Bethel, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bethel, Connecticut
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Greenwood Avenue, a historic street in Bethel.
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 Fairfield County and Connecticut Western Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country | United States | ||
| U.S. state | Connecticut | ||
| County | Fairfield | ||
| Region | Western CT | ||
| Incorporated | 1855 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 16.9 sq mi (43.8 km2) | ||
| • Land | 16.8 sq mi (43.5 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 482 ft (147 m) | ||
| Population
(2022)
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| • Total | 20,156 | ||
| • Density | 1,204.6/sq mi (465.1/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP Code |
06801
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| Area codes | 203/475 | ||
| FIPS code | 09-04720 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 213390 | ||
Bethel is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the Western Connecticut Planning Region. In 2020, about 20,358 people lived here. The town also includes a special area called the Bethel Census-Designated Place.
Contents
History
Bethel was first settled around the year 1700. It officially became a town in 1855. Before that, it was part of Danbury. The name "Bethel" comes from an old language called Hebrew. It means "house of God."
Geography
Bethel covers a total area of about 16.9 square miles. Most of this area, about 16.8 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 0.1 square miles, is water. The main part of town, known as the Bethel Census-Designated Place, is about 4.1 square miles, all of which is land.
Bethel shares its borders with other towns. To the south, it borders Redding. To the west, it borders Danbury. Brookfield is to the north, and Newtown is to the east.
Population
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1860 | 1,711 | — |
| 1870 | 2,311 | +35.1% |
| 1880 | 2,727 | +18.0% |
| 1890 | 3,401 | +24.7% |
| 1900 | 3,327 | −2.2% |
| 1910 | 3,792 | +14.0% |
| 1920 | 3,201 | −15.6% |
| 1930 | 3,886 | +21.4% |
| 1940 | 4,105 | +5.6% |
| 1950 | 5,104 | +24.3% |
| 1960 | 8,200 | +60.7% |
| 1970 | 10,945 | +33.5% |
| 1980 | 16,004 | +46.2% |
| 1990 | 17,541 | +9.6% |
| 2000 | 18,067 | +3.0% |
| 2010 | 18,584 | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 20,358 | +9.5% |
In 2010, Bethel had a population of 18,584 people. Most of the people were white (88.8%). There were also black or African American (1.8%), Asian (4.5%), and Native American (0.1%) residents. About 7.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Economy
The company Duracell, which makes batteries, has its main office in Bethel.
Arts and Culture
Several places in Bethel are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. These include the Greenwood Avenue Historic District, the Rev. John Ely House, and the Seth Seelye House. The Seth Seelye House is now the Bethel Public Library.
Education
Students in Bethel attend Bethel High School.
Media
Movies filmed in Bethel
Some movies have been partly filmed in Bethel. These include Rachel, Rachel (1968), Other People's Money (1991), and Revolutionary Road (2008).
Notable people
Many interesting people have connections to Bethel:
- Raghib Allie-Brennan, a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives. He grew up in Bethel.
- Matt Barnes (born 1990), a baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals.
- P. T. Barnum (1810–1891), a famous showman.
- Barbara Britton (1919–1980), an actress who worked in theater, movies, and TV.
- Dan Cramer, a mixed martial arts fighter.
- Tony Dovolani, a ballroom dancer known from Dancing with the Stars.
- Kevin Gutzman, a scholar and professor of history.
- Allan J. Kellogg, who received the Medal of Honor.
- Jan Miner (1917–2004), an actress.
- Thurston Moore (born 1958), a singer and guitarist for the band Sonic Youth.
- Noël Regney, a composer.
- Meg Ryan, an actress.
- Julius Hawley Seelye (1824–1895), a missionary, author, and former president of Amherst College.
- Glover Teixeira, a professional MMA fighter.
- Annamarie Tendler (born 1985), an artist.
- Henry Arthur "Art" Young (1866–1943), a cartoonist.
Transportation
Interstate 84, a major highway, goes through Bethel. The town also has a train station. This station is on the Danbury Branch of Metro-North's New Haven Line. This train service connects Bethel to places like Danbury, South Norwalk, Stamford, and even Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Local bus service is provided by Housatonic Area Regional Transit.
Images for kids
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Bird's eye view, around 1910
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P.T. Barnum Fountain, around 1914
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Greenwood Avenue, around 1909
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South Street, around 1910
See also
In Spanish: Bethel (Connecticut) para niños
