Winchester, Connecticut

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Winchester, Connecticut
Town
Official seal of Winchester, Connecticut
Seal
Location in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Location in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°55′30″N 73°06′11″W / 41.92500°N 73.10306°W / 41.92500; -73.10306Coordinates: 41°55′30″N 73°06′11″W / 41.92500°N 73.10306°W / 41.92500; -73.10306
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyLitchfield
NECTATorrington
RegionNorthwest Hills
Incorporated1771
Government
 • TypeBoard of Selectmen - Town Manager
 • Town Manager/CEOJoshua Steele Kelly
 • Board of SelectmenTodd Arcelaschi (R), Mayor
Jonathan W. Morhadt (R)
Candace Bouchard (R)
Althea C. Perez (D)
Steven Sedlack (D)
Jack Bourque (D)
Linda Groppo (D)
Area
 • Total33.8 sq mi (87.6 km2)
 • Land32.5 sq mi (84.2 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3.4 km2)
Elevation
1,017 ft (310 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,224
 • Density314/sq mi (121.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP codes
06094, 06098
Area code(s)860
FIPS code09-86440
GNIS feature ID0213536
Websitewww.townofwinchester.org

Winchester is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 10,224 at the 2020 census.[1] The city of Winsted is located in Winchester.

History[]

Winchester was incorporated on May 21, 1771, and named after Winchester in England.[2]

Geography[]

The town is in northeastern Litchfield County and is bordered to the south by the city of Torrington. It is 28 miles (45 km) northwest of Hartford, the state capital, and 27 miles (43 km) north of Waterbury. Winsted, with a population of 7,321 by far the largest community in Winchester, is in the eastern part of the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 33.8 square miles (87.6 km2), of which 32.5 square miles (84.2 km2) are land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), or 3.87%, are water.[3] Highland Lake, Crystal Lake, and Lake Winchester are three of the larger water bodies in the town. The Still River, a tributary of the Farmington River, flows from south to north through the eastern side of the town.

Principal communities[]

  • Winchester Center
  • Winsted

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18201,601—
18502,179—
18603,51361.2%
18704,09616.6%
18805,14225.5%
18906,18320.2%
19007,76325.6%
19108,67911.8%
19209,0193.9%
19308,674−3.8%
19408,482−2.2%
195010,53524.2%
196010,496−0.4%
197011,1065.8%
198010,841−2.4%
199011,5246.3%
200010,664−7.5%
201011,2425.4%
202010,224−9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

At the 2000 census there were 10,664 people, 4,371 households, and 2,849 families living in the town. The population density was 330.4 people per square mile (127.6/km2). There were 4,922 housing units at an average density of 152.5 per square mile (58.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.44% White, 1.24% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.93% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.69% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.17%.[5]

Of the 4,371 households 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 28.0% of households were one person and 11.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.97.

The age distribution was 23.3% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median household income was $46,671 and the median family income was $57,866. Males had a median income of $41,076 versus $28,058 for females. The per capita income for the town was $22,589. About 4.3% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation[]

Highland Lake, about 1905

The town is served by buses of the Northwestern Connecticut Transit District.

The city of Winsted is located at the junction of Connecticut Route 8 and U.S. Route 44. Route 263 connects Winchester Center and Winsted.

Education[]

Winchester Public Schools is the public school district for elementary grades while Gilbert School serves as the public school for secondary grades. Prior to 2011 middle school students went to the Winchester district.[6]

Northwestern Regional School District No. 7 maintains Northwestern Regional High School, which is partly in Winsted.[7] However the school does not serve residents of Winchester.[8]

There is a charter school, Explorations Charter School.[9]

There was also a parochial Catholic school, St. Anthony School, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hartford. It opened in 1865.[10] Circa 2008 it had about 200 students. By 2020 this figure declined to 90.[11] It closed in 2020.[12] At the time it was the oldest school continually operated by the archdiocese.[13]

Northwestern Connecticut Community College is in Winsted.

Notable people[]

  • Phineas Miner (1777–1839), congressman from Connecticut; born in Winchester

References[]

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Winchester town, Litchfield County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 23, 2021.
  2. ^ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 335.
  3. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Winchester town, Litchfield County, Connecticut". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  4. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ "History". Gilbert School. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  7. ^ "Winsted Zoning Map" (PDF). Town of Winchester. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  8. ^ "About Us". Northwestern Regional School District No. 7. Retrieved 2021-05-19. Regional School District No. 7 is composed of four rural-suburban towns: Barkhamsted, Colebrook, New Hartford and Norfolk.[...]
  9. ^ "Schools". Town of Winchester. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  10. ^ "150th Anniversary Celebration". St. Anthony School. 2018-08-07. Archived from the original on 2018-08-07. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  11. ^ Olson, Emily M. (2020-03-17). "Winsted's St. Anthony School closing in June after 155 years". . Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  12. ^ "Home". St. Anthony School. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  13. ^ Gugliotti, Elio (2020-03-17). "St. Anthony School in Winsted to close". . Retrieved 2021-05-19.

External links[]

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