Windsor Locks, Connecticut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Windsor Locks, Connecticut
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| Town of Windsor Locks | ||
The Windsor Locks Canal Company alongside the Enfield Falls Canal
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 Hartford County and Connecticut Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut |
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| Country |  United States |
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| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
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| County | Hartford | |
| Region | Capitol Region | |
| Settled | 1633 | |
| Incorporated | 1854 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 9.4 sq mi (24.3 km2) | |
| • Land | 9.0 sq mi (23.4 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.3 sq mi (0.9 km2) | |
| Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,613 | |
| • Density | 1,344.3/sq mi (519.1/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) | |
| ZIP Code |
06096
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| Area code(s) | 860/959 | |
| FIPS code | 09-87070 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0212355 | |
| Interstates |  |
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| State Routes |     |
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Windsor Locks is a lively town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It's part of the Capitol Planning Region. In 2020, about 12,613 people called Windsor Locks home.
This town is famous for being the location of Bradley International Airport. This airport serves the larger Hartford-Springfield area and takes up about one-third of the town's land. You can also find the New England Air Museum here, which is a great place to explore aircraft history.
Windsor Locks is right next to the Connecticut River. It's located halfway between the big cities of Springfield, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut. The town got its name from special canal locks that opened in 1829. These locks helped boats get around the Enfield Falls, which is a waterfall in the Connecticut River. This spot is the farthest upriver that large ships can travel.
Contents
A Look at Windsor Locks History
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Windsor Locks was originally part of a town called Windsor. It became its own separate town in 1854. The name "Windsor Locks" came from the successful Enfield Locks, which were built in 1829 to bypass the Enfield Falls.
Bradley International Airport started as a military base in 1940. It opened for regular civilian flights in 1947. In 1967, the town's border changed a bit when the Bradley Airport Connector road was built.
Winning the Little League World Series in 1965
In 1965, the Windsor Locks Little League team, coached by Russ Mattesen, made it to the finals! They played against Stoney Creek Little League from Stoney Creek, Ontario.
On August 28, 1965, pitcher Mike Roche was amazing, striking out 14 players. Dale Misek hit a two-run home run, helping the team win 3-1. Windsor Locks Little League became the champion of the 1965 Little League World Series!
Windsor Locks Geography and Climate
The United States Census Bureau says that Windsor Locks covers about 24.3 square kilometers (9.4 square miles). Most of this area, 23.4 square kilometers (9.0 square miles), is land. The rest, 0.9 square kilometers (0.3 square miles), is water.
Understanding the Local Climate
Windsor Locks has a humid continental climate. This means summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold, sometimes very cold.
In January, the average high temperature is about 2.2°C (36°F), and the low is around -7.8°C (18°F). Temperatures can drop to zero degrees or below about four nights a year. Summers can be hot, with an average July daytime temperature of 30.6°C (87°F) and nighttime temperature of 17.2°C (63°F). Temperatures of 32°C (90°F) or higher can happen 15 to 25 days each year.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Windsor Locks was 39.4°C (103°F) on July 22, 2011. The coldest was -32°C (-26°F) on January 22, 1961. On average, Windsor Locks gets about 46.27 inches of rain each year.
Who Lives in Windsor Locks?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,587 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,154 | 35.7% | |
| 1880 | 2,332 | 8.3% | |
| 1890 | 2,758 | 18.3% | |
| 1900 | 3,062 | 11.0% | |
| 1910 | 3,715 | 21.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,554 | −4.3% | |
| 1930 | 4,073 | 14.6% | |
| 1940 | 4,347 | 6.7% | |
| 1950 | 5,221 | 20.1% | |
| 1960 | 11,411 | 118.6% | |
| 1970 | 15,080 | 32.2% | |
| 1980 | 12,190 | −19.2% | |
| 1990 | 12,358 | 1.4% | |
| 2000 | 12,043 | −2.5% | |
| 2010 | 12,498 | 3.8% | |
| 2020 | 12,613 | 0.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 12,043 people living in Windsor Locks. These people made up 4,935 households and 3,306 families. The town had about 5,101 housing units.
Most of the people in town were White (92.47%). There were also African American (2.67%), Asian (2.57%), and Native American (0.12%) residents. About 2.22% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 29.3% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 50.9% were married couples. The average household had 2.43 people, and the average family had 2.97 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 23.7% were under 18, and 16.5% were 65 or older. The average age in town was 39 years old.
Windsor Locks Economy
For many years, Windsor Locks was home to the Dexter Corporation. This company was founded in 1767 and was the oldest corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange. It started as a small mill and grew into a large company making special papers and chemicals.
Dexter Corporation made many products, from tissues and tea bags to medical clothes. In 2000, the company split into three parts and was sold. One part, Dexter Nonwoven Materials, is still located in Windsor Locks and is now owned by Suominen Corporation.
In 1952, Hamilton Standard opened its aircraft propeller factory in Windsor Locks. This company later merged to become Hamilton Sundstrand in 1999, with its main office in Windsor Locks. Today, it's known as Collins Aerospace.
Education in Windsor Locks
Windsor Locks Public Schools manage the education for students from preschool to high school. The town has five public schools and one special program for older students.
- North Street Elementary School: For students in Pre-K3 to 2nd grade.
- South Street Elementary School: For students in 3rd to 5th grade.
- Windsor Locks Middle School: For students in 6th to 8th grade.
- Windsor Locks High School: For students in 9th to 12th grade.
- Pine Meadow Academy: An alternative high school for 9th to 12th grade.
- Rise Transition Academy: A program for students aged 18 to 21.
Historical Places to Visit
Several places in Windsor Locks are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites worth preserving.
- David Pinney House and Barn: Located at 58 West St. (added August 25, 1977)
- Enfield Falls Canal: Runs along the Connecticut River from Windsor Locks north to Suffield, CT (added May 22, 1976)
- J. R. Montgomery Company Industrial Complex: Located at 25 Canal Bank Rd. (added December 31, 2017)
- Memorial Hall: At the intersection of South Main and Elm streets (added July 2, 1987)
- Windsor Locks Passenger Station: On Main Street (added October 2, 1975)
Famous People from Windsor Locks
Many interesting people have connections to Windsor Locks:
- John A. Chapman (1965–2002): A US Air Force Combat Controller who was awarded the Medal of Honor after he passed away.
- Ella Grasso: The 83rd Governor of Connecticut.
- Henry Molaison (1926–2008): An American patient who had brain surgery for epilepsy. This surgery helped him, but it also caused him to have anterograde amnesia, meaning he couldn't form new memories.
- Kathryn Morris: An American actress known for her main role as Detective Lilly Rush in the TV show Cold Case.
- Kim Zolciak: A television personality known from The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Don't Be Tardy.
See also
In Spanish: Windsor Locks para niños
