Voluntown, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Voluntown, Connecticut
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| Town of Voluntown | ||
Voluntown Baptist Church
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 New London County and Connecticut Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country |  United States |
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| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
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| County | New London | |
| Region | Northeastern CT | |
| Incorporated | 1721 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 39.8 sq mi (103.1 km2) | |
| • Land | 38.9 sq mi (100.8 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.8 sq mi (2.2 km2) | |
| Elevation | 381 ft (116 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,570 | |
| • Density | 64.57/sq mi (24.93/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP code |
06384
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| Area code(s) | 860/959 | |
| FIPS code | 09-78600 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213521 | |
Voluntown is a small town located in New London County, Connecticut, in the United States. It's part of the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region. In 2020, about 2,570 people lived there. Voluntown used to be in Windham County until 1881, when it became part of New London County.
Contents
History of Voluntown
How Voluntown Got Its Name
The town got its name from English volunteers. These were soldiers who stayed to fight in the 1675 Indian wars, also known as King Philip's War. They were called "volunteers" because they chose to stay and fight. One of the first people to help create Voluntown was Lieutenant Thomas Leffingwell. He helped get the town approved and planned its layout. Even Maj. General Benedict Arnold, a famous figure from the American Revolutionary War who later switched sides, owned land here.
The Voluntown Peace Trust
Voluntown is home to the Voluntown Peace Trust. This group is connected to the New England Committee for Non-Violent Action. In the 1950s and 1960s, they protested against nuclear weapons testing. They also spoke out against nuclear submarines being launched from nearby Groton.
In 1968, there was an incident at the CNVA Farm in Voluntown. A group called the Minutemen attacked the farm. Police were aware of the planned attack and were present. Some Minutemen got past the police and took people hostage. The police then entered the farmhouse, and a conflict happened where several people were hurt. Luckily, everyone who was hurt survived.
Geography of Voluntown
Voluntown covers a total area of about 39.8 square miles (103.1 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 38.9 square miles (100.8 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.9 square miles (2.2 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 1,116 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,064 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,055 | −0.8% | |
| 1870 | 1,052 | −0.3% | |
| 1880 | 1,186 | 12.7% | |
| 1890 | 1,060 | −10.6% | |
| 1900 | 872 | −17.7% | |
| 1910 | 779 | −10.7% | |
| 1920 | 656 | −15.8% | |
| 1930 | 651 | −0.8% | |
| 1940 | 723 | 11.1% | |
| 1950 | 825 | 14.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,028 | 24.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,452 | 41.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,637 | 12.7% | |
| 1990 | 2,113 | 29.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,528 | 19.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,603 | 3.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,570 | −1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,528 people living in Voluntown. The town had 952 households, with 702 of them being families. The average household had about 2.66 people.
About 37.4% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households, 61.9%, were married couples. About 26.5% of the population was under 18 years old. The median age in Voluntown was 36 years.
Education in Voluntown
Voluntown has one school in its district: Voluntown Elementary School. This school teaches students from pre-kindergarten all the way up to 8th grade. Since 2008–2009, they have offered full-day kindergarten. They also have a program for three-year-old children.
For high school, students in Voluntown have several choices. They can attend Griswold High School or Norwich Free Academy. If they are interested in learning a trade, they can choose a technical school like Norwich Tech or Ellis Tech. Students can also go to Quinebaug Middle College or the Marine Science Magnet High School.
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