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New Fairfield, Connecticut

Town of New Fairfield
New Fairfield Town Hall
New Fairfield Town Hall
Official seal of New Fairfield, Connecticut
Seal
Location in Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut.
Location in Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut.
Country United States
U.S. state  Connecticut
County Fairfield
Metropolitan area Bridgeport-Stamford
Incorporated 1740
Government
 • Type Selectman-town meeting
Area
 • Total 25.1 sq mi (65.0 km2)
 • Land 20.5 sq mi (53.0 km2)
 • Water 4.6 sq mi (11.9 km2)
Elevation
755 ft (230 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 13,579
 • Density 664/sq mi (256.2/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06812
Area code(s) 203/475
FIPS code 09-50860
GNIS feature ID 0213469
Website New Fairfield

New Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,579 at the 2020 census. New Fairfield is one of five towns that surround Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut. The town is located 55 miles (89 km) northeast of New York City, making it part of the New York metropolitan area.

History

In pre-colonial times, the indigenous people of New Fairfield were part of an alliance of tribes that extended from the source of the Housatonic to the sea.

In 1724, colonial settlers from Fairfield, Connecticut received approval from the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut to establish a new township. According to one account, they negotiated with Chief Squantz of the Schaghticoke tribe of Algonquian lineage. Alternatively, it is told that they did not negotiate with Chief Squantz because he moved to the north end of Squantz Pond land area and refused to "sell" the township of New Fairfield. They returned in the Spring of 1725, but found that Chief Squantz had died during the winter. His four sons and heirs refused to sign the deeds. It was not until four years later that the white men called "The Proprietors" finally got the drawn marks of several other native people who may not have had authority to sell the land. They "purchased" a 31,000 acre tract of land that is now New Fairfield and Sherman, for the equivalent of about 300 dollars and on April 24, 1729, The deed was recorded on May 9, 1729, and is now deposited in the archives of the state capital in Hartford, Connecticut.

In 1926, Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) began construction on Candlewood Lake, considered by many to be an engineering wonder. CL&P flooded the valley to control the water flow from the Housatonic and Rocky Rivers and produce hydroelectric power for the region. Candlewood Lake was named for the Native American practice of using stripped wood from pine trees as kindling for fire. The lake shares its shores with the towns of New Fairfield, Sherman, New Milford, Brookfield, and Danbury.

New Fairfield was home to the Candlewood Playhouse, a 650-seat summer stock theater run by the Gateway Playhouse, currently operating in Bellport, New York. The land once occupied by it is now a Stop and Shop supermarket.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 25.1 square miles (65 km2), of which 20.5 square miles (53 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2), or 18.32%, is water. New Fairfield borders Danbury to the south, Brookfield to the southeast, New Milford to the northeast, Sherman to the north, and southeast, New York to the west.

There are four lakes in New Fairfield: Candlewood Lake, Squantz Pond, Ball Pond, and Margerie Reservoir. Candlewood Lake dominates the eastern side of the town and extends both north and south beyond the town borders. Once a summer resort destination, the lake within New Fairfield is now mostly populated with many year-round homes. To the north of New Fairfield, in the towns of Sherman and New Milford, the lakeshore still contains a large number of summer communities filled with residents from New York City and western New England.

Principal communities

  • Ball Pond
  • Candlewood Isle
  • Candlewood Knolls
  • Candlewood Shores
  • Knollcrest
  • New Fairfield center

Other minor named locales in the town are Bogus Hill, Candlewood Hills, Hillyview Drive, Hollywyle Park, Inglenook, Joyce Hill, Locust Glen, Sail Harbor, Possum Ridge, and Lavelle Avenue.

The newer communities with larger houses can be found in Sail Harbor. Many communities have large houses with direct waterfront access to Candlewood Lake, such as Sail Harbor, Candlewood Isle, and Bogus Hill. There has been many new subdivisions such as communities off Warwick Road, Route 39/37, Pine Hill, Beaver Bog, Dick Fin, and Shortwoods Road.

ZIP code

When ZIP codes were introduced in 1963, the original Danbury code, 06810, also covered the whole of New Fairfield. When Danbury received additional ZIP codes in 1984, a new code, 06812, was introduced for New Fairfield.

Attractions

  • Cosier-Murphy House — 67 Route 39 (added to the National Register of Historic Places August 31, 1991)
  • New Fairfield Historical District
  • Squantz Pond State Park is partly in the town.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 1,573
1800 1,665 5.8%
1810 772 −53.6%
1820 788 2.1%
1830 939 19.2%
1840 956 1.8%
1850 927 −3.0%
1860 915 −1.3%
1870 870 −4.9%
1880 791 −9.1%
1890 670 −15.3%
1900 584 −12.8%
1910 551 −5.7%
1920 468 −15.1%
1930 434 −7.3%
1940 608 40.1%
1950 1,236 103.3%
1960 3,355 171.4%
1970 6,991 108.4%
1980 11,260 61.1%
1990 12,911 14.7%
2000 13,953 8.1%
2010 13,881 −0.5%
2020 13,579 −2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,953 people, 4,638 households, and 3,905 families residing in the town. The population density was 681.9 people per square mile (263.3/km2). There were 5,148 housing units at an average density of 251.6 per square mile (97.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.83% White, 0.39% African American, 0.04% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.82% of the population.

The 2000 census reported that New Fairfield was the most heavily Irish-American community in Connecticut, with about 32% of the residents claiming Irish ancestry.

There were 4,638 households, out of which 44.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.3% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.8% were non-families. 12.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.01 and the average family size was 3.30.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 30.0% under the age of 18, 5.1% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 25.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $106,145, and the median income for a family was $132,271. Males had a median income of $65,978 versus $40,284 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,928. About 1.0% of families and 1.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

New Fairfield High School Front Feb 2020
New Fairfield High School

New Fairfield has one high school for grades 9–12, New Fairfield High School. Connected directly to the high school is a middle school for grades 6–8, New Fairfield Middle School. The town has one elementary school for grades 3–5, Meeting House Hill School, as well as a primary school for Kindergarten through grade 2, Consolidated School. There are also two preschool/day care centers, Bright Beginnings and First Step Preschool.

Notable people

  • Margot Austin (1907–1990), author, illustrator.
  • Mary Ann Carson, Connecticut State Representative.
  • Jake Ceresna (born 1994), professional football player
  • Frank Figliuzzi (born 1962), former assistant director of Counter Intelligence at the FBI. Frequent cable news guest.
  • Ken Jurkowski (born 1981), Olympic rower 2008 & 2012
  • Steven Novella (born 1964), neurologist, host of the Skeptics' Guide to the Universe.
  • Jennifer Rizzotti (born 1974), professional basketball player and coach.
  • Bernie Williams (born 1968), retired professional baseball player for the New York Yankees.
  • Rich Bisaccia (born 1960), Las Vegas Raiders Interim Head Coach

See also

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