Waterbury, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Waterbury
City
Waterbury skyline from the west, with Union Station clock tower at left
Flag Seal Wordmark
Nickname(s):  The Brass City,
Motto(s):  Quid Aere Perennius (Latin) "What Is More Lasting Than Brass?"
New Haven County and Connecticut  Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	New Haven
Region	Naugatuck Valley
Incorporated (town)	1686
Incorporated (city)	1853
Consolidated	1902
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
Area
• City	28.94 sq mi (74.97 km2)
• Land	28.52 sq mi (73.87 km2)
• Water	0.42 sq mi (1.09 km2)  1.45%
Elevation	270 ft (82 m)
Highest elevation	820 ft (250 m)
Lowest elevation	220 ft (67 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	114,403 (US: 258th)
• Estimate  (2023)	114,990
• Urban	199,317 (US: 195th)
• Urban density	2,156.2/sq mi (832.5/km2)
• Metro	454,083 (US: 118th)
• Metro density	1,090.13/sq mi (420.90/km2)
Time zone	UTC−05:00 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−04:00 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	06701–06720
Area code(s)	203/475
FIPS code	09-80000
GNIS feature ID	0211851
Airport	Waterbury–Oxford Airport
Interstates
State Routes
Commuter rail

Waterbury is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. In 2020, about 114,403 people lived there. The city is about 33 miles southwest of Hartford. It is also about 77 miles northeast of New York City. Waterbury is the largest city in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region. It is the second-largest city in New Haven County.

In the early 1900s, Waterbury was a major industrial center. It was famous for making brass products. This is why it is called the "Brass City." The city's motto, Quid Aere Perennius?, means "What Is More Lasting Than Brass?" Waterbury also made many watches and clocks, including those by Timex.

The city is located near major highways like Interstate 84 and Route 8. It also has a Metro-North train station. This station connects to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Waterbury is home to Post University and other college campuses. These include parts of the University of Connecticut and Naugatuck Valley Community College.

Waterbury's Past: A Look at Its History

South Main Street, c. 1910

Early Beginnings and Native American Roots

The land where Waterbury now stands was first home to Algonquin tribes. In 1674, settlers from nearby Farmington started a community. This first settlement was in the area now called Town Plot.

In 1675, a conflict called King Philip's War caused the settlers to leave. They returned in 1677 and found a new, permanent spot. This new place was across the river, along the Mad River. The Native Americans called the area "Matetacoke," meaning "the interval lands." So, the settlement was first called "Mattatuck" in 1673.

Becoming Waterbury: A City of Many Streams

In 1686, the settlement became the 28th town in the Connecticut Colony. Its name was changed to Waterbury. This name was chosen because many streams flowed into the Naugatuck River from the surrounding hills. At that time, Waterbury included parts of what are now several other towns. These towns include Watertown, Plymouth, and Middlebury.

Growth was slow for the first 100 years. The Naugatuck River often flooded, making it hard to farm. This discouraged many new settlers. The town also faced a big flood in 1691 and an illness outbreak in 1712. After a century, Waterbury's population was only about 5,000 people.

The Rise of Industry: Brass and Clocks

In the early 1800s, Waterbury became an important industrial city. It started making brass products. Factories used the power of the Mad River and Naugatuck River to run their machines. This new brass industry attracted many workers from around the world. People from different countries came to live and work in Waterbury.

Waterbury officially became a city in 1853. It was known as the "Brass Capital of the World." Its brass and copper were used in many places, including Nevada's Boulder Dam.

A very famous product from the late 1800s was Robert H. Ingersoll's one-dollar pocket watch. Five million of these watches were sold! After this, making clocks became as important as making brass. You can still see signs of these industries today. Many old clocktowers and brass factories are now landmarks in the city.

Waterbury also started making silverware in 1858. In 1898, these companies became part of the International Silver Company.

East Main Street, 1954

Waterbury During World War II

During World War II, Waterbury's factories were very busy. At its peak, 10,000 people worked at the Scovill Manufacturing Co. The city's metal factories covered over 2 million square feet. They had more than 90 buildings.

On May 24, 1962, a strong tornado hit the north side of the city. It caused a lot of damage and injured many people.

Important Moments in Waterbury's History

• In 1882, Father Michael J. McGivney from Waterbury started the Knights of Columbus. This group grew across the United States.
• St. Joseph's Church, built in 1894, was the first Lithuanian church in Connecticut. It was the second oldest in the country.
• The first Unico Club was founded in Waterbury in 1922. This club helps Italian-Americans and supports education and community programs.
• Sacred Heart was the first Catholic high school in Connecticut, opening in 1922.
• The Waterbury Clock Company made the famous Mickey Mouse watch in 1933. It was so popular that over 11,000 were sold on the first day. This watch helped save the company from financial trouble.
• W1XBS in Waterbury was one of the first radio stations to try high-quality broadcasting in 1934.
• Victor Zembruski started his "Polish Eagles" radio show in 1934. Today, "The Zembruski Family Polka Hour" is one of the longest-running radio shows in America.

Waterbury's Location and Climate

Waterbury covers about 28.94 square miles (75.0 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The city has a humid continental climate. This means it has cold, snowy winters. Summers are warm and humid.

Waterbury's Neighborhoods: A Community Map

Waterbury has many neighborhoods, each with its own history. These areas often have shops and community spaces. This creates smaller "villages" within the city. For many people, their daily life, work, and community were all in their neighborhood. Downtown was the place for theaters, stores, and events.

People of Waterbury: Demographics

Who Lives in Waterbury?

In 2020, Waterbury had 114,403 people. The city is very diverse. Many different groups of people live there.

Waterbury has a large Italian-American population. About 21% of its residents have Italian heritage. You can see this influence in neighborhoods like Town Plot and Brooklyn. The city is also home to many Albanian, Cape Verdean, Dominican, Brazilian, Jamaican, Lithuanian, Portuguese, and Puerto Rican communities.

There is also a large Irish community. The Washington Hill section hosts the city's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Waterbury also has a growing Orthodox Jewish population. This community has grown since 2000, with new schools and services.

Household and Income Information

In 2010, there were 42,761 households in Waterbury. About 31% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.46 people.

The median income for a household in Waterbury was $41,136 (from 2010-2014 data). This was lower than the statewide median income of $69,899. About 24% of the people in Waterbury lived below the poverty line. This included about 36.8% of children aged 0-17.

Waterbury's Economy and Jobs

In the 1970s and 1980s, Waterbury's economy faced challenges. However, in 2008, the city was named one of the "100 Best Places to Raise a Family."

Top Employers in Waterbury

Here are some of the largest employers in Waterbury as of 2022:

Arts, Culture, and Famous Places

Waterbury has many interesting landmarks and cultural spots.

Famous Landmarks to Explore

• Union Station: Built in 1900, this historic train station is a beautiful building.
• Holy Land USA: A park with a large illuminated cross on a hill. It was a popular tourist spot in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Municipal Stadium: Built in 1930, this stadium hosts many events.
• The Apothecary Building: A historic building constructed in 1893.
• Soldiers' Monument: A statue honoring the American Civil War, created by local artist George Edwin Bissell.
• Elton Hotel: A grand hotel built in 1905.
• The Cass Gilbert National Register District: Named after architect Cass Gilbert, who designed Waterbury's City Hall.
• The statue of Christopher Columbus: Created by sculptor Frank Gaylord in 1984.
• The Ben Franklin statue: Made in 1921 by sculptor Paul Wayland Bartlett, who lived in Waterbury.
• Waterbury Courthouse: Once the main office for the Anaconda American Brass Company.
• The Waterbury Clock Company buildings: Built in 1857. This company once made 20,000 clocks and watches daily.
• Mattatuck Museum Arts and History Center: A museum that collects and displays art from Connecticut artists.
• Brass Mill Center: A large shopping mall.
• The Palace Theatre: A historic theater built in 1922.

Education in Waterbury

Public schools in Waterbury are managed by Waterbury Public Schools. They are led by a superintendent and a board of education. The city mayor also serves as the chairman of the board.

High Schools in Waterbury

• W.F. Kaynor Technical High School
• Crosby High School
• Kennedy High School
• Waterbury Arts Magnet School
• Wilby High School
• Waterbury Career Academy High School

Middle Schools in Waterbury

• North End Middle School
• Wallace Middle School
• West Side Middle School

Elementary Schools in Waterbury

Religious Schools in Waterbury

• Alpha and Omega Christian Academy
• Catholic Academy of Waterbury
• Holy Cross High School
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School
• Sacred Heart High School (closed in 2021)
• Sacred Heart Middle School
• Saint Joseph's School
• Yeshiva Gedolah of Waterbury
• Yeshiva K'tana of Waterbury

Colleges and Universities in Waterbury

• Naugatuck Valley Community College
• Post University
• University of Bridgeport (Regional Campus)
• University of Connecticut (Regional Campus / Downtown Waterbury)
• Western Connecticut State University (Regional Campus)

Media: News and Entertainment

Waterbury has two newspapers: the Republican-American and the Waterbury Observer.

WATR 1320 AM is a local radio station. It has been owned by the same family since 1934. It plays news, talk shows, and classic hits music. It is the only radio station broadcasting directly from Waterbury.

Two FM radio stations, WWYZ 92.5 (country music) and WMRQ 104.1 (alternative rock), also serve Waterbury. They broadcast from Meriden, Connecticut.

WCCT-TV (channel 20) is a TV station licensed to Waterbury. It is an affiliate for The CW network. Waterbury is part of the Hartford/New Haven media market. This means residents can also receive TV and radio signals from those cities.

City Services and Transportation

Getting Around Waterbury

Waterbury Metro-North Railroad station, located on the Waterbury Branch line

Waterbury has several public transportation options. CT Transit operates many city buses. These buses run from the city center to different neighborhoods. In 2014, the Hartford-New Britain Busway opened. A local bus connects Waterbury to nearby towns like Cheshire and New Britain. There is also an express bus to Hartford.

Metro-North Railroad runs commuter trains from the Waterbury station to Bridgeport. From Bridgeport, you can connect to Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Waterbury's historic Union Station, built in 1909, is no longer used for trains. Part of the building is now the office for the Republican-American newspaper. Train passengers use a platform next to the old station.

The main highways through Waterbury are I-84 and Route 8. In downtown, these highways are on an elevated bridge called the "MixMaster." This area is known for heavy traffic.

The main airport serving the city is Waterbury–Oxford Airport. The smaller Waterbury Airport is about 4 miles from downtown. Larger commercial airports nearby include Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and Tweed New Haven Airport in East Haven.

Police and Fire Departments

The Waterbury Police Department was started in 1853. It has its own police academy.

The Waterbury Fire Department is a full-time, paid department. It has eight engine companies, three truck companies, and other specialized units. They operate from nine fire stations across the city.

Notable People from Waterbury

Sister Cities

• Pontelandolfo, Campania, Italy
• Struga, North Macedonia

Images for kids

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  Union Station clocktower

• 

  Hotel Elton, 1940s

• 

  Waterbury Clock Company buildings

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  Harrub Pilgrim Memorial

• 

  View of Main Street with Sacred Heart Church in center

See also

In Spanish: Waterbury (Connecticut) para niños