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Branford, Connecticut
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Branford, Connecticut | |||
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| Coordinates: | |||
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Connecticut | ||
| NECTA | New Haven | ||
| Region | South Central Region | ||
| Named | 1653 | ||
| Government | |||
| - Type | Representative town meeting | ||
| - First selectman | Cheryl P. Morris (D) | ||
| Area | |||
| - Total | 28.0 sq mi (72.5 km²) | ||
| - Land | 22.0 sq mi (56.9 km²) | ||
| - Water | 6.0 sq mi (15.6 km²) | ||
| Elevation | 43 ft (13 m) | ||
| Population (2005)[1] | |||
| - Total | 29,089 | ||
| - Density | 1,322/sq mi (511/km²) | ||
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | ||
| ZIP code | 06405 | ||
| Area code(s) | 203 | ||
| FIPS code | 09-07310 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0213395 | ||
| Website: http://www.branford-ct.gov/ | |||
Branford is a town located on Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut, eight miles (13 km) east of New Haven. The population was 29,089 in 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It is situated between New Haven and the smaller, less commercially developed shoreline towns to the east. Its recreational facilities, include several town-maintained parks owned by private foundations and 20 miles (30 km) of coastline with more than 12 marinas.
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According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.0 square miles (72.5 km²); 22.0 square miles (56.9 km²) is land and 6.0 square miles (15.6 km²) (21.5%) is water, including the Branford River, Queach Brook and the Branford Supply Ponds. There are two harbors, the more central Branford Harbor and Stony Creek Harbor on the east end. Much of the town's border with East Haven to the west is dominated by Lake Saltonstall, a reservoir owned by the Greater New Haven Regional Water Authority, which is available for hiking and fishing.
The town has more than 3,900 acres (16 km²) of open land for recreation and/or athletics, with a 28 mile (45 km) walking trail circling the town, as well as the Shoreline Greenway Trail from New Haven to Hammonasset Beach State Park passing through the town. The Town of Branford includes the Thimble Islands.
Neighboring towns are North Branford to the north, Guilford to the east, and East Haven to the west.
An area called "Totoket" which became Branford, was part of the land bought from the Mattabesech Indians in 1638 by the first settlers of New Haven. The Dutch set up a trading post at the mouth of the Branford River in the 1600s, s the source of the name "Dutch Wharf."[2]
The town's name is said to be derived from the town of Brentford, England. Early settlers were largely farmers, but with an accessible port there were also a trade in lumber, livestock, brooms and produce -- all traded for molasses and rum from the West Indies.[2]
The town grew during the 18th and 19th centuries. In the late 18th century, the first shoreline community was settled. Stony Creek. Indian Neck, Pine Orchard were also settled, but none of those settlements were permanent until the mid-19th century.[2]
In 1852, the railroad helped bring new business, including Branford Lockworks, Malleable Iron Fittings Company and the Atlantic Wire Company.[2]
Branford also became a popular resort area, with 20 hotels, including Indian Point House in Stony Creek, Montowese House in Indian Neck and Sheldon House in Pine Orchard.[2]
In 1974, Connecticut Hospice was founded in Branford, the first hospice in the United States.
Branford has six National Register of Historic Places districts, including many buildings in Federal, Arts and Crafts, and Queen Anne styles of architecture.
As of the census² of 2000, there were 28,683 people, 12,543 households, and 7,663 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,305.2 people per square mile (503.8/km²). There were 13,342 housing units at an average density of 607.1/sq mi (234.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.05% white, 1.35% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprised 2.57% of the population.
Of the 12,543 households, 25.7% included children under the age of 18, 47.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female head of household with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 41 years.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,009, and the median income for a family was $69,510. The per capita income for the town was $32,301, with 4.1% of the population and 3.3% of families below the poverty line.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[3] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active Voters | Inactive Voters | Total Voters | Percentage | |
| Democratic | 5,369 | 221 | 5,590 | 28.82% | |
| Republican | 2,889 | 155 | 3,044 | 15.69% | |
| Unaffiliated | 10,200 | 527 | 10,727 | 55.31% | |
| Minor Parties | 30 | 4 | 34 | 0.18% | |
| Total | 18,488 | 907 | 19,395 | 100% | |
Branford Center is home to many small stores, restaurants, and coffee houses, which line Main Street, with the Green at the center. The Branford Green has churches as well as the town hall and other government facilities and hosts concerts and other events, such as the annual Branford Festival.
Branford Hills is in the western end of town, centered on the heavily commercial strip of Route 1, including fast-food and sit-down restaurants, auto dealers, grocery stores and many other businesses.
The Branford Hills area is home to many complexes of condominums and apartments, housing mostly middle class residents, as well as single-family houses. St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church is in Branford Hills, as is the original site of Connecticut Hospice.
Indian Neck is in the south-central section of Branford, dominated by a peninsula bordering Branford Harbor. Both Foote Park and John B. Sliney Memorial Park are located within Indian Neck.
Back in the early to mid 20th century Indian Neck was a tourist destination. Trolley service came down to Sybil and Limewood Ave which had it's own commercial area. These included Harry's General Store, Bud's Bait Box, The Waverly Inn, Madelyn's Restaurant, Surfside Restaurant, a Candy Store, and Dairy Joy Ice Cream. Much of the area contained second homes, so the beach was an active place. As the area became more year round the commercial business slowly shut-down. In fact the landmark Waverly Inn burned to the ground in the early 70's truly marking the end of an era.
Pine Orchard, between Indian Neck and Stony Creek, is an affluent section of town. The Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club, Wightwood School, a private institution, and Francis Walsh Intermediate School are found here.
Short Beach is a beach neighborhood in the western end of town, south of Branford Hills. It is home to many small islands, the largest being Kelsey's Island, which has a few small cabins used as summer homes. Short Beach is home to half of the famous Shoreline Trolley Museum, which is also in neighboring East Haven. Also in Short Beach are the Yale Corinthian Yacht Club (YCYC), Short Beach Union Church and three parks, the largest being Pardee Park. Short Beach's population is about 1,500 and features a three-day festival at the end of summer called Short Beach Days. Short Beach is known for the population of monk parakeets that live there (referred to as the "Short Beach Parrots"), a non-native bird.
Stony Creek is a shorefront section in the southeastern section of Branford, centered on a harbor on Long Island Sound. Stony Creek, along with Pine Orchard a relatively affluent section of Branford, has an ambience of a small seaside village. It is famous for the archipelago of islands knowns as the Thimble Islands.
The Thimbles are a jumble of glacial rocks, ranging from 17 acres (69,000 m²) down to stepping stone size, at the mouth of the harbor. Despite their small size, they possess a wealth of history and local lore, as well as providing pleasant scenery for a summer cruise.
The Stony Creek Puppet House is one of the few places in the world where traditional 4- to 5 foot (1.5 m)-high Sicilian puppets can be seen. The puppets do not perform regularly, but they are on display on the walls of the Puppet House and sometimes are demonstrated at other venues. The 100-year-old puppet house serves as a theater for a wide variety of concerts, dances, plays, musicals, dinner theater, small puppet shows and children's programs, year round.
Stony Creek is also home to the all-male Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps and the all-female Totoket Ancient Fife & Drum Corps. A large quarry is still working, and supplied the distinctive pink/orange Stony Creek granite for the Brooklyn Bridge, the Stony Creek library and the newest House Office Building in Washington, D.C.
Now that Malleable Iron Fittings has been largely demolished and the site turned into housing, Branford is known for high-technology companies such as Curagen and 454 Life Sciences. It is also home to Wilson Arms, which produces small-caliber rifles and parts, and Islander East Pipeline Co., which seeks to build a controversial natural gas pipeline from North Haven to Yaphank, New York.
The main artery through the town is Interstate 95, running along the eastern coast of the United States. Between Branford and New Haven, the highway passes over the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge. The Shore Line East railway system has been expanded over the past few years in order to simplify commuting from eastern shore towns such as Branford into New Haven. Tweed New Haven Regional Airport is located three miles (5 km) west of Branford.
- West Main Street/North Main Street/East Main Street (US Route 1) - parallels I-95.
- Main Street passes through the town center
- Route 142 (Short Beach Road/Shore Drive) serves the community of Short Beach in the southwestern part of the town
- Route 146 is a scenic route that passes through various coastal communities in the southeastern part of the town and into Guilford.
- Cedar Street/Brush Plain Road, which runs from Main Street into North Branford, ending at Route 80. The section north of Route 1 is State Road 740.
One of the largest events in Branford every year is the Branford Festival on Father's Day weekend, which features food, crafts, children's rides, music and a 5k road race.
- Two Major League Baseball players were born in Branford: Beauty McGowan (1901) and Ollie Sax (1904).
- On November 6th, 2007, 18 year old Grady Keefe was elected to the RTM, making him the youngest town representative in Connecticut History.
- Branford Chamber of Commerce
- Branford Historical Society
- Connecticut Hospice, first hospice in the United States
- Branford Festival
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