Trumbull, Connecticut

Trumbull, Connecticut
—  Town  —
Location in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°13′59″N 73°13′6″W / 41.23306°N 73.21833°W / 41.23306; -73.21833
Country	United States
State	Connecticut
NECTA	Bridgeport-Stamford
Region	Greater Bridgeport
Settled	1639 as Stratford
Incorporated	1797 as Trumbull
Government
- Type	First selectman-Town council
- First selectman	Raymond G. Baldwin, Jr.
Area
- Total	23.5 sq mi (60.9 km2)
- Land	23.3 sq mi (60.3 km2)
- Water	0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation	266 ft (81 m)
Population (2005)
- Total	35,299
- Density	1,515/sq mi (585/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	06611
Area code(s)	203
FIPS code	09-77200
GNIS feature ID	0213518
Website	http://www.trumbull-ct.gov/

Trumbull is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 34,243 at the 2000 census. RelocateAmerica.com currently ranks Trumbull, the only town selected from Connecticut, as one of the top 100 best cities to live in the U.S.^[1]. Money Magazine ranked Trumbull #68 in their top 100 best places to live rankings of U.S. cities in 2007 ^[2] and #77 in 2009 ^[3].

History

Trumbull was settled by the English as part of Stratford, Connecticut beginning in 1639. After twelve to fifteen years had passed the settlement at Stratford was assuming larger proportions and the displaced Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation began to ask for compensation for the land which lay north of an east and west line about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Long Island Sound, which was north of the village of Nichols in southeastern Trumbull ^[4]. The original proprietors agreed and began to make several purchases from the Indians by way of deeds of transfer. On May 15, 1656, the Court of the Colony of Connecticut, affirmed that the town of Stratford included all of the land 12 miles (19 km) inland from Long Island Sound, between the Housatonic River and the Fairfield town line, which included all of present day Trumbull ^[5]. It was not until 1662 that selectmen Lt. Joseph Judson, Captain Joseph Hawley and John Minor, secured all the written deeds of transfer from the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation for the northern territory that comprises the present-day towns of Trumbull, Shelton and Monroe ^[6]. After the Revolutionary War, citing their well-established population and the inconvenient distance to attend town meetings in Stratford, they petitioned the Connecticut General Assembly for status as an incorporated town. After several denials, the legislature granted their petition in October, 1797. On November 20, 1797, the first town meeting was held. The new town was named for Jonathan Trumbull, Connecticut governor during the Revolutionary War and a valued advisor to George Washington, who respectfully referred to him as Brother Jonathan ^[7].

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.5 square miles (60.9 km²), of which, 23.3 square miles (60.3 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (0.98%) is water. According to the USGS survery of 1986, the lowest surveyed point in town is approximately 40 feet above sea level at Beach Park.^[8] The highest specific documented point is the top of Tashua Hill at 587 feet above sea level.^[9]

Bodies of Water

• The Pequonnock River is the only major body of moving water in Trumbull, beginning northwest of Old Mine Park at the Monroe border, flowing southeasterly through Trumbull Center to Twin Brooks Park.^[10] The river leaves Trumbull by running into Beardsley Park in Bridgeport.
• Major bodies of water include Canoe Brook Lake, Pinewood Lake, Tashua Hills Golf Club Pond, and the (6) Twin Brooks Park Ponds.
• Minor bodies of water include Dogwood Lake, Frog Pond, Kaatz Pond, Kaechele Pond, Secret Pond, Thrush Wood Lake, Porters Pond and Unity Park Pond.

Neighborhoods

Trumbull includes several districts:

• Chestnut Hill
• Daniel's Farm
• Long Hill
• Nichols (including the Nichols Farms Historic District).
• Tashua
• Trumbull Center

Demographics

As of the census^{[11][page needed]} of 2000, there were 34,243 people, 11,911 households, and 9,707 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,470.6 people per square mile (567.7/km²). There were 12,160 housing units at an average density of 522.2/sq mi (201.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.02% White, 1.88% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.70% of the population.

There were 11,911 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living within them, 71.7% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the town was $96,944, and the median income for a family was $108,175.^[12] As of the 2000 Census, males had a median income of $62,201 versus $41,384 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,931. About 1.4% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those over age 65.

On the National Register of Historic Places

• Christ Episcopal Church and Tashua Burial Ground — 5170 Madison Ave. (added May 25, 2001)
• David, Jr. Mallett House — 420 Tashua Road (added March 20, 1986)
• Kaatz Icehouse — 255 Whitney Ave. (added October 19, 1977)
• Nichols Farms Historic District — Center Road, 1681-1944 Huntington Turnpike, 5-34 Priscilla Place, and 30-172 Shelton Road (added September 20, 1987)
• Old Mine Park Archeological Site (added 1990)

Notable people, past and present

• Dick Allen (b. 1939), noted American poet.
• Truman Bradley (1820-1900), American Indian from the Schaghticoke
• Craig Breslow, Pitcher, Oakland Athletics
• Chris Drury, New York Rangers Forward, Calder Memorial Trophy Winner, Hobey Baker Award Winner, Olympic medalist, and member of 1989 Little League World Series Champions from Trumbull, CT.
• Will Geer, (1902-1978), Actor and Political activist.
• Nero Hawley, (1742-1817), Negro slave, served in the Continental Army under General George Washington at Valley Forge during the American Revolutionary War earning his freedom.
• Robert Hawley, (1729-1799), Captain of North Stratford Train Band, supplied Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.
• Carolyn Hax (b. 1966), a writer and columnist for the Washington Post and the author of the advice column "Tell Me About It," was born in Bridgeport and grew up in Trumbull.
• Lisa Lampanelli, comedian
• Mark Longwell - All-New England soccer player at Fairfield University who went on to compete for the United States men's national soccer team and Tampa Bay Rowdies
• Shane Mack, former outfielder for the Minnesota Twins.
• Wayne Norman, morning radio host at WILI-AM, Willimantic, CT since 1970, radio announcer of University of Connecticut basketball and football, and author (Hoop Tales: UConn Huskies Men's Basketball). Born in Hollywood, but graduated Trumbull HS, 1966.
• Igor Sikorsky, (25 May 1889 – 26 October 1972), invented the Helicopter, lived in Trumbull from the early 1930s to 1950s.
• Benjamin Silliman, (1779-1864), mother fled British troops during the American Revolutionary War, first Yale professor of Science and first to distill petroleum ^[13]
• Chris Soule, Olympic skeleton (sport) athlete

High schools

• St. Joseph High School
• Trumbull High School
• Christian Heritage School

Fire Departments

Fire Service in the Town of Trumbull is served by three independent all-volunteer fire departments. Each fire department handles its own tax structure and fundraising and receives no funding from the Town. The three departments: Trumbull Center Fire Department, Nichols Fire Department and Long Hill Fire Department. As a total, there are seven fire stations in town and an apparatus fleet of nine engines, three rescue engines, one satellite maxi-water unit, one squad engine, one ladder tender/salvage unit, two trucks, one quint, one fire boat, three utility units, and numerous support units.

• Nichols Fire District
• Trumbull Center Fire District
• Long Hill Fire District

Major roadways

• Route 8 runs through the southeast part of town. Route 8 is a freeway that leads to Waterbury and I-84, and continues into Massachusetts as New England Interstate Route 8 and finally terminates in Searsburg, Vermont.

• Route 15, also known as the Merritt Parkway, goes north (east) to New Haven (eventually connecting to I-91) and south (west) towards New York City. Route 15 was built through Nichols center displacing the old Nichols Store and Trinity Episcopal Church in 1939.

• Route 25 runs north to south, merging with Route 8 at the Bridgeport line and continues overlapped with Route 8 (commonly known as the Route 8/25 connector) into Bridgeport ending at Interstate 95. Continuing north on Route 25, the freeway ends as it crosses Route 111 and continues as a surface road towards I-84 in Newtown leading to Danbury.

• Route 108, also known as Nichols Avenue and Huntington Turnpike, heads north into southeastern Trumbull from Stratford at Hawley Lane. The Nichols Avenue portion in Trumbull was laid out in 1696 and is considered to be the third oldest documented highway in Connecticut ^[14]. It terminates in Shelton at the intersection with Route 110 (Howe Avenue). Route 108 can be reached via exit 52 from Route 15 or exit 8 from Route 8.

• Route 111, also known as Main Street in Trumbull and Bridgeport, also runs north to south. Continuing north on Route 111, the road crosses Route 25 and eventually heads into Monroe, terminating at Route 34. Main Street continues south past Route 15 (where it is exit 48 from Route 15) and past Westfield Shopping Town Trumbull into the North End of Bridgeport.

• Route 127, also known as White Plains Road and Church Hill Road, runs through the town center from south to north from the East Side of Bridgeport. The section in Trumbull was laid out to Pulpit Rock in 1705 ^[15]. Route 127 ends at the intersection of (Main Street) Route 111 at the Town Hall.

Open space

Trumbull takes great pride in their natural landscape, and has set aside over 1,600 acres (6.5 km²) of town land as recreational areas and open space. Presently, the town has the most reserved space per capita of any other town in the state ^[16].

Activities and organizations

• Tashua Recreation Facility, at 268 acres (1.08 km²) in size, includes basketball, tennis courts, swimming pool, playground, picnic area, multi-purpose field and Tashua Knolls, an 18 hole golf course built in 1976 and designed by noted golf architect Al Zikorus ^[17]. The course features a driving range, two putting greens, pro shop, locker rooms, Eagle's Nest Grille restaurant and banquet facility. There is also Tashua Glen, a 9 hole "Executive style" course opened in 2004. Both courses feature cart paths. There is a Men's Club, Senior Men's Club, Ladies 9-holer, and Ladies 18-holer organizations active at the course.

• The Trumbull Community Women is a group dedicated to promoting civic service. It is open to all women over 18, and runs a Young Women's Club as well. They meet at the Trumbull Library Community Room, generally on the first Tuesday of the month September through June ^[18].

• The Trumbull Library can be found adjacent to Town Hall at 33 Quality Street ^[19].

• The Fairchild-Nichols Memorial Library is located at 1718 Huntington Turnpike ^[20].
• The Town Hall Gazebo is host to concerts most summer Tuesday nights.

• The Nichols Improvement Association gazebo is a fine spot for wedding pictures and social gatherings. Every year Christmas trees are sold at this gazebo ^[21].

• The Trumbull Historical Society, founded in 1964, maintains a museum of Trumbull's past at 1856 Huntington Turnpike on the site of Abraham Nichols farm ^[22].

• The Trumbull Nature & Arts Center is located at 7115 Main Street and coordinate trips for fishing, butterfly searches, gardening, outdoor photography and other nature related activities.

• Trumbull Teen Center is located at the barn at Indian Ledge Park and features activities such as air hockey, foosball, local band concerts, ping pong and basketball for Trumbull resident's ^[23]

• Trumbull's Senior Center is located at 23 Priscilla Place. The senior transportation department continues to provide effective door-to-door services to seniors age 60 and over with out transportation or unable to drive. Services include doctor’ s appointments, shopping, nutrition program, dentist appointments and legal appointments. It provides a variety of resources such as Continuing Education and Social Services as well as activities ^[24].

Movies filmed (or partially filmed) in Trumbull

• Revolutionary Road (2008)
• Oprah Winfrey presents For One More Day which aired on ABC in December 2007
• College Road Trip (2008)

See also

• Ephraim Hawley House
• Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation
• Gregory's Four Corners Burial Ground
• Little League World Series Trumbull 1989 World Champions
• Nichols Farms Historic District

Notes

References

• Reverend Orcutt, History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Fairfield Historical Society, 1886
• History of Trumbull Dodrasquicentennial 1797-1972 Commemorative Book, Trumbull Historical Society, 1972
• Isaac William Stuart, Life of Jonathan Trumbull Sen., Governor of Connecticut, Crocker and Brewster, 1859
• Henry Phelps Johnston, The Yorktown Campaign and the Surrender of Cornwallis, 1781, Ayer Publishing, 1971
• Charles S. Hall, Life and Letters of Samuel Holden Parsons, Ostenigo Publishing Co., Binghamton, NY, 1905
• E. Merrill Beach, "They Face the Rising Sun", Trumbull Historical Society, 1971
• E. Merrill Beach, "Trumbull, Church and Town", Trumbull Historical Society, 1972
• Dorothy Seeley, "Tales of Trumbull's Past", Trumbull Historical Society, 1984

External links

• Official Town of Trumbull Web site
• Trumbull Economic Development
• Trumbull Touchdown Club - Trumbull High School Football Team
• TRUMBULLnet Community Website
• Trumbull Times
• Trumbull Public Library
• Trumbull Historical Society
• Community Discussion Forum
• Trumbull Public Schools
• The USGenWeb Project, Fairfield County

v • d • e   State of Connecticut Hartford (capital) Topics Culture | Geography | Government | History | Images | People | Visitor Attractions Regions Coastal Connecticut | Gold Coast | Greater Bridgeport | Greater Danbury | Greater Hartford | Greater New Haven | Litchfield Hills | Lower Connecticut River Valley | Naugatuck River Valley | Quiet Corner | Southeastern Connecticut | Southwestern Connecticut | Upstate Connecticut Counties Fairfield | Hartford | Litchfield | Middlesex | New Haven | New London | Tolland | Windham Cities Ansonia | Bridgeport | Bristol | Danbury | Derby | Groton | Hartford | Meriden | Middletown | Milford | New Britain | New Haven | New London | Norwalk | Norwich | Shelton | Stamford | Torrington | Waterbury | West Haven Places Towns | Boroughs | Villages | Historic Places | Geography

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Fairfield County, Connecticut Cities Bridgeport | Danbury | Norwalk | Shelton | Stamford Towns Bethel | Brookfield | Darien | Easton | Fairfield | Greenwich | Monroe | New Canaan | New Fairfield | Newtown | Redding | Ridgefield | Sherman | Stratford | Trumbull | Weston | Westport | Wilton Borough Newtown Unincorporated communities Aspetuck | Botsford | Black Rock | Branchville | Byram | Cannondale | Compo | Cos Cob | Cranbury | East Norwalk | Georgetown | Glenbrook | Glenville | Greenfield Hill | Greens Farms | Hattertown | Hawleyville | Huntington Center | Long Ridge | Lordship | Mianus | Nichols | Old Greenwich | Riverside | Round Hill | Rowayton | Sandy Hook | Silvermine | South Norwalk | Southport | Springdale