All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Weston, Connecticut Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
Weston, Connecticut facts for kids
| Weston, Connecticut | ||
|---|---|---|
| Town | ||
The Onion Barn, where community bulletins are posted
|
||
|
||
 Location in Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut. |
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Connecticut | |
| NECTA | Bridgeport-Stamford | |
| Region | South Western Region | |
| Incorporated | 1787 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 20.7 sq mi (53.6 km2) | |
| • Land | 19.8 sq mi (51.3 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.4 km2) | |
| Elevation | 315 ft (96 m) | |
| Population (2010) | ||
| • Total | 10,179 | |
| • Density | 491.7/sq mi (189.91/km2) | |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP code | 06883 | |
| Area code(s) | 203, 475 | |
| FIPS code | 09-83430 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213531 | |
| Website | http://www.westonct.gov/ | |
Weston is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The population was 10,179 at the 2010 census. The town is served by Route 57 and Route 53, both of which run through the town center. About 19% of the town's workforce commutes to New York City, about 45 miles (72 km) to the southwest.
Like many towns in southwestern Connecticut, Weston is among the most affluent communities in the United States. Data collected in 2011 showed that Weston had the highest median household income in Fairfield County, Connecticut, at US$205,173.
In 2011 Connecticut Magazine named Weston as the number one town in Connecticut among towns with populations of 10,000–15,000. The rating considers education, crime, economy, cost and leisure.
Weston is bordered by Wilton to the west, Redding to the north, Easton to the east, Fairfield to the southeast, and Westport to the south.
Aside from a handful of stores that form the town’s center, Weston has little commercial development. Residential development is limited by two-acre zoning. Most of Devil's Den Preserve, a 1,746-acre (707 ha) nature reserve, which gets 40,000 visits a year, is located in the town.
Contents
History
In the 17th century, Weston's first English settlers were mostly farmers living in the town of Fairfield, Connecticut, the boundaries of which extended to Weston until the late 18th century. The Norfield Parish was created in the area now occupied by the towns of Weston and Easton. In 1787, the area was formally incorporated as the Town of Weston. In 1845, the Town of Easton was split off from Weston.
A meteor exploded above the town December 14, 1807. Six pieces, totaling 28 pounds (13 kg), were recovered and examined by scientists, who issued a report. This was the first time that people realized the nature of meteors.
Despite rocky soil, farmers in town grew apples, onions, and potatoes. Grist, cider, lumber, and fulling mills were built. The town had nine manufacturers by 1850, but two decades later only the Bradley Edge Tool Company still thrived. That factory burned down in 1911.
Unlike other nearby towns, Weston never had a railroad built through it, which stifled the development of non-agricultural businesses. Between the Civil War and the Great Depression, the town's population dropped from approximately 1,000 to a low of 670, by 1930. Artists, writers, and actors from New York became attracted to the community in the 1930s and began settling in it. Construction of the Merritt Parkway, which arrived to the south of Weston in 1938, resulted in further population growth.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.7 square miles (54 km2), of which 19.8 square miles (51 km2) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km2), or 4.39%, is water.
The Saugatuck River begins to the north in Redding. It flows through the town and ends in Long Island Sound in neighboring Westport.
Weston is bordered by Westport to the south, Wilton to the west, Redding to the north, Easton to the east, and Fairfield to the southeast.
Principal communities
- Georgetown (part)
- Lyons Plains
- Weston Center (Norfield Historic District)
- Aspetuck
Other minor communities and geographic areas are Devil's Den, Norfield, Upper Parish, and Valley Forge.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 2,469 | — | |
| 1800 | 2,680 | 8.5% | |
| 1810 | 2,618 | −2.3% | |
| 1820 | 2,767 | 5.7% | |
| 1830 | 2,997 | 8.3% | |
| 1840 | 2,561 | −14.5% | |
| 1850 | 1,056 | −58.8% | |
| 1860 | 1,117 | 5.8% | |
| 1870 | 1,054 | −5.6% | |
| 1880 | 918 | −12.9% | |
| 1890 | 772 | −15.9% | |
| 1900 | 840 | 8.8% | |
| 1910 | 831 | −1.1% | |
| 1920 | 703 | −15.4% | |
| 1930 | 670 | −4.7% | |
| 1940 | 1,053 | 57.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,988 | 88.8% | |
| 1960 | 4,039 | 103.2% | |
| 1970 | 7,417 | 83.6% | |
| 1980 | 8,284 | 11.7% | |
| 1990 | 8,648 | 4.4% | |
| 2000 | 10,037 | 16.1% | |
| 2010 | 10,179 | 1.4% | |
| Est. 2014 | 10,388 | 2.1% | |
|
|
|||
- See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income
As of the census of 2010, there were 10,025 people, 3,289 households, and 2,811 families residing in the town. The population density was 506.0 people per square mile (195.7/km²). There were 3,629 housing units at an average density of 178.4 per square mile (68.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.75% White, 0.88% African American, 0.11% Native American, 1.94% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.05% of the population.
There were 3,289 households out of which 49.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 78.4% were married couples living together, 5.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 15.1% were non-families. 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.03 and the average family size was 3.28.
In the town, the population was spread out with 31% under the age of 18, 4% from 18 to 24, 31% from 25 to 49, 23% from 50 to 64, and 11% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $209,630. Males had a median income of $220,357 versus $95,455 for females. The per capita income for the town was $92,375. About 1.5% of the population were below the poverty line.
On the National Register of Historic Places
- Bradley Edge Tool Company Historic District – Roughly, Lyons Plains Road, north and south of the junction with White Birch Road (added December 22, 1995)
- Kettle Creek Historic District – Roughly, Weston and Old Weston Roads, north of Broad Street (added December 22, 1995)
- Norfield Historic District – Roughly, at the junction of Weston and Norfield Rds. northeast to Hedgerow Common (added August 31, 1991)
Parks
The landscape of Weston is characterized by open spaces. Almost one quarter of the town is permanently devoted to open space use, including:
- Devil’s Den Preserve, with a wide variety of flora and fauna, and with a 20-mile (32 km) trail system that connects with the extended 70-mile (110 km) Saugatuck Valley Trails System;
- Bisceglie Park, with baseball fields, a swimming hole, a two-mile (3 km) jogging trail and fitness stations, along the west branch of the Saugatuck River;
- Morehouse Farm Park, with eight, partially overlapping ball fields;
- Sixteen preserves of the Aspetuck Land Trust, for a total of 645 acres (2.61 km2), scattered all around town;
- Katherine Ordway Preserve, with 62 acres (250,000 m2) of woodland, three miles (5 km) of trails and an arboretum;
- Keene Park, with 6 acres (24,000 m2), along the each branch of the Saugatuck River;
- Open land around the Saugatuck Reservoir, with trails and opportunities for fishing.
Images for kids
-
Entrance to Town Hall
-
Weston Intermediate School entrance