Willimantic

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Willimantic, Connecticut
nickname= Thread City

---

imagesize = 150px
image_caption = Willimantic's town hall sports a Victorian-era clock tower
subdivision_type = County
subdivision_name = Windham County
leader_title = First Selectman
leader_name = Jean de Smet
area_magnitude = 1 E9
area_total_sq_mi = 4.5
area_land_sq_mi = 4.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.1
area_water_percent =
area_total_km2 = 11.6
area_land_km2 = 11.4
area_water_km2 = 0.3
population_as_of = 2005
population_note =
population_total = 16506
population_density_km2 = 1391
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
latd=41 |latm=43 |latNS=N
longd=72 |longm=13 |longEW=W
region =
website = [http://www.windhamct.com/ Town of Windham, Connecticut]
footnotes =

:"For the town in Maine named after this one, see Willimantic, Maine."Willimantic is a census-designated place and city located in the town of Windham, Connecticut in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 16,506 in 2005 and 15,823 at the 2000 census. It is home to Eastern Connecticut State University, as well as the Windham Textile and History Museum. The city was incorporated in 1893 as a section of the town of Windham. The city government was dissolved in 1983 with the area reverting back to the town. It is also the birthplace of U.S Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut.

History

Willimantic is best known for its legend, [http://www.curbstone.org/index.cfm?webpage=102 "The Battle of Frog Pond"] . It was an incident in 1754 around the time of the French and Indian War. The citizens of Windham (Willimantic is located in Windham) were awakened in the middle of the night by a tremendously frightening racket just outside of town. Assuming the worst, they seized their arms and prepared for the impending Indian attack. When morning arrived, the armed villagers marched in the direction of the noise only to discover that the nearby pond had dried up, and the area was littered with hundreds of dead bullfrogs. The frogs that still lived were heading to the Willimantic River in search of water. Thus, the fearsome sounds that had plagued the citizenry the previous night had not been Indians but rather bullfrogs “fighting” for water. The pond was renamed Frog Pond, the story spread throughout the towns and colonies, and the legend was born. To commemorate the incident, the town has erected a [http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/br-frog.html Frog Bridge] featuring giant frog sculptures atop spools of thread. The thread spools are included in the bridge's design because Willimantic was once known as “Thread City.” The American Thread Company had a mill on the banks of the Willimantic River, and was at one time the largest employer in the state as well as one of the largest producers of thread in the world.

Willimantic's history is also found in it's Victorian Era architecture. According to [http://www.victorianwillimantic.org "The Willimantic Victorian Neighborhood Association"] a 40-block area, commonly referred to as “The Hill Section”, boasts more than 800 vintage homes/buildings and has been listed by the U.S. Department of the Interior on the National Register of Historic Places. Of the district’s 993 buildings, a remarkable 88% contribute to its overall historic architectural character. The vast majority of houses in the district were built after the Civil War when most of the streets were laid out for residential development. The district was substantially complete by 1910, the end of the Victorian era. As a result, Victorian architecture predominates in the district, with all the major styles of the period represented. According to representatives from the State Historical Commission, the 40-block area constitutes one of the largest historic districts in the state.

Willimantic Highlights

* [http://www.wili-am.com/parade.htm "Willimantic Boom Box Parade"] - Willimantic has received national and international attention for its annual Boom Box Parade. Back in 1986, with the local Windham High School marching Band having disbanded, local parade fan Kathleen Clark approached the local radio station WILI with the idea of a people’s parade. She offered her collection of vintage marching music records to the radio station with her idea that they play these patriotic marches throughout the duration of the parade. Parade goers were encouraged to bring their Boom Box radios and tune in to 1400 AM. The parade was a hit, and its unique notion of having no live music has drawn the attention of CBS Evening News and the Washington Post [cite news |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&contentId=A47709-2000Jul4 |title=No 76 Trombones In This Parade |author=Tim Page |date=2000-06-05 |accessdate=2007-06-08 |work=Washington Post] , among others. The parade Grand Marshal is WILI radio host and local celebrity Wayne Norman. Parade participation is equally as important as parade attendance, with the vast majority of parade participants being individual citizens or local citizens groups who simply wish to share their creativity and national pride with spectators. Other cities from Madison, WI and Lubbock, TX, to Newfane, NY and Bullhead City, AZ, have had Boom Box Parades, but none have endured or been as large as Willimantic's. [cite web |url=http://www.wili-am.com/parade.htm |title=The WILI Boom Box Parade |accessdate=2007-06-08 |work=WILI.com]

* [http://www.willimanticstreetfest.com/wri.htm "Third Thursday"] - On the Third Thursday of the spring and summer months, a large section of Main Street is closed to traffic for a street fair. Different booths featuring performers, community groups, and food vendors line Main Street. The event began in 2002 and draws about 8,000 attendees. [cite web |title=Willimantic Renaissance |url=http://www.willimanticstreetfest.com/wri.htm |accessdate=2007-06-08 |work=Third Thursday Street Fest ]

* [http://www.thefrogleap.com/ "Frogle
] - A weeklong celebration of the New Year incorporating different cultural traditions. Begins New Years Eve and ends on 3 Kings Day.

* [http://www.myspace.com/willimanticfoodcoop "Willimantic Food Co-op"] - Willimantic is home to the only store front food cooperative in the state. The Willimantic Food Co-op was born of a large buyers' club and opened on Main Street in 1980. 10 years later it moved to a larger space a few blocks away at 27 Meadow Street, and most store items were moved via a human chain of Co-op members. After fifteen more years it moved to an even bigger location at 91 Valley Street where it is now. The Co-op hosts the Downtown Country Fair every autumn with a farmer's market, live music, food, crafts and children's activities.

* "Willimantic Footbridge" - Willimantic is the home of the Willimantic Footbridge (established in 1907), which is the only footbridge in the United States to connect two state highways, as well as crossing all three major forms of transportation (road, rail, and river).

* "Romantic Willimantic" - Willimantic celebrates Valentine's Day as “Romantic Willimantic". Al Saba was proclaimed Mr Romantic Willimantic in 1981. Each year since, a local civic leader or citizen is crowned as Willimantic’s “Cupid” for their contributions to the city.

* "Thread City Bread" - Willimantic had its own local currency called "Thread City Bread". The currency was valid tender at a number of local businesses. [cite web |title=Insights: Thread City Bread |url=http://www.snet.net/features/insights/articles/1998/08060101.shtml |date=1998-08-06 |accessdate=2007-06-08 |author=Beth Bruno |work=SNET.net]

* Aerosmith performed their hit Dream On for the first time at the Shaboo Inn in Willimantic, CT.

* In August of 2008, [http://www.bizjournals.com "bizjournals.com"] ranked Willimantic the 43rd most desirable town in the country based on quality of life, location and other factors.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 11.6 km² (4.5 mi²). 11.4 km² (4.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.3 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (2.23%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census GR|2 of 2000, there were 15,823 people, 5,604 households, and 3,166 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,391.6/km² (3,607.0/mi²). There were 6,026 housing units at an average density of 530.0/km² (1,373.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 70.35% White, 6.25% African American, 0.59% Native American, 1.67% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 16.87% from other races, and 4.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.19% of the population.

There were 5,604 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 18.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.5% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 22.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 16.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $30,155, and the median income for a family was $38,427. Males had a median income of $30,697 versus $23,297 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,727. About 14.6% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.7% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

Willimantic's largest private employer is Willimantic Waste Paper Company, which specializes in the collection and recycling of fiber products, scrap metal, and co-mingled plastic refuse. Brand-Rex Corporation also maintains a major cable manufacturing facility in Willimantic, which manufactures specialty wire and cable for commercial and industrial customers.

References

External links

* [http://www.windhamct.com/ Town of Windham, Connecticut]
* [http://www.threadcity.org/ Willimantic and Eastern Connecticut History and Tourism]
* [http://www.kurumi.com/roads/ct/br-frog.html The Willimantic Frog Bridge]
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Willimantic-Connecticut.html City data for Willimantic]
* [http://www.WindhamARTS.org/ WindhamARTS Collaborative]
* [http://www.thefrogleap.com/ Frogle
]
* [http://www.cteastrrmuseum.org/ Connecticut Eastern Railroad Museum]