New Preston, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Preston, Connecticut
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Northerly view from Route 45/East Shore Road
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Location in Litchfield County, Connecticut
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| State | Connecticut |
| County | Litchfield |
| Town | Washington |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.8 sq mi (20.3 km2) |
| • Land | 7.3 sq mi (19.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.5 sq mi (1.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 606 ft (185 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,182 |
| • Density | 162/sq mi (62.4/km2) |
| ZIP Code |
06777
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| FIPS code | 09-52770 |
| GNIS feature ID | 209251 |
New Preston is a small, pretty village in the northwestern part of Washington, a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. It's also known as a census-designated place (CDP). This means it's an area that the U.S. Census Bureau defines for gathering population data. In 2010, about 1,182 people lived in the New Preston CDP.
Contents
Exploring New Preston's Landscape
The New Preston CDP covers the entire northwestern part of the town of Washington. This area includes the villages of New Preston and Marbledale. It also features Mount Bushnell and Meeker Swamp.
Land and Water Features
New Preston has a total area of about 20.3 square kilometers (7.8 square miles). Most of this is land, with about 1.3 square kilometers (0.5 square miles) being water. The most important natural feature is Lake Waramaug. This lake is just north of the New Preston village center.
The East Aspetuck River starts at Lake Waramaug. It flows through the village center and over the beautiful New Preston Falls. The land here has many steep hills and narrow valleys. You'll also find lots of rocky slopes.
Who Lives in New Preston?
In 2010, the population of the New Preston area was 1,182 people. Many people who live in New Preston are part-time residents. They often have another home, usually in New York City. This means that official population counts might not fully show how many people are actually there at different times of the year.
Getting Around New Preston
The two main roads in New Preston are U.S. Route 202 and Connecticut Route 45. Route 202 goes northeast to Litchfield and southwest to New Milford. Route 45 goes north to Warren. There is no public transportation like buses or trains in New Preston.
New Preston's Past: A Journey Through Time
Early Inhabitants: Native Americans
Evidence shows that Native Americans lived in this area about 10,000 years ago. This was after the huge glaciers melted away from the last ice age. The Wyantenock tribe of Native Americans lived here. They spent their summers at Lake Waramaug, just like many people do today.
Colonial Times and Founding
In the early 1700s, Chief Waramaug led the Wyantenock tribe. His name appears on old property records from the colonial era. These records include a large area that is now New Preston.
Colonists first settled New Preston in 1741. In 1753, the Connecticut Colony allowed the New Preston Ecclesiastical Society to be formed. This was a religious group. In 1778, 270 families asked to become an official town. This request was granted in 1779. The new town was named Washington, after George Washington. He was the Commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He even slept in New Preston at the Cogswell Tavern in May 1781. This building is still standing today.
The 1800s: Mills and Summer Fun
In the early 1800s, during the Industrial Revolution, many mills and small factories were built along the East Aspetuck River. The river's fast-flowing water provided power for these businesses. New Preston had an iron works and factories that made things like twine, hats, and shoes.
However, as electricity became common and train networks grew, these small factories closed. Larger manufacturing centers took over. In the late 1800s, New Preston started to become a popular summer colony. When the Shepaug Railroad arrived in 1872, people could travel from New York City to New Preston. This led to many summer homes and inns being built around Lake Waramaug.
The 1900s: Changes and New Beginnings
The railroad stopped running in 1948. Many large inns on the lake closed down. They were replaced by single-family homes, mostly used for vacations.
By the 1970s, the village center of New Preston was looking a bit run down. Many shops were empty. Some parts of New Preston were even used to film the horror movie Friday the 13th, Part 2 in 1981.
In the mid-1980s, the village began to change. New shops opened, including antique stores. Many old buildings were fixed up. The village's only grocery store, pharmacy, and gas station closed. This meant New Preston became more of a special shopping area than a place for everyday needs. By the mid-1990s, the village center was completely transformed. It became a beautiful, high-end shopping spot for weekend visitors.
New Preston Today
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, New Preston continued to grow and change. Many smaller lake cottages around Lake Waramaug were replaced with bigger, more luxurious homes. Some inns were even turned into large single-family houses.
New Preston's Unique Buildings
New Preston is famous for its traditional New England style buildings. You can see many well-preserved homes from the 1700s and 1800s. These homes show different styles like Georgian, Greek Revival, and Shingle. There are also old mill buildings along the East Aspetuck River. You'll also find many old barns and farm buildings.
Because the land in New Preston is very hilly and rocky, it's hard to build new homes or businesses. Most good building spots were used before 1900. This means New Preston has kept its old-fashioned look and feel. When new buildings are constructed, they usually try to match the historic style. A part of New Preston Hill Road and Findlay Road is even listed as a historic district. Important buildings there include Hill Congregational Church and the Rev. Samuel Whittlesey House.
Protecting Nature: Open Spaces
A lot of land in and around New Preston is protected as open space. This means it can't be built on. It includes state parks, land owned by local land trusts, and private land with special agreements to keep it natural. Some public open spaces are the Macricostas Preserve and Mount Bushnell State Park. The town of Washington also bought a 31-acre (12.5-hectare) piece of land near the village center in 2010 to protect it.
Beautiful Roads to Drive On
In 1996, the roads around Lake Waramaug were named state scenic roads. This means they are protected so that their natural beauty is not ruined by new construction or changes. In 2010, East Shore Road (also known as Connecticut Route 45) was also named a state scenic road. A part of Route 202 was also added. The town of Washington has also named other roads in New Preston as scenic roads, like Rabbit Hill Road and Gunn Hill Road.
Understanding New Preston's Addresses
Even though New Preston village is part of the town of Washington, the U.S. Postal Service uses the name "New Preston" for other areas too. This includes the Marble Dale section of Washington and parts of the nearby town of Warren. The New Preston post office is actually located in Marble Dale. The town of Washington has three different post offices, each with its own ZIP code: Washington (06793), Washington Depot (06794), and New Preston-Marble Dale (06777). This can sometimes be a bit confusing!
Famous People from New Preston
Many well-known people from New York City have homes in New Preston. Some famous people who live there now include Graydon Carter, who used to be the editor of Vanity Fair magazine, actress Christine Baranski, and bandleader Peter Duchin.
Famous people who used to live in New Preston include fashion designer Bill Blass, comedian Joan Rivers, and writer Horace Bushnell. Former U.S. Congressman Frederick Whittlesey was born here. The psychiatrist and writer M. Scott Peck also lived here for a time.
See also
In Spanish: New Preston (Connecticut) para niños
