Chester is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,743 at the 2000 census. The town center is also defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP).
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 16.8 square miles (43.6 km²), of which, 16.0 square miles (41.5 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (4.75%) is water. The CDP has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.3 km²) of which 1.46% is water.
The popular YMCA Camp Hazen[4] is located in Chester, on Cedar Lake.
Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 3,743 people, 1,510 households, and 1,005 families residing in the town. The population density was 233.5 people per square mile (90.2/km²). There were 1,613 housing units at an average density of 100.6/sq mi (38.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.79% White, 0.85% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.
Memorial Day ceremony in Chester, 1990
There were 1,510 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $65,156, and the median income for a family was $79,941. Males had a median income of $45,515 versus $40,444 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,191. None of the families and 1.3% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 2.6% of those over 64.
CDP
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,546 people, 632 households, and 401 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 294.0/km² (762.1/sq mi). There were 669 housing units at an average density of 329.8/sq mi (127.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.31% White, 1.29% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.
There were 632 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $64,236, and the median income for a family was $71,250. Males had a median income of $38,900 versus $46,354 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $32,087. None of the families and 0.5% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[2] |
| Party |
Active Voters |
Inactive Voters |
Total Voters |
Percentage |
| |
Democratic |
810 |
50 |
860 |
31.30% |
| |
Republican |
570 |
39 |
609 |
22.16% |
| |
Unaffiliated |
1,137 |
136 |
1,273 |
46.32% |
| |
Minor Parties |
6 |
0 |
6 |
0.21% |
| Total |
2,523 |
225 |
2,748 |
100% |
Education
Chester, like the other two towns in the "tri-town area" (Essex and Deep River), is a member of Regional School District #4. John Winthrop Junior High School and Valley Regional High School, which are both on Warsaw Street in Deep River, serve students for grades 7-8 and 9-12, respectively.
Points of interest
- The Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek synagogue is noted for the architecture of its "spectacular" building.[3] The building was designed by a congregation member, the noted artist Sol LeWitt in close collaboration with architect Stephen Lloyd. LeWitt conceived the "airy" synagogue building, with its shallow dome supported by "exuberant wooden roof beams" an homage to the Wooden synagogues of eastern Europe.[4][5] The synagogue's spacious foyer is used as an art gallery, and has hosted exhibits by contemporary artists including Jane Logemann.[5]
- Registered Historic Places in town:
- Charles Daniels House — 43 Liberty St. (added March 19, 1988)
- Dr. Ambrose Pratt House — Pratt St. (added December 9, 1972)
- Jonathan Warner House — 47 Kings Hwy. (added 1978)
- Old Town Hall — On the green between Liberty St. and Goose Hill Rd. (added March 23, 1972)
- Villa Bella Vista — 7 Old Depot Rd. (added 2000)
- The Chester Museum at the Mill, a future museum of the Chester Historical Society
Notable residents, past and present
- Paul Hopkins (1904-2004) relief pitcher who played for the Washington Senators (1927, 1929) and St. Louis Browns (1929), born in town
- Sol LeWitt (b. 1928-2007), artist
- Morley Safer (b. 1931), CBS news correspondent and anchor on "60 Minutes"
- Max Showalter (1917-2000), film and television actor.
- Tyler Johnson (b. 1980), professional cyclist, and triathlete. Four time US national team member.
Pictures of Chester
Chester High School, circa 1906-1916
|
Oldest house in Chester, built 1649 (picture circa 1906-1916)
|
Old Stone Store, circa 1901-1907
|
Main Street, looking east, circa 1901-1907
|
References
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/lists/2005OctRegEnrollStats.pdf. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
- ^ Columbia Daily Spectator, April 10, 2007 , Small-town Artist With a Big-time Legacy by Ginia Sweeney [1]
- ^ Sol LeWitt: A Jewish Artist’s Leap Into the Unknown, Benjamin Ivry, Forward, May 08, 2009 [2]
- ^ a b ART; Art Takes a Prominent Spot In Chester's New Synagogue, By WILLIAM ZIMMER, New York Times, December 9, 2001 [3]
External links
