kids encyclopedia robot

Bolton, Connecticut facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Bolton, Connecticut
Official seal of Bolton, Connecticut
Seal
Motto(s): 
"A Town for All Seasons"
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Country  United States
U.S. state  Connecticut
County Tolland
Metropolitan area Hartford
Incorporated 1720
Government
 • Type Selectman-town meeting
Area
 • Total 14.7 sq mi (38.1 km2)
 • Land 14.4 sq mi (37.3 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)
Elevation
728 ft (222 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 4,858
 • Density 330.2/sq mi (127.51/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06043
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-06260
GNIS feature ID 0213393
Major highways US 6.svg US 44.svg I-384.svg

Bolton is a small suburban town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. It is primarily residential with an economy made up mostly of small businesses. The high school typically has between fifty and one hundred students per grade. The population was 4,858 as of the 2020 census. Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting, with a first selectman and board of selectman as well as other boards serving specific functions. Bolton was named after a town of the same name in England, also located near Manchester.

History

Originally part of the town of Hartford, the area was referred to as Hartford Mountains or Hanover, until incorporation in October 1720. The northern half of Bolton was set aside in 1808 to form the town of Vernon. Quarries played a significant role in the area's developing economy, and Bolton Notch became the location of the small community of Quarryville. Prior to the railroad, granite was taken by oxcart to the Connecticut River where it was then shipped to major cities on the East Coast.

On November 11, 1723, Jonathan Edwards was installed as the pastor of Bolton.

March route of Rochambeaus army
Encampment site with Rose's Farm in background

It is widely speculated that in 1781, George Washington stayed at a home in Bolton.

Climate

Bolton, like much of Tolland County, straddles the humid continental climate (Dfa) and (Dfb) line.

Climate data for Bolton, Connecticut
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 64
(18)
69
(21)
83
(28)
93
(34)
92
(33)
96
(36)
97
(36)
96
(36)
96
(36)
86
(30)
78
(26)
71
(22)
97
(36)
Average high °F (°C) 35
(2)
38
(3)
47
(8)
58
(14)
69
(21)
76
(24)
81
(27)
80
(27)
72
(22)
62
(17)
51
(11)
40
(4)
59
(15)
Average low °F (°C) 13
(−11)
15
(−9)
24
(−4)
33
(1)
43
(6)
52
(11)
57
(14)
56
(13)
46
(8)
35
(2)
29
(−2)
20
(−7)
35
(2)
Record low °F (°C) −32
(−36)
−27
(−33)
−24
(−31)
4
(−16)
20
(−7)
27
(−3)
34
(1)
28
(−2)
19
(−7)
13
(−11)
−5
(−21)
−19
(−28)
−32
(−36)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.38
(111)
3.11
(79)
4.32
(110)
4.54
(115)
3.96
(101)
4.25
(108)
4.08
(104)
4.07
(103)
4.54
(115)
4.56
(116)
4.64
(118)
4.02
(102)
50.47
(1,282)
Source: The Weather Channel (Historical Monthly Averages)

Education

Bolton High School is a public school with about three to four hundred students. It underwent major renovations and expansion during 2011, including a new outdoor seating area for the cafeteria, a larger and more technologically advanced library, computer labs and media center, and a new science wing and larger administrative offices. Several other improvements were made including parking, bus lanes and the Board of Education offices being moved to the location.

The school has a student-teacher ratio of about 12:1 and a combined math and reading proficiency level of 92.5%. U.S. News & World Report ranked it #27 in Connecticut and #1030 in the United States, and it earned a Silver Award in 2012.

Bolton High is affiliated with the NCCC athletic conference.

Geography

Bolton Green Historic District
Bolton Green

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.7 square miles (38 km2), of which, 14.4 square miles (37 km2) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) of it (1.91%) is water. It includes the Bolton Green Historic District.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 731
1850 600
1860 683 13.8%
1870 576 −15.7%
1880 512 −11.1%
1890 452 −11.7%
1900 457 1.1%
1910 433 −5.3%
1920 448 3.5%
1930 504 12.5%
1940 728 44.4%
1950 1,279 75.7%
1960 2,933 129.3%
1970 3,691 25.8%
1980 3,951 7.0%
1990 4,575 15.8%
2000 5,017 9.7%
2010 4,980 −0.7%
2020 4,858 −2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 4,980 people, 1,915 households, and 1,438 families residing in the town. The town's residents are primarily middle-class, with some working class and upper middle-class families/individuals and small businesses. There are also a few larger commercial entities, notably the Simoniz corporation, specializing in automotive and car wash cleaning supplies.

The population density in 2010 was 346 people per square mile (133.5/km2). There were 2,015 housing units in the town, of which 100, or 5.0%, were vacant. 86.7% of the occupied units are owned and 13.3% are rented.

The racial makeup of the town was 95.7% White, 1.1% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.2% some other race, and 1.5% two or more races. 3.00% of the population identified as Latino or Hispanic of any race (the US Census Bureau does not consider Latino a race).

The median age in 2010 was 45.4. 49.4% of the population were male and 50.6% female.

For the period 2012–16, the estimated median household income was $91,087, and the median family income was $118,958. About 3.2% of the population are living below the poverty line.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of 29 October  2019 (2019 -10-29)
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
Democratic 1,047 68 1,115 29.84%
Republican 975 63 1,038 27.78%
Unaffiliated 1,408 109 1,517 40.60%
Minor Parties 59 7 66 1.76%
Total 3,489 247 3,736 100%
Presidential Election Results
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 52.5% 1,727 45.1% 1,482 2.4% 79
2016 46.4% 1,385 48.0% 1,436 5.6% 169
2012 49.24% 1,433 49.26% 1,434 1.5% 44
2008 55.7% 1,692 42.6% 1,300 1.7% 54
2004 50.5% 1,542 47.7% 1,459 1.8% 56
2000 49.3% 1,368 45.0% 1,210 5.7% 159
1996 47.6% 1,210 37.9% 964 14.5% 369
1992 36.7% 1,023 34.9% 976 28.4% 792
1988 42.7% 972 55.9% 1,278 1.4% 33
1984 32.8% 699 66.9% 1,430 0.3% 8
1980 33.5% 665 48.5% 964 18.0% 359
1976 42.5% 817 57.0% 1,097 0.5% 10
1972 35.1% 668 64.2% 1,226 0.7% 15
1968 38.8% 630 55.4% 904 5.8% 96
1964 59.5% 859 40.5% 586 0.00% 0
1960 37.3% 524 62.7% 880 0.00% 0
1956 26.0% 311 74.0% 888 0.00% 0

Notable people

  • Aloysius Ahearn, teacher and member of the Connecticut House of Representatives (1975–1977, 1979–1981)
  • Ralph Earl, artist and portrait painter; died in Bolton in 1801
  • Ron Hainsey, NHL alternate captain and defenseman for the Ottawa Senators and Stanley Cup champion
  • Simeon Olcott, US Senator from New Hampshire; born in Bolton in 1735
  • Julius L. Strong (1828–1872), U.S. Congressman
  • George G. Sumner, politician; Connecticut House of Representative for Bolton; Mayor of Hartford; Lieutenant Governor and Governor of Connecticut; a native of Bolton
  • William Williams, born in Bolton on September 6, 1815

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bolton (Connecticut) para niños

kids search engine
Bolton, Connecticut Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.