Wethersfield, Connecticut

: "Another Wethersfield is in Wyoming County, New York".Infobox Settlement
official_name = Wethersfield, Connecticut
settlement_type = Town


imagesize =
image_caption =
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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Connecticut
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map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = NECTA
subdivision_name = Hartford
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Capitol Region
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
government_type = Council-manager
leader_title = Town manager
leader_name = Bonnie L. Therrien
leader_title1 = Town council
leader_name1 = Andrew S. Adil, Mayor
Paul F. Montinieri, Deputy Mayor
John F. Cascio
John Console
Matthew J. Forrest
Donna Hemmann
Jeffrey R. Kotkin
Gerri Roberts
Martin H. Walsh
established_title = Named
established_date = 1637
established_title2 = Incorporated
established_date2 = 1822
area_land_km2 = 32.1
area_water_km2 = 1.9
area_total_sq_mi = 13.1
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 33.9
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 26220
population_footnotes = [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2005_9.csv U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates] ]
population_density_sq_mi = 2115
population_density_km2 = 816
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_land_sq_mi = 12.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.7
elevation_m = 41
elevation_ft = 135
latd = 41 |latm = 42 |lats = 04 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 40 |longs = 10 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 06109
region =
website = http://www.wethersfieldct.com/
area_code = 860
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 09-84900
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0213533
footnotes =

Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Many records from colonial times spell the name Weathersfield, while Native Americans called it Pyquag [http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/townorder.htm] . The population was 26,271 at the 2000 census.

History

Founded in 1633–34 by a group of Puritans led by John Oldham.

Four witch trials and three executions for witchcraft occurred in the town in the 17th century. Mary Johnson was convicted of witchcraft and executed in 1648, Joan and John Carrington in 1651. [ [http://members.aol.com/alicebeard/witch.html List of New England witchcraft cases] ] Landowner Katherine Harrison was convicted, and although her conviction was reversed, she was banished and her property seized by her neighbors. [ [http://www.pinn.net/~sunshine/book-sum/wichcrz.html Another list of New England witchcraft cases] ] [ [http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~marc-carlson/witchtrial/na.html Brief summary of Katherine Harrison case] ]

Silas Deane, commissioner to France during the American Revolutionary War, lived in the town. His house is now part of the Webb Deane Stevens Museum. In May 1781, at the Webb House on Main Street, General George Washington and French Lt. Gen. Rochambeau [ [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comte_de_Rochambeau] ] planned the battle of Yorktown, which culminated in the independence of the then rebellious colonies.

The Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department was chartered by the Connecticut Legislature on May 12, 1803, making it the first formally chartered fire department in Connecticut,and is the oldest chartered volunteer fire department in continuous existence in the United States [ [http://www.wvfd.org/ Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Dept ] ] .

Popular culture

Wethersfield was the setting for Elizabeth George Speare's novel "The Witch of Blackbird Pond", also the setting of the one-act play "The Valiant" by Holworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass.

Geography

Wethersfield is located at 41° 42' 43" North, 72° 39' 48" West (41.7122° -72.6636°).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.1 square miles (34.0 km²), of which, 12.4 square miles (32.1 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.9 km²) of it (5.49%) is water.

Wethersfield is bordered by Hartford on the north, Rocky Hill on the south and Newington on the west, and across the Connecticut River by East Hartford on the Northeast, and Glastonbury on the east.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 26,268 people, 11,214 households, and 7,412 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,119.9 people per square mile (818.7/km²). There were 11,454 housing units at an average density of 924.3/sq mi (356.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.19% White, 2.09% Black or African American, 0.08% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.82% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.19% of the population.

There were 11,214 households out of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the town the population was spread out with 20.1% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 25.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,289, and the median income for a family was $68,154. Males had a median income of $43,998 versus $37,443 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,930. About 2.4% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Greater Hartford's only major method of public transportation is Connecticut Transit (CTTransit), a Connecticut Department of Transportation-owned bus service operating routes throughout the New Haven, Stamford and Hartford metro areas, including Wethersfield.

Education

The Wethersfield public school system encompasses five elementary schools (Highcrest School, Charles Wright School, Emerson-Williams School, A.W. Hanmer School and Webb Elementary School), one middle school (Silas Deane Middle School) and one high school (Wethersfield High School).

Wethersfield is also the home of Corpus Christi School, a Catholic K-8 school of 440 students.

Places

treets and paths

Major streets include
*Main Street in Old Wethersfield
*Route 175 (Wells Road)
*Route 99/Silas Deane Highway
*Route 15 (Berlin Turnpike and Wilbur Cross Highway).

Heritage Way, a "linear park" developed in the 1990s, is a multi-use path that connects Wethersfield's open areas and recreation facilities [ [http://www.wethersfield.net/html/gov/tow/parks/fbb/hw/hrtgway02a19.html Introduction to Heritage Way] ] .

Points of interest

*Wethersfield Cove
*Keeney Memorial Culture Center
*Broad Street Green
*Great Meadows
*Ancient Burying Ground
*WinterGreen Woods - 100 acres forest with vernal pools and walking trails

Landmarks and historic districts

Four buildings in Wethersfield are designated as historic landmarks by the National Register of Historic Places:
* Buttolph-Williams House — 249 Broad St. (added December 24, 1968)
* Joseph Webb House — 211 Main St. (added November 15, 1966)
* Roger Butler House — 146 Jordan Ln. (added September 15, 1996)
* Silas Deane House — 203 Main St. (added November 6, 1970)

In 1970, Old Wethersfield, the district bounded by Hartford, the railroad tracks, I-91 and Rocky Hill, was added as a historic district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Notable people

* Tony DiCicco, coach, United States women's national soccer team, 1994-1999
* Betsey Johnson, fashion designer
* Mark Linn-Baker, actor and director
* Chris Murphy, former State Senator and current United States Representative from Connecticut’s 5th District
* John Pinone, basketball player for Villanova University and the Atlanta Hawks.
* Annabella Sciorra, actor
* Tom Tryon, actor and novelist
* Levi Warner, United States Representative from Connecticut.
* Benjamin Wright, chief engineer of the Erie Canal

References

ee also

* John Oldham
* Robert Seeley
* "The Witch of Blackbird Pond"

External links

* [http://www.wethersfieldct.com/ Wethersfield homepage]
* [http://www.webb-deane-stevens.org/ Webb Deane Stevens Museum homepage]
* [http://www.wethhist.org/ Wethersfied Historical Society]
* [http://www.historicwethersfield.org/ Historic Wethersfield Tourism Commission]
* [http://www.enjoycentralct.com/index.cfm Central Regional Tourism District]