East Haven, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East Haven, Connecticut
Town
Town of East Haven
View of East Haven across the Quinnipiac River
Seal
New Haven County and Connecticut  South Central Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	New Haven
Region	South Central CT
Incorporated	1785
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
Area
• Total	13.4 sq mi (34.8 km2)
• Land	12.3 sq mi (31.8 km2)
• Water	1.1 sq mi (3.0 km2)
Elevation	30 ft (9 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,923
• Density	2,084/sq mi (802.4/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	06473, 06512, 06513
Area code(s)	203/475
FIPS code	09-22910
GNIS feature ID	0213425
Interstates
U.S. Highways
State Routes

East Haven is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. It's located about 3 miles (5 km) east of New Haven. In 2020, the town had a population of 27,923 people. East Haven is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region. It is also 35 miles (56 km) from Hartford and 82 miles (132 km) from New York City.

History of East Haven

Welcome to East Haven

In May 1707, the Connecticut Colony officially recognized the area as a "Township." Its name was changed from Iron Works Village to East Haven. However, some disagreements with New Haven and the Governor led to the town losing its special status. It became a "parish" of New Haven instead, which meant it was a smaller area connected to the larger town.

East Haven has always been a place where people from different backgrounds come to live. For a long time, many people with Italian heritage lived here. More recently, since the late 1900s, many new families have moved to East Haven. A large number of these new residents are Latinos from Ecuador. In 2010, over 10% of the town's population was Hispanic or Latino.

Geography and Climate of East Haven

East Haven covers about 13.4 square miles (34.8 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 1.1 square miles (3.08 square kilometers) is water. The town also includes Stony Island, which is about 660 yards (600 meters) from East Haven Town Beach in Long Island Sound.

If you look at East Haven on a map, it's taller than it is wide. It has Long Island Sound to the south. To the west is New Haven, and to the north is North Haven. On the east, it borders Branford, Lake Saltonstall, and North Branford. East Haven shares land with New Haven for the local Tweed New Haven Airport and Alling Memorial Golf Course.

East Haven's Geology

The land in East Haven has a very old and interesting history. Millions of years ago, huge pieces of the Earth's crust, called tectonic plates, crashed into each other. This created the supercontinent called Pangaea. East Haven was right in the middle of this action! You can still see the results today in the types of rocks found here, like schists, gneisses, and granites.

Later, when Pangaea broke apart, there was a lot of volcanic activity. This left behind rocks like basalt, also known as "trap rock." Even today, small earthquakes can sometimes be felt in the area.

About 22,000 years ago, huge sheets of ice called glaciers covered Connecticut. The last glacier was about 1,800 feet (550 meters) thick near New Haven. As it moved south, it shaped the land, creating Long Island and Long Island Sound. When the glacier melted 14,000 years ago, it formed Lake Saltonstall. It also left behind a mix of soil, sand, rocks, and boulders called "glacial till."

The coast of East Haven is mostly made of gneiss rock, which includes granite, schist, and quartzite. Other parts of the town are in the Central Valley of Connecticut. These areas have softer sedimentary rocks like redbeds, conglomerate, sandstone, brownstone, and shale. These soft soils are very fertile, which means they are great for farming.

Brownstone is a type of sedimentary rock that wears away easily. Glaciers carved out many lakes and valleys from brownstone. The area around Farms River and Lake Saltonstall is a good example. The brownstone that didn't erode was used to build foundations and rock fences that you can still see all over New England.

You can also find deposits of basalt (hardened lava) in the northern and northeastern parts of East Haven. There are several quarries in this area. Traprock (basalt) is crushed and used in construction, especially for building roads. Sand and gravel from glacial till are also important. They are used as fill, in concrete, and for road sand.

Animals and Plants of East Haven

Millions of years ago, when Pangaea was breaking up, East Haven was covered in forests. Dinosaurs, reptiles, and early mammals lived here. Dinosaur footprints, like those at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, have even been found near Lake Saltonstall. These tracks were made by a dinosaur called Eubrontes. Fossils of Triassic period reptiles, like Stegomus (which looked a bit like an armadillo with armor plates), have also been found.

Today, East Haven is mostly covered with broadleaf, hardwood trees. There are also some evergreen forests, especially around Lake Saltonstall. You can find salt marshes in areas near Long Island Sound.

Instead of dinosaurs, you'll now see animals like deer, coyotes, squirrels, foxes, chipmunks, and rabbits. Garter snakes are also common. Many birds live here, including pheasants, grouse, ducks, wild turkeys, cardinals, blue jays, warblers, crows, sparrows, woodpeckers, and sea gulls.

In the freshwater lakes, you can find trout. In Long Island Sound, there are bluefish, bass, flounder, blackfish, sand sharks, eels, lobsters, crabs, and clams.

Communities of East Haven

Old Stone Church

People in East Haven often talk about the town being divided into three main "sections" instead of smaller neighborhoods. These sections are Foxon, Momauguin, and "The Center."

Foxon

This area is in the eastern part of East Haven. It borders Branford and North Branford. It's also next to New Haven to the west, down to Grannis Pond. State Route 80 runs through this section. Foxon is the hilliest part of town. Important places here include the town's high school, Foxon Park Beverage (a local soda company), and Camp Murray, which is a Girl Scouts day camp.

Momauguin

Momauguin is in the southern part of East Haven. It stretches from Caroline Creek on the west to Branford on the east. It starts around Short Beach Road in the north. This section has the town beach, many apartments, and summer homes. Near Tweed New Haven Airport, there's an industrial park with businesses like Town Fair Tire Centers Headquarters and Calabro Cheese Corporation.

"The Center"

"The Center" isn't exactly in the middle of town, but it's where most of the town's government buildings are. You'll find the Town Hall, Fire Department Headquarters, Hagaman Memorial Library, and the "old" East Haven High School here. The old high school is now used by the East Haven Historical Society and a teen center. The Police Department and Public Works Department are located near the border of "The Center" and Foxon.

The most famous landmark in East Haven is the Old Stone Church. It was built in 1774, and its tall steeple stands out against the sky.

The Town Green is a 2.4-acre (9,700 m²) park. It's at the eastern end of the main business area, two blocks east of the Town Hall. The Green is mostly covered with trees. There are monuments honoring war veterans and firefighters. The main feature of the Green is a gazebo or bandstand. The annual East Haven Fall Festival and summer concerts are held here.

Margaret Tucker Park is like a second town green. It's across the street from Town Hall and the Old Stone Church. This park has been expanded and now includes a water fountain.

The "West End" is also part of "The Center" and borders New Haven. This area has older homes. Efforts are being made to improve and update this part of town.

The Senior Center is one block from Town Hall. East Haven also has a weekly Farmers' Market at the Town Hall on Sundays. Here you can find fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, and crafts. Sometimes, the market also helps raise money for local groups.

Climate

Looking north on Thompson Avenue in February 2001. The steeple of the Old Stone Church can be seen in the center of the photo.

East Haven's weather is affected by its location on Long Island Sound. It has a humid subtropical climate. Winters are usually mild, with less snow than areas further inland. On average, East Haven gets about 27 inches (68.58 cm) of snow each winter. Sometimes, there might be just a light dusting of snow by the coast, while northern parts of East Haven get an inch or more.

The town can be affected by "Nor'easter" storms. These storms can bring heavy rain or snow. For example, the Blizzard of 1888 brought about 40 inches of snow. The Blizzard of 1978 dropped almost 2 feet (0.61 meters) of snow.

Summers are getting warmer, with hotter days, though it's usually cooler than inland areas. While rare, the region can have very hot days, sometimes reaching 100°F (38°C). Rain is spread out evenly throughout the year.

East Haven has a long growing season for plants. The last frost usually happens in mid-April, and the first frost is in mid-October. On average, East Haven has 207 sunny days and 158 cloudy or rainy days each year.

Severe weather can happen in East Haven. The area has been hit by several hurricanes. In August 2011, Hurricane Irene caused a lot of damage to homes along Cosey Beach. In 1985, the eye of Hurricane Gloria passed nearby. This left the area without electricity, phone, and cable TV for seven days.

Tornadoes sometimes occur in Connecticut. While East Haven wasn't directly hit, a tornado touched down in Hamden, about 7 miles (11 km) away, on July 10, 1989. Another tornado touched down in North Haven, about 5 miles (8 km) away, on August 11, 2016.

People and Population of East Haven

In 2020, East Haven had 27,923 people living in 11,028 households. This means there were about 2,271 people per square mile.

The population is almost evenly split between males and females: 13,599 males (48.7%) and 14,324 females (51.3%).

Here's a look at the age groups in East Haven in 2020:

• Ages 0 to 4 years old: 1,088 children (3.9%)
• Ages 5 to 17 years old: 4,803 young people (17.2%)
• Ages 18 to 64 years old: 16,573 adults (58.9%)
• Ages 65 and above: 5,459 seniors (20.0%)

Most of the people in East Haven are White (78.6%). About 13.4% are Hispanic or Latino. Other groups include African American (5.2%), Asian (2.1%), and people from other races (0.7%). A small number, 0.1%, are Native American.

The average age of a house in East Haven is 40 years old. The average price to buy a house is $262,600. The average monthly rent is $1,342.

Voter Registration and Politics

East Haven residents can register with different political parties. Here's how people were registered as of October 31, 2024:

In recent presidential elections, East Haven has voted for the Republican candidate, Donald Trump. He won in 2016, 2020, and 2024. However, in 2008 and 2012, the town voted for the Democratic candidate, Barack Obama. Even though the town has voted Republican in federal elections, the current Democratic mayor, Joseph Carfora, was reelected by a large number of votes in 2023.

The average income for a household in East Haven was $83,489. About 7.3% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Most adults (92.3%) aged 25 and older have a high school diploma or higher. About 23.6% have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Economy of East Haven

Quinnipiac River in East Haven, 1907

Shopping and services are important in East Haven. You'll find many stores along Main Street, U.S. 1 in the town center, and State Route 80 in the Foxon Section. East Haven also has two industrial parks near Tweed New Haven Airport. These parks are home to many companies that make or distribute products.

There are about 527 companies in East Haven, employing 6,260 people. The top five employers are Super Stop & Shop, Thermatool Corporation, Village at Mariners Point (healthcare), Laurel Woods (healthcare), and Talmadge Park Health Care.

In 2008, the total value of all taxable property in East Haven (called the Grand List) was over $2.9 billion. Retail sales in 2007 were over $296 million. East Haven has about 16,751 residents who are old enough to work. Of these, 15,128 are employed, and 1,623 are looking for jobs. The unemployment rate is 4.0%.

Emergency Services

East Haven Police Department

The East Haven Police Department has over 50 uniformed officers. They work to keep the town safe and enforce laws.

East Haven Fire Department

The East Haven Fire Department started in 1900 as an all-volunteer group with one fire engine. Today, the town has four fire stations:

• Station 1 (Headquarters in the Center District)
• Station 3 (Foxon)
• Station 4 (Momauguin)
• Station 6 (Short Beach Rd)

In total, the department has three active engines, one quint (a type of fire truck), two squads, and four rescue vehicles. The department includes both full-time firefighters and volunteers.

Education in East Haven

Schools

Education was very important in the early New Haven Colony. Before 1700, the local church provided schooling. In 1706, the town decided to build its first public school. It was located near what is now 260 Hemingway Avenue. In 1707, a school board was created to manage the education system. By 1728, East Haven had divided its school system into four districts.

The first town high school opened on September 28, 1936, in "The Center" of town. Before this, students had to apply to high schools in other towns. A new junior high school complex was built in 1957. In 1997, a new high school campus was built in the Foxon section of town.

Today, the East Haven Public School system has 9 schools. In 2014, there were 2,933 students and 232 teachers. This means there was about 1 teacher for every 13 students. The town's budget for schools in 2014 was over $46 million, which worked out to about $18,495 per student.

Here are the schools in East Haven:

• Adult Learning Center
• Deer Run School: 312 students, grades K–2, 14 students per teacher.
• Grove J Tuttle School: 178 students, grades 3–5, 12 students per teacher.
• Momauguin School: 147 students, grades 3–5, 11 students per teacher.
• Dominick H. Ferrara School: 178 students, grades 3–5, 13 students per teacher.
• Overbrook School: 183 students, grades K–2, 17 students per teacher.
• Joseph Melillo Middle School: 582 students, grades 6–8, 12 students per teacher.
• East Haven Academy, located at Carbone School: 265 students, grades 3–8, 13 students per teacher.
• East Haven High School: 880 students, grades 9–12, 13 students per teacher.

St. Vincent de Paul School, a private school in East Haven, closed in 2016.

Library

View from north of Main street.

The East Haven Library was started in 1909. It moved to several places in the town center before getting a permanent building. This was possible thanks to a gift from Isaac Hagaman. The East Haven Library opened on September 22, 1928. In 1973 and 1974, a two-story addition was built.

Today, the Hagaman Memorial Library, named after Isaac Hagaman, has about 65,290 books. It also has 2,065 audio materials and 4,128 video materials. The library offers 90 different magazine and newspaper subscriptions. It has a large children's library and rooms available for community meetings.

Town Infrastructure

Transportation

East Haven is served by Tweed New Haven Regional Airport. This airport is located right on the border between East Haven and New Haven.

While East Haven doesn't have its own train station, there are two nearby. Union Station in New Haven is about 3 miles (5 km) from the town center. A commuter station in Branford is also about the same distance away. Both offer train service to New York and other coastal Connecticut towns. New Haven's Union Station also has Amtrak train service to Boston and many other cities.

Interstate 95 runs through the middle of East Haven from east to west. Interstate 91, which is west of town, connects with State Route 80. Route 80 passes through the Foxon section of East Haven, also running east to west. State Route 100 connects Foxon with the town center, running north to south. U.S. 1 crosses through "The Center" of town, running parallel to Interstate 95.

The Connecticut Transit Bus Company, a state-run public transportation system, provides bus service in East Haven.

Utilities

The Regional Water Authority supplies water to East Haven. Lake Saltonstall, located on the border with Branford, provides drinking water to the southern part of East Haven. It's also a place for hiking and fishing. The northern part of town gets water from Lake Gaillard in North Branford. The New Haven Regional Water Pollution Control Authority handles sewage disposal.

United Illuminating provides electric power to the town. Natural gas is distributed by the Southern Connecticut Gas Company, and some areas use local propane companies. AT&T is the main wired telephone service provider. You can also get phone service from various wireless companies and the local cable television provider. Cable television is available from Comcast and AT&T. Satellite television is available from AT&T (Dish Network) and DirecTV.

Culture and Events in East Haven

Media and Newspapers

East Haven has one daily newspaper and two weekly newspapers. The New Haven Register is printed seven days a week. The East Haven Courier is the weekly paper.

For media, the town has ETV, a local public-access television cable TV channel on the Comcast system. There's also a local ABC TV station in New Haven, WTNH TV Channel 8, and New Haven's IntrigueTV WTXX TV Channel 34. East Haven can receive 16 on-air television channels, 13 AM radio stations, and 20 FM radio stations.

Museums

• East Haven Historical Society: This group helps preserve the town's history.
• The Shore Line Trolley Museum: Founded in 1945, this museum works to save old trolley cars and other items from the trolley era. The museum has nearly one hundred trolley vehicles. It operates the Branford Electric Railway, which is a National Historic Site. This railway is the oldest continuously operating suburban trolley line in the United States.

National Register of Historic Places

East Haven has three sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning they are important historical locations:

• East Haven Green Historic District (added April 11, 2002)
• First Congregational Church of East Haven (added March 25, 1982)
• The Shore Line Trolley Museum (added May 23, 2019)

Town Events

• Every five years, East Haven hosts the Columbus Day Parade. This parade is shared with nearby towns like New Haven, West Haven, North Haven, and Hamden.
• The town of East Haven also puts on a town-wide beach party to celebrate Independence Day.
• The town also hosts the Fall Festival, which is like a traditional New England town fair.

Notable People from East Haven

• Cy Bentley (1850–1872), a Major League Baseball player who played for one season. He was born in East Haven.
• Kori Gardner and Jason Edward Hammel are members of the pop music duo Mates of State.
• Henry Winkler, an actor and director famous for playing "The Fonz" on the TV show Happy Days. He lived in the Momaugin area of East Haven when he was a student at the Yale School of Drama.

Images for kids

• 

  Civil War cannon from Fort Nathan Hale, installed on the East Haven Green

See also

In Spanish: East Haven (Connecticut) para niños