, Connecticut. He served as colonial governor of Connecticut from 1751 to 1754.Roger was born to Simon and Martha Wolcott in Windsor, Connecticut...
(1679–1767), weaver, colonial governor of Connecticut (1751–54), father of Oliver Wolcott.
Geography
Windsor's lowest point is at the Connecticut River
Connecticut River
The Connecticut River is the largest and longest river in New England, and also an American Heritage River. It flows roughly south, starting from the Fourth Connecticut Lake in New Hampshire. After flowing through the remaining Connecticut Lakes and Lake Francis, it defines the border between the...
shore at 5 feet (2 m). The Connecticut River defines Windsor's east border. The city 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 Capital of 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...
, is adjacent to Windsor to the south. The town of Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 12,043. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region. It is also the site of the New England Air Museum...
, home of Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport
Bradley International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Windsor Locks on the border with East Granby and Suffield, in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is owned by the State of Connecticut....
, is adjacent to Windsor to the north. Prior to its incorporation in 1854, it was known as the Pine Meadow section of Windsor. The towns of East Windsor
East Windsor, Connecticut
East Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 11,162 at the 2010 census.The town has five villages: Broad Brook, Melrose, Scantic, Warehouse Point and Windsorville.-Area:...
and South Windsor
South Windsor, Connecticut
-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
are on east side of the Connecticut River, which defines Windsor's eastern border. The town of Bloomfield
Bloomfield, Connecticut
Bloomfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,626 at the 2009 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and 0.2 square miles is water.Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the...
is to the west. The town of East Granby
East Granby, Connecticut
East Granby is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 5,058 in 2005. The town recently celebrated its 150th anniversary with a three-day festival on June 7, 8, and 9, 2008.-Geography:...
is to the northwest.
The Farmington River
Farmington River
The Farmington River is a river located in northwest Connecticut, with major tributaries extending into southwest Massachusetts. Via its longest branch , the Farmington's length increases to , making it the Connecticut River's longest tributary by a mere over the major river directly to its...
joins the Connecticut River in Windsor. The Farmington River is dammed in the northwest corner of Windsor to form the 234 acre (0.94696524 km²) Rainbow Reservoir.
Principal communities
- Deerfield
- Hayden Station
- Poquonock
- Rainbow
- Wilson
- Windsor Center
Population
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1850 | 3294 |
| 1900 | 3614 |
| 1950 | 11833 |
| 2000 | 28237 |
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 953.0 inhabitants per square mile (368.0/km²).
In the town the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males. 7,604 families residing in the town. 10,900 housing units at an average density of 367.9 per square mile (142.0/km²). 10,577 households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families.
23.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.10.
Income
In the 2000 U.S. Census, median income for a household in the town was $64,137, and median income for a family was $73,064. ($76,637 and $84,510, respectively, as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $45,443 versus $37,476 for females (2000).Windsor was one of a handful of towns in the country where, in the United States Census, 2000
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
, median income for black households ($64,159) was larger than white households ($63,624). Asian households had a median income of $75,716. Hispanic or Latino (of any race) households have a median income of $69,808.
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 $27,633 (risen to $33,242, in 2007 census estimate). About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.
Diversity
Racial makeup of the town was- White 65.12%
- African American 27.09%
- Native American 0.16%
- Asian 3.14%
- Pacific Islander 0.03%
- other racesRace (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...
2.09% - 2.38% from two or more races.
- Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.98% of the population.
Windsor High School
Windsor High School (Connecticut)
Windsor High School is a public high school located in Windsor, Connecticut. This school serves students from 9th through 12th from the City Of Windsor, which is part of the Hartford County.-History:...
has 1471 students enrolled and demographics for 2004–2005 were:
- Black 46.2%
- White 41.1%
- Hispanic 8.8%
- Asian 3.8%
- Native American 0.1%
Politics
Connecticut House of RepresentativesConnecticut House of Representatives
The 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...
:
- David A. Baram (DDemocratic 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...
) - Elaine C. O'Brien (DDemocratic 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...
) - Peggy Sayers (DDemocratic 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...
)
Connecticut Senate
Connecticut Senate
The Connecticut State Senate is the upper house of the Connecticut General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The state senate comprises 36 members, each representing a district with around 94,600 inhabitants. Senators are elected to two-year terms without term limits...
:
- Eric D. ColemanEric D. ColemanEric D. Coleman is a Democratic Party politician in the United States. He currently serves as state senator of Connecticut's 2nd District, representing Bloomfield, Hartford, and Windsor...
(DDemocratic 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...
) - John KisselJohn KisselJohn Andrew Kissel is an American politician. Kissel, a Republican, has been a state senator from Connecticut since 1993.Kissel, a resident of Enfield, represents East Granby, Enfield, Granby, Somers, Suffield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks in the Connecticut Senate.Kissel was born Worcester,...
(RRepublican 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...
)
United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
:
- John B. Larson (DDemocratic 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...
)
| Voter registration and party enrolment as of October 26, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters |
Democratic Democratic 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... |
9,431 | 342 | 9,773 |
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... |
2,861 | 149 | 3,010 |
Unaffiliated | 7,443 | 450 | 7,893 |
Minor Parties | 54 | 1 | 55 | |
| Total | 19,789 | 942 | 20,731 | |||||||||||||||||
Minor party registrations in Windsor include Green
Green Party (United States)
The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
, Libertarian
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
, and Working Families
Working Families Party
The Working Families Party is a minor political party in the United States founded in New York in 1998. There are "sister" parties to the New York WFP in Connecticut, Massachusetts, South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Oregon, but there is as yet no national WFP...
.
Further reading
- http://mumford.albany.edu/census/othersay/CTNow082002.pdf
- "Windsor's Diversity Pays Off" Stan Simpson, Hartford Courant, 12/6/6