East Haddam, Connecticut

Infobox Settlement
official_name = East Haddam, Connecticut
mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = NECTA
subdivision_name = Hartford
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Midstate Region
settlement_type = Town


imagesize =
image_caption =


subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
government_type =
leader_title = Government type
leader_name = Selectman-town meeting
leader_title1 = First selectman
leader_name1 = Mark Walter
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1734
area_land_km2 = 140.7
area_water_km2 = 5.8
area_total_sq_mi = 56.6
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 146.6
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 8808
population_footnotes = [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2005_9.csv U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates] ]
population_density_sq_mi = 162
population_density_km2 = 63
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_land_sq_mi = 54.3
area_water_sq_mi = 2.2
elevation_m = 148
elevation_ft = 486
latd = 41 |latm = 28 |lats = 31 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 23 |longs = 30 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 06423, 06469
region =
website = [http://www.easthaddam.org/ www.easthaddam.org]
area_code = 860
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 09-22280
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0213422
footnotes =

East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of convert|56.6|sqmi|km2|0 , of which, convert|54.3|sqmi|km2|0 of it is land and convert|2.2|sqmi|km2|1 of it (3.96%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

Education

Public

The East Haddam Public School System has about 1,450 students in grades PreK-12; about 121 certified teachers, 70 support staff and 8 administrators, according to the school system Web site (accessed August, 2006). Dr. Solek is superintendent of schools.The three schools in the public school system are:
*Nathan Hale Ray High School - about 400 students
*Nathan Hale Ray Middle School - about 475 students
*East Haddam Elementary School - about 550 students

Private

*Franklin Academy -- "A Boarding and Day School for Students with Nonverbal Learning Differences in grades 8-12," according to the school's Web site. The private, nonprofit school was opened in 2003 and has a campus of 75 acres.

Attractions

*"Nathan Hale School House", one of two Nathan Hale School Houses in Connecticut, at 149 Devil's Hopyard State Park, on Hopyard Road off of Route 82
*Goodspeed Opera House, on Route 82 near the East Haddam Bridge
*Gillette Castle State Park, on Route 82
*Eagle viewing sites:
**Along the Connecticut River at the Town Office parking lot
**Near Riverhouse, overlooking the north side of the East Haddam Bridge
* Devil's Hopyard State Park

Notable Residents

*George Comer (1858 - 1937), polar explorer and whaler who called East Haddam his home for most of his life. The "Comer Strait" of northern Southampton Island and the almost flightless "Gallinula comeri" were named in his honor.
*Christopher Dodd, one of Connecticut's two Senators, lives in East Haddam when Congress is not in session.
*Uriel Holmes (1764 - 1827), United States Representative from Connecticut was born in East Haddam.
*Joseph Spencer, lawyer, soldier, and statesman during the Revolutionary War, was born and died in East Haddam.
*I.J. Zembrzuski, mathematician and Brigadier General, US Army (Retired) resides in Moodus Village part of East Haddam. Imigrated from communist Poland to United States in 1962.

References

External links

* [http://www.easthaddam.org/default.htm Town government Web site]
* [http://www.easthaddam.net Tourism & Economic Development Web site]
* [http://www.easthaddam.org/town_links.htm East Haddam Public Schools]
* [http://www.simonpure.com/east-haddam-pix.htm East Haddam pictures from Simon Pure Productions Web site]
* [http://www.simonpure.com/bridge.htm Essay on the early history of East Haddam from Simon Pure Productions Web site]
* [http://www.enjoycentralct.com/index.cfm Central Regional Tourism District]
* [http://www.goodspeed.org/ Goodspeed Opera House]
* [http://www.rathbun.lioninc.org/ Rathbun Memorial Library]
* [http://www.ehfpl.org/ East Haddam Free Public Library]
* [http://www.ehlt.org/ East Haddam Land Trust]
* [http://dep.state.ct.us/stateparks/parks/gillettecastle.htm Official Gillette Castle State Park Web site]
* [http://www.ctrivervalley.com/4-Connecticut-CT-in-of/Major-attractions-in-CT/gillette_castle_state_park/index.html another Web page about Gillette Castle State Park]
* [http://www.eightmileriver.org/index.htm Eightmile River Study Committee Web site]