Ridgefield, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ridgefield, Connecticut
Town
Ridgefield Town Hall
Seal
Fairfield County and Connecticut  Western Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Fairfield
Region	Western CT
Incorporated	1709
Villages	Ridgefield Branchville Ridgebury Titicus Farmingville
Government
• Type	Selectman-town meeting
Area
• Total	35.0 sq mi (90.6 km2)
• Land	34.4 sq mi (89.2 km2)
• Water	0.5 sq mi (1.4 km2)
Elevation	659 ft (201 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	25,033
• Density	727.7/sq mi (281.0/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	06877
Area code(s)	203/475
FIPS code	09-63970
GNIS feature ID	0213496

Ridgefield is a lovely town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut. It sits near the Berkshire Mountains and right on the border with New York state. In 2020, about 25,033 people lived here. Ridgefield is part of the Western Connecticut Planning Region. The main part of town, called the town center, is also known as a census-designated place. This area was first settled and then officially became a town in 1709.

Discover Ridgefield's Past

Ridgefield was first settled by English colonists from Norwalk in 1708. They bought land from Chief Catoonah of the Ramapo tribe. The town officially became a town with a special paper from the Connecticut government in 1709. Its name, Ridgefield, describes its hilly landscape.

The Battle of Ridgefield: A Revolutionary War Story

The most important event in Ridgefield's early history was the Battle of Ridgefield on April 27, 1777. This was a small fight during the American Revolutionary War. A small group of colonial soldiers, including famous leaders like General David Wooster and Benedict Arnold, fought against a larger British force. The British were returning from a raid on a colonial supply center in Danbury.

General Wooster sadly died in the battle, and Benedict Arnold's horse was shot from under him. The British won the battle itself, but it was a big win for the colonists in the long run. After this, the British never tried to go deep into Connecticut again. Today, soldiers from both sides are buried together in a small cemetery on Main Street. A local museum, the Keeler Tavern, even has a British cannonball stuck in its side! Many other places along Main Street remind us of the Revolutionary War.

French Army Visits Ridgefield

In the summer of 1781, the French army, led by the Comte de Rochambeau, marched through Connecticut. They camped in the Ridgebury part of town. This is where the first Catholic church service was held in Ridgefield.

Main Street, looking south, around 1875

Ridgefield station, on the old Ridgefield Branch of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad

Main Street, looking south from Branchville Road, around 1906

The Ridgefield School (postcard sent in 1909)

From Farms to Estates

For most of its history, Ridgefield was a farming community. Important families like the Rockwells and Lounsburys lived here. Two brothers from these families, George Lounsbury and Phineas Lounsbury, even became governors of Connecticut. The Lounsbury House on Main Street, now called the Ridgefield Veterans Memorial Community Center, was built by Governor Phineas Chapman Lounsbury around 1896.

In the late 1800s, wealthy people from New York City discovered Ridgefield. They loved its high elevation and the new railroad connection. They built huge "summer cottages" or large estates. Some of these included Col. Louis D. Conley's "Outpost Farm" and Seth Low Pierrepont's "Twixthills."

Modern Ridgefield: A Suburban Town

After the Great Depression, many of these large estates became too expensive to keep. Most were broken up, and many mansions were torn down. In their place, new neighborhoods with smaller lots were built. This turned Ridgefield into a suburban town where many people live and travel to work in bigger cities. However, strict rules for building have helped keep the town's beautiful, historic look, especially along its famous Main Street.

Explore Ridgefield's Geography

Ridgefield covers about 35 square miles. Most of this is land, with a small amount of water. It shares borders with towns in New York like North Salem and Lewisboro. To the north is Danbury, to the south is Wilton, and to the east is Redding.

The Metro-North Railroad's Branchville station is in the Branchville part of town. The main town center, called a census-designated place, covers about 6.4 square miles. Other areas in town include Titicus, Ridgebury, Scotland, Farmingville, Limestone, Flat Rock, and Florida.

Ridgefield's Unique Geology

Ridgefield has many hills and rocks. Its elevation ranges from about 342 feet to 1060 feet above sea level. The average height of the village is about 725 feet. The landscape is full of rocks left behind by glaciers long ago.

One interesting water body is Round Pond, which formed in a bowl-shaped hole left by a glacier 20,000 years ago. Another is Mamanasco Lake, an 86-acre lake near Ridgefield High School.

A special feature is Cameron's Line, a fault line formed about 250 million years ago when "Proto North America" and "Proto Africa" collided. Small earthquakes can still happen along this line. North of Cameron's Line, Ridgefield has a lot of limestone, which was mined in the past. Other minerals like mica, pegmatite, and quartz were also mined here. Even gold and gemstones like garnet and beryl have been found!

Ridgefield's Climate

People and Population in Ridgefield

In 2000, there were 23,643 people living in Ridgefield. Most people (96.12%) were White. About 2.08% were Asian, and 0.62% were Black or African American. About 1.97% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Many families live in Ridgefield. In 2000, 43% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.78 people, and the average family had 3.21 people. The median age in town was 39 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39 and half were older.

The median income for a household in Ridgefield was $107,351 in 2000. This shows that many people in Ridgefield have good jobs. Only a small number of families and people lived below the poverty line.

Arts and Culture in Ridgefield

Ridgefield is a hub for arts and culture! There are many places to enjoy music, art, and history.

Music and Performance Venues

• The Western Connecticut Youth Orchestra has performed in famous places like Carnegie Hall.
• The Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra started in 1965 and now has 75 professional musicians.
• The Ridgefield Playhouse, opened in 2000, hosts many concerts and performances by well-known artists. It also shows movies.
• The Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance teaches classical ballet and other dance styles. They perform The Nutcracker every year at the Ridgefield Playhouse.
• Thrown Stone Theatre Company is a professional theater group that focuses on new plays.

Museums and Historic Sites

• The Keeler Tavern Museum is an old house from the early 1700s. It used to be a tavern and inn, and even an early post office. Today, you can take tours and learn about its history.
• The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum shows amazing art from modern artists. It was updated in 2004 and also hosts concerts.

Peter Parley Schoolhouse

• Weir Farm National Historic Site is a special place that was once the farm of a famous painter, J. Alden Weir. It's one of only two official National Park Service units in Connecticut. You can see art, visit a gallery, and attend special events there.
• The Peter Parley Schoolhouse, also known as the Little Red Schoolhouse, is a one-room schoolhouse from around 1750. It was used until 1913. You can visit it on certain Sundays and see old desks and books.

Outdoor Spaces and Activities

Ridgefield has lots of public open spaces, covering about 5200 acres, which is 23% of the town's land!

• These include Aldrich Park, Bennett's Pond State Park, and Seth Low Pierrepont State Park.
• The Ridgefield Golf Course is an 18-hole course designed by famous golf course architects.

Ridgefield golf course

• The town also has a skatepark for skateboarding and aggressive inline skating. It was rebuilt and made bigger in 2010.

Local Industry

The largest company in Ridgefield is Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. Their main United States office is in the Ridgebury part of town.

Fun Facts

In 2006, the Christmas tree chosen for Rockefeller Center in New York City came from Ridgefield!

Annual Events in Ridgefield

• The Nutmeg Festival is held on Main Street in August. It started in 1906 as a charity event and has changed over the years.
• The Antiques Flea Market happens every June outdoors at the Veterans Memorial Community Center.
• A local farmers market is held every Thursday during the summer months.

Historic Places to Visit

Many parts of Ridgefield are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) because of their historical importance.

• The Ridgefield Center Historic District includes many buildings from the 1800s and early 1900s.
• The Keeler Tavern is part of this district.
• Other individual places on the NRHP include:
  • Benedict House and Shop
  • Branchville Railroad Tenement
  • Frederic Remington House
  • J. Alden Weir Farm Historic District (part of Weir Farm National Historic Site)
  • Lewis June House
  • Phineas Chapman Lounsbury House (now the Ridgefield Veterans Memorial Community Center)
  • Ridgebury Congregational Church
  • Thomas Hyatt House

Education in Ridgefield

Ridgefield has nine public schools and two private schools. The public schools are managed by Ridgefield Public Schools.

• There are six public elementary schools: Veterans Park, Branchville, Farmingville, Scotland, Barlow Mountain, and Ridgebury.
• The town has two middle schools: Scotts Ridge Middle School and East Ridge Middle School.
• The high school is Ridgefield High School. Their sports teams are called the Tigers!

Ridgefield also has private schools:

• St. Mary is a Roman Catholic school for preschool through eighth grade.
• St. Padre Pio Academy serves kindergarten through eighth grade.
• Ridgefield Academy is an independent school for preschool through eighth grade. It's located on a 42-acre estate.
• There are also various preschools and a Montessori school.

Ridgefield's Infrastructure

Ridgefield has important services that help the town run smoothly.

• Electricity: Provided by Eversource Energy.
• Water: Aquarion serves the central and western parts of town.
• Telephone/Internet: Provided by Frontier Communications.
• Cable Television/Telephone/Internet: Provided by Comcast Cable.
• Local Newspaper: The Ridgefield Press keeps residents informed.
• Train Transportation: The Metro-North Railroad's Danbury Branch serves Branchville station. You can take trains north to Danbury station or south to South Norwalk station. Some trains go all the way to Grand Central Terminal in New York City during busy times.
• Bus Transportation: Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) operates a bus system. There's a shuttle service on weekdays between Katonah station and park and ride lots in Ridgefield.

Ridgefield's Neighborhoods

Ridgefield is made up of 19 main neighborhoods. These include:

• Ridgefield (the main town center)
• Main Street
• Branchville
• Titicus
• Farmingville
• Ridgebury
• Topstone
• West Mountain
• Cooper Hill
• Ramapoo
• Route 7
• Georgetown
• Deer Run
• Peaceable Hill
• Quail Ride
• Westmoreland
• Twixt Hills
• Long Ridge
• Starrs/Picketts Ridge

Notable People from Ridgefield

See: List of people from Ridgefield, Connecticut

Images for kids

• 

  Main Street in Downtown, around 2010

See also

In Spanish: Ridgefield (Connecticut) para niños