Thomaston, Connecticut | |
|---|---|
| Town of Thomaston | |
 Autumn 2003 view of Thomaston fromPlymouth | |
 Seal | |
| Motto: "A Town For All Time..."[1] | |
 Litchfield County and Connecticut Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and Connecticut | |
 Show Thomaston Show Connecticut Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°40′15″N73°04′57″W / 41.67083°N 73.08250°W /41.67083; -73.08250 | |
| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | Litchfield |
| Region | Naugatuck Valley |
| Incorporated | 1875 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting |
| • First selectman | Edmond V. Mone (R)[2][3] |
| • Selectman | Michael Burr (R) |
| • Selectman | Jeffrey Dunn (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 12.2 sq mi (31.6 km2) |
| • Land | 12.0 sq mi (31.0 km2) |
| • Water | 0.23 sq mi (0.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 446 ft (136 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 7,442 |
| • Density | 622/sq mi (240.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP codes | 06787 |
| Area codes | 860/959 |
| FIPS code | 09-75730 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213515 |
| Website | www |
Thomaston is atown inLitchfield County,Connecticut, United States. The town is part of theNaugatuck Valley Planning Region. The population was 7,442 at the2020 census.[4] The urban center of the town is the Thomastoncensus-designated place, with a population of 1,928 at the 2020 census.[5]
The town, originally part of the town ofPlymouth and referred to as "Plymouth Hollow", was first settled by Henry Cook ("the soldier in the wilderness", 1683–1750) around 1728.[6]: 480 [7] The town is known forclockmaking, which started in 1803, whenEli Terry established a factory in the town. Terry broughtmass production to the clockmaking industry, helping to reduce the cost of clocks. He introduced and patented theshelf clock in 1814, which reduced the cost of a clock from $25 to $5. His clocks were sold throughout the United States.[6]: 480
The town was incorporated in its own right and under the name "Thomaston" in 1875.[8] The name derives fromSeth Thomas, the early clockmaker, who established a factory in town in 1812.[6]: 60 [8] TheSeth Thomas clock factory building still exists; however, the clockmaking industry has long since left the state as well as the country.
Thomaston is in southeastern Litchfield County, bordered on the south by the city ofWaterbury inNew Haven County. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.6 km2), of which 12.0 square miles (31.0 km2) are land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km2) (1.94%) are water.[9]
The town is located at the confluence of theNaugatuck River, Northfield Brook and Black Rock Brook, and is protected byU.S. Army Corps of Engineers flood control dams on each of these watercourses. These were all constructed in the years immediately following the devastating flood of 1955 which ravaged the town as well as the state in general.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 3,225 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,278 | 1.6% | |
| 1900 | 3,300 | 0.7% | |
| 1910 | 3,533 | 7.1% | |
| 1920 | 3,993 | 13.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,188 | 4.9% | |
| 1940 | 4,238 | 1.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,896 | 15.5% | |
| 1960 | 5,850 | 19.5% | |
| 1970 | 6,233 | 6.5% | |
| 1980 | 6,276 | 0.7% | |
| 1990 | 6,947 | 10.7% | |
| 2000 | 7,503 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 7,887 | 5.1% | |
| 2020 | 7,442 | −5.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] | |||
As of thecensus[11] of 2000, there were 7,503 people, 2,916 households, and 2,067 families residing in the town. The population density was 624.7 inhabitants per square mile (241.2/km2). There were 3,014 housing units at an average density of 251.0 per square mile (96.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.85%White,Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.45% of the population, 0.60%African American, 0.11%Native American, 0.49%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.41% fromother races, and 0.53% from two or more races.
There were 2,916 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% weremarried couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,297, and the median income for a family was $63,682. Males had a median income of $40,795 versus $31,744 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $24,799. 4.2% of the population and 3.3% of families were below thepoverty line. Of the total population, 5.8% of those under the age of 18 and 4.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
TheRoute 8 expressway runs along theNaugatuck River in the eastern part of town and has three exits in Thomaston. Other state highways in the town areU.S. Route 6,Connecticut Route 109,Route 222, andRoute 254. Thomaston is headquarters of theNaugatuck Railroad, aheritage railway andshort line freight operator that operates 21 miles (34 km) of formerNew Haven trackage between Waterbury andTorrington. Interchange is withPan Am Railways at Highland Junction.
The town is home toThomaston High School, a school with roughly up to 375 students, from grade 7 to 12. It is also home to Black Rock Elementary School, hosting Pre-K to 3rd grade, and Thomaston Center School, hosting the town's 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students.
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Media related toThomaston, Connecticut at Wikimedia Commons
Municipalities and communities ofNaugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut,United States | ||
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Municipalities and communities ofLitchfield County, Connecticut,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties. | |
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