Kent, Connecticut | |
|---|---|
 St. Andrew's Church | |
 Seal | |
 Litchfield County and Connecticut Northwest Hills Planning Region and Connecticut | |
 Show Kent Show Connecticut Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°43′54″N73°27′09″W / 41.73167°N 73.45250°W /41.73167; -73.45250 | |
| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | Litchfield |
| Region | Northwest Hills |
| Incorporated | 1739 |
| Named after | Kent,England |
| Government | |
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting |
| • First selectman | Marty Lindenmayer (I) |
| • Selectman | Lynn Mellis Worthington (D) |
| • Selectman | Glenn Sanchez (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 49.6 sq mi (128.5 km2) |
| • Land | 48.5 sq mi (125.7 km2) |
| • Water | 1.0 sq mi (2.7 km2) |
| Elevation | 466 ft (142 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,019 |
| • Density | 62/sq mi (24/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP codes | 06757, 06785 |
| Area codes | 860/959 |
| FIPS code | 09-40290 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213446 |
| Website | www |
Kent is a town inLitchfield County, Connecticut, United States. Located alongside the border withNew York, the town's population was 3,019 according to the2020 census.[1] The town is part of theNorthwest Hills Planning Region. Kent is home to threeboarding schools:Kent School, theMarvelwood School, andSouth Kent School. TheSchaghticoke Indian Reservation is also located within town borders. The town was also home to formerU.S. Secretary of StateHenry Kissinger andFamily Guy creatorSeth MacFarlane.
The town of Kent was sectioned in 1737 and settled about 1739.[2] The town was named after the countyKent in England.[3]
Kent is in western Litchfield County and is bordered to the west byDutchess County, New York. It is 26 miles (42 kilometers) north ofDanbury and 50 miles (80 km) west ofHartford. The town's central village is found at41°43′29″N73°28′39″W / 41.72472°N 73.47750°W /41.72472; -73.47750. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of49+5⁄8 square miles (128.5 km2), of which48+1⁄2 square miles (125.7 km2) are land and 1 square mile (2.7 km2), or 2.14%, is water.Bull's Bridge, one of twocovered bridges open to vehicles in Connecticut, is located in the town. The town is bisected by theHousatonic River. The western half containsMacedonia Brook State Park, the Schaghticoke Indian Reservation, and a section of theAppalachian Trail.
Macedonia Brook State Park was first opened in 1918 with a donation of 1,552 acres (628 hectares) from the White Memorial Foundation ofLitchfield. Since then, it has now grown to a size of 2,300 acres (930 ha) and is used for outdoor recreation throughout the year.
Besides the pure beauty ofAppalachia, the park also boasts extensive trails, campgrounds, a venue for large group picnics, a small hilltop lake, and the park's namesake, Macedonia Brook. Visitors can also take advantage of the numerous grills set up around the park. From peaks on the Blue Trail, hikers can take in views of theCatskill Mountains and theTaconic Mountains.
Kent Falls State Park is often called "The Jewel of the Inland Parks" with its views of 17 waterfalls. The falls are fed by wetlands which are located inWarren, and empties into the Housatonic River, which is directly across the highway from the park.
A trail winds a quarter of a mile up along the falls, and although it is not difficult to walk it is steep, rising 250 feet (80 meters) in1⁄4 mile (400 m). In 2006 a $1.1 million trail renovation was finished which provided new viewing platforms and a redesigned trail. Swimming was at one time allowed along the entire length of the falls, but due to a number of serious accidents, and large-scale damage to the natural environment, all of the area along the water above the bottom level is now closed by state law.
The park is designated as a Trout Park and is stocked withtrout from the state's hatcheries. Due to the Trout Park designation the daily creel limit in the park is two fish.
Bull's Bridge is one of three remaining covered bridges in Connecticut dating from the 19th century.George Washington crossed the Housatonic River near the site of the present bridge in 1781. Built in 1842 by architectIthiel Town, this single-lane covered bridge features a lattice truss design.[4]
A museum featuring the studio and antique collections ofEric Sloane.
A non-profit museum dedicated to preserving and restoring antique machinery and educating the public on Connecticut's industrial and agricultural history.[5] One notable exhibit is its3 ft (914 mm)narrow-gauge[6] railroad, which features an operating steam locomotive.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 1,956 | — | |
| 1850 | 1,848 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,855 | 0.4% | |
| 1870 | 1,744 | −6.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,622 | −7.0% | |
| 1890 | 1,383 | −14.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,220 | −11.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,122 | −8.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,086 | −3.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,054 | −2.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,245 | 18.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,392 | 11.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,686 | 21.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,990 | 18.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,505 | 25.9% | |
| 1990 | 2,918 | 16.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,858 | −2.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,979 | 4.2% | |
| 2020 | 3,019 | 1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] | |||
As of thecensus[8] of 2000, there were 2,858 people, 1,143 households, and 744 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 59 inhabitants per square mile (23/km2). There were 1,463 housing units at an average density of 30.2/sq mi (11.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.77%White, 0.56%Black orAfrican American, 0.77%Native American, 0.98%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.70% fromother races, and 1.19% from two or more races. 2.52% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. The most numerous ethnic groups in Kent are:
There were 1,143 households, out of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% weremarried couples living together, 6.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $53,906, and the median income for a family was $66,065. Males had a median income of $46,343 versus $31,493 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $38,674. About 0.1% of families and 3.2% of the population were below thepoverty line, including none of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 26, 2021[9] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters | Percentage | |
| Democratic | 936 | 68 | 1,004 | 44.17% | |
| Republican | 422 | 20 | 442 | 19.45% | |
| Minor Parties | 25 | 4 | 29 | 1.28% | |
| Unaffiliated | 719 | 79 | 798 | 35.11% | |
| Total | 2,102 | 171 | 2,273 | 100% | |
Kent is a member of Regional School District 01, which also includes the towns ofCanaan,Cornwall,North Canaan,Salisbury, andSharon. Public school students attend Kent Center School from grades K–8 andHousatonic Valley Regional High School from grades 9–12. Kent also has three private schools:Kent School, a coedEpiscopal independent school serving grades 9–12/PG,South Kent School, an all-boys Episcopal independent school, andMarvelwood School, a coed non-sectarian independent school.
The town is served by theKent Good Times Dispatch local newspaper. The paper covered local news between 1952 and 2009. In 2023, the newspaper was revived. The paper paid then 9 year-oldSeth MacFarlane to publish a weekly comic strip in 1981.[10][11][12]
U.S. Route 7 is the main north–south highway in the town, whileConnecticut Route 341 is the main east–west highway. Route 7 leads north 25 miles (40 km) toNorth Canaan and south 28 miles (45 km) toDanbury, while Route 341 leads east 8 miles (13 km) toWarren and west to the New York border and the town ofAmenia.
TheKent train station was served by passenger trains that ran betweenNew York City andPittsfield until 1974. The line currently serves freight traffic operated by theHousatonic Railroad. Today, the closest stations areHarlem Valley–Wingdale station andDover Plains station onMetro-North Railroad'sHarlem Line.
TheNorthwestern Connecticut Transit District (NWCTD) operates a dial-a-ride public bus service in Kent and surrounding towns.[13]
Municipalities and communities ofNorthwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut,United States | ||
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Municipalities and communities ofLitchfield County, Connecticut,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties. | |
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