East Hampton, Connecticut Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

East Hampton, Connecticut

Town

Town of East Hampton

Congregational Church of East Hampton

Flag

Seal

Nickname(s):

Belltown, USA

Middlesex County and Connecticut

Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region and Connecticut

Country

Region

Lower CT River Valley

Incorporated

1767

Government

• Type

Council-manager

Area

• Total

36.8 sq mi (95.3 km²)

• Land

35.6 sq mi (92.2 km²)

• Water

1.2 sq mi (3.2 km²)

Elevation

417 ft (127 m)

Population

(2020)

• Total

12,717

• Density

357/sq mi (137.9/km²)

Time zone

UTC-5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC-4 (Eastern)

ZIP code

06424, 06414, 06456

Area code(s)

860/959

FIPS code

09-22490

GNIS feature ID

0213423

East Hampton is a town located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. It's part of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. In 2020, about 12,717 people lived there. The main part of town, called the town center village, is also known as a census-designated place (CDP). East Hampton includes smaller areas like Cobalt, Middle Haddam, and Lake Pocotopaug.

You can find some cool outdoor spots in East Hampton! The southern end of the Shenipsit Trail is in Cobalt. The Airline State Park, which is a path built on an old railroad line, starts in East Hampton's Village Center. The town is also home to Hurd State Park, Meshomasic State Forest, and Salmon River State Forest. Don't miss Comstock's Bridge, also known as the Comstock Covered Bridge. It's the only covered bridge left in eastern Connecticut and crosses the Salmon River near Route 16.

If you're interested in history, you can visit the Chatham Historical Society Museum and the Joseph N. Goff House Museum and Cultural Center in town.

History of East Hampton
Geography
Demographics
Historic Sites
Notable People
Images for kids
See also

History of East Hampton

Early Settlers and Naming

The first European settlers came to this area in 1739. They traveled by sea from Eastham, Massachusetts, and then went up the Connecticut River. Some of these settlers, led by Isaac Smith, settled near Lake Pocotopaug, which is where East Hampton is today.

In 1746, they named their new community Easthampton parish, remembering their old home. Later, in 1767, the community became its own town, separate from Middletown. It was named Chatham, possibly because both Chatham and this area were important for shipbuilding.

The Belltown Era

An early iron factory near Lake Pocotopaug helped local needs and the shipbuilding industry. Over time, the skills learned from working with iron were used to make other things, like waffle irons! But the most famous product from East Hampton became bells.

In the 1800s, East Hampton became the main place for making bells. So many bells were made here that the town earned the nickname Belltown. The very first bell factory was built in 1808 by William Barton. Many companies, like William Barton's family businesses, Bevin Brothers Manufacturing Company, and Gong Bell, made bells using the water power from Pocotopaug Stream.

Changes Over Time

The bell-making industry was very strong until cars became popular, replacing horses and buggies that often had bells on their harnesses. The The Great Depression in the 1930s also made things tough for factories.

However, some companies, like N. N. Hill Brass Co. and Gong Bell Mfg. Co., kept going by focusing on making bell toys instead of just metal bells. They lasted until the 1960s. The last original bell factory still operating, Bevin Brothers, had a fire in 2012 but rebuilt and continues to make bells in East Hampton today! Some old factory buildings couldn't be used again because of old materials, but others have been turned into offices, shops, and small businesses.

In 1915, the town of Chatham was officially renamed East Hampton. This name can sometimes be a bit confusing because it's not very close to Hampton, and it's also often mistaken for the nearby town of East Haddam.

Geography

East Hampton covers about 36.8 square miles (95.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 35.6 square miles (92.2 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.2 square miles (3.2 square kilometers), is water. This water area is mainly due to Lake Pocotopaug, which was once home to Native American tribes.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	3,230	—
1800	3,295	2.0%
1810	3,258	−1.1%
1820	3,159	−3.0%
1830	3,646	15.4%
1840	3,413	−6.4%
1850	1,525	−55.3%
1860	1,766	15.8%
1870	2,771	56.9%
1880	1,967	−29.0%
1890	1,949	−0.9%
1900	2,271	16.5%
1910	2,390	5.2%
1920	2,394	0.2%
1930	2,616	9.3%
1940	2,955	13.0%
1950	4,000	35.4%
1960	5,403	35.1%
1970	7,078	31.0%
1980	8,572	21.1%
1990	10,428	21.7%
2000	13,352	28.0%
2010	12,959	−2.9%
2020	12,717	−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 13,352 people living in East Hampton. There were about 4,126 households, and 3,003 families. The average household had about 2.63 people, and the average family had about 3.07 people.

The median age in East Hampton in 2000 was 32 years old. About 21.4% of the population was under 18 years old.

Historic Sites

East Hampton has several historic places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

Comstock's Bridge, located southeast of East Hampton off CT 16
Middle Haddam Historic District, found on Moodus and Long Hill Roads
Middle Haddam School, on Schoolhouse Lane
Rapallo Viaduct, near Flat Brook and the old Air Line railroad path

Notable People

Some well-known people have connections to East Hampton:

Scott Wasserman, a musician, composer, and musical director who has won two Grammy awards.
Erin Brady, who was crowned Miss Connecticut USA in 2013 and then Miss USA 2013.
Mark Mulcahy, the lead singer for the band Miracle Legion and a solo artist.
William A. O'Neill (1930–2007), who served as the Governor of Connecticut from 1980 to 1991. He was born and lived his whole life in East Hampton.