Wethersfield, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wethersfield
Town
Town of Wethersfield
Joseph Webb and Isaac Stevens houses
Seal
Motto(s):  Ye Most Auncient Towne in Connecticut
Hartford County and Connecticut  Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Hartford
Region	Capitol Region
Settled	October 1634
Incorporated	February 21, 1637
Named for	Wethersfield, Essex
Government
• Type	Council-manager
Area
• Total	13.1 sq mi (34.0 km2)
• Land	12.3 sq mi (31.9 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	27,298
• Density	2,079.5/sq mi (802.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	06109
Area code(s)	860/959
FIPS code	09-84900
GNIS feature ID	212042
Interstates
U.S. Highways
State Routes

Wethersfield (pronounced WEH-thers-feeld) is a historic town in Hartford County, Connecticut. It sits right next to Hartford along the Connecticut River. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. In 2020, about 27,298 people lived there.

Long ago, people sometimes spelled the town's name "Weathersfield" or "Wythersfield." Native Americans called it Pyquag. Another old name for the town was "Watertown."

The area known as Old Wethersfield is the biggest historic district in Connecticut. It covers about 2 square miles (5.2 km²) and has 1,100 buildings. Many of these buildings are from the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s. Interstate 91 is the main highway that serves the town.

History of Wethersfield

Flooding in Wethersfield, 1936

Wethersfield was founded in October 1634 by a group of "10 Men" who were Puritan settlers. These included John Oldham, Robert Seeley, Thomas Topping, and Nathaniel Foote. Many people consider Wethersfield to be the oldest town in Connecticut. This depends on how you define when a settlement becomes a "town."

Wethersfield, along with Windsor and Hartford, is special. These three towns are shown by the three grapevines on the Flag of Connecticut. They represent the state's three oldest English settlements. The colonists named the town after Wethersfield, Essex, a village in English county of Essex.

Before its current name, the town was called "Watertown." It was named after Watertown, Massachusetts. On February 21, 1637, Wethersfield officially became a town, along with Windsor and Hartford. The town's first burial ground, the Old Wethersfield Village Cemetery, was started in 1638.

Early Challenges and Events

During the Pequot War, an attack happened in Wethersfield on April 23, 1637. Wangunk Chief Sequin, who had lived with the colonists, attacked with help from the Pequot. Nine people were killed, and some cattle and horses were lost. Two daughters of a settler were taken but later rescued by Dutch traders.

In the 1600s, four witch trials took place in Wethersfield. Three people were executed for witchcraft. Mary Johnson was executed in 1648, and Joan and John Carrington in 1651. In 1669, Katherine Harrison was found guilty, but her conviction was later overturned. Still, she was forced to leave town, and her property was taken by her neighbors.

From 1716 to 1718, the Collegiate School was in Wethersfield for a short time. This school later moved to New Haven and grew into Yale University.

The Wethersfield elm in 1917. It was the largest in New England, with a circumference of 27 feet (8.2 m).

Revolutionary War and Local Heroes

Silas Deane, who was an important envoy (a type of diplomat) to France during the American Revolutionary War, lived in Wethersfield. His house is now part of the Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum.

In May 1781, a very important meeting happened at the Webb House on Main Street. General George Washington and French Lt. Gen. Rochambeau met there. They planned the Siege of Yorktown, which was a major battle that led to Britain's surrender and the independence of the American colonies.

The Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department was officially started on May 12, 1803. This makes it the first formally chartered fire department in Connecticut. It is also one of the oldest volunteer fire departments in the United States that has been running continuously.

Wethersfield's Onion Fame

For at least 100 years, from the late 1700s to the mid-1800s, Wethersfield was the main place for onion trade in New England. People sometimes called the town "Oniontown." This was because Wethersfield was famous for its special "Wethersfield red onion."

The town was also home to William G. Comstock, a well-known gardening expert in the 1800s. He wrote a famous gardening book called Order of Spring Work. In 1820, Comstock started a company that became Comstock, Ferre & Company. This company was a pioneer in selling seeds in sealed packets, a method he learned from the Amish. Other big seed companies grew in and around Wethersfield because of this farming history.

Meteorite Falls

Wethersfield has a unique history with meteorites. A meteorite fell on the town on November 8, 1982. This was actually the second meteorite to fall there in 11 years! The first one crashed on April 8, 1971. Both meteorites crashed through the roofs of houses, but luckily, no one inside was hurt. The 1971 meteorite was sold to the Smithsonian. The 1982 meteorite is now part of a collection at the Yale Peabody Museum.

People and Population in Wethersfield

Wethersfield has grown a lot over the years. In 1820, there were 3,825 people. By 2020, the population had grown to 27,298.

The town is a diverse place. In 2000, most residents were White (93.19%). There were also people who identified as Black or African American (2.09%), Asian (1.58%), and Native American (0.08%). About 4.19% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average age in Wethersfield in 2000 was 44 years old. About 20.1% of the population was under 18 years old. Most households were married couples living together (53.9%). The average household had 2.31 people.

Economy and Jobs in Wethersfield

Wethersfield has many job opportunities. The biggest employers in town include the State of Connecticut and the Town of Wethersfield itself.

Major Employers

Here are some of the top employers in Wethersfield:

• State of Connecticut (810 employees)
• Town of Wethersfield (753 employees)
• Hartford Healthcare At Home (117 employees)
• HomeGoods (108 employees)
• Patient Care, Inc. (107 employees)
• Qualidigm (101 employees)
• DSG Yankee (79 employees)
• Hooters (78 employees)
• Corpus Christi School (55 employees)
• Denny's (50 employees)

Because Wethersfield is close to Hartford, the state capital, many Connecticut state agencies have offices here. For example, the Connecticut Department of Correction and the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles have their main offices in Wethersfield. Other state offices include the Department of Labor and various court services.

The Wethersfield Chamber of Commerce is a group that helps local businesses. It has over 150 members and organizes community events throughout the year.

Arts, Culture, and Fun in Wethersfield

Wethersfield is full of interesting places and events. It has many historic sites and a lively community.

Historic Places to Visit

Three buildings in Wethersfield are very important and are listed as National Historic Landmarks:

• Buttolph-Williams House (added December 24, 1968)
• Joseph Webb House (added November 15, 1966)
• Silas Deane House (added November 6, 1970)

The Old Wethersfield district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This area is Connecticut's largest historic district. It covers two square miles and has 1,100 buildings, many from the 1700s and 1800s.

Other Cool Spots

• Old Wethersfield Village Cemetery
• Broad Street Green
• Roger Butler House
• Captain James Francis House
• Great Meadows
• Heritage Way – a walking and biking path connecting parks
• Hurlbut-Dunham House
• Keeney Memorial Culture Center – home to the Wethersfield Museum
• Millwoods Park/Pond
• Wethersfield Cove
• Wethersfield Historical Society
• Wethersfield Skate Park
• John Chester Willard Pool
• Wintergreen Woods – a 100-acre (0.4 km²) forest with trails
• Wethersfield High School (Connecticut)
• Eleanor Buck Wolf Nature Center
• 9/11 Memorial Sports Center

Music and Events

The historic First Church of Christ, Wethersfield hosts the Albert Schweitzer Organ Festival [Wikidata]. The Wethersfield Historical Society also puts on free outdoor concerts during the summer.

Wethersfield has many fun community events throughout the year:

Sports in Wethersfield

Running Races

The Old Wethersfield 5K & 10K is a yearly running race. It takes place in the historic Old Wethersfield area. Both races start and finish at Cove Park on Hartford Avenue. The Hartford Marathon Foundation organizes this event, usually at the end of August. In 2017, the 10K race was the state championship for the USATF Connecticut Grand Prix Series. It was also the final event of the HMF 10K Challenge Series.

Education in Wethersfield

Wethersfield has a public school system that includes Wethersfield High School. There is also Silas Deane Middle School and five elementary schools: Highcrest School, Charles Wright School, Emerson-Williams School, Alfred W. Hanmer School, and Samuel B. Webb School.

Besides public schools, Wethersfield offers other school choices. The CREC Discovery Academy is a magnet school for Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade. It focuses on STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Corpus Christi School is a Catholic school for students from Pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. In 2012, it was named a "National Blue Ribbon School" for being an "Exemplary High Performing" school.

Getting Around Wethersfield

Public Transportation

The main public transportation system in the Greater Hartford area is Connecticut Transit (CT Transit). This bus service is owned by the Connecticut Department of Transportation. It runs routes in New Haven, Stamford, Hartford, and other metro areas. Wethersfield is served by several bus routes, including numbers 43, 47, 53, 55, 61, and 91.

Roads and Highways

Important roads in Wethersfield include:

• Main Street in Old Wethersfield
• Connecticut Route 287 (Prospect Street)
• Connecticut Route 175 (Wells Road)
• Connecticut Route 99 (Silas Deane Highway)
• Connecticut Route 15 and U.S. Route 5 (Berlin Turnpike and Wilbur Cross Highway)
• Connecticut Route 3 (Maple Street and Putnam Bridge)
• Interstate 91 (Exits 25–26)

Train Service

Hartford station is the closest train station to Wethersfield. Wethersfield used to have streetcar service to Hartford. It also had passenger train service on the Valley Railroad. Today, those tracks are still used for occasional freight trains traveling between Hartford and Old Saybrook.

Town Services

Police Department

The Wethersfield Police Department is located at 250 Silas Deane Highway. Besides regular police services, they have special units. These include a Marine Patrol Unit, a Special Response Dive Team, and a Special Response Tactics Team. They also run youth programs like DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and a Police Explorer program.

Fire Services

The town has three volunteer fire stations. In 2003, the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department celebrated its 200th Anniversary. It is the oldest volunteer fire company in Connecticut and in New England.

Postal Services

The United States Postal Service operates the Wethersfield Post Office at 67 Beaver Rd. The town's zip code is 06109. The Wethersfield Post Office can also help you apply for a United States Passport.

Famous People from Wethersfield

Many notable people have connections to Wethersfield:

• Charles McLean Andrews (1863–1943), a historian
• William Watson Andrews (1810–1897), a clergyman
• Steven Anzovin (1954–2005), a non-fiction author
• Dick Bertel (1931-2023), a media personality
• Elizabeth Canning (1734–1773), known for a famous perjury case
• Kenneth F. Cramer (1894–1954), a U.S. Army Major General
• James Curtiss (1803–1859), a Mayor of Chicago
• Silas Deane (1737–1789), America's first diplomat
• John Deming (c. 1615–1705), a founder of Wethersfield
• Tony DiCicco (1948–2017), coach of the U.S. women's national soccer team
• Bruce Edwards (1954–2004), a famous golf caddy
• Nathaniel Foote (1592–1644), an original settler
• Thomas Ian Griffith (born 1962), an actor
• Betsey Johnson (born 1942), a fashion designer
• Mark Linn-Baker (born 1954), an actor and director
• Colin McDonald (born 1984), a professional hockey player
• John Mehegan (1916–1984), a jazz pianist
• William J. Miller (1899–1950), a Congressman
• Stephen Mix Mitchell (1743–1835), a U.S. Senator and Chief Justice
• Chris Murphy (born 1973), a United States Senator
• Tyler Murphy, a former college football quarterback
• John Oldham (1592–1636), an original settler
• John Pinone (born 1961), a basketball player and coach
• Jane Elizabeth Robbins (1860–1946), a physician and social worker
• Annabella Sciorra (born 1960), an actress
• Elizabeth Scott (1708–1776), a poet and hymnwriter
• Robert Seeley (1602–1668), an original settler
• Christopher Shinn (born 1975), a playwright
• Karen Smyers (born 1961), a world champion triathlete
• David Spicer (1946–2017), an organist
• Charles Stillman (1810–1875), founder of Brownsville, Texas
• Richard Treat (1584–1669), an original settler of Wethersfield
• Tom Tryon (1926–1991), an actor and novelist
• Sophie Tucker (1887–1966), a comedian and singer
• Levi Warner (1831–1911), a Congressman
• Elmer Watson (1831–1911), a Connecticut State Senator
• Thomas Welles (1590–1660), a Governor of Connecticut Colony
• Benjamin Lee Whorf (1897–1941), a linguist
• Elisha Williams (1694–1755), a minister and judge
• Benjamin Wright (1770–1842), chief engineer of the Erie Canal
• Charles Wright (1811–1885), a botanical explorer
• Emily Wright (born 1980), a songwriter and producer

See also

In Spanish: Wethersfield (Connecticut) para niños