Westbrook, Connecticut | |
|---|---|
| Town of Westbrook | |
 Looking east on Trolley Road | |
 Seal | |
 Middlesex County and Connecticut Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region and Connecticut | |
 Show Westbrook Show Connecticut Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°18′N72°28′W / 41.300°N 72.467°W /41.300; -72.467 | |
| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | Middlesex |
| Region | Lower CT River Valley |
| Incorporated | 1840 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting |
| • First selectman | John Hall, III (R) |
| • Selectman | Joseph Campbell (R) |
| • Selectman | Chester Bialicki (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 21.4 sq mi (55.4 km2) |
| • Land | 15.7 sq mi (40.7 km2) |
| • Water | 5.7 sq mi (14.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 52 ft (16 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,769 |
| • Density | 431/sq mi (166.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 06498 |
| Area codes | 860/959 |
| FIPS code | 09-81680 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213528[1] |
| Website | http://www.westbrookct.us/ |
Westbrook is atown inMiddlesex County,Connecticut, United States. The town is part of theLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. Thepopulation was 6,769 at the2020 census.[2] Thetown center is classified by theU.S. Census Bureau as acensus-designated place (CDP).
Westbrook lies in the shoreline area of the state. The town is bordered by the towns ofEssex,Clinton,Deep River, andOld Saybrook, where theConnecticut River empties intoLong Island Sound. The Salt Meadow Unit of theStewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge is located in town.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.4 square miles (55 km2), of which 15.7 square miles (41 km2) is land and 5.7 square miles (15 km2) (26.47%) is water. The Westbrook Center CDP has a total area of 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) of which 22.33% is water.
Westbrook encompasses three islands in Long Island Sound, all of which are uninhabited.Salt Island is the easternmost and smallest, at approximately 0.9 acres.Menunketesuck Island, which is the largest of Westbrook's islands at approximately 4.6 acres, extends into the Sound from the outlet of the Menunketesuck and Patchogue Rivers and is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. Further west is Duck Island, measuring approximately 3.6 acres.[3]
Private beach Associations in the town are: Chapman Beach, Coral Sands, Grove Beach Point, Grove Beach Terrace, Horse Hill, Island View, Kelsey Point, Little Stannard, Middle Beach, Pilot's Point, Pointina, Quotonset Beach, Sagamore Terrace, Salt Works, Stannard Beach, West Beach.
Westbrook was incorporated in 1840.[4]Before being incorporated, Westbrook was known as Pochoug and then West Saybrook and was a district within the Town of Old Saybrook.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1840 | 1,182 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,202 | 1.7% | |
| 1860 | 1,056 | −12.1% | |
| 1870 | 987 | −6.5% | |
| 1880 | 878 | −11.0% | |
| 1890 | 874 | −0.5% | |
| 1900 | 884 | 1.1% | |
| 1910 | 951 | 7.6% | |
| 1920 | 849 | −10.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,037 | 22.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,159 | 11.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,549 | 33.6% | |
| 1960 | 2,399 | 54.9% | |
| 1970 | 3,820 | 59.2% | |
| 1980 | 5,216 | 36.5% | |
| 1990 | 5,414 | 3.8% | |
| 2000 | 6,292 | 16.2% | |
| 2010 | 6,938 | 10.3% | |
| 2020 | 6,769 | −2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] | |||
At the2000 census there were 6,292 people, 2,605 households, and 1,693 families living in the town. The population density was 400.3 inhabitants per square mile (154.6/km2). There were 3,460 housing units at an average density of 220.1 per square mile (85.0/km2). Theracial makeup of the town was 95.76% White, 0.70% African American, 0.13% Native American, 1.56% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.72% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.51%.[6]
Of the 2,605 households 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.1% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% were non-families. 28.0% of households were one person and 12.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.93.
The age distribution was 21.8% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median household income was $57,531 and the median family income was $71,344. Males had a median income of $46,889 versus $32,227 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,680. About 2.7% of families and 5.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 8.1% of those age 65 or over.
At the2000 census, there were 2,238 people, 1,052 households, and 551 families living in theWestbrook Center CDP. The population density was 1,336.0 inhabitants per square mile (515.8/km2). There were 1,662 housing units at an average density of 992.2 per square mile (383.1/km2). Theracial makeup of the CDP was 94.50% White, 1.39% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.19% Asian, 0.63% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.19% of the population.
Of the 1,052 households 18.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 37.9% of households were one person and 16.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.09 and the average family size was 2.71.
The age distribution was 16.1% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.4% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median household income was $45,385 and the median family income was $59,375. Males had a median income of $40,707 versus $31,250 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $29,866. About 3.7% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 31, 2023[7] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Total voters | Percentage | |||
| Unaffiliated | 2,302 | 43.75% | |||
| Republican | 1,469 | 27.9% | |||
| Democratic | 1,395 | 26.5% | |||
| Minor parties | 96 | 1.8% | |||
| Total | 5,262 | 100% | |||
| Presidential Election Results[8][9] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
| 2024 | 51.4%2,178 | 47.4%2,006 | 1.2%49 |
| 2020 | 53.0%2,288 | 45.4%1,958 | 1.5%65 |
| 2016 | 44.8%1,699 | 51.0%1,936 | 4.0%155 |
| 2012 | 53.6%1,903 | 45.2%1,605 | 1.3%45 |
| 2008 | 54.9%2,104 | 43.8%1,680 | 1.3%51 |
| 2004 | 51.0%1,908 | 47.7%1,787 | 1.3%49 |
| 2000 | 51.8%1,720 | 42.0%1,397 | 6.1%203 |
The town's public education needs are overseen by its local school district. Westbrook's publicelementary school, the Daisy Ingraham Elementary School, was the recipient of aBlue Ribbon honor for excellence for 1998–1999. A newmiddle school, connected to thehigh school,Westbrook High School, opened in 2005.
Oxford Academy, an all-boysboarding school, has been located in Westbrook since 1973.
The town of Westbrook is the home ofConnecticut State Police Troop F, located onInterstate 95 and Spencer Plains Road. Police services in Westbrook are coordinated by a Resident State Trooper and several Police Constables. Constables patrol during the day and evening hours while overnight patrol is provided by the State Police.
Fire protection is provided by the Westbrook Fire Department (a.k.a. Westbrook Chemical Engine Company), located on South Main Street. Thisall-volunteer department is responsible for response to alarms of fire, rescue emergencies and medical emergencies. Emergency Medical Services are provided by the Westbrook Ambulance Association, a paid-on-call basic life support service. Paramedic services are provided by Middlesex Hospital from their satellite facility in Essex, CT.
Westbrook station is a station along theShore Line East commuter line.
TheEstuary Transit District provides public bus transportation throughout Westbrook and the surrounding towns through its 9 Town Transit Service. Services include connections to theOld Saybrook Train Station which is served byAmtrak in addition to the Shore Line East railroad.
Municipalities and communities ofMiddlesex County, Connecticut,United States | ||
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| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
Municipalities and communities ofLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| International | |
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