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Middlefield, Connecticut | |
|---|---|
| Town of Middlefield | |
 The view fromHigby Mountain | |
 Seal | |
 Middlesex County and Connecticut Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region and Connecticut | |
 Show Middlefield Show Connecticut Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°31′03″N72°42′44″W / 41.51750°N 72.71222°W /41.51750; -72.71222 | |
| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | Middlesex |
| Region | Lower CT River Valley |
| Incorporated | May 9, 1866 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Selectman-town meeting |
| • First Selectman | Robert Yamartino |
| • Selectman | Carol Bufithis |
| • Selectman | James Irish |
| Area | |
• Total | 13.3 sq mi (34.4 km2) |
| • Land | 12.7 sq mi (32.9 km2) |
| • Water | 0.62 sq mi (1.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 210 ft (64 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 4,217 |
| • Density | 332/sq mi (128/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 06455, 06481 |
| Area codes | 860/959 |
| FIPS code | 09-47080 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213460[1] |
| Website | www |
Middlefield is atown inMiddlesex County,Connecticut, United States. The town is part of theLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The population was 4,217 at the2020 census.[3] The town includes the village of Rockfall in the northeastern section.
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Middlefield, in Middlesex County, is so named because it is halfway between Middletown andDurham, and Middletown andMeriden. For such a small community, Middlefield has an abundance of wonderful history that goes back to the late 17th century and many first settlers of Connecticut. The Old North Burying Ground was established for those living west of Middletown and the first burial was in 1738.
Middlefield became a town in 1866 by an act of the Connecticut Legislature. The town was previously part of the City of Middletown.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.3 square miles (34 km2), of which 12.7 square miles (33 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (4.65%) is water.
The west side of Middlefield is flanked by theMetacomet Ridge, a mountainoustrap rock ridgeline that stretches fromLong Island Sound to nearly theVermont border. Notable mountains of the Metacomet Ridge in Middlefield includeHigby Mountain andBesek Mountain. The 50 mileMattabesett Trail traverses the ridge.The Nature Conservancy manages the summit and ledges of Higby Mountain.
Middlefield offers many seasonal activities. Residents can also goice-skating on one of the manyponds located at the edge of Peckham Park. In the summer Peckham Park has little leaguebaseball games going on almost every day of the week. The smaller kids can play on thejungle gym or playbasketball andsoccer. Some other summer activities could begolfing on one of the two local golf courses or go to thebeach located onLake Beseck just off ofRoute 147. Residents can also enjoy pickingfruit, playing golf, shopping, and eating atLyman Orchards. Middlefield is also home to thePowder Ridge Ski Area.
Wadsworth Falls State Park, or simplyWadsworth Falls, is a public recreation and preserved natural area located on theCoginchaug River in thetowns ofMiddletown and Middlefield,Connecticut. Thestate park's 285 acres (115 ha) offer trails, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. It is managed by theConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.[4]
Powder Ridge Ski Area (category Tourist attractionsin Middlesex County, Connecticut) is a small ski area locatedinMiddlefield, Connecticut. It began operations on January 22, 1961, the day JFK was inaugurated. It closedin 2007, and has since reopened.
Middlefield, along withDurham, forms Regional School District 13.[5] It offers a traditional as well as an "Integrated Day" program of education for students in the twocommunities. The schools in Regional School District 13 are: Brewster Elementary School (K-4), John Lyman Elementary School (grades K–4), Memorial Middle School (grades 5–6), Strong Middle School (grades 7–8) andCoginchaug Regional High School (grades 9–12). The town is also home to the private pre-school–8 schoolThe Independent Day School.[6]
The town seal is a view of Middlefield as seen through agun sight. The crosshairs represent the gun sightmanufacturing that has taken place in Middlefield for many years. The fourquadrants of the gun sight are broken into different aspects of the town of Middlefield. The upper left-hand quadrant is a picture of the 1700s saltbox homes that still stand in Middlefield. The upper right-hand quadrant represents theorchards and farmland that make up much of the open space of Middlefield. The lower left-hand quadrant represents many of the outdoor activities that go on in Middlefield such asfishing,hunting,boating,skiing,golfing, and many other activities. The lower right-hand quadrant is the old pistol shop that used to be a major part of Middlefield's makeup. The seal was designed by Donald Ginter.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 1,053 | — | |
| 1880 | 928 | −11.9% | |
| 1890 | 1,002 | 8.0% | |
| 1900 | 845 | −15.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,036 | 22.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,047 | 1.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,204 | 15.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,230 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,983 | 61.2% | |
| 1960 | 3,255 | 64.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,132 | 26.9% | |
| 1980 | 3,796 | −8.1% | |
| 1990 | 3,925 | 3.4% | |
| 2000 | 4,203 | 7.1% | |
| 2010 | 4,425 | 5.3% | |
| 2020 | 4,217 | −4.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] | |||
As of thecensus[8] of 2000, there were 4,203 people, 1,645 households, and 1,199 families residing in the town. The population density was 330.9 inhabitants per square mile (127.8/km2). There were 1,740 housing units at an average density of 137.0 per square mile (52.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.76%White, 0.74%African American, 0.02%Native American, 0.36%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.43% fromother races, and 0.67% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.33% of the population.
There were 1,645 households, out of which 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.4% weremarried couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.1% were non-families. 22.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $59,448, and the median income for a family was $69,267. Males had a median income of $43,953 versus $31,487 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $25,711. About 0.6% of families and 1.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Middlefield has aselectman-town meeting form of government. The current acting first selectman is Robert Yamartino, whom assumed the office of First Selectman on December 8, 2021, due to the death of incumbent first selectman Ed Bailey.[9] The other current selectman is Carol Bufithis.
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 25, 2005[10] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters | Percentage | |
| Democratic | 920 | 20 | 940 | 29.63% | |
| Republican | 590 | 23 | 613 | 19.32% | |
| Unaffiliated | 1,571 | 42 | 1,613 | 50.84% | |
| Minor Parties | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0.22% | |
| Total | 3,088 | 85 | 3,173 | 100% | |
Middlefield is in the 13thstate senate district, being represented by Democrat Christine Cohen, and in the 90th district in the state house by Republican Craig Fishbein.
Middlefield has swung for Republican candidates in gubernatorial elections, including in2018, where Republican Bob Stefanowski won 53% of the vote.
Middlefield is part ofConnecticut's 3rd congressional district, and is represented byRosa DeLauro. It has swung in presidential elections, voting for Joe Biden in2020 and Barack Obama in2012 but supporting Donald Trump in2016.
Municipalities and communities ofMiddlesex County, Connecticut,United States | ||
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Municipalities and communities ofLower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut,United States | ||
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