Stafford, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stafford, Connecticut
Town
Town of Stafford
Mill Pond Country Store in Stafford Hollow Historic District
Flag Seal
Tolland County and Connecticut  Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Tolland
Region	Capitol Region
Settled	1719
Government
• Type	Selectman-town meeting
Area
• Total	58.8 sq mi (152.2 km2)
• Land	58.0 sq mi (150.2 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
Elevation	627 ft (191 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,472
• Density	195.10/sq mi (75.375/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	06076
Area code(s)	860/959
FIPS code	09-72090
GNIS feature ID	0212349

Staffordville Lake

Stafford is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. It was first settled in 1719. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. In 2020, about 11,472 people lived there.

Stafford includes the main downtown area of Stafford Springs. It also has several smaller, more rural villages. These include Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, Hydeville, Orcuttsville, Staffordville, Stafford Hollow, Village Hill, and West Stafford.

What's in a Name?

The town probably got its name from Staffordshire, a place in England.

A Look at Stafford's Past

Stafford started as a farming community in the eastern part of Hartford County. It became part of Tolland County in 1785. The town had many rivers and streams, which provided easy water power. This helped Stafford grow into an industrial area.

By the mid-1800s, Stafford was connected to other towns by railroad. Before major highways were built, it even had a trolley connection to Rockville. During the Civil War, factories in Stafford made important supplies like cannonballs for the northern forces.

Where is Stafford Located?

According to the United States Census Bureau, Stafford covers about 58.8 square miles (152.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. It is the fourth largest town in Connecticut by area.

Stafford Springs is found where Routes 190 and 32 meet. This is in the northeastern part of Connecticut.

Many people who live in Stafford travel to bigger cities for work. These cities include Hartford, Manchester, and Enfield in Connecticut. Some also commute to Springfield, Massachusetts. All these places are about a 30-minute drive away. The University of Connecticut's main campus in Storrs is also about a half-hour drive.

The highest point in town is the western slope of Burley Hill, which is 1,300 feet high. The very top of Burley Hill is 1,315 feet.

People of Stafford

In 2019, about 11,893 people lived in Stafford. Most residents are White, with smaller groups of African American, Asian, and Native American people. About 3.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The population includes people of all ages. About 18.2% are under 18 years old. Most of the town's population lives in its seven villages. Nearly half live in Stafford Springs. The northern part of the town is mostly rural and covered in forests.

Learning in Stafford

Pinney Grammar School, c. 1909

Stafford has several schools for different age groups.

• West Stafford School teaches children in Pre-K and kindergarten.
• Stafford Elementary School is for students in grades one through five.
• The middle school serves grades 6–8.
• The high school is for grades 9–12.

Stafford High School has many sports teams. These include football, basketball, cross country, track, soccer, field hockey, baseball, softball, and wrestling. The schools also offer plays and musical productions each spring. There are many other extracurricular activities for students to join.

Health Care in Stafford

Johnson Memorial Medical Center is a hospital in Stafford. It offers many services for patients. These include medical and surgical care, care for new mothers and babies, and emergency services. The hospital was built in 1975.

Evergreen Health Care Center is a nursing facility on the hospital campus. It opened in 1989. It provides long-term care and rehabilitation services. It also has a special unit for people with Alzheimer's disease. These facilities serve Stafford and several nearby towns.

Stafford also has offices for many health professionals. These include physicians, dentists, optometrists, and chiropractors. The Stafford Veterinary Center takes care of both large and small animals.

Fun and Recreation

Stafford has many places for sports and outdoor activities.

• There are tennis courts, ball fields, and soccer fields.
• The town has several parks.
• There are private clubs for hunting, fishing, swimming, and tennis.

During spring and summer, there are active sports programs. These include Little League baseball, youth softball, and adult softball. A summer program offers swimming lessons and martial arts for children. There are also youth programs for football, basketball, soccer, and hockey.

The Stafford Motor Speedway is a popular attraction. It brings many visitors to town every year. There is a small public beach on Staffordville Lake, which is a favorite spot in summer. Stafford also has some access to Sandy Beach on Crystal Lake in Ellington. Plans are being made to create hiking trails in Stafford.

For visitors, there are two bed and breakfasts. There are also a few campgrounds like Sun Valley, Roaring Brook, and Mineral Springs.

Famous People from Stafford

• Alvin Alden (1818–1882), a state lawmaker in Wisconsin, was born here.
• Jack Arute (born 1950), a sports commentator and president of Stafford Motor Speedway.
• Penny Bacchiochi (born c. 1961), a former state lawmaker in Connecticut, grew up in Stafford.
• Matt Bessette (born 1984), an American mixed martial artist.
• John Buckley (1885–1959), a Connecticut state lawmaker and US district attorney, was born here.
• Ernest Cady (1842–1908), the 45th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.
• Attilio R. Frassinelli (1907–1976), the 78th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut.
• Moses G. Leonard (1809–1899), a US Congressman for New York, was born here.
• Charles Lewandoski (born 1985), a former NASCAR driver.
• Erasmus D. Peck (1808–1876), a US Congressman for Ohio, was born here.

Stafford's Weather

See also

In Spanish: Stafford (Connecticut) para niños