Ledyard, Connecticut

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Ledyard, Connecticut
Town
Official seal of Ledyard, Connecticut
Seal
Location in New London County, Connecticut
Location in New London County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°26′23″N 72°00′54″W / 41.43972°N 72.01500°W / 41.43972; -72.01500Coordinates: 41°26′23″N 72°00′54″W / 41.43972°N 72.01500°W / 41.43972; -72.01500
CountryUnited States
StateConnecticut
CountyNew London
Metropolitan areaNew London
Incorporated1836
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • MayorFred Allyn III[1]
Area
 • Total40.0 sq mi (103.6 km2)
 • Land38.1 sq mi (98.8 km2)
 • Water1.9 sq mi (4.8 km2)
Elevation
295 ft (90 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total15,051
 • Density380/sq mi (150/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
06335, 06339
Area code(s)860
FIPS code09-42600
GNIS feature ID0213450
Websitewww.ledyardct.org

Ledyard /ˈlɛdʒərd/ is a Town in New London County, Connecticut, United States, located along the Thames River. The town is named after Colonel William Ledyard, a Revolutionary War officer who was killed at the Battle of Groton Heights.[3] The population was 15,051 at the 2010 census.[2] The Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, is located in the northeastern section of Ledyard, on the reservation owned by the tribe.

Ledyard's zip code is 06339. Within the southwestern area of Ledyard is the district known as Gales Ferry, which has the postal code 06335.

History[]

Named for Colonel William Ledyard, slain commander of Colonial forces in the Battle of Groton Heights in September 1781, the Town was set off from Groton in 1836 by an act of the Connecticut Legislature.[4] The western section, on the east bank of the Thames River, had been settled in the mid-seventeenth century by Thomas Bayley, John Gager, Robert Allyn, and Robert Stoddard. The settlers were farmers, and the river their transportation.

Geography[]

Bill Library and the Ledyard Congregational Church in Ledyard Center

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.0 square miles (104 km2), of which 38.1 square miles (99 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), or 4.62%, is water. Ledyard is situated north of Groton, and borders the east bank of the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut. The northern half of the Naval Submarine Base New London is located in the southwest corner of the town.

Ledyard is among the areas of the United States that was covered by a continental ice sheet during the last Ice Age. Therefore, Ledyard has its share of interesting glacial geology. The glaciers that covered Ledyard carried the many large boulders that are scattered around the town. The town has set aside land designated as a "Glacial Park", which consists of a section of end moraine and outwash deposits (containing kettles). This area encompasses a segment of the "Ledyard Moraine"—a clast-supported boulder deposit that is anomalous in nature. Examples of glacial erratics in Ledyard:

  • Glacial Erratics in Ledyard, CT.jpg
  • Glacial Erratic in Ledyard, CT.jpg

The principal communities of Ledyard are Ledyard Center (also known as Ledyard Village) and the Gales Ferry section (including Christy Hill Estates, Devonshire Estates, Ferry View Heights, Glenwoods, Birdland, Sherwood Forest, and Woodridge Estates). Other minor communities and geographic areas are Aljen Heights, Barrett Park, Colonial Manor, Cranwood Homestead, Highlands, Lakeside, Lantern Hill, Long Pond, Parsonage Hill Manor, Presidential Estates, Quaker Town, and Stonehenge. The town also contains the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, in the northeastern corner of the town.

Notable people[]

  • Frederick Ayer (1822–1918), industrialist born in Ledyard
  • Dennis Blair (1947-), Admiral, USN retired; Director National Intelligence Agency; lived in Ledyard.
  • Andy Dick (1965–), actor/comedian, grew up in Ledyard
  • Doc Hammer (1967–), painter and co-creator of The Venture Bros., born in Ledyard[5]
  • Richard Arthur Hayward (1947-), Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe for twenty-three years, worked in Ledyard.
  • Ron Jirsa (1959–), men's college basketball coach born in Ledyard
  • Casey Neistat (1981–), filmmaker, grew up in Ledyard
  • Jackalyne Pfannenstiel (1947-2017), US Assistant Secretary of the Navy, grew up in Ledyard.
  • Fuller Potter (1910–1990), abstract expressionist artist, lived most of his life in town
  • Samuel Seabury (1729–1796), Second Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, born in Ledyard
  • Gordon Waller (1945-2009), member of Peter & Gordon, lived in Ledyard
  • Lyn-Z (1977–), bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence, grew up in Ledyard

Demographics[]

See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18401,871—
18501,558−16.7%
18601,6153.7%
18701,392−13.8%
18801,373−1.4%
18901,183−13.8%
19001,2364.5%
19101,079−12.7%
19201,1617.6%
19301,144−1.5%
19401,42624.7%
19501,74922.7%
19605,395208.5%
197014,837175.0%
198013,735−7.4%
199014,9138.6%
200014,687−1.5%
201015,0512.5%
2014 (est.)15,121[6]0.5%
Population 1840 - 2000[7]
Population 2010[2]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile (148.7/km2). There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile (55.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was:

  • 88.23% White
  • 3.51% Native American
  • 2.70% Hispanic or Latino of any race
  • 2.50% African American
  • 2.19% Asian
  • 0.07% Pacific Islander
  • 0.84% from other races
  • 2.66% from two or more races

There were 5,286 households, out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.

The ages of Ledyard's population were spread out, with:

  • 28.3% under 18
  • 6.3% from 18 to 24
  • 31.0% from 25 to 44
  • 25.4% from 45 to 64
  • 9.0% from 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,647, and the median income for a family was $69,214. Males had a median income of $46,582 versus $32,339 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,953. About 2.9% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[9]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Republican 2,350 104 2,454 27.07%
Democratic 1,879 85 1,964 21.66%
Unaffiliated 4,404 245 4,649 51.27%
Minor Parties 0 0 0 0.0%
Total 8,633 434 9,067 100%

Schools[]

Ledyard High School in 2014

Ledyard has three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. The Superintendent of Schools is Jason Hartling. The Assistant Superintendent of Schools is Dr. Jennifer Byars, who previously served as Principal and Assistant Principal of many of the town's schools. The Superintendent is appointed by the Board of Education.

Elementary schools:

  • Gales Ferry School (Grades K through 2)
  • Gallup Hill School (Grades K through 5)
  • Juliet W. Long School (Grades 3 through 5)

Middle school:

  • Ledyard Middle School (Grades 6, 7 & 8)

High school:

  • (Grades 9 through 12)

Former schools:

  • Ledyard Center School (Closed in 2019)

Government and emergency services[]

The Town of Ledyard is governed by the Mayor-Council form of government. The mayor is elected by registered voters and serves as the Town's Full-time Administrator and Chief Executive; elected mayors serve for a term of 4 years and there are no term-limits. The mayor, with advice from the town council and voters appoints officials to positions such as: Town Clerk, Town Attorney, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works, and many of the other administrative positions. The Town Council has the power to appoint officials to Boards and Commissions, as Fire Marshals and Town Clerks. Registered Voters also elect the members of the Board of Education.

Police[]

The Town of Ledyard operates an independent police force, administered by Chief of Police John Rich. The town previously had provided Police Services through the Resident State Trooper Program. The department employs 22 highly trained personnel including the chief, an administrative assistant, and one detective.

The Town of Ledyard Police Department is also tasked with operating the Ledyard Animal Control Division and the Ledyard Emergency Communications Center. The LECC has 7 full time 911 Dispatchers and provides 911 service to both the Town of Ledyard and the Town of Preston.

Fire & EMS Service[]

There are two fire departments in the Town of Ledyard. They are the Ledyard Fire Company and the Gales Ferry Fire Company. Both departments rely on volunteers for staffing, along with paid firefighters that staff both departments Monday thru Friday. EMS service is the responsibility of American Ambulance Service, Inc. American Ambulance took over EMS service on July 1, 2018 following the disbanding of the Ledyard Volunteer Emergency Squad. American Ambulance houses 1 ambulance within the Town of Ledyard, which is staffed 24 hours a day.

Employers[]

The Naval Submarine Base New London, located immediately south of Ledyard in Groton, is a significant employer of Ledyard residents. Other major employers include Foxwoods Resort Casino, Electric Boat, and Pfizer.

Media[]

Radio[]

Radio stations licensed in Ledyard include WCSE-LP.

Television[]

Ledyard was featured on an episode of the MTV show MADE, in which Katherine, a shy, book-loving teenager, is made into Miss Congeniality in her town's beauty pageant for Miss Ledyard Fair.[citation needed]

Points of interest[]

National Register of Historic Places[]

Panorama of Ledyard Center, including the fire department, town hall, Ledyard Center School, and Ledyard Congregational Church plus several businesses

See also[]

  • Connecticut Indian Land Claims Settlement

References[]

  1. ^ "2017 Connecticut Municipal Election Results".
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Ledyard town, New London County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  3. ^ Zug, James (6 March 2009). American Traveler: The Life and Adventures of John Ledyard, the Man Who Dreamed of Walking the World. Basic Books. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-7867-3941-7.
  4. ^ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 332.
  5. ^ Hammer, Doc (2005-05-16). "50 Questions (from MySpace)". DeviantArt. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2007-03-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Accessed April 21, 2010.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  9. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-02.

External links[]

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