Enfield, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Enfield, Connecticut
Town
Town of Enfield
Thompsonville Village of Enfield, Connecticut
Flag Seal
Hartford County and Connecticut  Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Hartford
Region	Capitol Region
Settled	1679
Incorporated (Massachusetts)	May 16, 1683
Annexed by Connecticut	1749
Named for	Enfield, England
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	34.2 sq mi (88.6 km2)
• Land	33.3 sq mi (86.2 km2)
• Water	0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2)
Elevation	138 ft (42 m)
Population
• Total	42,141
• Density	1,231.9/sq mi (475.63/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	06082
Area code(s)	860/959
FIPS code	09-25990
GNIS feature ID	0212332
Interstates
U.S. Highways
State Routes

Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The town was first settled in 1679 by John and Robert Pease from Salem, Massachusetts.

As of the 2020 census, about 42,141 people live in Enfield. The town shares borders with Longmeadow and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, to the north. To the east is Somers, Connecticut, and to the south are East Windsor and Ellington. The Connecticut River forms its western border, across from Suffield and Windsor Locks.

History of Enfield

Enfield was originally home to the Podunk people, who had two villages there called Scitico and Nameroke. The first land grants were given in 1674. However, people didn't start settling in Enfield until 1679. This is when the Pease Brothers, Robert and John II, arrived from Salem, Massachusetts. They built a shelter in a hill and stayed there for the winter. Their families later joined them to help build houses.

The first town meeting in Enfield happened on August 14, 1679. A group of five men from Springfield, Massachusetts were chosen to lead the new settlement. At that time, Springfield was considered the "parent town."

Becoming a Town

Enfield was officially made a town in Massachusetts on May 16, 1683. It was first called the Freshwater Plantation. This name came from the Freshwater Brook, also known as the Asnuntuck Brook, which flows through the town. Five years later, in 1688, the townspeople bought the land from a Podunk person named Notatuck for 25 pounds Sterling.

Around 1700, the town changed its name to Enfield. This new name was inspired by Enfield in Middlesex, England. It also fit with other nearby towns that ended in "field," like Springfield and Suffield.

Changing States

In 1734, the eastern part of Enfield became its own town, called Somers. Later, in 1749, Enfield became part of Connecticut. This happened after a legal case showed that a surveying mistake had placed Enfield within Massachusetts's borders. So, the town left Massachusetts to join Connecticut.

Famous Sermon and Gunpowder

A famous preacher named Jonathan Edwards gave his well-known sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," in Enfield. This sermon was part of the Great Awakening. This was a religious movement that spread across New England in the mid-1700s.

The modern town of Enfield was formed by combining three smaller areas: Enfield, Thompsonville, and Hazardville. Hazardville was named after Colonel Augustus George Hazard. His company made gunpowder in an area called Powder Hollow from the 1830s to the 1910s.

The gunpowder mill in Powder Hollow was very important during the American Civil War. It could produce about 1,200 pounds of gunpowder every day. Many explosions happened at the mill over the years, but the buildings were designed so that one explosion wouldn't cause a chain reaction. Today, you can visit the ruins of these buildings and dams. Powder Hollow is now a park with baseball fields and hiking trails.

King's Island Meetings

King's Island is an island in the Connecticut River. It was once known as Terry Island or Great Island. Important meetings for Adventist Christians took place here in 1872 and 1873.

Asnuntuck Community College

In 1972, Asnuntuck Community College opened in Enfield. It is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. Classes started with 251 students, and the first degrees were awarded in 1974.

Enfield's Sections

Enfield is made up of five main sections: Enfield Village, Thompsonville, Hazardville, Scitico, and Sherwood Village.

Enfield Shaker Village

Enfield Shaker village around 1910

In 1793, a historic Shaker village was built in Enfield. The Enfield Shaker village was one of many Shaker communities across the country. Shakers were a religious group who lived together in communal settings and practiced celibate lives. They are known for their simple architecture and furniture.

Over time, the number of Shaker members decreased, and the village eventually closed. The land where the village stood is now used by the Enfield Correctional Institution, which is located on Shaker Road.

Enfield Shaker village

Enfield's Population and Geography

Enfield covers a total area of about 88.6 square kilometers (34.2 square miles). Most of this area, about 86.2 square kilometers (33.3 square miles), is land. The remaining 2.4 square kilometers (0.9 square miles) is water.

According to the 2000 census, there were 45,212 people living in Enfield. The population density was about 1,354 people per square mile. About 22.6% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age in the town was 37 years.

The median income for a household in Enfield was $67,402. For families, the median income was $77,554.

Industries and Employers in Enfield

Enfield has been home to several important companies over the years.

Past Industries

The U.S. headquarters of Lego, the famous plastic building toy company, used to be in Enfield. Lego was also the town's largest employer. Hallmark Cards was another major employer, but its distribution operations moved to Kansas City in 2016.

Enfield was also the home of the Casual Corner clothing company.

Historically, Enfield had thriving carpet and gunpowder industries. Orrin Thompson started the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co. in the Thompsonville area. This company hired many Scottish immigrants and built homes for them, which are still standing today.

Colonel Augustus Hazard founded the gunpowder industry. His company became one of the biggest gunpowder suppliers during the American Civil War.

Enfield was also the headquarters of Pilch Meat Breeders. This company, founded by Chester Pilch in 1936, was once the second-largest broiler chicken breeder in the world. At its peak, Pilch owned 230 acres in Enfield and had farms in four countries. It produced about 24 million chickens a year. In 1969, the company was sold, and its operations moved, causing 365 jobs to leave Enfield.

Current Businesses

Today, Enfield is the headquarters for Precision Camera and Video Repair. It is also home to Control Module Industries.

The town has several shopping centers, including the Enfield Square Mall.

Top Employers in Enfield

Here are some of the largest employers in Enfield, based on a 2022 report:

Neighborhoods in Enfield

Enfield has several distinct neighborhoods, each with its own character.

• Crescent Lake – This small, friendly neighborhood is near scenic farmland. It holds an annual July 4th parade.
• Enfield Historical District – This area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It runs along Enfield Street/King Street (U.S. Route 5). You can see many old homes here, some built in the mid-1700s. The Enfield Town Hall museum and a beautiful Greek Revival Congregational Church are also in this district.
• Hazardville – Named after Colonel Augustus Hazard, this neighborhood includes smaller areas like Powder Hollow. The center of Hazardville is on Hazard Avenue. It has many small shops and the Powder Hollow Park. Hazardville also has a park next to the Enfield Public Library with baseball fields.
• The Laurels – This is a wooded area with residential condos.
• North Thompsonville – This area is mostly residential with some commercial parts. It has many parks and schools.
• Presidential Section – This neighborhood is entirely residential. All of its streets are named after former presidents of the United States. The houses here are mid-sized to large.

Presidential Section

• Scitico – Located in the eastern part of town, Scitico includes the Green Manor area. It is a suburban neighborhood with winding roads, sidewalks, and a park. Green Manor Park has a playground and used to have a pool.
• Shaker Pines – This neighborhood features charming lakeside houses surrounded by tall pine trees. Shaker Pines was originally part of the Shaker settlement in Enfield. The lake was built by the Shakers to power a mill.
• Sherwood Manor

Thompsonville Village

• Southwood Acres – This is a residential neighborhood in the southern part of town.
• Thompsonville – Named after Orrin Thompson, Thompsonville is the town center of Enfield. It has a more urban feel. Efforts have been made to improve the downtown area. Many old Victorian houses can be found on Pearl Street. There are also boat launches onto the Connecticut River. Commuter rail service is planned to start in 2025, with a new Enfield station (Connecticut). Enfield and Thompsonville also have bus services that connect to Hartford and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Parks and Recreation in Enfield

Enfield offers several parks and recreational areas for residents and visitors to enjoy.

• Brainerd Park: Located on Brainard Road, this park has softball fields and children's swing sets.
• Connecticut River: The river provides opportunities for various water activities.
• Green Manor Recreational Area: Off Taylor Road, this area features a playscape and a skate park.
• Hazardville Park: On Hazard Avenue, this park has playscapes, basketball courts, and a covered picnic area.
• Mark Twain Recreational Area: Off South Road, this area offers tennis courts and ball fields.
• Scantic River State Park: Near the South Maple Street Bridge, this park is great for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.

Enfield is also home to the New England Lightning girls AAU basketball program.

Education in Enfield

Enfield High School

Enfield has a range of schools for students of all ages.

Asnuntuck Community College is a two-year college located in Enfield.

The Enfield Public Schools system manages the town's public schools. Students attend primary schools for kindergarten through grade 2. Intermediate schools serve students from grade 3 through grade 5. John F. Kennedy Middle School is for grades 6 through 8. Enfield High School is the town's only high school, serving grades 9 through 12.

Thomas G. Alcorn School was once a high school. It became an elementary school when the current Enfield High School was built in the 1960s. Alcorn School closed in 2011 and is now used for government offices and as a Family Resource Center. Enfield High School was also extensively renovated in 1993.

Enrico Fermi High School was another high school in town, which opened in 1972. However, it closed in 2016 when the town decided to combine its high schools into one, Enfield High School.

As of 2016, Enfield Public Schools educates about 5,000 students.

The Capitol Region Education Council also has a magnet school in Enfield called the Public Safety Academy. This school serves students from grade 6 through 12.

Enfield also has one Catholic parochial school, St. Bernard School, for students in kindergarten through grade 8.

Notable People from Enfield

Many interesting people have connections to Enfield:

• Johnny April, bassist for the band Staind
• John Ashton, actor, who attended Enfield High School
• Elijah Churchill, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War who received a medal now known as the Purple Heart
• James Dixon (1814–1873), a U.S. Congressman and Senator
• Kevin Foxe, film producer and writer, known for The Blair Witch Project; he was born and raised in Enfield
• Obed Hale, a Wisconsin farmer and politician, born in Enfield
• Craig Janney, an Olympian and professional ice hockey player (former resident)
• Peter King, a football columnist for Sports Illustrated
• Elisha M. Pease, a politician who served as governor of Texas twice
• Paul Robeson, a famous singer and actor (former resident)
• Karen Scavotto, an Olympic archer
• Sadah Shuchari, a violinist
• Bill Spanswick, a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
• Helen Steele, a composer
• Blaine Stoughton, a former NHL player with the Hartford Whalers
• Nathaniel Terry, a Congressman from Connecticut

Notable Historical Sites in Enfield

Enfield has several places that are important to its history:

• The Strand Theatre (Enfield Cinema): This theater was very active in the 1940s and 1950s. It is now in disrepair, but locals have many ideas for its future.
• Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co.: Now called Bigelow Commons, this renovated apartment complex was once a large carpet company. It employed many people in the town. These buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The Enfield Town Meetinghouse: Built in 1773, this building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
• The Wallop School House

Sister Cities

Enfield has two official sister cities, which are towns or cities that form a special bond to promote cultural ties:

• Zhongli District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan (Republic of China)
• Ronneby, Sweden

Images for kids

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  Thompsonville Village of Enfield, Connecticut

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  Flag of Enfield, Connecticut

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  Seal of Enfield, Connecticut

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  Enfield's location within Hartford County and Connecticut

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  Enfield's location within the Capitol Planning Region and the state of Connecticut

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  Interstate 91 in Connecticut

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  U.S. Route 5 in Connecticut

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  Connecticut Route 190

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  Connecticut Highway 191

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  Route 220 (Connecticut–Massachusetts)

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  Presidential Section

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  Thompsonville Village

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  Enfield High School

See also

In Spanish: Enfield (Connecticut) para niños