Brookfield, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brookfield, Connecticut
Town
Brookfield Town Hall
Seal
Motto(s):  "Pro Patria"
Fairfield County and Connecticut  Western Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Fairfield
Region	Western CT
Incorporated	1788
Government
• Type	Select board-town meeting
Area
• Total	20.4 sq mi (52.8 km2)
• Land	19.8 sq mi (51.3 km2)
• Water	0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation	459 ft (140 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,528
• Density	806.5/sq mi (311.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Code	06804
Area code(s)	203/475
FIPS code	09-08980
GNIS feature ID	0213399

Brookfield is a town in Connecticut, located among the southern hills of the Berkshire Mountains. In 2020, about 17,528 people lived here. It's about 55 miles northeast of New York City, so many people who live here work in the New York area. In 2013, Money magazine called Brookfield the 26th best place to live in the entire United States. It was also named the best place to live in Connecticut!

The first European settlers came to what is now Brookfield in 1710. They were led by John Muirwood, along with families like Hawley, Peck, and Merwin. They traded for the land with the Wyantenuck and Potatuck Nations. These Native American groups were led by Sachems Waramaug and Pocono. Sachem Pocono's village was a large, walled settlement along the Still River. The colonists first called the area the Parish of Newbury. It included parts of nearby Newtown and Danbury. In 1788, the parish was renamed and officially became the town of Brookfield. It was named after Reverend Thomas Brooks, who was the first minister of the local Congregational church.

Brookfield's Story: A Look at Its Past

A vintage postcard from the Nutmeg Inn

The rail depot of Brookfield Junction

The first people living in Brookfield were farmers, gatherers, and hunters. They grew corn, beans, and squash. They also found wild foods in the rocky, forested hills. These foods included acorns, chestnuts, and hickory nuts. They hunted animals like deer, turkeys, and squirrels from the forests and rivers. In the 1700s, the community was called "Newbury." This name came from the three towns that gave land to form it: New Milford, Newtown, and Danbury.

It was hard for people to travel to churches in other towns, especially in winter. So, in 1752, the General Assembly allowed the community to hold church services in homes from September to March. In 1754, they got permission to build their own church and find a minister. The first Congregational Church building opened on September 28, 1757. Reverend Thomas Brooks became the first minister. When the town officially formed in 1778, its name changed to Brookfield to honor him.

Along the Still River, mills were already working by 1732. This area became known as the Iron Works District. Brookfield was a busy town with many businesses. There were iron factories, mills for grinding grain, sawmills, and shops that made combs, hats, and knives. There were also places that made paper, stagecoaches, and harnesses. The old grain mill is still standing today and is now the Brookfield Craft Center. The Iron Works Aqueduct Company, started in 1837, brought water from mountain springs to the Iron Works District. It still supplies water today as the Brookfield Water Company.

Before 1912, Brookfield had two train stations. One was in the Iron Works District. The other, Junction Station, was near Junction Road and Stony Hill Road.

Electricity came to Brookfield in 1915, thanks to the Danbury & Bethel Gas and Electric Company. The .475 Wildey Magnum gun was created by Wildey J. Moore in Brookfield in the early 1970s. This gun later became famous in the 1985 movie Death Wish 3. The factory has since moved.

In the early 1970s, the town was even home to the main office for Lego USA!

Throughout the 1970s and late 1900s, many people moved to Brookfield. This happened because New Yorkers started moving from the city to the suburbs. This led to a lot of new homes being built in Brookfield. The town became a popular place for people who work in New York City to live. Today, many residents work in professional, scientific, and technical services, healthcare, and finance. In 2022, almost 90% of workers had office jobs, and about 20% worked from home full-time.

Exploring Brookfield's Landscape

Brookfield covers about 19.8 square miles of land and 0.6 square miles of water. It shares borders with several other towns. These include Bethel, Newtown, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, and Bridgewater.

Brookfield is special because it's located between Connecticut's two largest lakes. Candlewood Lake is the biggest lake in Connecticut and is on the west side of town. Lake Lillinonah is the second largest and runs along the entire east side. The Still River also flows right through the town.

What Are Brookfield's Main Areas?

An aerial view of Candlewood Shores in Brookfield

Various buildings located throughout the Town Center Historic District

The town has several important neighborhoods:

• Brookfield Town Center (also called "Four Corners") is the main shopping area. It's growing a lot with new apartments and stores. This area might even get a new train station in the future.
• Brookfield Center is the original heart of the town. It's a historic district and was added to the NRHP in 1991. You can find the old town hall, original general store, historic society, churches, and an elementary school here.

Other smaller neighborhoods and places in town include:

• Barkwood Falls
• Brookfield Junction
• Candlewood Lake Club
• Candlewood Orchards
• Candlewood Shores
• East Iron Works
• Huckleberry Hill
• Iron Works
• Long Meadow Hill
• Obtuse
• Pocono Ridge
• Prospect Hill
• Viva Farms
• West Iron Works
• Whisconier

What's the Weather Like in Brookfield?

Brookfield has a humid continental climate, similar to New York City. Summers are mild to warm and humid. Winters are cold to very cold. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 103°F (39°C) in July 1966. The coldest was -15°F (-26°C) in 1968. It snows often in winter, and September usually has the most rain.

Brookfield's Businesses and Jobs

Brookfield is home to several companies. Some of these include:

• BNP Associates: designs airport systems.
• Branson Ultrasonics: a division of Emerson.
• Bridgewater Chocolate: makes fancy chocolates.
• Cerulean Studios: an instant messaging software company.
• Lego USA: used to have its main office here.
• McMullin Manufacturing Corporation: makes metal parts.
• Millbrook Press: an international book publisher, used to be here.
• Nordex Inc: makes medical and robot parts.
• Photronics: a big semiconductor (computer chip) maker.
• ROMTech: a medical device company.
• Southridge Technology: an IT (information technology) company.
• Townsquare Media: has an office here.
• Trendhaven Investment Management: an investment company.

Who Lives in Brookfield?

In 2020, Brookfield had 17,528 people living in 6,209 homes. On average, there were about 2.73 people per home. The town had about 861.9 people per square mile.

The 2020 Census showed that most people in Brookfield were White (86.4%). There were also Asian (4.2%), Black or African American (3.1%), and Pacific Islander (0.2%) residents. About 4.5% of people were of two or more races. Latinos made up 6.5% of the population. About 28.5% of Brookfield residents were under 18 years old in 2020, which is higher than the U.S. average. Also, 15.1% of residents were born outside the United States.

In 2022, the average income for a household in Brookfield was $132,950. For families, it was $172,383. The income per person was $63,411. Only a small number of families (1.2%) and people (2.3%) lived below the poverty line.

Learning in Brookfield: Schools and Education

View of Brookfield High School, December 2020

View of Candlewood Lake Elementary School, September 2023

Public Schools in Brookfield

• Brookfield High School (Grades 9–12)
• Whisconier Middle School (Grades 6–8)
• Candlewood Lake Elementary School (Grades Pre-K–5)

In 2021, a new Candlewood Lake Elementary School began construction. It cost $78.1 million. The school is on the land where Huckleberry Hill School used to be. It replaced both Huckleberry and Center School. The new school opened in September 2023 for the 2023–24 school year.

Private Schools in Brookfield

• St. Joseph Elementary School (Catholic School, Grades Pre-K–8; now houses the Danbury Primary School for kindergartners)
• Christian Life Academy (Christian School, Grade Pre-K)
• Country Kids Child Care (Grades Pre-K–K)
• Goddard School (Grades Pre-K–K)
• Montessori Community School (Grades Pre-K–K)
• Curtis School for Boys (An all-boys boarding school from 1883 to 1943. Girls could attend as day-students starting in the 1920s. The building is now the Brookfield Theatre for the Arts.)

Students from Brookfield can also attend the Western Connecticut Academy of International Studies. This is a magnet school in Danbury for grades K–5. Henry Abbott Technical High School is a public technical high school in Danbury for grades 9–12. It also accepts students from other towns.

Many Brookfield residents go to private schools in the Greater Danbury area. These include Canterbury School (9–12), Immaculate High School (9–12), and Wooster School (Pre-K–12).

The Brookfield Craft Center is a special school that teaches craftsmanship. It offers courses and workshops to the public. It is located in an old historic mill house by the Still River.

Brookfield's Downtown Makeover

The newly completed streetscape of Brookfield's Town Center District, also known as Four Corners, which includes sidewalks, parallel parking and new storefronts.

The Town Center District is decorated with lights, garland and winter banners during the Christmas and holiday season

For many years, Brookfield didn't have a central downtown area where people could walk around. Most of the shopping was on Federal Road, closer to Danbury. In 2016, a project called "Brookfield Village" began. This project is creating a downtown area with sidewalks, a small park, street lamps, and parking. Many new stores and over 150 apartments are also being built here. This has attracted new businesses and will help the area grow even more. Because of this project and other new shops, many new restaurants and boutiques have opened in the Town Center District.

Fun Things to Do in Brookfield

Arts and Culture

Sculptures depicting a family of horses; (left to right) mare, foal and stallion. Located at the entrance to the Brookfield Municipal Center and Town Park

The Brookfield Library, as seen from the entrance to Williams Park

Brookfield Craft Center campus at night

• Brookfield Arts Commission – This group works to share and celebrate the arts with everyone in Brookfield. They help local artists and organize fun events. Each year, they give scholarships to students who want to study art.
• Brookfield Craft Center – This place is an art gallery and a school. It teaches people of all ages about arts and crafts. It's located in an old train station and mill house.
• Brookfield Museum and Historical Society – Started in 1968, this museum keeps the history of Brookfield and the surrounding region alive.
• Brookfield Public Library – Located in the Brookfield Center Historic District. It's part of a system that lets libraries share books, so you have access to many more! The library started in 1951. The current building was built in 1975. There are plans to build an even bigger library in the future.
• Brookfield Theatre for the Arts – This theater puts on plays for the community. The building used to be a boys' boarding school.
• Concerts in the Park – Enjoy free outdoor concerts at the Brookfield Bandstand every Friday from June to August. Local and regional artists perform different kinds of music.
• Cotton Candy Fabrics – A school where you can learn about fabrics and fashion design.
• DiGrazia Vineyards – Started in 1978, this vineyard and winery offers tours and wine tasting. It's one of three wineries in Fairfield County on the Connecticut Wine Trail.
• JLG Autocrib – A private collection of over 30 rare and vintage Porsche cars and car items.
• The Pottery Factory – Here you can take classes and workshops to make pottery, glass art, candles, and soap.

Lakes to Explore

• Candlewood Lake – This is the largest lake in Connecticut. It touches five towns and forms Brookfield's western border.
• Lake Lillinonah – The second largest lake in Connecticut. It was created when the Shepaug Dam was built in 1955.

Parks and Beaches for Outdoor Fun

Entrance to Williams Park

Brookfield Town Beach (Candlewood Lake)

• Arthur A. Harris Linear Park – A trail that connects the Brookfield Municipal Center to the Still River Greenway.
• Birch Rocks Trails Preserve – This park has 2.5 miles of hiking trails through 175 acres of woods.
• Brookfield Municipal Center – This is where the town hall and police station are. It also has the Brookfield Town Park, which has a big playground, baseball fields, and soccer fields. The Brookfield Bandstand is here too, where concerts are held.
• Brookfield Nature Center – A 16-acre park with fields and woods. It's a nesting spot for birds like Bobolinks.
• Brookfield Town Beach – Located on Candlewood Lake, this beach has swimming, basketball, volleyball, picnic tables, and grills. It's mainly for Brookfield residents and their guests.
• Cadigan Park – This park has turf fields for football and lacrosse, lighted basketball and tennis courts, and walking/biking trails. It's right across from the Brookfield Town Beach.
• Eriksen Farm Open Space – 20 acres of open fields for walking and biking.
• Happy Landings Protected Open Space – 55 acres of open fields and woods with historic barns, wells, and windmills.
• Lillinonah Woods – A 68-acre park connected to Lake Lillinonah. You can fish (with a permit), hike, and picnic here. There's also a small beach.
• Still River Greenway – A paved trail through the woods for walking and biking. It connects the Brookfield Municipal Center to Brookfield Town Center. This trail is part of a bigger plan to connect New Milford to Norwalk with walking paths.
• Whalen Pond – A pond where you can go ice skating in the winter.
• Williams Park – A trail for walking and biking through the woods. It also has public clay tennis courts.

Private Clubs and Golf

View of Candlewood Lake from the entrance to Candlewood Lake Club

• Brookfield Bay Marina – A marina and yacht club on Candlewood Lake.
• Candlewood East Marina – Another marina and yacht club with a clubhouse.
• Candlewood Lake Club – A private community on Candlewood Lake with a country club. It has a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, pools, and a clubhouse.
• Sunset Hill Golf Club – A public, 9-hole golf course designed by famous golfer Gene Sarazen in 1936.

Recreation and Activities

• All Star Indoor Batting Range – An indoor place to practice batting and softball.
• Aquatic Club of Brookfield – Has an indoor pool and recreation center with swimming lessons.
• Brookfield Parks & Recreation – This department plans summer camps and many fun activities for residents.
• Brookfield Senior Center – A community center for residents over 60. It offers social, educational, and physical programs.
• Brookfield Indoor Golf – Indoor golf simulators and a lounge with food and drinks.
• The Dive Shop Aquatic Center – An aquatic center with an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool. It offers swimming lessons and PADI-certified scuba diving lessons.
• Escape 101 – An escape room center with five different rooms for groups.
• Golf Ranch – A modern driving range with digital tracking. It also has mini golf and a restaurant.
• Greenknoll YMCA – This YMCA has an indoor Olympic-size swimming pool, racquetball courts, basketball courts, an indoor track, and a wellness center. It offers many programs and summer camps.
• Lakeside Watersports – Offers boat and water sports lessons on Candlewood Lake.
• Strikers of Brookfield – A 32-lane bowling alley with cosmic bowling nights, a café, and a lounge with a pool table.

Scouting in Brookfield

Brookfield has a strong history with Scouting. There are several active scout groups:

• Troop 5 – Started in 1942, this Boy Scouts of America troop camps every month. They have helped many Scouts become Eagle Scouts. They also do community service projects and fundraisers.
• Troop 135 – Started in 1993, this Boy Scouts of America troop is for boys aged 11–18. They have over 40 Eagle Scouts.
• Troop 235 – Started in 2019, this is Brookfield's first Scouts BSA Girl Troop for girls aged 11–18.
• Pack 135 – This Cub Scout pack has over 60 boys aged 7–11. They have den meetings and a full pack meeting each month.
• Girl Scouts – There are several Girl Scout troops in town, from kindergarten up to high school.

Annual Events in Brookfield

• Brookfield Town Center Block Party – Held on the first Sunday of June, this street fair brings together residents and visitors for fun, music, and local vendors.
• Easter Egg Hunt – The Parks and Recreation Department holds an Egg Hunt every year at the Municipal Center on Easter Sunday.
• Farmers Market – Held on Fridays from 3 PM to 6 PM at the Brookfield Municipal Center during the summer. You can find organic fruits, vegetables, and crafts from local artisans.
• Halloween Run – Held every year the weekend before Halloween, starting at the Municipal Center.
• Holiday Tree Lighting – Held the first weekend of December. The town lights its Holiday Tree at the Brookfield Municipal Center. Kids can meet Santa, and there's free hot chocolate and cookies.
• Indie Film Festival – Every March, the Brookfield Arts Commission hosts a three-day festival of short and foreign films.
• Fire Dept. Kid's Day – Held the first weekend of June. The fire department teaches fire prevention and safety. Kids can try on firefighter gear and ride in old fire trucks.
• Memorial Day Parade – Takes place on Memorial Day Weekend, marching through the Brookfield Center Historic District. It features emergency vehicles, classic cars, and floats from local groups.
• Mother's Day 5k – The Parks & Rec Department holds an annual 5K run/walk on Mother's Day, starting at Brookfield High School.
• Relay For Life 5k – Held each year in June at Brookfield High School.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser – Held every year in March at Brookfield High School to raise money for childhood cancer research.

Why Brookfield is a Great Place to Live

Brookfield is known as a wealthy suburb in Fairfield County and often ranks high in different lists. In 2013, Money magazine named Brookfield the best small town in Connecticut. It was also ranked the 26th best town to live in nationwide by Money.com that same year. In 2017, MarketWatch said the Greater Danbury area was the 10th most expensive place to raise a family in the United States.

Brookfield Public Schools are often ranked among the best school districts in Connecticut. Brookfield is also known as one of the safest towns in Connecticut because it has very low crime rates. In 2015, Connecticut Magazine rated Brookfield as one of the best towns in Connecticut for homes valued over $325,000. This rating looked at things like education, safety, economy, community involvement, and culture.

Famous People from Brookfield

Because Brookfield is close to New York City, many notable people have lived here. These include famous golfer Gene Sarazen and Connecticut's 87th governor, Jodi Rell. Many business leaders also live in Brookfield, as Fairfield County has many investment firms and hedge funds.

Getting Around Brookfield: Transportation

Highways and Roads

Exit 7 on Interstate 84 (eastbound)

The Southville Bridge, part of Connecticut Route 133

The main highways in Brookfield are Interstate 84 and U.S. Route 7. From the south, US 7 and US 202 join together and exit Interstate 84 at Exit 7 near Danbury. US 7 connects to other major highways like the Merritt Parkway and Interstate 95 in Norwalk. US 202 then separates from US 7 and runs north through town before rejoining US 7 near New Milford. For many years, US 7 and US 202 ran together through Brookfield. But after decades of planning, the US 7 Bypass opened in November 2009. The governor at the time was Jodi Rell, who lived in Brookfield.

Connecticut Route 133 connects Brookfield to Bridgewater over the Southville Bridge, which crosses the Housatonic River. Connecticut Route 25 also connects Brookfield to Newtown and its Hawleyville neighborhood. Interstate 84 passes through the southern part of Brookfield, but you can best get on it at Exit 9 in Hawleyville.

Brookfield is also on U.S. Bicycle Route 7, a bike path that goes from Norwalk, Connecticut, all the way to the border between Vermont and Quebec.

Buses in Town

The town is served by the "4 Route," "7 Route," and "New Milford Loop" bus lines. These are run by Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART). There's a park and ride lot at 67 White Turkey Road Ext. From here, you can connect to nearby bus and train stations, and even airports. HART also has a direct shuttle for commuters between the park and ride and Brewster station on weekdays.

Train Travel

Former Brookfield train station; the building is now part of the Brookfield Craft Center campus

Until 1971, trains ran from Grand Central Terminal in New York City to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, with a stop in Brookfield. Brookfield's old train station building is now used by the Brookfield Craft Center. Another station, Brookfield Junction, closed in 1925.

There are ideas to extend the New Haven Line's Danbury Branch train service to New Milford. This would include a new Brookfield Metro-North station. The Danbury Branch currently offers train service between Danbury and New York City. The tracks north of Danbury are now used for freight trains. If the extension happens, it would give Brookfield's many commuters another way to travel to New York City. Currently, they have to go to the nearby Danbury station or other stations further away.

Airports Near Brookfield

The closest public airport to Brookfield is Danbury Municipal Airport, which is in neighboring Danbury. Brookfield is also close to several airports with commercial flights. These include Westchester County Airport, Bradley International Airport, Tweed New Haven Airport, and the NYC airports.

Keeping Brookfield Safe: Emergency Services

Fire Department and EMS

Brookfield has two volunteer fire companies with three stations. The main station for the Brookfield Volunteer Fire Company is at 92 Pocono Rd. The Center Company is at 6 Obtuse Hill Rd, and the Candlewood Company is at 18 Bayview Dr. The department started in 1934 and is made up entirely of volunteers.

Police Department

The Brookfield Police Department Headquarters is at 63 Silvermine Rd, next to the Brookfield Municipal Center. The department started on July 1, 1977. As of 2017, it has 34 full-time officers and other staff. The police force includes a Patrol Division and a Detective Division. There are also officers who work with youth and in schools. Brookfield plans to make the police headquarters bigger because the town and the police force have grown.

Brookfield in the News: Media

• WINE-AM 940: A CBS Sports Radio station.
• WRKI-FM 95.1: A "mainstream rock" station that covers parts of Connecticut and New York.
• The News-Times: The main newspaper for the Greater Danbury area, which reports on Brookfield news.
• The Brookfield Daily Voice and The Brookfield Patch: Popular local online newspapers.
• Brookfield's public-access channels are 162 (education) and 164 (community). These are available through Charter Spectrum.
• News 12 Connecticut: The local cable news station for Fairfield County, covering news in Brookfield. Brookfield is part of the New York City media market for news and entertainment.

See also

In Spanish: Brookfield (Connecticut) para niños