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Brooklyn, Connecticut
Official seal of Brooklyn, Connecticut
Seal
Location in Windham County and the state of Connecticut.
Location in Windham County and the state of Connecticut.
Country United States
State Connecticut
NECTA Danielson
Region Northeastern Connecticut
Incorporated 1786
Government
 • Type Selectman-town meeting
Area
 • Total 29.1 sq mi (75.4 km2)
 • Land 29.0 sq mi (75.0 km2)
 • Water 0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation
210 ft (64 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 8,450
 • Density 291.4/sq mi (112.7/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
06234, 06239
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-09190
GNIS feature ID 0213400
BrooklynCT Town hall 1024px
Brooklyn town hall
PostcardOldTrinityChurchBrooklynCT1907
Old Trinity Church (postcard from 1907)

Brooklyn is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,450 at the 2020 census. The town center village is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place. The district of East Brooklyn is listed as a separate census-designated place.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.1 square miles (75 km2), of which, 29.0 square miles (75 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (0.58%) is water.

History

Settled in the late 17th century and incorporated as its own town in 1786, Brooklyn is now one of the fastest growing towns in Windham County. It is named for the Quinebaug River, or Brook Line, which forms its eastern boundary. Originally land of the Wabaquasset, Brooklyn incorporated as a town separate from Canterbury and Pomfret in May 1786.It is home to the Brooklyn Fair, America's oldest continuously operating agricultural fair, as well as the Brooklyn Correctional Institution, a state-run medium security prison.

Brooklyn held the 1833 trial of Prudence Crandall, a schoolteacher charged with the crime of educating black students.

Brooklyn is the final resting place of Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam. Though he was originally buried in an above ground tomb in Brooklyn's South Cemetery, his remains had to be moved due to excessive visitors. In 1888, a statue of Putnam mounted on a horse was erected, and his sarcophagus placed in the foundation. The statue stands slightly south of the town green, in front of the post office. Brooklyn is also home of the Middle School Bobcats and Elementary School Bears.

The town historical society operates the Brooklyn Historical Society Museum, which includes the Daniel Putnam Tyler Law Office.

Villages

On the National Register of Historic Places

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1820 1,254
1850 1,514
1860 2,136 41.1%
1870 2,354 10.2%
1880 2,308 −2.0%
1890 2,628 13.9%
1900 2,358 −10.3%
1910 1,858 −21.2%
1920 1,655 −10.9%
1930 2,250 36.0%
1940 2,403 6.8%
1950 2,652 10.4%
1960 3,312 24.9%
1970 4,965 49.9%
1980 5,691 14.6%
1990 6,681 17.4%
2000 7,173 7.4%
2010 8,210 14.5%
2020 8,450 2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,244 people, 3,001 households, and 2,105 families residing in the town. There were 3,247 housing units at an average density of 92.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 92.7% White, 2.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4% of the population.

There were 3,001 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24% under the age of 20, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 36.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years.

The median income as of the 2000 Census for a household in the town was $49,756, and the median income for a family was $60,208. Males had a median income of $39,246 versus $28,889 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,359. About 4.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 29, 2019
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 1,218 256 1,474 25.31%
Republican 1,205 174 1,379 23.68%
Unaffiliated 2,190 665 2,855 49.02%
Minor Parties 97 19 116 1.99%
Total 4,710 1,114 5,824 100%
Presidential Election Results
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 44.4% 1,876 53.6% 2,262 2.0% 84
2016 39.2% 1,462 55.2% 2,052 5.6% 201
2012 51.6% 1,743 46.4% 1,570 2.0% 68
2008 52.4% 1,932 45.5% 1,674 2.1% 76
2004 49.5% 1,668 48.3% 1,628 2.2% 73
2000 53.6% 1,589 38.9% 1,153 7.5% 222
1996 48.8% 1,363 34.5% 965 16.7% 467
1992 37.5% 1,220 32.9% 1,072 29.6% 960
1988 43.8% 1,133 54.9% 1,422 1.3% 31
1984 36.0% 908 63.7% 1,606 0.3% 7
1980 36.7% 870 50.8% 1,206 12.5% 296
1976 49.0% 1,098 50.2% 1,124 0.8% 18
1972 37.6% 804 61.2% 1,310 1.2% 25
1968 52.4% 963 44.0% 809 3.6% 65
1964 73.6% 1,286 26.4% 462 0.00% 0
1960 54.1% 890 45.9% 754 0.00% 0
1956 41.7% 604 58.3% 844 0.00% 0

Climate

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Brooklyn has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.


Education

Residents are served by the Brooklyn School District's Brooklyn Elementary School (K-4) and Brooklyn Middle School (5-8).

Many Brooklyn high school students attend Woodstock Academy; Woodstock was designated as one of Brooklyn's high schools since 1987. Many Brooklyn high school students attend Killingly High School in Danielson. Some students attend H.H. Ellis Technical High School, or the Norwich Free Academy.

Notable people

  • David Low Dodge, manager of the first cotton factory in Connecticut and one of the founders of the New York Bible Society and the New York Tract Society, was born in town.
  • Waldo Hutchins, a U.S. Representative and member of Democratic Party from New York.
  • Elijah Paine (1757–1842), a Federalist U.S. senator from Vermont (1795–1801) was born in town.
  • Adelaide Ward Peckham (1848–1944), bacteriologist, born in town
  • Israel Putnam, a general in the Revolutionary War and a legendary figure in his day, had a farm in Brooklyn, where he died in 1790, and was buried in an above-ground tomb in Brooklyn's South Cemetery.
  • John Day Putnam, Democratic member of the Wisconsin State Assembly.

See also

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

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