East Haddam, Connecticut

East Haddam, Connecticut
Town

Seal

Location within Middlesex County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°29′N 72°24′W / 41.483°N 72.400°W / 41.483; -72.400Coordinates: 41°29′N 72°24′W / 41.483°N 72.400°W / 41.483; -72.400
Country United States
State Connecticut
NECTA Hartford
Region Midstate Region
Incorporated 1734
Government
 • Type Selectman–town meeting
 • First selectman Mark Walter (R)
Area
 • Total 56.6 sq mi (146.6 km2)
 • Land 54.3 sq mi (140.7 km2)
 • Water 2.2 sq mi (5.8 km2)
Elevation 486 ft (148 m)
Population (2010)[1]
 • Total 9,126
 • Density 162/sq mi (63/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06423, 06469
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-22280
GNIS feature ID 0213422
Website www.easthaddam.org

East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,126 at the 2010 census.

History

Until 1650, the area of East Haddam was inhabited by at least three tribes of Indians: the Wangunks, the Mohegans and the Nehantics. The Indians called the area “Machimoodus,” the place of noises, because of numerous earthquakes that were recorded between 1638 and 1899. Loud rumblings, the “Moodus Noises,” could be heard for miles surrounding the epicenter of the quakes near Mt. Tom. The land, which is now Haddam and East Haddam, was purchased by settlers from the Indians in 1662 for thirty coats – worth about $100.

Layout of the highways began in 1669 with Creek Row about ¼ mile east of the River and Town Street “The Great Highway” about ¼ mile east of Creek Row. The first permanent settlers established homesteads along Creek Row in 1685. By 1700, there were thirty families living in East Haddam. Agricultural and timber farming, shipbuilding, tanneries and blacksmiths were among the early commerce. Captain John Chapman began ferry service across the Connecticut River in 1695, which ended with the completion of the swing bridge in 1913.

East Haddam was incorporated as a separate town from Haddam in 1734. By 1756, there were nearly 2,000 residents, with the Millington District as the most populated. Growth of commerce brought a surge in population to around 3,000 people by the mid-1800s. In the nineteenth century, Moodus was the “Twine Capital of America,” with twelve mills in operation.[2] Visitors and residents such as actor, William Gillette, whose castle home was completed in 1914, were drawn to the area known for its rural charm and natural scenery. The growth of the resort areas of Lake Hayward, Bashan Lake and Moodus Reservoir began in the early 1900s and was a booming business for the next fifty years.[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.6 square miles (147 km2), of which, 54.3 square miles (141 km2) of it is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of it (3.96%) is water.

Principal communities

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18202,572—
18502,610—
18603,05617.1%
18702,951−3.4%
18803,0322.7%
18902,599−14.3%
19002,485−4.4%
19102,422−2.5%
19202,312−4.5%
19302,114−8.6%
19402,2174.9%
19502,55415.2%
19603,63742.4%
19704,67628.6%
19805,62120.2%
19906,67618.8%
20008,33324.8%
20109,1269.5%
Est. 20149,127[4]0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,174 households, and 2,285 families residing in the town. The population density was 153.4 people per square mile (59.2/km2). There were 4,015 housing units at an average density of 73.9 per square mile (28.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.26% White, 0.84% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 3,174 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,304, and the median income for a family was $70,091. Males had a median income of $45,500 versus $36,055 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,112. About 1.0% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[7]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 1,529 91 1,620 28.72%
Republican 1,181 56 1,237 21.93%
Unaffiliated 2,598 179 2,777 49.24%
Minor parties 5 1 6 0.11%
Total 5,313 327 5,640 100%

Education

Public

The East Haddam Public School System has about 1,100 students in grades PreK–12; about 121 certified "teachers", 70 support staff and 7 administrators. Mr. Brian Reas is superintendent of schools.[8] Located in Moodus, Connecticut, the three schools in the public school system are:

Private

Attractions

An auto test track in East Haddam

Cultural

Historical

Natural

Notable people

In popular culture

East Haddam has been used as a filming location for many different films and TV shows including:

References

  1. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
  2. ↑
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
  8. ↑ East Haddam Public Schools
  9. ↑ Nathan Hale-Ray High School
  10. ↑ Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School
  11. ↑ East Haddam Elementary School
  12. ↑ "The I-Park Mission". I-Park.org/.
  13. ↑ Boardman House Inn
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ Connecticut, Massachusetts & Rhode Island Tourbook 2007 Edition. (2007) p 42. AAA Publishing, Heathrow, Florida
  16. ↑

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for East Haddam.
Looking north from the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, 1919
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