Roxbury, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roxbury
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| Town of Roxbury | ||
Town Hall
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 Litchfield County and Connecticut Northwest Hills Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country |  United States |
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| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
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| County | Litchfield | |
| Region | Northwest Hills | |
| Incorporated | 1796 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 26.4 sq mi (68.3 km2) | |
| • Land | 26.3 sq mi (68.1 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2) | |
| Elevation | 541 ft (165 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,260 | |
| • Density | 85.70/sq mi (33.09/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
06783
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| Area code(s) | 203/475, 860/959 | |
| FIPS code | 09-65930 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213498 | |
Roxbury is a small town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. In 2020, about 2,260 people lived here. The town is located about 65 miles northeast of New York City. It is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region in Connecticut.
Contents
History of Roxbury
Roxbury's original Native American name was Shepaug. This word came from the Mahican language and means "rocky water." The area was settled around 1713. At first, it was a "parish" of Woodbury. This meant that a local tax supported the Roxbury church instead of the Woodbury church.
About ten years after the American Revolution ended, Roxbury officially became its own town in October 1796. The name Roxbury might describe the rocky land, or it could have been named after Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Mine Hill's Importance
Mine Hill has been important to Roxbury since the mid-1700s. People found silver here and later discovered a special type of iron called spathic iron. This iron was great for making steel. A small furnace was built to melt the iron.
The area also had a lot of granite. This strong stone was used to build the furnace. It was also used for famous structures like the Brooklyn Bridge and Grand Central Terminal in New York City.
Geography of Roxbury
Roxbury is located in the southern part of Litchfield County. It shares a border with New Haven County to the south. The town is about 16 miles northeast of Danbury and the same distance west of Waterbury.
The total area of Roxbury is about 68.3 square kilometers (26.4 square miles). Only a very small part, about 0.1 square kilometers (0.04 square miles), is water.
Main Communities in Roxbury
Roxbury has a few smaller communities within its borders:
- Judd's Bridge
- Roxbury Center
- Roxbury Falls
- Roxbury Station
Historic Places in Roxbury
Three places in Roxbury are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. They are:
- Roxbury Center: This area includes 32 buildings in a special local historic district.
- Roxbury Iron Mine and Furnace Complex: This site includes the old iron mine and furnace.
- Roxbury Station Historic District: This district was added in 2009.
Roxbury's Population
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1830 | 1,122 | — |
| 1840 | 971 | −13.5% |
| 1850 | 1,114 | +14.7% |
| 1860 | 992 | −11.0% |
| 1870 | 919 | −7.4% |
| 1880 | 950 | +3.4% |
| 1890 | 936 | −1.5% |
| 1900 | 1,087 | +16.1% |
| 1910 | 837 | −23.0% |
| 1920 | 647 | −22.7% |
| 1930 | 553 | −14.5% |
| 1940 | 660 | +19.3% |
| 1950 | 740 | +12.1% |
| 1960 | 912 | +23.2% |
| 1970 | 1,238 | +35.7% |
| 1980 | 1,468 | +18.6% |
| 1990 | 1,825 | +24.3% |
| 2000 | 2,136 | +17.0% |
| 2010 | 2,262 | +5.9% |
| 2020 | 2,260 | −0.1% |
In 2000, there were 2,136 people living in Roxbury. Most people were White (97.24%). A small number of people were African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people were from other races or from two or more races. About 1.31% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had about 2.52 people, and the average family had about 2.95 people. The median age in town was 44 years old.
Transportation in Roxbury
Connecticut Route 67 is the main road in Roxbury. It goes west about 7 miles to New Milford and southeast about 8 miles to Southbury.
Other important roads include:
- Route 199: This road goes north about 5 miles to Washington.
- Route 317: This road goes east about 6 miles to Woodbury.
Scenic Roads in Roxbury
Some roads in Roxbury are officially recognized as Connecticut State Scenic Highways. This means they offer beautiful views.
- Connecticut Route 317: A short part of this road, from Painter Hill Road west to Route 67, is scenic. It was added in 1990.
- Connecticut Route 67: Two sections of Route 67 are scenic. One part is from Ranny Hill Road south to just past Route 317 (added in 1990). Another longer section is from the Roxbury/Bridgewater town line east to Ranny Hill Road (added in 1996).
Local News in Roxbury
Several newspapers serve Roxbury and the surrounding areas:
- Waterbury Republican-American: A daily newspaper based in Waterbury.
- The Danbury News-Times: A daily newspaper based in Danbury.
- The Greater New Milford Spectrum: A weekly newspaper.
- Voices: A local newspaper that covers Roxbury and many nearby towns.
Education in Roxbury
Regional School District 12 is in charge of schools in Roxbury.
- Booth Free School is located in Roxbury itself.
- Shepaug Valley School is a secondary school (for older students) located in Washington.
Notable People from Roxbury
Many interesting people have lived in Roxbury:
- Remember Baker (1737–1775), a militiaman
- Candace Bushnell, author and journalist
- Alexander Calder (1898–1976), a famous artist
- Graydon Carter (born 1949), former editor of Vanity Fair magazine
- Tom Cole, a playwright
- Dustin Hoffman (born 1937), a well-known actor
- Lindsey Jacobellis (born 1985), an Olympic athlete
- Marianna Mayer (born 1945), a children's book author and illustrator
- Mercer Mayer (born 1943), a children's book author, known for Little Critter
- Frank McCourt (1930–2009), author of Angela's Ashes
- Arthur Miller (1915–2005), a famous playwright
- Rebecca Miller (born 1962), an actress and filmmaker
- Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962), a famous actress
- Inge Morath (1923–2002), an Austrian photographer
- Ron Norsworthy (born 1966), a visual artist and designer
- Rex Reed (born 1938), a film critic
- Nathan Smith (1770-1835), a U.S. senator
- Stephen Sondheim (1930–2021), a famous composer and lyricist
- William Styron (1925–2006), author of Sophie's Choice
- Gay Talese, a writer and journalist
- Joe Wanag (born 1966), an Olympic athlete
- Seth Warner (1743–1784), from the Green Mountain Boys
- Richard Widmark (1914–2008), an actor
- Betty Gilpin (born 1986), an actress
See also
In Spanish: Roxbury (Connecticut) para niños
