Glenbrook (Stamford) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glenbrook
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The platform at Glenbrook station
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| Country | United States |
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Fairfield County |
| City | Stamford |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.7 sq mi (4.4 km2) |
| Population | |
| • Estimate
(2007)
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15,400 |
Glenbrook is a lively neighborhood in the city of Stamford, Connecticut. It covers an area of about 4.4 square kilometers (1.7 square miles). In 2007, around 15,400 people called Glenbrook home.
This neighborhood is located on the eastern side of Stamford. It's east of the city's downtown area. To the north, you'll find the Springdale section. The East Side and The Cove sections are to the south. Glenbrook also shares borders with Belltown to the northwest and the town of Darien to the east.
Glenbrook is known for its many single-family homes. These make up about 65% of the houses here. You can also find condos and co-ops, which are other types of homes. The houses often show off beautiful styles from the late 1800s and early 1900s. These include Greek Revival, Craftsman, and Victorian designs.
The neighborhood has several places to shop, like the Glenbrook Center. There's also an area with businesses and factories. Glenbrook is home to various churches. Two schools, Julia A. Stark School and Dolan Middle School, are also located here. They are part of the Stamford Public Schools system. Many people in Glenbrook feel like they live in a small, separate town, even though they are part of a bigger city.
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History of Glenbrook
Glenbrook has an interesting past. In 1866, a man named Joseph Whitton bought a large piece of land. This area was first known as New Hope. Five years later, a railroad line was built right through Whitton's property. He then created streets like Cottage Avenue and Union Street.
In the 1870s, the people of New Hope decided they wanted a nicer name. They chose "Glen-Brook," which sounded much better.
Did you know that a former U.S. President used to visit Glenbrook? Ulysses S. Grant, who was also a general in the Civil War, came here after he left the White House in 1877. He would play poker with a business partner named Ferdinand Ward. When Grant found out Ward was cheating, he stopped visiting.
Another famous person connected to Glenbrook was Charles Henry Phillips. He was a British pharmacist who invented "Phillips Milk of Magnesia". He had a large estate in the neighborhood. His company had a factory in Glenbrook for many years.
Before the 1960s, large neighborhoods like Glenbrook were often seen as their own small towns. People would even write "Glenbrook, Conn." on their mail instead of "Stamford, Conn." The train station in Glenbrook was moved in the 1950s to its current spot.
What Are Glenbrook's Borders?
Glenbrook is a neighborhood, but it doesn't have official, strict borders. Its edges can sometimes blend with nearby areas. The city of Stamford often groups Glenbrook with the Belltown neighborhood for statistics.
However, a map from The New York Times in 2007 showed some general boundaries. The eastern border follows the Noroton River, which is also the border with Darien. Other parts of the boundary follow various streets like Hamilton Avenue, Glenbrook Road, and Strawberry Hill Avenue. Some people living closer to Interstate 95 might feel they are part of the East Side neighborhood instead.
People and Economy
Glenbrook is home to many different groups of people. It has large communities of Italian Americans, Irish-Americans, German Americans, Polish Americans, and Ukrainian Americans. There's also a big Hispanic community, just like in Stamford as a whole.
When it comes to money, the income levels in Glenbrook are generally similar to those in Stamford. In 2019, the average income per person in the "Glenbrook-Belltown" area was about $47,661. This was a bit lower than Stamford's total but higher than the average for all of Connecticut. In 2021, the typical household income for much of Glenbrook was around $95,341.
Community and Culture
Since 2000, the Glenbrook Neighborhood Association has hosted a popular yearly block party. This group also helped raise money to create a small park on Hope Street in 2006.
Glenbrook is a special place for Stamford's Ukrainian American community. St Vladimir's Cathedral is located here. It's the main church for Ukrainian Rite Roman Catholics across New England and New York state. The neighborhood also has a School of Ukrainian Studies and a Ukrainian Museum and Library.
AmeriCares, a charity that helps people around the world, has its main office in Glenbrook.
United House Wrecking was a well-known furniture store in Glenbrook. It was famous for selling all sorts of unique and unusual items. It closed its doors in 2021.
Getting Around Glenbrook
Glenbrook is easy to reach because it's located right off Interstate 95, with its own exit (Exit 9).
The neighborhood also has its own train station, Glenbrook station. This station is on the New Canaan Branch line, which connects to the New Haven Line.
Glenbrook in Movies
In August 2007, Glenbrook was used as a filming location for a movie! Scenes for College Road Trip, a Disney film released in 2008, were shot in one of the beautiful Queen Anne style homes in the neighborhood.
