Windham, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Windham, Connecticut
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| Town of Windham | ||
Dr. Chester Hunt Office in Windham Center
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 Windham County and Connecticut Southeastern 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 | Windham | |
| Region | Southeastern CT | |
| Incorporated | 1693 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 27.9 sq mi (72.3 km2) | |
| • Land | 27.1 sq mi (70.1 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.9 sq mi (2.2 km2) | |
| Elevation | 233 ft (71 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,428 | |
| • Density | 903/sq mi (348.5/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Codes |
06226, 06235, 06256, 06266, 06280
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| Area code(s) | 860/959 | |
| FIPS code | 09-86790 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213537 | |
| Major highways |     |
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Windham (pronounced WIN-dəm) is a town located in Windham County, Connecticut, in the United States. It includes the areas of Willimantic, Windham Center, North Windham, and South Windham. Willimantic used to be its own city, but it joined with the town of Windham in 1983. The town is part of the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region. In 2020, about 24,428 people lived there.
Contents
A Look at Windham's Past
Before Europeans arrived, different Algonquian peoples lived in the Windham area. These included the Pequot, Mohegan, Narragansett, and Nipmuck tribes.
Early Native American History
After the Pequot War ended in 1638, the Pequot tribe no longer existed as it once did. Later, after King Philip's War finished in 1678, the Narragansett and Nipmuck tribes also changed greatly. This left the Mohegans as the main Native American group in the region.
How Windham Was Settled
The land for Windham was given to settlers by Joshua Uncas, who was the son of the Mohegan leader Uncas. This gift was made in a will from 1675. Settlers began to move in and held their first town meeting on May 18, 1691. The area was officially named the town of Windham in May 1692. It became part of Hartford County in the fall of 1693.
The Rise and Fall of Willimantic
In the early 1800s, the main center of activity in Windham shifted to Willimantic. This happened because the Willimantic River offered strong water power, which was perfect for building factories. Willimantic started as a small town area in 1833 and became a separate city in 1893. However, as its factories declined, Willimantic joined back with the town of Windham in 1983.
Windham's Location and Environment
Windham is located in eastern Connecticut.
Geographic Features
The United States Census Bureau says that Windham covers a total area of about 27.9 square miles (72.3 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 27.1 square miles (70.1 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.9 square miles (2.2 square kilometers), is water.
Local Weather Patterns
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record high °F (°C) | 69 (21) |
72 (22) |
82 (28) |
93 (34) |
95 (35) |
98 (37) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
100 (38) |
88 (31) |
80 (27) |
75 (24) |
100 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.3 (1.8) |
38.4 (3.6) |
47.3 (8.5) |
59.3 (15.2) |
70.1 (21.2) |
78.0 (25.6) |
82.3 (27.9) |
80.8 (27.1) |
73.8 (23.2) |
62.1 (16.7) |
51.9 (11.1) |
40.3 (4.6) |
60.0 (15.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.0 (−1.7) |
31.7 (−0.2) |
38.3 (3.5) |
48.1 (8.9) |
57.9 (14.4) |
67.7 (19.8) |
73.4 (23.0) |
72.1 (22.3) |
64.9 (18.3) |
54.0 (12.2) |
44.7 (7.1) |
34.7 (1.5) |
51.4 (10.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 17.0 (−8.3) |
19.6 (−6.9) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
36.2 (2.3) |
45.9 (7.7) |
55.5 (13.1) |
61.0 (16.1) |
59.9 (15.5) |
51.4 (10.8) |
39.6 (4.2) |
31.4 (−0.3) |
22.3 (−5.4) |
38.8 (3.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −27 (−33) |
−21 (−29) |
−16 (−27) |
6 (−14) |
22 (−6) |
30 (−1) |
37 (3) |
32 (0) |
20 (−7) |
15 (−9) |
1 (−17) |
−18 (−28) |
−27 (−33) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.36 (85) |
3.25 (83) |
4.32 (110) |
3.74 (95) |
3.49 (89) |
3.68 (93) |
3.43 (87) |
3.35 (85) |
3.44 (87) |
3.94 (100) |
3.99 (101) |
3.78 (96) |
43.77 (1,111) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.1 (21) |
11.1 (28) |
5.5 (14) |
1.1 (2.8) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
6.7 (17) |
33.4 (85.1) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 72 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in.) | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
| Source: | |||||||||||||
Windham has a climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are usually warm and humid, while winters are cold with snow. Spring and fall offer milder temperatures and colorful changes in nature.
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 2,489 | — | |
| 1840 | 3,382 | — | |
| 1850 | 4,503 | 33.1% | |
| 1860 | 4,243 | −5.8% | |
| 1870 | 5,412 | 27.6% | |
| 1880 | 8,264 | 52.7% | |
| 1890 | 10,032 | 21.4% | |
| 1900 | 8,937 | −10.9% | |
| 1910 | 12,604 | 41.0% | |
| 1920 | 13,801 | 9.5% | |
| 1930 | 13,773 | −0.2% | |
| 1940 | 13,824 | 0.4% | |
| 1950 | 15,884 | 14.9% | |
| 1960 | 16,973 | 6.9% | |
| 1970 | 19,626 | 15.6% | |
| 1980 | 21,062 | 7.3% | |
| 1990 | 22,039 | 4.6% | |
| 2000 | 22,857 | 3.7% | |
| 2010 | 25,268 | 10.5% | |
| 2020 | 24,428 | −3.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 22,857 people living in Windham. There were 8,342 households, and 5,088 families. The town had about 844 people per square mile.
Diversity in Windham
The people living in Windham come from many different backgrounds. In 2000, about 74% of the population was White, 5.1% African American, and 1.3% Asian. About 15.2% were from other races, and 3.8% were from two or more races. A significant part of the population, about 26.9%, identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Household and Age Information
About 30.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.47 people, and the average family had 3.05 people.
The population's age was spread out:
- 23.0% were under 18 years old.
- 18.1% were between 18 and 24.
- 27.2% were between 25 and 44.
- 19.1% were between 45 and 64.
- 12.6% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Windham was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were about 93.5 males.
Income Levels
In 2000, the average income for a household in Windham was $35,087. For families, the average income was $42,023. About 17.5% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 23.9% of those under 18 and 9.6% of those 65 or older.
Arts and Culture in Windham
Windham has several places that are important for their history and culture. These sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Dr. Chester Hunt Office
- Forty-Seventh Camp of Rochambeau's Army
- Fourth Camp of Rochambeau's Army
- Main Street Historic District
- March Route of Rochambeau's Army: Scotland Road
- Willimantic Armory
- Windham Center Historic District
Learning and Education
Windham offers many educational opportunities for students of all ages.
Public School System
The Windham Public School system serves students from preschool through high school.
- Elementary schools are based on where students live.
- Windham Middle School and Windham High School serve all students in the town.
The school district has:
- One preschool
- Four elementary schools
- One middle school
- One high school
- An alternative high school called Windham Phoenix Academy. This school helps students with special learning needs and offers a program for 18-22 year olds to prepare for work.
As of January 2024, about 3,209 students were enrolled in Windham's public schools. One out of three students is learning English, which is one of the highest numbers in Connecticut.
Specialized Schools
- Charles Barrows STEM Academy: Located in Willimantic, this public magnet school focuses on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Students from kindergarten to eighth grade can attend through a lottery system.
- Windham Technical High School: This school offers technical education for high school students from Windham and nearby towns. It is part of the Connecticut Technical High School System. Students from 23 different towns attended Windham Tech in the 2023-24 school year.
- E. O. Smith High School: High school students from Windham can also attend the vocational agriculture program at E. O. Smith High School in the nearby town of Mansfield.
- Arts at the Capitol Theater Performing Arts High School: This specialized high school in Willimantic focuses on performing arts. It is run by a non-profit group called EASTCONN.
- St. Mary-St. Joseph School: This is a Catholic school in downtown Willimantic for students from pre-kindergarten to 8th grade.
Schools in Windham
- Public Schools:
- Windham Early Childhood Center (pre-K)
- Natchaug School (Kindergarten-5th grade)
- North Windham School (Kindergarten-5th grade)
- W.B. Sweeney School (Kindergarten-5th grade)
- Windham Center School (Kindergarten-5th grade)
- Windham Middle School (6th-8th grade)
- Windham High School (9th-12th grade)
- Windham Technical High School (9th-12th grade)
- Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy (Kindergarten-8th grade magnet school)
- Private Schools:
- Arts at the Capitol Theater
- St. Mary-St. Joseph School (pre-K to 8th grade)
Higher Education Opportunities
For students seeking college education, Windham offers:
- Eastern Connecticut State University: A four-year college located in Willimantic.
- Quinebaug Valley Community College: Has a satellite campus in Willimantic.
Getting Around Windham
Windham has several ways to travel, including roads, buses, and an airport.
Roads and Highways
Several state routes and a U.S. highway pass through Windham:
- Route 32 goes through South Windham and the northwestern part of Willimantic.
- Route 66 runs east to west from North Windham to Columbia.
- Route 14 connects Willimantic to Windham Center.
- Route 203 serves the eastern part of town, from North Windham to South Windham.
- Route 195 goes from Willimantic to Mansfield, eventually leading to the University of Connecticut.
- Route 289 starts in southern Willimantic and goes into Lebanon.
- US 6 goes around Willimantic and serves North Windham.
Public Transportation
- Bus Service: Buses are available around the town seven days a week. Bus service is provided by the Windham Region Transit District and Connecticut Transit express bus route 918.
- Airports: Windham Airport is a small airport for general aviation in North Windham. The closest major airport for commercial flights is Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks.
- Train Service: There is no passenger train service in Windham. However, a freight train stop for the Providence and Worcester Railroad is located in Willimantic.
Famous People from Windham
Many notable people have connections to Windham:
- George Hewitt Cushman (1814–1876): An artist known for engravings and miniature paintings.
- Eliphalet Dyer (1721–1807): A lawyer and judge who represented Connecticut in the Continental Congress. He was born in Windham.
- Benjamin Hanks (1755–1824): A skilled craftsman who was the first in America to make bronze cannons and church bells.
- William Hebard (1800–1875): A United States representative from Vermont who was born in Windham.
- Samuel Huntington (1731–1796): A very important historical figure who signed both the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. He also served as the 18th Governor of Connecticut.
- Jerusha Bingham Kirkland (1743–1788): A missionary and niece of Eleazar Wheelock.
- Gardiner Means (1896–1988): A well-known economist.
- Mary A. Ripley (1831–1893): An author, lecturer, and teacher.
- Eleazar Wheelock (1711–1779): A minister, speaker, and educator who founded Dartmouth College. He was born in Windham.
Images for kids
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Dr. Chester Hunt Office in Windham Center
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Seal of Windham, Connecticut
See also
In Spanish: Windham (Connecticut) para niños
