kids encyclopedia robot

Norwalk, Connecticut facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Norwalk
Norwalk Harbor and vicinity
Aerial view of Norwalk Harbor and vicinity
Official Seal
Seal
Etymology: Mohegan-Pequot language
Nickname(s): 
Oyster Town
Motto(s): 
Latin: [ E Pluribus Unum] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help)
Location in Fairfield County and Connecticut
Norwalk is located in the United States
Norwalk
Norwalk
Location in the United States
Norwalk is located in Connecticut
Norwalk
Norwalk
Location in Connecticut
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
County Fairfield
Metropolitan area Bridgeport-Stamford
Settled February 26, 1640
Incorporated September 11, 1651
Consolidated June 6, 1913
Founded by Roger Ludlow and Daniel Patrick
Government
 • Type Weak-mayor-City Council
Area
 • Total 36.37 sq mi (94.20 km2)
 • Land 22.89 sq mi (59.28 km2)
 • Water 13.49 sq mi (34.93 km2)
Elevation
43 ft (13 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 91,184
 • Density 3,983.574/sq mi (1,538.192/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern Standard Time (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (Eastern Daylight Time (EDT))
ZIP Codes
06850–06860
Area codes 203/475
FIPS code 09-55990
GNIS feature ID 0209405
Major highways I-95.svg US 7.svg Merritt Pkwy Shield.svg
Commuter Rail MTA NYC logo.svg

Norwalk is a city located in southwestern Connecticut, United States, in southern Fairfield County, on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. Norwalk lies within both the New York metropolitan area and the Bridgeport metropolitan area.

Norwalk was originally settled in 1649, and is the sixth most populous city in Connecticut. According to the 2020 United States Census it has had a population of 91,184.

History

Name origin

"Norwalk, settled 1649; incorporated Sept., 1651, Norwaukee shall bee a townee Algonkin noyank, point of land, or more probably from the Indian name, Naramauke."

The city boundaries originally included parts of the current municipalities of New Canaan, Wilton, and Westport. Ancient records describe the boundaries as "from Norwalk river to Sauhatuck river, from sea, Indian one day walk into the country". Thus a disputing source, and common tradition, describes Norwalk's name deriving from the northern boundary extending from the sea covering one day's "north walk" into the countryside. An additional source found this analysis to be improbable, given that the name "Norwalk" was used by natives, who were called the "Norwake Indians". Additionally a nearby river was known as the Norwake River when the area was first colonized. Roger Ludlow's 1640 land purchase was from "the Indians of Norwalke" and the land is described as lying between "the twoe rivers, the one called the Norwalke, the other Soakatuck." The earliest town records list the city name as Norwalke (the "w" likely silent, as in Warwick). Bradley's [Connecticut] Register describes that the early Colony Records call it "Norrwake". Around 1847 the elderly used the ancient pronunciation "Norruck".

Norwalk has a nickname, "Oyster Town", due to its prominent oyster fisheries providing a large source of income to the city since the early 19th century. Norwalk Harbor's islands and proximity to New York City make it profitable for oyster harvesting. Discarded oyster shells along the Connecticut coast help prove the importance oysters had to pre-Columbian inhabitants of the area as well.

21st century

On Sunday May 25, 2008 the last service at the First United Methodist Church of Norwalk was held prior to a deconsecration ceremony that marked the end of the church use of the distinctive yellow brick building at 39 West Avenue. The Methodist congregation had been formed in 1789 during the visit by Jesse Lee, but is survived by three other Methodist churches in the city.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.3 square miles (94 km2), of which, 22.8 square miles (59 km2) of it is land and 13.5 square miles (35 km2) of it (37.24%) is water.

Climate

"Norwalk, Connecticut, gets 45 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 24 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 100. On average, there are 179 sunny days per year in Norwalk, Connecticut. The July high is around 83 degrees. The January low is 18."

Topography

Norwalk's topography is dominated by its coastline along Long Island Sound, the Norwalk River and its eastern and western banks, and the Norwalk Islands. The highest elevation is 282 feet above sea level, at the summit of Middle Clapboard Hill in West Norwalk; and the low elevation is sea level on Long Island Sound.

Neighborhoods

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 11,942
1800 5,146 −56.9%
1810 2,983 −42.0%
1820 3,004 0.7%
1830 3,972 32.2%
1840 3,863 −2.7%
1850 4,651 20.4%
1860 7,852 68.8%
1870 12,119 54.3%
1880 13,956 15.2%
1890 17,747 27.2%
1900 19,932 12.3%
1910 24,211 21.5%
1920 27,743 14.6%
1930 36,019 29.8%
1940 39,849 10.6%
1950 49,460 24.1%
1960 67,775 37.0%
1970 79,288 17.0%
1980 77,767 −1.9%
1990 78,331 0.7%
2000 82,951 5.9%
2010 85,603 3.2%
2020 91,184 6.5%
1790 population included
Stamford and Greenwich.

As of the census of 2010, there were 85,603 people, 35,415 households, and 21,630 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,358.2 inhabitants per square mile (910.7/km2). There were 35,415 housing units at an average density of 975.6 per square mile (376.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 68.7% White, 14.2% African American, 0.4%Native American, 4.8% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 9.0% from other races, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 24.3% of the population.

There were 35,415 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.4% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size in the city was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.16.

The population's spread gave 22% under the age of 18, with 7.3% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% aged 65 years or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $76,161, and the median income for a family was $103,032. The per capita income for the city was $43,303. About 5.7% of families and 8.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Districts

The City of Norwalk, for administrative and representative purposes, established by state statue and by Norwalk's city charter, 6 taxing districts. The First, Second, Third and Sixth taxing districts are political entities with their respective voters electing officers, holding annual business meetings, approving budgets and to consider other matters, as specified in each of their charters. Election of Taxing District Commissioners and Treasurers by voters from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th districts take place in odd numbered years. The Fourth and Fifth districts are not counted as seperate governments as they constitute the city's proper. Each taxing district has its own property tax rate reflecting the mix of services each recieves from the city. Secondly, munincipal elections of Mayor, Common Council, Board of Education and other positions are also held in odd numbered years at 13 polling places within 5 voting districts around the city. Voting districts are not the same for state and federal elections which are held on even numbered years at 12 polling locations

Voting Districts/Polling Places
A B C D E
1 Tracy Elementary School Columbus Elementary School Marvin Elementary School Ponus Ridge Middle School Brookside Elementary School
2 St. Mary's Community Hall Nathaniel Ely School (a.k.a Head Start program) Nathan Hale Middle School West Rocks Middle School Rowayton Elementary School
3 Kendall Elementary School Fox Run School
4 Nathan Hale Middle School
Note: For details about polling locations listed above please see the Education section below

Municipal

The city of Norwalk exists by authority of a municipal charter, granted by the Connecticut General Assembly, which is the legal document that defines the organization, powers, functions, and essential procedures of the city government. Norwalk's municipal government is a Weak-mayor form of a Mayor-Council government with the mayor of Norwalk elected by its voters. The city's charter gives certain administrative powers exclusively to the Council and others jointly to the Council and Mayor. The Common Council is the law-writing body of the City of Norwalk. Norwalk's common council consists of fifteen council members, five elected at-large and ten elected by district, two from each district. Administration offices are located at 125 East Avenue in Norwalk City Hall.

State representatives

Norwalk is represented in the Connecticut General Assembly by five House Representatives corresponding to five Connecticut legislative districts and one senator from one Connecticut Senate district.

Congressional representatives

Norwalk, which lies within Connecticut's 4th congressional district is represented in the United States Congress by one congressional representative in the United States House of Representatives and, along with the rest of Connecticut, by two Senators in the United States Senate.

Sister cities

Economy

See also External links below—↓

Culture and religion

Events

  • St. George Greek Orthodox Festival, held in late August, the festival features Greek delicacies, Pontic Greek dance exhibitions and a large carnival.
  • Round Hill Highland Games, a festival of Scottish culture and athletic events, was started in 1923 in Greenwich, CT but interrupted during World War II, then restarted in 1952, and has been held in Norwalk's Cranbury Park on or around July 4 for a number of years. In 2006, the 83rd annual event attracted 4,000 people to hear bagpipes and watch the caber toss, the hammer throw, and other events; with athletes often wearing wool kilts. Games for children are also offered. Food and Scottish items are offered for sale. Organizers say the event is the third-oldest Scottish games festival in the United States.
  • SoNo Arts Celebration, held in mid-summer

Places of worship

  • Al Madany Islamic Center Of Norwalk
  • Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church
  • Bridge Church
  • Calvary Baptist Church
  • Calvin Reformed Church
  • Canaan Institutional Baptist
  • Christ Episcopal Church
  • Christ Temple Pentecostal Church
  • Christian Fellowship
  • Church Of God
  • Church Without Walls Ministries
  • Cornerstone Community Church
  • Community Advent Christian Church
  • Congregational Church United Church Of Christ
  • Deliverance Pentecostal Church
  • Faith Lighthouse Church/Conservative Baptist
  • First Congregational Church
  • Gethsemane Outreach Ministries
  • Harvest Time
  • Holy Temple Church Of God In Christ
  • House Of Prophecy & Prayer Inc
  • Iglesia Betania Church
  • Kingdom Restoration Ministries
  • Little Zion Church of God In Christ
  • Macedonia Church
  • Methodist Church East Av
  • Mt Nebo Baptist Church
  • New Jerusalem Baptist Church
  • New Light Missionary Baptist Church
  • Norwalk Seventh Day Adventist Church
  • Parkway Assembly of God
  • Pentecostal Christian Church
  • Pentecostal Church John 3:16
  • Salvation Army
  • Shiloh Baptist Church
  • Saint George Greek Orthodox Church
  • Saint Jerome Church
  • Saint Joseph Church
  • Saint Ladislaus Church
  • Saint Mary Church
  • Saint Matthew Church
  • St Paul's Church Of God
  • St. Philip Church
  • Saint Thomas the Apostle Church
  • Word Alive Bible Church

Attractions

Notable places on the National Register of Historic Places

Athletics

Baseball and softball are popular amateur sports with active leagues across many age groups in Norwalk. There are 4 baseball fields and 16 Little League fields in the city. Several of the fields are illuminated for nighttime play. The Norwalk Little League team won the Little League World Series in 1952. The 14-year-old Babe Ruth League team won the championship in 2008. In 2010, the cal Ripken 12-year-old Norwalk all star team made to the Cal Ripken league World Series and placed 3rd in the country. In 2011, the Norwalk American Senior Legion baseball team won the Connecticut State Championship. This had not been accomplished by any other Norwalk Legion team in the storied 83-year history. The team defeated Branford, CT in the championship game. The girls Norwalk Pride fast pitch softball team won the Connecticut State Championship in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

The Norwalk Biddy Basketball All Star team Won the State and Regional titles and then went on to the World Championships in New Orleans, LA in 1986 and placed 7th in the world.

Being a coastal city Norwalk is home to a great many water sports including competitive swimming, recreational boating and fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking. The Norwalk River and inner Norwalk Harbor host rowing events and organizations. Norwalk resident Daniel Walsh won a bronze medal in Beijing with the U.S. Olympic rowing team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

There are three golf courses in the city of Norwalk.

The cross town rivalry between the city's two largest high schools' sports teams can be rather fierce, particularly for the football, soccer and field hockey teams in the fall; as well as lacrosse, baseball, and softball teams in the spring. Brien McMahon high school's football team won the FCIAC (Fairfield County InterAthletic Conference) and Class M State Football championship in 1994. McMahon high school's boys lacrosse team went on to win the state division 2 lacrosse championship in 2000.

In professional team sports, Norwalk is represented by the Connecticut Wildcats in the American National Rugby League.

In popular culture

Movies

  • Full-length features and documentary movies, partially filmed or completely taking place in Norwalk, listed in reverse chronological order:
    • Hope Springs (2012).
    • Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009). — filmed along Washington Street in SoNo.
    • Old Dogs (2009)
    • Birds of America (film) (2008).
    • College Road Trip (2008). — scenes filmed in town in mid-July 2007; shooting locations were the former Norwalk police headquarters building in Matthews Park, on the Merritt Parkway and along the Route 7 connector.
    • Revolutionary Road (2008).
    • Righteous Kill (2008)
    • The Six Wives of Henry LeFay (2008). - Filmed in 2007 on Wall Street in Norwalk Center.
    • The Life Before Her Eyes (2007). Uma Thurman filmed a scene at Norwalk Community College in August, 2006.
    • Satan's Little Helper (2004)
    • The Stepford Wives (2004).
    • The Object of My Affection (1998)
    • The Stepford Wives (1975).

Television

  • Partially or entirely recorded in Norwalk
    • For One More Day (television movie, ABC, December 2007). — filmed in July 2007 on Broad Street.
    • To All My Friends On Shore (1972, made-for-TV movie).
    • House of Dark Shadows (1970, TV series). — "Abandoned Monastery" portions filmed at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion.

Community associations

Neighboring towns




Economy

Pepperidge Farm, Xerox, Frontier Communications, and Booking Holdings have headquarters in Norwalk.

Sports

Baseball and softball are popular amateur sports with active leagues across many age groups in Norwalk. There are four baseball fields and 16 Little League fields in the city. Several of the fields, including Calf Pasture Beach are illuminated for nighttime play. The fields at The Norwalk Little League team won the Little League World Series in 1952. The 14-year-old Babe Ruth League team won the championship in 2008. In 2010, the 12-year-old Norwalk all-star team made it to the Cal Ripken league World Series and placed third in the country. In 2011, the Norwalk American Senior Legion baseball team won the Connecticut State Championship. This had not been accomplished by any other Norwalk Legion team in the storied 83-year history. The team defeated Branford, Connecticut in the championship game. The girls' Norwalk Pride fast pitch softball team won the Connecticut State Championship in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

The Norwalk Biddy Basketball All-Star team Won the State and Regional titles and then went on to the World Championships in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1986 and placed 7th in the world.

Being a coastal city Norwalk is home to a great many water sports including competitive swimming, recreational boating and fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking. The Norwalk River and inner Norwalk Harbor host rowing events and organizations.

Norwalk resident Daniel Walsh won a bronze medal in Beijing with the U.S. Olympic rowing team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

There are three golf courses in the city of Norwalk: the Shorehaven Golf Club is a private club in East Norwalk, the Silvermine Golf Club is a private club in Silvermine (part of the course lies in the town of Wilton), and the Oak Hills Park golf course is a public course in West Norwalk.

The cross-town rivalry between the city's two largest high schools, Norwalk High School and Brien McMahon High School, is fierce, particularly for the football, basketball, soccer and field hockey teams in the fall; as well as lacrosse, baseball, and softball teams in the spring. Brien McMahon High School's football team won the FCIAC (Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference) and Class M State Football championship in 1994. McMahon High School's boys' lacrosse team won the state division 2 lacrosse championship in 2000.

Norwalk used to be the home of the Connecticut Wildcats, part of the American National Rugby League, from 2003 to 2015.

Education

Norwalk Public Schools operates public schools, while the community also has various private schools.

Norwalk was granted a town charter by the Connecticut General Court in 1651. On May 29, 1678, town records mention the establishment of community-supported teaching activities with a passage that reads: "'At a town meeting... voted and agreed to hier a scole master to teach all the children in ye town to lerne to Rede and write; and that Mr. Cornish shall be hierd for that service and the townsmen are to hier him upon as reasonable terms as they can."

The school that was established in the 1670s was located near the Ludlow Square area of East Norwalk (near the former Roger Ludlow Junior High School).

Infrastructure

Transportation

NorwalkTransitGillig
A Wheels bus at Wheels hub

Public transport bus service within Norwalk is provided by Norwalk Transit District. Norwalk Transit District operates fixed route public bus service in Norwalk and Westport with evening and Sunday shuttles (serving South Norwalk, Main Avenue and Connecticut Avenue) and commuter shuttles. Access to other cities through bus services Milford, Danbury, and Stamford. All fixed route buses meet at the Transportation Hub.

SouthNorwalkRRstaWestEntrance08112007
West entrance of the South Norwalk train station

The Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line runs through and stops in Norwalk. The train goes West and East with Grand Central Terminal and New Haven Union Station being the final stops. The Danbury Branch runs from South Norwalk to Danbury, CT. There are four stations in Norwalk, three of them on the main line which is: Rowayton, South Norwalk and East Norwalk. The fourth station, Merritt 7, is on the Danbury Branch. Metro-North provides commuter service for all four stations.

The structure at 47 Wall Street was formerly the Wall Street station of the Danbury Branch, which operated from 1896 to 1936. The city's trolley system barn also operated on Wall Street.

Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway lead through Norwalk, and there are several exits within the Norwalk city limits, and are the major thoroughfare through the city. U.S. Route 1 goes through the center of the city, mostly following local streets. The major north–south corridor in Norwalk is U.S. Route 7, which is an expressway throughout most of the route in the city. The expressway section ends at Grist Mill Road in Norwalk from where Route 7 resumes northbound along Main Ave. Other state routes include Route 53, Route 123, and Route 136.

Utilities

Electric power and natural gas in most of Norwalk is provided by Eversource Energy.

  • The First Taxing District provides water to the Third, Fourth and Fifth Taxing Districts.
  • The Second Taxing District serves sections of South Norwalk, East Norwalk, West Norwalk, Rowayton and Silvermine. and also owns and operates South Norwalk Electric and Water.
  • The Third Taxing District provides electric power for East Norwalk.

The districts purchase wholesale power and arrange for its delivery to, and distribution within, their respective districts. Power lines and meters in East Norwalk, South Norwalk, and parts of Rowayton are maintained by the districts. Both the second (SNEW) and third (TTD) district electric departments belong to the six member Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative which pools their wholesale power purchasing to obtain lower rates for their customers.

Connecticut Light and Power (now Eversource Energy) operated a power plant, Norwalk Harbor Station on Manresa Island, from 1960 to 1999 when it was acquired by NRG Energy, which then began its deactivation in 2013.

In 2004 the Third Taxing District installed 3 diesel powered generators at the Norden complex on Norden Place that were initially licensed only for emergency power supply. By summer 2008 the generators, with a combined capacity of 6 Megawatts, had been upgraded to allow licensed operation as regular power providers for the grid (not just emergency power).

In 2007 and 2008 the construction of the Middletown-Norwalk transmission line disrupted traffic along the Boston Post Road, but the completion of the line is hoped to help provide additional power to lower Fairfield County. In addition a high-voltage undersea line runs from Manressa Island to Long Island to help provide electric power to Long Island Power Authority customers. In 2008 the city government of Norwalk started initial investigations of whether the city might resume generating power for sale to electricity customers in the city.

Emergency services

Norwalk Police Department serves as the city's police department, and Norwalk Fire Department serves Norwalk's fire protection district. Norwalk is served 24/7 by Norwalk Hospital and Norwalk Hospital EMS, a 911 paramedic service. The service consists of hospital-based paramedics and EMT-Is who serve Norwalk as well as New Canaan, Wilton, Weston, and Westport.

Notable people

See also

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

kids search engine
Norwalk, Connecticut Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.