Lower Naugatuck Valley facts for kids

The Lower Naugatuck Valley, often called "The Valley," is a special area in Connecticut. It is located where the southern parts of the Housatonic River and Naugatuck River meet. This region includes the towns of Seymour, Derby, Ansonia, and Shelton. These towns work together as the Valley Council of Governments. Sometimes, the area is also thought to include Beacon Falls, Naugatuck, and Oxford, Connecticut.

In the 1800s and 1900s, the Valley was a major manufacturing hub in New England. Many of its towns were classic "mill towns," known for their factories. In 2000, the seven towns in the wider Lower Naugatuck Valley region were even named an "All-America Valley."

History of the Valley

Early Industry and Growth

The Lower Naugatuck Valley was very successful during the early days of factories in Connecticut. Important factories were located here. They made things like brass, rubber, and chemicals. Naugatuck was even where a material called Naugahyde was first made. Because of this history, the area has many old factory buildings. They stand tall along the rivers and in the centers of the towns. You can learn more about this history on the Facebook page called LowerNaugyValleyHistory.

Challenges and Changes

After the Great Depression, the Valley's factories began to close. Many jobs were lost, and empty buildings appeared. This was a tough time for the region. In 1955, a big flood from Hurricane Diane caused even more damage. Entire downtown areas were washed away, leading to disaster. Cities like Naugatuck and Derby faced high unemployment and poverty through the 1980s.

Since the early 1990s, some parts of the Valley have changed. Rural and southern areas, like Shelton and Oxford, have become popular places to live for people who work in New York City or lower Fairfield County. Many farms have been turned into places for new homes. Even with these changes, the region still feels connected to its factory town past. During the Vietnam War, some factories in the Valley helped make a chemical used by the military.

Culture in the Valley

High School Sports

Like many towns in Connecticut, the Naugatuck Valley loves its high school football teams. The rivalries between schools are very important to many people. High school alumni, teachers, students, and families all cheer for their teams. The Naugatuck Valley League includes six high schools from the Valley: Derby, Naugatuck, Oxford, Woodland, Seymour, and Ansonia. This league also has nine other schools from outside the Valley.

Political Views

The Valley tends to have more conservative political views than other parts of Connecticut. For example, voters in the Valley supported George W. Bush in the 2004 election. They also favored Senator Joe Lieberman in the 2006 Democratic primary. More recently, they supported Republicans like John McCain in 2008, Mitt Romney in 2012, and Donald Trump in 2016. They also voted for Thomas C. Foley in the 2010 and 2014 governor elections. You can see more about these trends on Connecticut political maps.

Arts and Community

The Valley is home to the Valley Arts Council. This group was started in 2000 to support art in the seven towns of the region. The Valley has many talented artists. The Arts Council has a fine art gallery on Main Street in downtown Ansonia. This gallery moved there in 2019 after being in Derby for over ten years. Many world-class artists live and work in these communities.

The Valley also has a noticeable population of Poles. There are shops and services that cater to this community.