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South Windsor, Connecticut
Former Memorial Library
Former Memorial Library
Official seal of South Windsor, Connecticut
Seal
Location of South Windsor within Hartford County, Connecticut
Location of South Windsor within Hartford County, Connecticut
Country  United States
U.S. state  Connecticut
County Hartford
Metropolitan area Hartford
Settled 1652
Incorporated September 3, 1845
Government
 • Type Council-manager
Area
 • Total 28.7 sq mi (74.3 km2)
 • Land 28.1 sq mi (72.7 km2)
 • Water 0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation
72 ft (22 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 26,918
 • Density 938.3/sq mi (362.29/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
06074
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-71390
GNIS feature ID 0213509
Interstates I-291.svg
U.S. Highways US 5.svg
State Routes Connecticut Highway 30.svg

South Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 26,918 at the 2020 census.

History

In 1659, Thomas Burnham (1617–1688) purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children. Beginning in the middle of the 17th century, a few of the settlers of Windsor began using land on the east bank of the Connecticut River for grazing and farming purposes. By 1700, a number of families had made their homes in this area, now known as South Windsor. In 1768, the residents of the area were allowed to incorporate as the separate town of East Windsor, though the area was informally referred to as East Windsor before this time, which then included all of East Windsor, South Windsor and Ellington. Known for its agriculture and ship building, the town supplied more than 200 volunteers during the American Revolution. In 1786, Ellington became an independent town. South Windsor itself was incorporated as a town in 1845. Tobacco was a major crop grown in South Windsor since its founding.

(Old) Main Street, located near the Connecticut River and running north to south from the border of East Hartford to that of East Windsor, is the center of the town's historical district. Wood Memorial Library, Ellsworth School are located on the street. Minister Timothy Edwards is buried in a cemetery located on Main Street, and the town's middle school is named for him. In 1698, Edwards became the first minister for the settlers on the east side of the river, and his church was built on Main Street (in present-day South Windsor). His son, theologian Jonathan Edwards, was born in South Windsor (at the time still part of Windsor). Ulysses S. Grant stayed at a home on the street.

The town has become less and less agricultural/rural since 1950. This former farming community has been transformed into a suburban town with industrial and commercial districts. The town's population more than tripled between 1950 and 2000. In the early 1990s, residents mobilized a successful campaign against a proposed nuclear waste dump located near the East Windsor town line.

On the National Register of Historic Places

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.7 square miles (74.3 km2), of which 28.1 square miles (72.7 km2) is land and 0.62 square miles (1.6 km2), or 2.12%, is water.

Climate data for South Windsor, Connecticut
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 70
(21)
74
(23)
86
(30)
93
(34)
99
(37)
100
(38)
101
(38)
102
(39)
101
(38)
89
(32)
83
(28)
75
(24)
102
(39)
Average high °F (°C) 36
(2)
39
(4)
48
(9)
60
(16)
70
(21)
79
(26)
84
(29)
82
(28)
75
(24)
63
(17)
52
(11)
41
(5)
61
(16)
Average low °F (°C) 18
(−8)
22
(−6)
29
(−2)
40
(4)
49
(9)
59
(15)
65
(18)
63
(17)
54
(12)
42
(6)
35
(2)
24
(−4)
42
(5)
Record low °F (°C) −17
(−27)
−24
(−31)
−4
(−20)
11
(−12)
25
(−4)
39
(4)
45
(7)
38
(3)
29
(−2)
18
(−8)
5
(−15)
−12
(−24)
−24
(−31)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.15
(80)
2.75
(70)
3.57
(91)
3.88
(99)
3.89
(99)
3.99
(101)
4.00
(102)
3.66
(93)
3.48
(88)
4.14
(105)
3.84
(98)
3.35
(85)
43.70
(1,110)
Source: Weather Channel

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1850 1,638
1860 1,789 9.2%
1870 1,688 −5.6%
1880 1,902 12.7%
1890 1,736 −8.7%
1900 2,014 16.0%
1910 2,251 11.8%
1920 2,142 −4.8%
1930 2,535 18.3%
1940 2,863 12.9%
1950 4,066 42.0%
1960 9,460 132.7%
1970 15,553 64.4%
1980 17,198 10.6%
1990 22,090 28.4%
2000 24,412 10.5%
2010 25,709 5.3%
2020 26,918 4.7%
DECD

As of the census of 2000, there were 24,412 people, 8,905 households, and 6,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 873.1 people per square mile (337.1/km2). There were 9,071 housing units at an average density of 324.4 per square mile (125.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 85.95% White, 2% African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.71% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.27% of the population.

There were 8,905 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $73,990, and the median income for a family was $82,807. Males had a median income of $55,703 versus $38,665 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,966. About 1.5% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Top employers

Top employers in South Windsor according to the town's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

# Employer # of Employees
1 Town of South Windsor 891
2 DST Output 650
3 Ticket Network 441
4 May Company 389
5 Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. 320
6 Target Corporation 250
7 Stop & Shop 221
8 Performance Food Group 183
9 Lowe's 170
10 Electro-Methods, Inc. 155

Education

South Windsor Public Schools

Children attending the public school systems in South Windsor begin at the elementary school level (Kindergarten through Grade 5) at one of four elementary schools: Pleasant Valley, Orchard Hill, Philip R. Smith, and Eli Terry, with Wapping now used by the local recreation department, instead of previously running as a school. After graduating from elementary school, students then move on to Timothy Edwards Middle School, for grades 6–8. They also have the choice to go to a magnet school, Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford. They then finish up their schooling at South Windsor High School. Over 140 students in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 classes have been admitted to the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Notable people

  • Israel Bissell (1752-1823), post rider, rode from Lexington to Philadelphia to warn about the British
  • Nancy Caffyn (1934-2010), politician
  • Marcus Camby (1974-), National Basketball Association player
  • Chris Clark (1976-), former National Hockey League player
  • Deborah Dillon Lightfoot (1956-2007), wheelchair athlete; National Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame
  • Michael Donnelly (1959-2005), Gulf War veteran and activist
  • Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), theologian
  • John Fitch (1743-1798), inventor
  • Will Friedle (1976-), actor, voice actor and comedian
  • Alex Grossi (1976-), guitarist for the rock band Quiet Riot
  • Romil Hemnani (1995-), musician, member of hip hop group Brockhampton
  • Jack Hathaway (1982-), astronaut, one of the 10 candidates selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 23
  • Brent Morin (1986-), actor/comedian (Undateable)
  • Paul Pasqualoni (1949-), former head coach of the University of Connecticut football team
  • Jeff Porcaro (1954-1992), member of rock band Toto
  • Mike Porcaro (1955-2015), member of rock band Toto
  • Steve Porcaro (1957-), member of rock band Toto
  • Eli Terry (1772-1852), clockmaker, inventor
  • Oliver Wolcott (1726-1797), signer of the Declaration of Independence
  • Houman Younessi (1963-2016), scientist
  • Timothy Edwards (1669-1758), clergyman, namesake of Timothy Edwards Middle School

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: South Windsor para niños

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