Willington, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willington, Connecticut
Town
Town of Willington
Willington Common
Seal
Tolland County and Connecticut  Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Tolland
Region	Capitol Region
Incorporated	May 1727
Named For	Wellington, Somersetshire
Government
• Type	Selectman-town meeting
Area
• Total	33.5 sq mi (86.8 km2)
• Land	33.3 sq mi (86.2 km2)
• Water	0.2 sq mi (0.5 km2)
Elevation	761 ft (232 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	5,566
• Density	167/sq mi (64.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code	06279
Area code(s)	860/959
FIPS code	09-85950
GNIS feature ID	0213534

Willington is a small town located in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. It's part of the Capitol Planning Region. In 2020, about 5,566 people lived there.

The Willimantic River runs along the western side of Willington. The town is about 25 miles northeast of Hartford. You can easily reach Boston using Interstate 84. Providence, RI is also easy to get to via U.S. Route 44.

Nearby towns include Coventry, Stafford, Tolland, and Willimantic. The University of Connecticut is very close, in Mansfield. A new public library opened in Willington in 2006.

History of Willington

Early Settlement and Naming

In 1720, a group of eight men from England bought 16,000 acres of land. They first called this area "Wellington." The town was officially made a town (incorporated) in May 1727.

The name "Wellington" came from Wellington, Somersetshire, a place in England. This was the birthplace of Henry Wolcott, whose grandson Roger Wolcott was one of the town's founders. When the town was officially incorporated, its name was written as "Willington."

Becoming Part of Tolland County

Willington became part of Tolland County on October 13, 1785. This new county was created from parts of Hartford County and Windham County.

Growth and Industry

The land in Willington was good for raising animals and cutting down trees for wood. After about 100 years of farming, the town started to grow with more businesses and factories. Around 1815, the Daniel Glazier Tavern had a large room upstairs. This room was used for town meetings for nearly 30 years during colder months.

By 1845, Willington had many different types of factories. These included a thread mill, a cotton mill, and three silk factories. There was also a factory that made scythes (tools for cutting grass). Other factories made combs, buttons, and glass bottles. The glassworks operated from 1815 to 1871.

Geography of Willington

Willington covers a total area of about 33.5 square miles (86.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 33.3 square miles (86.2 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.2 square miles (0.5 square kilometers), is water.

Notable People from Willington

Many interesting people have connections to Willington. Here are a few:

• Jeremiah Chaplin (1776–1841) was a religious leader who preached in town.
• Philip Corbin (1824–1910) was a successful businessman. He started the P&F Corbin Company and was born in Willington.
• William H. Hall (1869–1922) was a leader in the Connecticut State Senate.
• William L. Higgins (1867–1951) was a doctor and a US Congressman.
• Orrin Holt (1792–1855) was the first representative for Connecticut's 6th congressional district. He was born and died in Willington.
• Elias Loomis (1811–1889) was a smart person who studied math and stars. He was born in town.
• Jared Sparks (1792–1866) was a historian and a minister. He also became the President of Harvard University. A street in Willington is named after him.
• Justus Vinton (1806–1858) was a missionary who traveled to Myanmar. He was born in Willington.
• Roger Wolcott (1679–1767) was the 28th Governor of the Connecticut Colony. He was also one of the people who helped found Willington.
• Eleni Benson (born 1983) is an Olympic soccer player.

Population and Demographics

The population of Willington has changed over the years:

According to the 2000 census, there were 5,959 people living in Willington. These people lived in 2,353 households, and 1,437 of these were families. The population density was about 179 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Willington were White (94.06%). There were also smaller percentages of African American (0.97%), Native American (0.12%), and Asian (3.02%) residents. About 1.81% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average household had about 2.48 people, and the average family had about 2.92 people. About 24.3% of households had children under 18 living with them.

The median age in Willington was 38.3 years old. This means half the people were younger than 38.3, and half were older. About 20.4% of the population was under 20 years old.

In 2000, the median income for a household in Willington was $51,690. For families, the median income was $70,684. The average income per person in the town was $27,062. About 13.3% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Education in Willington

Students in elementary and middle school in Willington attend schools in the Willington School District.

Elementary and Middle Schools

• Center Elementary School: This school is for students from Kindergarten through 4th grade.
• Hall Memorial School: This school teaches students from 5th through 8th grade.

High Schools

After middle school, students in Willington have a couple of choices for high school. Most attend E. O. Smith High School.

• E. O. Smith High School: This high school is located in Mansfield, Connecticut. It is part of Regional School District 19.
• Windham Technical High School: Students also have the option to attend this technical high school in Windham, Connecticut. This school focuses on teaching job skills along with regular subjects.

See also

In Spanish: Willington (Connecticut) para niños