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Ledyard, Connecticut
Official seal of Ledyard, Connecticut
Seal
Location in New London County, Connecticut
Country United States
State Connecticut
County New London
Metropolitan area New London
Incorporated 1836
Named for William Ledyard
Government
 • Type Mayor-council
Area
 • Total 40.0 sq mi (103.6 km2)
 • Land 38.1 sq mi (98.8 km2)
 • Water 1.9 sq mi (4.8 km2)
Elevation
295 ft (90 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 15,413
 • Density 385.3/sq mi (148.77/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes
06335, 06338, 06339
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-42600
GNIS feature ID 0213450

Ledyard is a Town in New London County, Connecticut, United States, located along the Thames River. The town is named after Colonel William Ledyard, a Revolutionary War officer who was killed at the Battle of Groton Heights. The population was 15,413 at the 2020 census. The Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, is located in the northeastern section of Ledyard, on the reservation owned by the tribe.

Ledyard's zip code is 06339. Within the southwestern area of Ledyard is the district known as Gales Ferry, which has the postal code 06335. In the northeast is Mashantucket, with the postal code 06338.

Geography

Sunset, Ledyard Center
Bill Library and the Ledyard Congregational Church in Ledyard Center

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.0 square miles (104 km2), of which 38.1 square miles (99 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), or 4.62%, is water. Ledyard is situated north of Groton, and borders the east bank of the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut. The northern half of the Naval Submarine Base New London is located in the southwest corner of the town.

Ledyard is among the areas of the United States that was covered by a continental ice sheet during the last Ice Age. Therefore, Ledyard has its share of interesting glacial geology. The glaciers that covered Ledyard carried the many large boulders that litter the town. The town has set aside land designated as a "Glacial Park" which consists of a section of end moraine and outwash deposits (containing kettles). This area encompasses a segment of the "Ledyard Moraine"—a clast-supported boulder deposit that is anomalous in nature.

The principal communities of Ledyard are Ledyard Center (also known as Ledyard Village) and the Gales Ferry section (including Christy Hill Estates, Devonshire Estates, Ferry View Heights, Glenwoods, Birdland, Sherwood Forest, and Woodridge Estates). Other minor communities and geographic areas are Aljen Heights, Barrett Park, Colonial Manor, Cranwood Homestead, Highlands, Lakeside, Lantern Hill, Long Pond, Parsonage Hill Manor, Presidential Estates, Quaker Town, and Stonehenge. The town also contains the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, in the northeastern corner of the town.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 1,871
1850 1,558 −16.7%
1860 1,615 3.7%
1870 1,392 −13.8%
1880 1,373 −1.4%
1890 1,183 −13.8%
1900 1,236 4.5%
1910 1,079 −12.7%
1920 1,161 7.6%
1930 1,144 −1.5%
1940 1,426 24.7%
1950 1,749 22.7%
1960 5,395 208.5%
1970 14,837 175.0%
1980 13,735 −7.4%
1990 14,913 8.6%
2000 14,687 −1.5%
2010 15,051 2.5%
2020 15,413 2.4%
Population 1840 - 2000
Population 2010

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile (148.7/km2). There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile (55.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was:

  • 88.23% White
  • 3.51% Native American
  • 2.70% Hispanic or Latino of any race
  • 2.50% African American
  • 2.19% Asian
  • 0.07% Pacific Islander
  • 0.84% from other races
  • 2.66% from two or more races

There were 5,286 households, out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.

The ages of Ledyard's population were spread out, with:

  • 28.3% under 18
  • 6.3% from 18 to 24
  • 31.0% from 25 to 44
  • 25.4% from 45 to 64
  • 9.0% from 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,647, and the median income for a family was $69,214. Males had a median income of $46,582 versus $32,339 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,953. About 2.9% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Republican 2,350 104 2,454 27.07%
Democratic 1,879 85 1,964 21.66%
Unaffiliated 4,404 245 4,649 51.27%
Minor Parties 0 0 0 0.0%
Total 8,633 434 9,067 100%

Points of interest

National Register of Historic Places

Ledyard Center panorama
Panorama of Ledyard Center, including the fire department, town hall, Ledyard Center School, and Ledyard Congregational Church plus several businesses


Notable people

  • Frederick Ayer (1822–1918), industrialist born in Ledyard
  • Dennis Blair (1947-), Admiral, USN retired; Director National Intelligence Agency; lived in Ledyard.
  • Andy Dick (1965–), actor/comedian, grew up in Ledyard
  • Doc Hammer (1967–), painter and co-creator of The Venture Bros., born in Ledyard
  • Richard Arthur Hayward (1947-), Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe for twenty-three years, worked in Ledyard.
  • Ron Jirsa (1959–), men's college basketball coach born in Ledyard
  • Casey Neistat (1981–), filmmaker, grew up in Ledyard
  • Jackalyne Pfannenstiel (1947-2017), US Assistant Secretary of the Navy, grew up in Ledyard.
  • Fuller Potter (1910–1990), abstract expressionist artist, lived most of his life in town
  • Samuel Seabury (1729–1796), Second Presiding Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church, born in Ledyard
  • Gordon Waller (1945-2009), member of Peter & Gordon, lived in Ledyard
  • Lyn-Z (1977–), bassist for Mindless Self Indulgence, grew up in Ledyard

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ledyard (Connecticut) para niños

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