Bolton, Connecticut

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Bolton, Connecticut
Town
Official seal of Bolton, Connecticut
Seal
Motto(s): 
"A Town for All Seasons"
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°45′51″N 72°26′15″W / 41.76417°N 72.43750°W / 41.76417; -72.43750Coordinates: 41°45′51″N 72°26′15″W / 41.76417°N 72.43750°W / 41.76417; -72.43750
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyTolland
Metropolitan areaHartford
Incorporated1720
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanSandra Pierog (D)
 • SelectmenRobert R. Morra (R)
Michael W. Eremita (R)
Kimberly A. Miller (D)
Nicole Sullivan (D)
Area
 • Total14.7 sq mi (38.1 km2)
 • Land14.4 sq mi (37.3 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation
728 ft (222 m)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total4,980
 • Density346/sq mi (133.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06043
Area code(s)860
FIPS code09-06260
GNIS feature ID0213393
Major highwaysUS 6.svg US 44.svg I-384.svg
Websitebolton.govoffice.com

Bolton is a small suburban town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. It is primarily residential with an economy made up mostly of small businesses. The high school typically has between fifty and one hundred students per grade. The population was 4,980 as of the 2010 census.[1] Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting, with a first selectman and board of selectman as well as other boards serving specific functions. Bolton was named after a town of the same name in England, also located near Manchester.[2]

History[]

Originally part of the town of Hartford, the area was referred to as Hartford Mountains or Hanover, until incorporation in October 1720. On 11 November 1723, Jonathan Edwards was installed as the pastor of Bolton.[3]

Bolton was known for its high quality schist stone in the 18th century, and many tombstone carvers such as and Jonathan Loomis sourced their stone from Bolton quarries.

Bolton was removed from Hartford County when Tolland County was originally formed on 13 October 1785. The northern half of Bolton was set aside in 1808 to form the town of Vernon. Quarries played a significant role in the area's developing economy, and Bolton Notch became the location of the small community of Quarryville. Prior to the railroad, granite was taken by oxcart to the Connecticut River where it was then shipped to major cities on the East Coast.

The Bolton historical society has been actively purchasing sites throughout the town in their effort to preserve the town's history and rural character. Most recently of which was Rose's Farm, a several hundred-acre site where the Comte de Rochambeau camped with his troops.

Bolton has several ordinances to ensure it never becomes built-up or densely populated. Including a limit on the types and number of businesses. As well as a requirement that all new residential lots be no smaller than 1 acre. There are also numerous parks, open spaces and trails.[4]

Encampment site with Rose's Farm in background

Climate[]

Bolton, like much of Tolland County, straddles the humid continental climate (Dfa) and (Dfb) line.[5]

hideClimate data for Bolton, Connecticut
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18) 		69
(21) 		83
(28) 		93
(34) 		92
(33) 		96
(36) 		97
(36) 		96
(36) 		96
(36) 		86
(30) 		78
(26) 		71
(22) 		97
(36)
Average high °F (°C) 35
(2) 		38
(3) 		47
(8) 		58
(14) 		69
(21) 		76
(24) 		81
(27) 		80
(27) 		72
(22) 		62
(17) 		51
(11) 		40
(4) 		59
(15)
Average low °F (°C) 13
(−11) 		15
(−9) 		24
(−4) 		33
(1) 		43
(6) 		52
(11) 		57
(14) 		56
(13) 		46
(8) 		35
(2) 		29
(−2) 		20
(−7) 		35
(2)
Record low °F (°C) −32
(−36) 		−27
(−33) 		−24
(−31) 		4
(−16) 		20
(−7) 		27
(−3) 		34
(1) 		28
(−2) 		19
(−7) 		13
(−11) 		−5
(−21) 		−19
(−28) 		−32
(−36)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.38
(111) 		3.11
(79) 		4.32
(110) 		4.54
(115) 		3.96
(101) 		4.25
(108) 		4.08
(104) 		4.07
(103) 		4.54
(115) 		4.56
(116) 		4.64
(118) 		4.02
(102) 		50.47
(1,282)
Source: The Weather Channel (Historical Monthly Averages)[6]

Education[]

Bolton High School is a public school with about two to three hundred students. It underwent major renovations and expansion during 2011, including a new outdoor seating area for the cafeteria, a larger and more technologically advanced library, computer labs and media center, and a new science wing and larger administrative offices. Several other improvements were made including parking, bus lanes and the board of education offices being moved to the location.

The school has a student-teacher ratio of about 12:1 and a combined math and reading proficiency level of 92.5%.[7] U.S. News & World Report ranked it #27 in Connecticut and #1030 in the United States, and it earned a Silver Award in 2012.[8]

Bolton High is affiliated with the NCCC athletic conference.

Geography[]

Bolton Green

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38 km2), of which, 14.4 square miles (37 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (1.91%) is water. This includes the Bolton Green Historic District and may include land owned or leased by the State of Connecticut and the federal government. Bolton doesn't have any unincorporated land.

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1820731—
1850600—
186068313.8%
1870576−15.7%
1880512−11.1%
1890452−11.7%
19004571.1%
1910433−5.3%
19204483.5%
193050412.5%
194072844.4%
19501,27975.7%
19602,933129.3%
19703,69125.8%
19803,9517.0%
19904,57515.8%
20005,0179.7%
20104,980−0.7%
2014 (est.)4,952[9]−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,980 people, 1,915 households, and 1,438 families residing in the town.[11] The town's residents are primarily middle-class, with some working class and upper middle-class families/individuals and small businesses. There are also a few larger commercial entities, notably the Simoniz corporation, specializing in automotive and car wash cleaning supplies.

The population density in 2010 was 346 people per square mile (133.5/km2). There were 2,015 housing units in the town, of which 100, or 5.0%, were vacant. 86.7% of the occupied units are owned and 13.3% are rented.[11]

The racial makeup of the town was 95.7% White, 1.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% some other race, and 1.5% two or more races. 3.00% of the population identified as Latino or Hispanic of any race (the US Census Bureau does not consider Latino a race).[11]

The median age in 2010 was 45.4. 49.4% of the population were male and 50.6% female.[11]

For the period 2012–16, the estimated median household income was $91,087, and the median family income was $118,958. About 3.2% of the population are living below the poverty line.[12]

Voter registration and party enrollment as of 29 October 2019[13]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
Democratic 1,047 68 1,115 29.84%
Republican 975 63 1,038 27.78%
Unaffiliated 1,408 109 1,517 40.60%
Minor Parties 59 7 66 1.76%
Total 3,489 247 3,736 100%
Presidential Election Results[14][15]
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 52.5% 1,727 45.1% 1,482 2.4% 79
2016 46.4% 1,385 48.0% 1,436 5.6% 169
2012 49.24% 1,433 49.26% 1,434 1.5% 44
2008 55.7% 1,692 42.6% 1,300 1.7% 54
2004 50.5% 1,542 47.7% 1,459 1.8% 56
2000 49.3% 1,368 45.0% 1,210 5.7% 159
1996 47.6% 1,210 37.9% 964 14.5% 369
1992 36.7% 1,023 34.9% 976 28.4% 792
1988 42.7% 972 55.9% 1,278 1.4% 33
1984 32.8% 699 66.9% 1,430 0.3% 8
1980 33.5% 665 48.5% 964 18.0% 359
1976 42.5% 817 57.0% 1,097 0.5% 10
1972 35.1% 668 64.2% 1,226 0.7% 15
1968 38.8% 630 55.4% 904 5.8% 96
1964 59.5% 859 40.5% 586 0.00% 0
1960 37.3% 524 62.7% 880 0.00% 0
1956 26.0% 311 74.0% 888 0.00% 0

Notable people[]

  • Aloysius Ahearn, teacher and member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (1975–1977, 1979–1981)[16]
  • Ralph Earl, artist and portrait painter; died in Bolton in 1801
  • Ron Hainsey, NHL alternate captain and defenseman for the Ottawa Senators and Stanley Cup champion
  • Simeon Olcott, US Senator from New Hampshire; born in Bolton in 1735
  • Julius L. Strong (1828–1872), U.S. Congressman
  • George G. Sumner, politician; Connecticut House of Representative for Bolton; Mayor of Hartford; Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Connecticut; a native of Bolton
  • William Williams, born in Bolton on September 6, 1815

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Bolton town, Tolland County, Connecticut". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  2. ^ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 331. Archived from the original on 2018-04-27.
  3. ^ George M. Marsden (11 July 2004). Jonathan Edwards: A Life. Yale University Press. p. 95. ISBN 978-0-300-10596-4. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  4. ^ Town Resident
  5. ^ Humid continental climate
  6. ^ "Climate Statistics for Bolton, CT". Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2017-08-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-08-31. Retrieved 2013-08-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Archived from the original on May 23, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Bolton town, Tolland County, Connecticut". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  12. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics: 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (DP03): Bolton town, Tolland County, Connecticut". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  13. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 29, 2019" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  14. ^ "General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  15. ^ "Election Night Reporting". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  16. ^ "Aloysius J. Ahearn obituary". Hartford Courant. 2020-05-05. Archived from the original on 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2020-05-25.

External links[]

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