Litchfield County is acounty in northwesternConnecticut, United States. As of the2020 census, the population was 185,186.[1] The county was named afterLichfield, in England.[2] Litchfield County has the lowestpopulation density of any county in Connecticut and is the state's largest county by area.
As is the case with the other seven Connecticut counties, there is no county government and no county seat. Each town is responsible for all local services such as schools,snow removal, sewers, and fire and police departments. However, in some cases in rural areas, adjoining towns may agree to jointly provide services or even establish a regional school system. On June 6, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau formally recognizedConnecticut's nine councils of governments as county equivalents instead of the state's eight counties. Connecticut's county governments were disbanded in 1960, and the councils of governments took over some of the local governmental functions.Connecticut's eight historical counties continue to exist in name only, and are no longer considered for statistical purposes.[3]
Litchfield County was created on October 9, 1751, by an act of the Connecticut General Court from land belonging to Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties. The act establishing the county states:
That the townships of Litchfield, Woodbury, New Milford, Harwinton, New Hartford, Barkhempstead, Hartland, Colebrook, Norfolk, Canaan, Salisbury, Kent, Sharon, Cornwall, Goshen, Torrington, and Winchester, lying in the northwesterly part of this Colony, shall be and remain one entire county, and be called the County of Litchfield, and shall have and exercise the same powers, priviledges [sic] and authorities, and be subject to the same regulations, as the other counties in this Colony by law have and are subject unto. The bounds of which county shall extend north to the Colony line, and west to theColony line till it meets with the township of New Fairfield, and to include the towns abovementioned.[4][5]
Between 1780 and 1807, several new towns were created at the boundaries between Litchfield County and other counties in Connecticut. The town of Watertown was established in 1780 from Waterbury and was placed under Litchfield County jurisdiction. The establishment of the town of Brookfield from part of New Milford in 1788 resulted in Litchfield County losing territory to Fairfield County. In 1796, the town of Hartland was transferred to Hartford County. In 1798, the town of Oxford was established from part of Southbury causing Litchfield County to lose territory to New Haven County. In 1807, the town of Southbury was transferred to New Haven County. The final boundary change occurred on October 8, 1807, when the town ofMiddlebury was established from part of Woodbury.[6]
In 1862, during theCivil War, Litchfield County raised the2nd Connecticut Regiment of Volunteers Heavy Artillery. This regiment, originally the19th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, served in the defense of Washington, D.C. from September 1862 to March 1864, at which time it was transferred to theArmy of the Potomac. On June 1, 1864, the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery fought as infantry (as it continued to do through the war) in theBattle of Cold Harbor, experiencing the heaviest proportionate losses of any Connecticut regiment in the Civil War. The regiment remained active to the end of the war, and its final mustering out September 5, 1865.[7]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 945 square miles (2,450 km2), of which 921 square miles (2,390 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (2.5%) is water.[8] It is the largest county in Connecticut by area. Litchfield County is roughly contiguous with the portion of theAppalachian Mountains range known as theBerkshire Mountains (sometimes locally, this area is called theLitchfield Hills).
As of thecensus[14] of 2000, there were 182,193 people, 71,551 households, and 49,584 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 198 inhabitants per square mile (76/km2). There were 79,267 housing units at an average density of 86/sq mi (33/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 95.77% White, 1.10% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 2.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.8% were ofItalian, 14.8% Irish, 10.6% English, 9.2% German and 6.3% French ancestry. 92.3% spoke English, 2.1% Spanish, 1.6% Italian and 1.2% French as their first language.
There were 71,551 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% weremarried couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $56,273, and the median income for a family was $66,445 (these figures had risen to $67,591 and $81,752 respectively as of a 2007 estimate).[15] Males had a median income of $45,586 versus $31,870 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $28,408. About 2.70% of families and 4.50% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 4.30% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.
As of the2010 United States census, there were 189,927 people, 76,640 households, and 51,530 families residing in the county.[16] The population density was 206.3 inhabitants per square mile (79.7/km2). There were 87,550 housing units at an average density of 95.1 per square mile (36.7/km2).[17] Theracial makeup of the county was 93.9% white, 1.5% Asian, 1.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.[16] In terms of ancestry, 23.0% wereItalian, 21.3% wereIrish, 14.8% wereEnglish, 14.5% wereGerman, 8.3% werePolish, and 3.3% wereAmerican.[18]
Of the 76,640 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.8% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 44.4 years.[16]
The median income for a household in the county was $69,639 and the median income for a family was $84,890. Males had a median income of $57,362 versus $42,729 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,848. About 3.6% of families and 5.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.[19]
Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, "Race alone or in combination with one or more other races."[22]
Litchfield County has voted forRepublican presidential candidates more often than the rest of the state. In 2004 Bush won 52% to Kerry's 46%, making Litchfield the only county in southern New England that Bush carried. Litchfield was one of two Connecticut counties won byGeorge H. W. Bush in 1992.[23] But in 2008, no county in Connecticut, including Litchfield, was won by Republican candidateJohn McCain. The county also went for theDemocratic presidential candidate in 1964, 1996, and 2000. In 2012 it was the only county won byMitt Romney in the state.[24] In 2016, 2020 and 2024,Donald Trump won the county, with his 2024 campaign receiving the highest raw number (but not percentage) of votes for a Republican candidate in the county's history.[25]
United States presidential election results for Litchfield County, Connecticut[26]
Map of Litchfield County, Connecticut showing cities, boroughs, towns, CDPs, and Indian ReservationsMap highlighting the Greater TorringtonMicropolitan Area
Boroughs are incorporated portions of one or more towns with separate borough councils, zoning boards, and borough officials. Villages are named localities, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.
All areas of the county are inarea code 860 except for the towns ofWoodbury,Bethlehem and a small part ofRoxbury, which are in thearea code 203/area code 475 overlay. The geographical Woodbury Telephone Exchange (of the now defunctWoodbury Telephone Company) serves the two towns as well as the town ofSouthbury, which is inNew Haven County and the small part of Roxbury. Ten digit dialing took effect for both area codes on November 14, 2009, as a result of the203/475 overlay and the planned but not implemented860/959 overlay.
