Bethany, Connecticut

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Bethany, Connecticut
Town
Official seal of Bethany, Connecticut
Seal
Motto(s): 
"Rural Is Beautiful"[1][2]
Located in New Haven County, Connecticut
Located in New Haven County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°25′32″N 72°59′33″W / 41.42556°N 72.99250°W / 41.42556; -72.99250Coordinates: 41°25′32″N 72°59′33″W / 41.42556°N 72.99250°W / 41.42556; -72.99250
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyNew Haven
Metropolitan areaNew Haven
Incorporated1832[1]
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanPaula Cofransesco (R)
 • SelectmanDonald R. Shea, Jr. (R)
 • SelectmanDerrylyn Gorsky (D)
Area
 • Total21.4 sq mi (55.4 km2)
 • Land21.0 sq mi (54.3 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)
Elevation
574 ft (175 m)
Population
 (2010)[3]
 • Total5,563
 • Density260/sq mi (100/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06524
Area code(s)203/475
FIPS code09-04580
GNIS feature ID0213389
Websitewww.bethany-ct.com

Bethany is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,563 at the 2010 census.[3]

History[]

Bethany was first settled in 1717, but it was not until May 1832 that Bethany separated from Woodbridge to become incorporated as a town.[4] This slightly remote, sparsely populated, residential town retains its rural character. There is some dairying and agriculture. The town is dotted with reservoirs serving Naugatuck and, principally, New Haven.

The Perkins Hotel in Bethany was used by travelers on the turnpike between New Haven and Waterbury, 1908.[5]

There have been inhabitants in Bethany since before 1638, predominantly Naugatucks of the Paugusset tribe and Mattabessitts of the Wanguck tribe. The first European settlers arrived in the area around April 1638, creating the towns of Milford and New Haven, with their boundary split down the middle of what is now Bethany. The area of the boundary was settled in 1678, twelve years after New Haven County was organized. In 1717, the Amity Parish was accepted by the General Assembly of the Connecticut Colony and in 1832, Bethany was incorporated as a town.[1] The town is named after the biblical place.[2]

In the mid-to-late 19th century, the population of the town and the land decreased as parts were annexed by the neighboring town of Woodbridge and the new town of Beacon Falls was incorporated into the general geography of Connecticut. The population would continue to decrease until about the 1940s, when the population would spike.

In 1923, the Bethany Airport opened up, one of the first in New England. Soon after, Troop I of the Boy Scouts of America (now known as Troop 931) was chartered in Bethany, and an organized police staff and volunteer fire fighter organization were founded. In 1954, a senior high school was built in Woodbridge to serve Woodbridge, Bethany, and Orange. Earlier Bethany students had been sent to public high schools in neighboring towns as tuition students for grades nine through twelve. In 1963, Amity Junior High School was created in Bethany.

In 2007, Bethany was named Connecticut's #1 Small Town by Connecticut Magazine.[6]

Town seal[]

Bethany's town seal is a circle within which appears a circle of rope. In the upper aspects of the seal appear the words TOWN OF BETHANY CONNECTICUT in two curved lines of print bordering the inner aspect of the rope circle. On the bottom of the seal also bordering the inner aspect of the rope circle appear the words INCORPORATED 1832. These words form the top and bottom edges of a third circle, the sides of which are made of a string of inverted oak leaves on each side. A roadway bisecting the seal and extending from bottom to center is pictured within the innermost circle. Surrounded by trees are Christ Episcopal Church pictured on the right, and First Church of Christ Congregational with carriage shed on the left. The Town Seal was created by local artist and Bethany resident, Betsy Seaton, as part of Bethany's 150th anniversary celebration in 1982.

Police[]

Currently, Bethany has a single police officer who is hired by the town. This along with the State Police Troop I station serve to protect the town and local area. The barracks located next to the Station remains abandoned and in a state of disrepair.

Geography[]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.4 square miles (55 km2), of which 21.0 square miles (54 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), or 1.83%, is water.

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850914—
18609746.6%
18701,13516.5%
1880637−43.9%
1890550−13.7%
1900517−6.0%
1910495−4.3%
1920411−17.0%
193048016.8%
194070647.1%
19501,31886.7%
19602,38480.9%
19703,85761.8%
19804,33012.3%
19904,6086.4%
20005,0409.4%
20105,56310.4%
2017 (est.)5,497[7]−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

As of the 2010 Census Bethany had a population of 5,563. The racial composition of the population was 91.6% white, 1.9% black or African American, 4.8% Asian, 0.6% other races and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.[9]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 5,040 people, 1,755 households, and 1,449 families residing in the town. The population density was 240.4 people per square mile (92.8/km2). There were 1,792 housing units at an average density of 85.5 per square mile (33.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.04% White, 1.83% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.53% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.02% of the population.

There were 1,755 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.18.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $74,898, and the median income for a family was $79,493. Males had a median income of $52,037 versus $44,427 for females. The per capita income for the town was $31,403. About 1.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 29, 2019[11]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
Republican 1,175 42 1,217 27.66%
Democratic 1,170 50 1,220 27.73%
Unaffiliated 1,824 81 1,905 43.30%
Minor Parties 56 2 58 1.31%
Total 4,225 175 4,400 100%
Presidential Election Results[12][13]
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 51.7% 1,912 46.5% 1,718 1.8% 68
2016 46.8% 1,580 48.7% 1,646 4.5% 151
2012 50.6% 1,615 48.2% 1,536 1.2% 39
2008 53.1% 1,781 45.4% 1,525 1.5% 51
2004 48.91% 1,617 48.94% 1,618 2.15% 71
2000 49.2% 1,470 43.0% 1,285 7.8% 234
1996 46.3% 1,246 38.8% 1,047 14.9% 402
1992 37.1% 1,053 39.4% 1,117 23.5% 668
1988 39.7% 1,024 58.4% 1,505 1.9% 48
1984 34.5% 878 65.0% 1,654 0.5% 12
1980 27.8% 722 58.6% 1,490 13.1% 332
1976 38.4% 898 60.9% 1,427 0.7% 18
1972 32.2% 696 66.5% 1,433 1.3% 27
1968 34.3% 573 57.9% 967 7.8% 130
1964 51.1% 695 48.9% 664 0.00% 0
1960 35.8% 454 64.2% 814 0.00% 0
1956 26.7% 269 73.3% 741 0.00% 0

Parks and recreation[]

In a span of two years (1997–1999), the town purchased 165 acres (0.67 km2) of land for the new Veterans Memorial Park. In 1999, the man-made Hockanum Lake at Veterans Memorial Park was opened for swimming. In 2000, the first Summer Sparkler was held there.

Notable people[]

  • Amy Arnsten, neuroscientist.
  • Robert Crabtree, chemist.
  • David Hoadley (1774–1839), architect who worked in New Haven and Middlesex counties in Connecticut; designed Darius Beecher House in Bethany[14]
  • Silas Hoadley (1786–1870), clockmaker; born in Bethany
  • R. W. B. Lewis (1917–2002), biographer and Yale professor.
  • Quincy Porter (1897–1966), Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer.
  • Katharine Weber, novelist.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Town of Bethany, Connecticut". Town of Bethany, Connecticut. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "Profile for Bethany, Connecticut, CT". ePodunk. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Bethany town, New Haven County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 26, 2012.
  4. ^ "Bethany, Connecticut". City-Data.com. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  5. ^ Sharpe, W. C. (1908). Bethany Sketches and Records. W. C. Sharpe. pp. 42.
  6. ^ "Timeline". Bethanyhistory. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  7. ^ "Estimated Populations in Connecticut as of July 1, 2017" (PDF). Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  8. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  9. ^ 2010 population by race and Hispanic or Latino by place chart for Connecticut from the US Census
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  11. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 29, 2019" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  12. ^ "General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  13. ^ "Election Night Reporting". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  14. ^ "The Wheeler-Beecher House Bethany, Connecticut" (PDF). The Wheeler-Beecher House. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 26, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012.

External links[]

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