Washington, Connecticut

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Washington, Connecticut
settlement_type = Town


imagesize =
image_caption =


mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Connecticut


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = NECTA
subdivision_name = None
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Northwestern Connecticut
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
government_type = Selectman-town meeting
leader_title = First selectman
leader_name = Mark E. Lyon
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1779
area_land_km2 = 98.9
area_water_km2 = 1.3
area_total_sq_mi = 38.7
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 100.2
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 3693
population_footnotes = [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2005_9.csv U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates] ]
population_density_sq_mi = 97
population_density_km2 = 37
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_land_sq_mi = 38.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.5
elevation_m = 152
elevation_ft = 499
latd = 41 |latm = 39 |lats = 12 |latNS = N
longd = 73 |longm = 19 |longs = 06 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 06777, 06793, 06794
region =
website = http://www.washingtonct.org/
area_code = 860
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 09-79720
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0213524
footnotes =

Washington is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,596 at the 2000 census. It was supposedly the inspiration for the fictional town of Stars Hollow on the WB/CW TV series Gilmore Girls.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.7 square miles (100.3 km²), of which, 38.2 square miles (98.9 km²) of it is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it (1.34%) is water.

Principal communities

*Washington Green
*Washington Depot
*Marble Dale
*New Preston
*Woodville

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,596 people, 1,416 households, and 951 families residing in the town. The population density was 94.2 people per square mile (36.4/km²). There were 1,764 housing units at an average density of 46.2/sq mi (17.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.66% White, 0.64% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.78% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.14% of the population.

There were 1,416 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 29.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $65,288, and the median income for a family was $80,745. Males had a median income of $51,610 versus $35,337 for females. The per capita income for the town was $37,215. About 2.7% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Route 202 runs east-west in the northern part of town, connecting the villages of Marble Dale, New Preston, and Woodville. Route 109 runs east-west near the town center. The main north-south highway is Route 47.Route 199 runs south from Washington Depot to Roxbury.

Education

Public Education

Regional School District 12 covers Washington, Bridgewater and Roxbury.The district runs these six schools:
* [http://www.region-12.org/rch/ Reach Preschool] (in Washington)
* [http://www.region-12.org/bfs/ Booth Free School] (in Roxbury)
* [http://www.region-12.org/brs/ Burnham School] (in Bridgewater)
* [http://www.region-12.org/wps/ Washington Primary School] (in Washington)
* [http://www.region-12.org/sms/ Shepaug Valley Middle School] (in Washington)
* [http://www.region-12.org/shs/ Shepaug Valley High School] (in Washington)

Rumsey Hall School

Rumsey Hall School is a private boarding and country day school for kindergarten through ninth grade. Founded in 1900 the school moved to its current location in 1949, at which point it became coeducational. As of 2005, the school enrolled about 300 students and employs 55 full- and part-time faculty members. The school has 29 buildings on convert|147|acre|km2 along the Bantam River.

The Gunnery

The Gunnery, founded in 1850 is a coeducational boarding and day prep school for 295 students in grades nine through twelve. The school has a convert|220|acre|km2|sing=on campus bordering the village green of Washington.

The Devereux Glenholme School

The Glenholme School is a therapeutic boarding school for children situated on over 100 acres in Washington, Connecticut.

Notable people, past and present

*Benjamin Delahauf Foulois (December 9, 1879 - April 25, 1967) Pioneer military aviator. Born and was buried in Washington, CT.
*William Hamilton Gibson (October 5, 1850 - July 16, 1896) was an American illustrator, author and naturalist.
*Thomas Hastings (1784–1872) an American composer, whose most famous work was the hymn "Rock of Ages," was born in town.

This town inspired Gilmore Girls' creator Amy Sherman-Palladino to create Stars Hollow for the Gilmore Girls series on WB/CW after she stopped there on a road trip.

References

External links

* [http://www.washingtonct.org/ Official town government Web site]
* [http://www.gunnlibrary.org/ Gunn Memorial Library and Museum]
* [http://www.litchfieldhills.com/app/index.jsp Northeast Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.region-12.org/ Regional School District 12]
* [http://www.artsnwct.org/ Northwest Connecticut Arts Council]
* [http://www.nwctc.commnet.edu/ Northwestern Connecticut Community College] in Winsted
* [http://pages.cthome.net/rwinkler/steeprock.htm Steep Rock Reservation]
* [http://www.freewebs.com/washingtonambulance/ Washington Ambulance]