Woodbridge, Connecticut

Woodbridge, Connecticut
Town

Seal

Location in New Haven County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°21′15″N 73°00′41″W / 41.35417°N 73.01139°W / 41.35417; -73.01139Coordinates: 41°21′15″N 73°00′41″W / 41.35417°N 73.01139°W / 41.35417; -73.01139
Country United States
State Connecticut
NECTA Bridgeport-Stamford
Region South Central Region
Incorporated 1784
Government
 • Type Selectman-town meeting
 • First selectman Ellen Scalettar (D)
 • Selectmen Beth Heller (D)
Susan L. Jacobs (D)
Anthony F. Anatasio, Jr. (R)
Joseph S. Dey III (R)
Maria Kruz Kayne (R)
Area
 • Total 19.2 sq mi (49.7 km2)
 • Land 18.8 sq mi (48.8 km2)
 • Water 0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)
Elevation 348 ft (106 m)
Population (2010)
 • Total 8,990
 • Density 470/sq mi (180/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06525
Area code(s) 203
FIPS code 09-87700
GNIS feature ID 0213539
Website www.woodbridgect.org

Woodbridge is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,990 at the 2010 census.[1] It is one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut, ranking 8th in the state per the 2010 US Census in terms of per capita income, and is home to many of the faculty of Yale University. The town center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Woodbridge Green Historic District.

History

Woodbridge was originally called "Amity", having been carved out of land originally belonging to New Haven and Milford as an independent parish in 1739. In 1742, the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge was ordained in Amity, and it is after him that the modern town was named.

In 1661, the town was the location of one of the hideouts of the "Regicides" — three of the judges who signed the death warrant for King Charles I of England. The ruins of their hideout can be found on the nearby West Rock ridge, which runs along the town's eastern border.

Thomas Darling (1720–1789), a tutor at Yale College and later an entrepreneur in New Haven, moved to town in 1774. His home is now the Darling House Museum, operated by the Amity & Woodbridge Historical Association.[2] The original farms of Woodbridge were located in the area of the West River Valley known as "The Flats".

In the modern era, Woodbridge has undergone significant suburbanization.

Government

Woodbridge is governed by a 6-member Board of Selectmen.

In April 2006, Edward Maum Sheehy (Democrat) became First Selectman. Sheehy served on the Board of Selectmen for 27 years as a regular selectman. The Board of Selectmen elected Sheehy First Selectman by a 3 to 2 vote, along party lines, to replace Amey Marella (Republican), who stepped down to accept a job as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Before becoming First Selectwoman in 2001, Marella was an attorney with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Edward Sheehy was reelected in May 2009 to another two-year term.

On April 22, 2013, Sheehy died suddenly at the age of 73 while still holding the selectman's office. He was actively seeking re-election in May. He was laid to rest on April 27, 2013.[3]

Recent First Selectmen elections

2015: Ellen Scalettar (Democrat) defeated Catherine Wick (Republican);

2013: Ellen Scalettar (Democrat) defeated Catherine Wick (Republican);

2013: Beth Heller (Democrat) elected by Board of Selectmen, 5 to 0;

2011: Edward Sheehy (Democrat) defeated Laura Ferrante-Fernandes (Republican);

2009: Edward Sheehy (Democrat) defeated Ken Colabella (Republican);

2007: Edward Sheehy (Democrat) defeated Chris Dickerson (Republican);

2006: Edward Sheehy (Democrat) elected by Board of Selectmen, 3 to 2;

2005: Amy Marrella (Republican) defeated Laurence Grotheer (Democrat);

2003: Amy Marrella (Republican) defeated Janice Horowitz (Democrat);

2001: Amy Marrella (Republican) defeated Susan Lora Jacobs (Democrat)

Education

Grammar school

Beecher Road School is the town's pre Kindergarten - Grade 6 school. It is run by a principal, Gina Prisco, and assistant principal Lisa Sherman.[4]

Middle school

As part of the Amity school system, Woodbridge shares a middle school with the town of Bethany, which is located north of Woodbridge.

High school

Woodbridge also shares the Amity Regional High School with the neighboring towns of Bethany and Orange. The high school is located in Woodbridge's town center area. It has recently undergone extensive renovations in order to accommodate the extra ninth grade coming in from all three towns.

Private schools

Woodbridge is home to Ezra Academy, a Jewish day school once attended by Natalie Portman.[5] Ezra Academy is a regional Jewish day school whose students reside in 21 towns throughout New Haven and Fairfield counties.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.2 square miles (50 km2), of which 18.8 square miles (49 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) is water. The total area is 2.03% water.

Woodbridge is informally divided into two distinct parts—central Woodbridge, which occupies the western hilly side of town, and the area known as The Flats, which occupies the eastern slice of town bordering the less wealthy West Rock and the New Haven neighborhood of Westville.

Neighboring towns are Bethany to the north, Hamden to the east, New Haven to the southeast, Orange to the south, and Derby, Ansonia, and Seymour to the west.

Parks and hiking trails

Below Wepawaug Falls in Woodbridge

Woodbridge is home to several organizations that protect undeveloped land and historic sites, including the Woodbridge Land Trust and the Woodbridge Park Association.[6] The town has an extensive system of preserved hiking trails open to the public, notably the 93-acre (380,000 m2) Alice Newton Street Memorial Park and the 22-acre (89,000 m2) Wepawaug Falls area. Some of the land has been donated by residents.[7]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18201,988—
1850912—
1860872−4.4%
1870829−4.9%
188092611.7%
18909260.0%
1900852−8.0%
19108783.1%
19201,17033.3%
19301,63039.3%
19402,26238.8%
19502,82224.8%
19605,18283.6%
19707,67348.1%
19807,7611.1%
19907,9242.1%
20008,98313.4%
20108,9900.1%
Est. 20148,925[8]−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 8,983 people, 3,103 households, and 2,553 families residing in the town. The population density was 477.0 people per square mile (184.2/km²). There were 3,189 housing units at an average density of 169.3 per square mile (65.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.34% White, 1.50% African American, 0.04% Native American, 5.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,103 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.7% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.17.

27.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $137,216, and the median income for a family was $155,694. Males had a median income of $105,632 versus $70,286 for females. The per capita income for the town was $69,179.[1] 2.3% of the population and 1.4% of families were below the poverty line. 2.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 25, 2005[11]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters
  Republican 1,436 72 1,508
  Democratic 1,767 125 1,892
  Unaffiliated 2,951 253 3,204
  Minor Parties 7 0 7
Total 3,766 138 3,904

Other

Notable people


Notable locations

On the National Register of Historic Places

References

  1. 1 2 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Woodbridge town, New Haven County, Connecticut". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  2. ↑ "History" web page, Amity & Woodbridge Historical Association website, retrieved February 6, 2008
  3. ↑ "Obituary: Woodbridge First Selectman Edward Maum Sheehy, 73". Bethwood, Connecticut Patch.
  4. ↑ "Woodbridge School District".
  5. ↑ Spring 2005 Ezra Academy pamphlet
  6. ↑ http://www.woodbridgect.org/content/136/default.aspx
  7. ↑ http://www.woodbridgeparks.org/LandDonations.pdf
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2006-10-02.

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