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  (2020)
• 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 in Hartford County, Connecticut, USA. It was first settled by John and Robert Pease. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. In 2020, about 42,141 people lived there.

Enfield shares borders with several towns. To the north are Longmeadow, Massachusetts and East Longmeadow, Massachusetts. To the east is Somers. To the south are East Windsor and Ellington. To the west, the Connecticut River separates Enfield from Suffield and Windsor Locks.

Exploring Enfield's Past

Long ago, the Podunk people lived in Enfield. They had two villages called Scitico and Nameroke. In 1679, the Pease brothers, Robert and John II, came from Salem, Massachusetts. They settled the rich lands of Enfield. They lived in a dug-out shelter for the winter. Their families later joined them to build homes.

The first town meeting happened on August 14, 1679. Men from Springfield helped set up a committee. Enfield became an official town in Massachusetts on May 16, 1683. It was called Freshwater Plantation. This name came from Freshwater Brook, which flows through the town.

In 1688, the townspeople bought Enfield from a Podunk person named Notatuck. They paid 25 pounds Sterling. Around 1700, the town changed its name to Enfield. It was named after Enfield in Middlesex, England. This also matched other nearby towns like Springfield and Westfield.

Changes Over Time

In 1734, the eastern part of Enfield became the town of Somers. Later, in 1749, Enfield became part of Connecticut. This happened after a legal case showed that a surveying mistake had placed Enfield in Massachusetts by accident.

A famous sermon called "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" was preached in Enfield. This happened during the Great Awakening. This was a religious revival in New England in the mid-1700s.

How Enfield Grew

Today's Enfield was formed by joining three areas: Enfield, Thompsonville, and Hazardville. Hazardville was named after Colonel Augustus George Hazard. His company made gunpowder in the Powder Hollow area. This happened from the 1830s to the 1910s.

The gunpowder mill could make 1,200 pounds (544 kg) of gunpowder each day during the Civil War. More than 60 people died in explosions there over the years. The mill was designed so that if one building exploded, others would not. You can still see the ruins of these buildings and dams. Powder Hollow now has baseball fields and hiking trails.

Asnuntuck Community College was started in Enfield in 1972. It is part of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system. Classes began with 251 students. The first graduates received their degrees in 1974.

Enfield has 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. It was one of 19 Shaker villages across the country. The Shakers were a religious group. They lived in communal groups and did not marry. They are known for their simple architecture and furniture.

Over time, fewer people joined the Shakers. The village eventually closed. The land is now used by the Enfield Correctional Institution.

Enfield's Population and Land

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

In 2000, there were 45,212 people living in Enfield. There were 16,418 households. About 31.1% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.53 people. The average family had 3.04 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 22.6% were under 18. About 34.2% were between 25 and 44. The median age was 37 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 110.2 males.

The median income for a household in 2000 was $67,402. For a family, it was $77,554. The average income per person was $29,340. About 4.0% of the population lived below the poverty line.

How Enfield is Governed

Enfield has a Council-manager type of government. This means a Town Manager handles daily operations. The Town Council makes decisions for the town. The Mayor leads the Town Council.

Voting in Enfield

Enfield residents vote in presidential elections. The town has often voted for Democratic candidates. However, in 2016, the Republican candidate received more votes.

Enfield's Economy and Jobs

Enfield has been home to several large companies. Lego, the toy maker, once had its U.S. headquarters here. It was the town's biggest employer. Lego moved its North American headquarters to Boston, finishing the move by 2026. Hallmark Cards was also a major employer. It moved its distribution to Kansas City in 2016.

Other companies that used to be in Enfield include Casual Corner clothing and MassMutual insurance. Today, Precision Camera and Video Repair and Control Module Industries have their main offices in Enfield. The Enfield Square Mall was once a popular shopping spot. Now, there are plans to change the mall into a new mixed-use area.

Past Industries

In the 1800s, Enfield had big carpet and gunpowder industries. Orrin Thompson started the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co. in Thompsonville. Many Scottish immigrants worked there. The company even built houses for them, which are still standing.

Colonel Augustus Hazard started the town's gunpowder industry. His company was a major supplier of gunpowder during the American Civil War.

Enfield was also the headquarters for Pilch Meat Breeders. This company was once the second-largest broiler chicken breeder in the world. Chester Pilch founded it in 1936. At its busiest, Pilch owned 230 acres in Enfield. It had farms in four countries and produced about 24 million chickens a year. The company was sold in 1969.

Top Employers in Enfield

Here are some of the largest employers in Enfield, based on a 2023 report:

Enfield's Neighborhoods

Enfield has several unique neighborhoods:

• Crescent Lake – This area is near scenic farmland. It's close to the town's correctional facilities. This friendly neighborhood has an annual July 4 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). Many old homes from the mid-1700s were built here. You can see different styles of architecture, like Late Victorian and Georgian. The Enfield Town Hall museum and a beautiful Greek Revival Congregational Church are also here.
• Hazardville – Named after Colonel Augustus Hazard. This neighborhood includes smaller areas like Powder Hollow. The center of Hazardville is on Hazard Avenue. It has small shops, including The Connecticut Valley Tobacconist and Gayle's Thyme Herbal Apothecary. Powder Hollow Park is also in Hazardville. It has baseball fields and is next to the Enfield Public Library.
• The Laurels – This is a wooded area with residential condos.
• North Thompsonville – This area has mostly homes and some businesses. It features many parks and schools.
• Presidential Section – This neighborhood is entirely residential. All its streets are named after former U.S. presidents. The houses here are mid-sized to large.

Presidential Section

• Scitico – Located in the eastern part of town. Green Manor is part of Scitico. It's a suburban area with winding roads, sidewalks, a park, and cul-de-sacs. Green Manor is about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from Interstate 91. It borders the town of Somers. Across from Nathan Hale Elementary School, there's a park with tennis courts, skateboarding ramps, and a playground.
• Shaker Pines – This neighborhood has charming lakeside houses with tall pine trees. Shaker Pines was originally part of the Shaker settlement. The Shakers built the lake to power a mill. The mill was taken down in the 1980s.
• Sherwood Manor

Thompsonville Village

• Southwood Acres – A residential neighborhood in the southern part of town.
• Thompsonville – Named after Orrin Thompson, Thompsonville is the town center. It has a more urban feel. Efforts have been made to improve the downtown area. Pearl Street has many old Victorian houses. There are also many boat launches onto the Connecticut River. Commuter train service is expected to begin in 2025. Plans are underway to renovate an old building into Enfield station (Connecticut). This will be a transportation hub on the proposed Hartford Line. Enfield and Thompsonville also have Connecticut Transit bus services to Hartford. There is also a connection to bus services for Springfield, Massachusetts.

Parks and Fun in Enfield

Enfield offers many parks and recreational spots:

• Brainerd Park: On Brainard Road, with softball fields and children's swing sets.
• Connecticut River: Great for enjoying nature.
• Green Manor Recreational Area: Off Taylor Road, featuring a playscape and skate park.
• Hazardville Park: Off Hazard Avenue, with playscapes, basketball courts, and a covered picnic area.
• Mark Twain Recreational Area: Off South Road, offering tennis courts and ball fields.
• Scantic River State Park: Near South Maple Street Bridge, good for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.

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

Education in Enfield

Enfield High School

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

Enfield Public Schools manages the town's public schools.

• Enfield High School is the town's only high school.
• John F. Kennedy Middle School is the town's middle school.
• Primary schools teach students from kindergarten to grade 2.
• Intermediate schools teach students from grade 3 to grade 5.
• Middle school covers grades 6 to 8.
• High school covers grades 9 to 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. Its building is now used for government offices and a Family Resource Center.

Enfield High School was greatly renovated in 1993. Enrico Fermi High School was another high school in town. It opened in 1972 but closed in 2016. This happened because the town combined its high schools into Enfield High School.

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

The Capitol Region Education Council has a magnet school in Enfield. The Public Safety Academy teaches students from grade 6 through 12.

One Catholic parochial school, St. Bernard School, serves the Enfield community. It teaches students from kindergarten through grade 8.

Famous People from Enfield

Many notable people have connections to Enfield:

• Johnny April: Bassist for the band Staind.
• John Ashton: Actor, attended Enfield High School.
• Elijah Churchill: Soldier in the American Revolutionary War, received the medal now known as the Purple Heart.
• James Dixon: 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: Wisconsin farmer and politician, born in Enfield.
• Craig Janney: Olympian and professional ice hockey player (former resident).
• Peter King: Football columnist and author.
• Elisha M. Pease: Politician and two-time governor of Texas.
• Paul Robeson: Singer and actor (former resident).
• Karen Scavotto: Olympic archer.
• Sadah Shuchari: Violinist.
• Bill Spanswick: Pitcher for the Boston Red Sox.
• Helen Steele: Composer.
• Blaine Stoughton: Former NHL player.
• Nathaniel Terry: Congressman from Connecticut.

Historical Places to See

• The Strand Theatre (Enfield Cinema): This theater was very active in the 1940s and 1950s. It closed in the 1980s and is now in disrepair.
• Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co.: Now called Bigelow Commons, this is a renovated apartment complex. These buildings were once a large carpet company that employed many people in town. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• The Enfield Town Meetinghouse: Built in 1773, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
• The Wallop School House

Sister Cities

Enfield has two official sister cities:

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

Images for kids

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  Enfield Shaker village

See also

In Spanish: Enfield (Connecticut) para niños