Naugatuck, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Naugatuck, Connecticut
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Naugatuck Green
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| Nickname(s):
"Naugy"
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 New Haven County and Connecticut Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country |  United States |
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| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
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| County | New Haven | |
| Region | Naugatuck Valley | |
| Incorporated | 1844 | |
| Consolidated | 1895 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Mayor-burgesses | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 16.39 sq mi (42.46 km2) | |
| • Land | 16.30 sq mi (42.21 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2) | |
| Elevation | 207 ft (63 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 31,519 | |
| • Density | 1,908.58/sq mi (746.7/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
06770
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| Area codes | 203/475 | |
| FIPS code | 09-49880 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0209191 | |
Naugatuck (pronounced NAW-gə-tuhk) is a town and borough in New Haven County, Connecticut. It is located in the Naugatuck Valley. In 2020, about 31,519 people lived there.
The town is on both sides of the Naugatuck River, just south of Waterbury. It includes smaller areas like Union City, Straitsville, and Millville.
Contents
History of Naugatuck
People started settling in the Naugatuck area as early as 1702. Samuel Hickox is known as the first settler. He built a mill in 1709. The area was first called Judds Meadow. Later, in 1752, it was renamed Salem Bridge.
In 1844, parts of nearby towns like Waterbury, Bethany, and Oxford joined together. This formed the new town of Naugatuck. The industrial borough of Naugatuck was created in 1893. By 1895, it became the same area as the town.
During the Industrial Revolution, Naugatuck became a busy factory town. This was similar to other towns in the Naugatuck River Valley.
Rubber Industry in Naugatuck
Rubber was a very important product made here. Charles Goodyear, famous for making rubber stronger, worked at his brother's company in Naugatuck. This company later joined with others to form the United States Rubber Company.
The United States Rubber Company was started in Naugatuck in 1892. It combined nine different rubber companies. They kept their main offices in Naugatuck until the 1980s. This company made Keds sneakers in Naugatuck from 1917 to the 1980s. They also produced a material called Naugahyde here, but it is no longer made in Naugatuck.
In 1904, the United States Rubber Co. started the Naugatuck Chemical Company. This was because they needed a chemical called sulfuric acid for their rubber. Naugatuck Chemical became a leader in the chemical industry. It later became Uniroyal Chemical Co. and moved its operations in the 1970s.
Other Industries and Companies
The Risdon Manufacturing Company began in Naugatuck around 1910. They first made safety pins. Later, Risdon became known for making packaging for makeup and sewing items. Today, it is called Crown Risdon Co.
In the 1960s, Harold Barber started H. Barber and Sons in Naugatuck. This company builds machines called beach rakes. These machines clean beaches by picking up trash and smoothing the sand. They are said to be the biggest company of their kind in the world.
Naugatuck was also home to the Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company. This company made popular candy bars like Almond Joy and Mounds. However, the company closed its Naugatuck factory in 2007.
The Great Flood of 1955
The Naugatuck River usually flows peacefully through the town. But on August 19, 1955, it flooded badly. Over 10 inches of rain fell from Hurricane Diane. The flood caused a lot of damage and changed the town forever.
Naugatuck High School Football
Naugatuck High School has a very old football rivalry with Ansonia High School. It is one of the longest rivalries in America. The two teams play each other every Thanksgiving Day. Their first game was in 1900. Ansonia has won most of the games over the years. Naugatuck High School's mascot is the greyhound. Their school colors are garnet and grey.
Geography of Naugatuck
Naugatuck covers about 16.5 square miles (42.6 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, about 16.4 square miles (42.4 square kilometers). A small part, about 0.1 square miles (0.2 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 1,720 | — | |
| 1860 | 2,590 | 50.6% | |
| 1870 | 2,830 | 9.3% | |
| 1880 | 4,274 | 51.0% | |
| 1890 | 6,218 | 45.5% | |
| 1900 | 10,541 | 69.5% | |
| 1910 | 12,722 | 20.7% | |
| 1920 | 15,051 | 18.3% | |
| 1930 | 14,315 | −4.9% | |
| 1940 | 15,388 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 17,455 | 13.4% | |
| 1960 | 19,511 | 11.8% | |
| 1970 | 23,034 | 18.1% | |
| 1980 | 26,456 | 14.9% | |
| 1990 | 30,625 | 15.8% | |
| 2000 | 30,989 | 1.2% | |
| 2010 | 31,862 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 31,519 | −1.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 31,820 | −0.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were about 30,989 people living in Naugatuck. There were 11,829 households and 8,292 families. About 36.3% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.60 people. The average family had 3.13 people.
The population included people of all ages. About 26.9% were under 18. About 11.7% were 65 or older. The average age was 36 years old.
Education in Naugatuck
Naugatuck has several public schools.
- Five elementary schools (grades K–4)
- Two intermediate schools (grades 5–6)
- One middle school (grades 7–8)
- Naugatuck High School (grades 9–12)
Naugatuck High School has about 1,267 students. In 2013, the high school got an $81 million renovation. This project was finished by the fall of 2015, making the school modern and up-to-date.
Transportation in Naugatuck
Naugatuck has a Metro-North Railroad station. It is called Naugatuck station and is on the Waterbury Branch of the New Haven Line.
Major roads that go through Naugatuck include:
- Connecticut Route 63: Connects to New Haven.
- Route 68: Leads to Durham.
- Route 8 expressway: Connects to cities like Waterbury, Derby, Torrington, and Bridgeport.
Historic Places in Naugatuck
Several places in Naugatuck are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
- Bronson B. Tuttle House: This old house at 380 Church St. is now the home of the Naugatuck Historical Society.
- Naugatuck Center Historic District: This area includes several streets and buildings that show the town's history.
- Salem School: Located at 124 Meadow St. Before the first high school was built, high school classes were held on the top floor of this building.
- United States Post Office–Naugatuck Main: This historic post office is at Church and Cedar streets.
Notable People from Naugatuck
Many interesting people have connections to Naugatuck:
- Adrian: A famous costume designer for Hollywood movies like The Wizard of Oz.
- Michael Bergin: A former Calvin Klein model and actor from Baywatch. He played baseball and basketball at Naugatuck High School.
- Seth Bingham: An organist and a composer who wrote many musical pieces.
- Emily Sophie Brown: One of the first women to serve in the Connecticut House of Representatives. She lived in Naugatuck for 75 years.
- Billy Burke: A professional golfer who won the 1931 U.S. Open.
- Ray Foley: A baseball player who played for the New York Giants in 1928.
- Charles Goodyear: The person who invented a way to make rubber stronger. He lived in Naugatuck when he was young.
- Shirley Grey: A stage and movie actress from the 1920s and 1930s.
- Robert Harper: A computer scientist.
- Mohamed Hrezi: A runner who competed in the marathon at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Frank "Spec" Shea: A professional baseball player who pitched in the 1947 World Series. He was known as "The Naugatuck Nugget."
Images for kids
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Town history sign found on the Naugatuck Green
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Naugatuck High School (c. 1910). This building is now Hillside Intermediate School.
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Salem School, from a 1905 postcard
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Naugatuck Metro-North Railroad station, located on the Waterbury Branch line
