Durham, Connecticut | |
|---|---|
| Town of Durham | |
 View from Pistapaug Mountain | |
 Seal | |
 Interactive map of Durham, Connecticut | |
| Coordinates:41°27′37″N72°40′55″W / 41.46028°N 72.68194°W /41.46028; -72.68194 | |
| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | Middlesex |
| Region | Lower CT River Valley |
| Incorporated | 1708 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting |
| • First selectman | Brendan Rea (R) |
| • Selectman | Robert Chadd (R) |
| • Selectman | Thomas Hennick (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 23.8 sq mi (61.6 km2) |
| • Land | 23.6 sq mi (61.1 km2) |
| • Water | 0.15 sq mi (0.4 km2) |
| Elevation | 161 ft (49 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,152 |
| • Density | 303.1/sq mi (117.0/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 06422 |
| Area codes | 860/959 |
| FIPS code | 09-20810 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213419[1] |
| Website | www |
Durham (/ˈdɜːrəm/DURR-əm) is atown inMiddlesex County,Connecticut, United States. Durham is a former farming village on theCoginchaug River in central Connecticut. The town is part of theLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The population was 7,152 at the2020 census.[2] Every autumn, the town hosts theDurham Fair, the largest volunteeragricultural fair in New England.
TheDurham town center is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as acensus-designated place. The core of the town center has also been listed as ahistoric district on theNational Register of Historic Places.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.8 square miles (62 km2), of which 23.6 square miles (61 km2) is land and 0.2 square mile (40 ha or 0.67%) is water. The town center CDP has a total area of 6.3 square miles (16 km2), of which 6.3 square miles (16 km2) is land and 0.16% is water.
The west side of Durham is flanked by theMetacomet Ridge, a mountainoustrap rock ridgeline that stretches fromLong Island Sound to nearly theVermont border. Notable features of the Metacomet ridge in Durham includeTrimountain,Fowler Mountain,Pistapaug Mountain, and the northern tip ofTotoket Mountain. The 50-mile (80-kilometer)Mattabesett Trail traverses the ridge.Miller's Pond State Park is located within the town.
Durham was incorporated in 1708.[3] The settlement was named afterDurham, England.[4] It took land fromGuilford, andHaddam. Durham has one of the firstpublic libraries in the United States. It was founded in 1733, two years afterBenjamin Franklin started thePhiladelphia library.[5]Moses Austin who, along with his sonStephen F. Austin, began the settlement ofSpanish andMexican Texas byAnglo-Americans, was born in Durham in 1761. In the 1830s Durham came to prominence as the birthplace of Richard P. Robinson, who was tried for and acquitted of the infamous murder ofHelen Jewett.[5]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 1,079 | — | |
| 1800 | 1,029 | −4.6% | |
| 1810 | 1,101 | 7.0% | |
| 1820 | 1,210 | 9.9% | |
| 1830 | 1,116 | −7.8% | |
| 1840 | 1,095 | −1.9% | |
| 1850 | 1,026 | −6.3% | |
| 1860 | 1,130 | 10.1% | |
| 1870 | 1,086 | −3.9% | |
| 1880 | 990 | −8.8% | |
| 1890 | 856 | −13.5% | |
| 1900 | 884 | 3.3% | |
| 1910 | 997 | 12.8% | |
| 1920 | 959 | −3.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,044 | 8.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,098 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,804 | 64.3% | |
| 1960 | 3,096 | 71.6% | |
| 1970 | 4,489 | 45.0% | |
| 1980 | 5,143 | 14.6% | |
| 1990 | 5,732 | 11.5% | |
| 2000 | 6,627 | 15.6% | |
| 2010 | 7,388 | 11.5% | |
| 2020 | 7,152 | −3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] | |||
As of thecensus[7] of 2000, there were 6,627 people, 2,277 households, and 1,871 families living in the town. The population density was 280.8 inhabitants per square mile (108.4/km2). There were 2,349 housing units at an average density of 99.5 per square mile (38.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.68%White, 1.15%Black orAfrican American, 0.18%Native American, 0.85%Asian, 0.30% fromother races, and 0.85% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 1.54% of the population.
There were 2,277 households, out of which 41.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.3% weremarried couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.8% were non-families. 14.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.85 and the average family size was 3.17.
The age distribution was 29.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $77,639, and the median income for a family was $82,864. Males had a median income of $51,250 versus $38,833 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $29,306. About 1.3% of families and 1.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 0.4% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.
As of thecensus[7] of 2000, there were 2,773 people, 1,040 households, and 809 families living in theDurham census-designated place, corresponding to the town center. The population density was 443.1 inhabitants per square mile (171.1/km2). There were 1,078 housing units at an average density of 172.3 per square mile (66.5/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.91%White, 0.47%Black orAfrican American, 0.07%Native American, 0.87%Asian, 0.25% fromother races, and 0.43% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino people of any race were 1.01% of the population.
There were 1,040 households, out of which 36.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% weremarried couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.2% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town center CDP, the age distribution was 26.1% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $66,505, and the median income for a family was $72,465. Males had a median income of $47,179 versus $37,500 for females. Theper capita income for the CDP was $26,972. About 2.1% of families and 3.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 1.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Durham has aselectman-town meeting form of government. The current first selectman is Republican Brendan Rea, who has served since 2023.[8] The other selectmen are Republican Robert Chadd, and Democrat Thomas Hennick
| Voter Registration and party enrollment as of October 31, 2024[9] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters | Percentage | |
| Republican | 1,700 | 110 | 1,810 | 30.65% | |
| Democratic | 1,376 | 96 | 1,472 | 24.92% | |
| Unaffiliated | 2,341 | 203 | 2,544 | 43.08% | |
| Minor parties | 77 | 3 | 80 | 0.14% | |
| Total | 5,494 | 412 | 5,906 | 100% | |
| Representative | Chamber | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vincent Candelora | House of Representatives | 86th | Rep |
| John-Michael Parker | House of Representatives | 101st | Dem |
| Representative | Chamber | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Cicarella | Senate | 34th | Rep |
| Christine Cohen | Senate | 12th | Dem |
| Representative | Chamber | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosa DeLauro | Congress | 3rd | Dem |
Durham has voted consistently voted Republican in gubernatorial elections. In the2018 election, Republican Bob Stefanowski beat Democrat Ned Lamont 57%–37%.[11]
Durham is a swing town in presidential elections, having voted for the Democratic and Republican candidate five times each in the last ten election cycles.[12]
| Presidential Election Results[13][14] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 49.4%2,363 | 48.7%2,330 | 1.9%89 |
| 2016 | 44.4%1,898 | 50.4%2,156 | 5.2%221 |
| 2012 | 48.9%2,013 | 49.7%2,043 | 1.4%57 |
| 2008 | 52.6%2,187 | 45.5%1,893 | 1.9%79 |
| 2004 | 49.1%2,021 | 49.2% 2,026 | 1.7%70 |
| 2000 | 50.2%1,824 | 42.9%1,561 | 6.9%250 |
| 1996 | 46.1%1,504 | 37.1%1,209 | 16.8%547 |
| 1992 | 35.9%1,252 | 34.9%1,215 | 29.2%1,017 |
| 1988 | 43.1%1,268 | 55.2%1,622 | 1.7%50 |
| 1984 | 34.0%760 | 65.5%1,754 | 0.5%13 |
| 1980 | 33.5%860 | 49.2%1,262 | 17.3%502 |
| 1976 | 42.0%1,033 | 57.2%1,406 | 0.7%19 |
| 1972 | 35.1%780 | 63.8%1,418 | 1.1%24 |
| 1968 | 41.0%680 | 52.9%878 | 6.1%99 |
| 1964 | 57.9%904 | 42.1%655 | 0.00%0 |
| 1960 | 39.3%578 | 60.7%894 | 0.00%0 |
| 1956 | 27.2%302 | 72.8%810 | 0.00%0 |
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The Durham Meadows superfund site encompasses an area of town around the abandoned Merriam Manufacturing, and the operational Durham Manufacturing company. Both companies disposed of organic solvents, paint wastes, and degreasers in open lagoons and buried drums. The waste leached into the town's water supply, contaminating several private wells withmethylene chloride,1,4-dioxane, and othervolatile organic compounds (VOCs).
TheU.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection are coordinating cleanup and monitoring efforts, including the delivery of free bottled water to affected residents.
Municipalities and communities ofMiddlesex County, Connecticut,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
Municipalities and communities ofLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut,United States | ||
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