Easton, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Easton, Connecticut
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Town hall
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 Fairfield County and Connecticut Greater Bridgeport Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country | United States | ||
| U.S. state | Connecticut | ||
| County | Fairfield | ||
| Region | CT Metropolitan | ||
| Incorporated | 1845 | ||
| Villages | Easton Aspetuck Plattsville |
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| Government | |||
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 28.6 sq mi (74.1 km2) | ||
| • Land | 27.4 sq mi (71.0 km2) | ||
| • Water | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 301 ft (92 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,605 | ||
| • Density | 277/sq mi (107.1/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | ||
| ZIP Code |
06612
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| Area code(s) | 203/475 | ||
| FIPS code | 09-23890 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 206880 | ||
Easton is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. In 2020, about 7,605 people lived there. Easton is part of the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region. It is also part of the larger New York City area.
Easton shares borders with several other towns. To the south is Fairfield. To the north is Redding. Weston is to the west. To the east are Monroe and Trumbull. In March 2023, Easton became a sister city with Sviatohirsk, Ukraine.
Contents
History of Easton
Easton was first settled in 1757 by people from Fairfield. In 1762, a church group called the North Fairfield Society was formed. This group slowly grew into what is now Easton.
In 1787, Weston, which included the land that is now Easton, became its own town. The area grew slowly because of the hilly land near the Aspetuck River. So, it wasn't until 1845 that Easton officially separated from Weston and became its own town. Today, a large part of Easton's land is owned by the Aquarion Water Company. This company supplies water to the area.
The famous deaf and blind activist Helen Keller lived her last years in Easton. Her house is still there today. The local middle school is named after her to honor her memory.
In 2009, the big Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree came from Easton. It was a 76-foot (23 m) Norway Spruce tree. It was donated from a private home in the town.
Geography and Nature
Easton covers a total area of about 28.6 square miles (74.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 27.4 square miles (71.0 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 1.2 square miles (3.1 square kilometers), is water.
Easton's Population
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,432 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,350 | −5.7% | |
| 1870 | 1,288 | −4.6% | |
| 1880 | 1,145 | −11.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,001 | −12.6% | |
| 1900 | 960 | −4.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,052 | 9.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,017 | −3.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,013 | −0.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,262 | 24.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,165 | 71.6% | |
| 1960 | 3,407 | 57.4% | |
| 1970 | 4,885 | 43.4% | |
| 1980 | 5,962 | 22.0% | |
| 1990 | 6,303 | 5.7% | |
| 2000 | 7,272 | 15.4% | |
| 2010 | 7,490 | 3.0% | |
| 2020 | 7,605 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Easton had 7,490 people living in 2,465 households. Most families, about 75.8%, were married couples. About 42.3% of households had children under 18.
The average household had about 2.95 people. The average family had about 3.23 people. The population was spread out by age. About 21.7% were under 18. About 16.6% were 65 or older. The average age in Easton was 47 years.
Arts and Culture in Easton
Easton has several places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Aspetuck Historic District, Ida Tarbell House, and Bradley-Hubbell House.
The annual Easton Fireman's Carnival is a popular event. The Easton Fire Department runs it every summer. It has games, food, and rides. The money raised helps pay for the fire department's yearly costs and equipment. In 2020, the carnival was canceled for the first time in 63 years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Easton's old Union Cemetery is known for ghost stories. Some people call it one of the "most haunted" places in the United States.
Education in Easton
Easton has three schools for younger students. Samuel Staples Elementary School is for kindergarten to 5th grade. Helen Keller Middle School is for grades 6 through 8. Easton Country Day is a private school for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
High school students from Easton attend Joel Barlow High School in Redding.
Media and News
Easton receives many TV stations. These are mostly from the New York City area. Many radio stations also reach Easton. Some well-known ones are WSHU, WFOX, WEBE, and WEZN.
Local Newspapers
Easton has its own local newspapers. Many of these are printed and physical copies.
Easton Courier (1978–2018)
The Easton Courier started in 1978. It was a print newspaper. It stopped being published in 2018 because it didn't have enough advertisements.
Easton Courier (2020–present)
A new version of the Easton Courier started in 2018. It began when Jim Castonguay from Sacred Heart University talked to Nancy Doniger, a former editor. They thought of creating a news source with students, teachers, and Easton citizens.
The new newspaper started online on February 29, 2020. It is a nonprofit group. This means it relies on donations from the public to keep going.
Town Services and Infrastructure
Easton has important services to keep its residents safe and connected.
Emergency Medical Services
The Easton Volunteer Emergency Medical Service (EMS) started in 1946. They have two ambulances. Their team includes three chief officers, two paid technicians, and 29 volunteers.
Fire Department
The Easton Fire Department (EFD) protects the town. It has eight paid firefighters and many volunteers. The department started in 1921. They have one fire station with several fire trucks. The Easton Fire Department responds to over 500 emergency calls each year.
Police Department
The Easton Police Department has several special units. These include a K9 unit with police dogs and an animal control unit. The police also help with all EMS calls in town. All Easton police officers are trained in basic first aid and can help in medical emergencies.
Bridges and Roads
The Route 59 bridge in Easton is very important. More than 10,000 cars and trucks cross it every day over the Mill River. State inspectors have said the bridge's main structure needs repairs.
Bridge Construction Projects
In 2019, construction began on a bridge over the Mill River on South Park Avenue. This project finished in the summer of 2020. Another bridge construction project on South Park Avenue started in May 2021 and was completed in December of the same year.
Notable People from Easton
Many interesting people have lived in Easton, including:
- Anne Baxter, actress
- Phoebe Brand, actress
- Elise Broach, children's book author
- Morris Carnovsky, actor
- Hume Cronyn, actor
- Debrah Farentino, actress and journalist
- Edna Ferber, playwright and novelist
- Eileen Fulton, TV actress
- Helen Keller, blind and deaf author; the town’s middle school is named in her honor
- Kevin Kilner, actor
- Gary Mendell, founder of the non-profit Shatterproof
- James Prosek, painter and author
- Dan Rather, CBS News anchor
- Igor Sikorsky, aircraft designer and founder of Sikorsky Aircraft
- Jessica Tandy, actress
- Ida M. Tarbell, writer known for helping to break up the Standard Oil monopoly
- Johnny Winter, blues guitarist
Sister cities
Sviatohirsk
See also
In Spanish: Easton (Connecticut) para niños
