Naugatuck, Connecticut | |
|---|---|
 Naugatuck Green | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: "Naugy" | |
 New Haven County and Connecticut Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and Connecticut | |
 Show Naugatuck Show Connecticut Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°29′23″N73°03′05″W / 41.48972°N 73.05139°W /41.48972; -73.05139 | |
| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | New Haven |
| Region | Naugatuck Valley |
| Incorporated | 1844; 182 years ago (1844) |
| Consolidated | 1895; 131 years ago (1895) |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council (mayor and burgesses) |
| • Mayor | N. Warren "Pete" Hess |
| Area | |
• Total | 16.39 sq mi (42.46 km2) |
| • Land | 16.30 sq mi (42.21 km2) |
| • Water | 0.097 sq mi (0.25 km2) |
| Elevation | 207 ft (63 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 31,519 |
| • Density | 1,934/sq mi (746.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP code | 06770 |
| Area codes | 203/475 |
| FIPS code | 09-49880 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0209191 |
| Website | www |
Naugatuck (/ˈnɔːɡətʌk/;NAW-gə-tuhk) is a consolidatedborough and town inNew Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town, part of theNaugatuck Valley Planning Region, had a population of 31,519 as of the2020 census.[2]
The town spans both sides of theNaugatuck River just south ofWaterbury and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, Straitsville on the southeast (alongRoute 63), and Millville on the west (along Rubber Avenue).
Settlement began as early as 1702. Samuel Hickox (1669–1713), credited as Naugatuck’s first settler, established a fulling mill on Fulling Mill Brook in 1709. The locality was known as Judds Meadow until 1752, when it was renamed Salem Bridge.[3][4]
In 1844, parts of Waterbury, Bethany, and Oxford incorporated as the town of Naugatuck. The Borough of Naugatuck was established in 1893 and became coextensive with the town in 1895.[5]
As theIndustrial Revolution accelerated, Naugatuck developed a diverse manufacturing base and became a center of the rubber industry. In 1892, nine firms consolidated to form theUnited States Rubber Company (later Uniroyal Inc.), organized in Naugatuck, which for decades kept major operations in the borough.[6] In 1936, U.S. Rubber introducedNaugahyde, a vinyl-coated fabric invented by company chemists in Naugatuck; the material was manufactured locally for many years.[7]
The United States Rubber Company also created the Naugatuck Chemical Company in the early 20th century; the business later became Uniroyal Chemical and relocated major operations toMiddlebury, Connecticut in the 1970s.[8]
The Risdon Manufacturing Company, established in Naugatuck in the early 1900s, became a leading maker of metal closures and cosmetic packaging and later operated regionally under Crown Risdon.[9]
In the 1960s, Harold Barber foundedH. Barber and Sons, which designs and builds beach-cleaning equipment and has claimed to be the largest such business in the world.[10]
Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company, later a division of theHershey Foods Corporation producingAlmond Joy andMounds, operated in Naugatuck for much of the 20th century; the factory closed in 2007.[11]
On August 19, 1955, the Naugatuck River flooded following more than 10 inches (250 mm) of rain fromHurricane Diane, causing widespread destruction that reshaped the borough’s riverfront.[12]
Naugatuck High School has along-standing football rivalry withAnsonia. The teams have met on Thanksgiving morning since 1900, with Ansonia holding the series lead. Naugatuck High School’s mascot is the greyhound, and its colors are garnet and gray.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 16.5 square miles (43 km2), of which 16.4 square miles (42 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2), or 0.36%, is water.[1]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,720 | — | |
| 1860 | 2,590 | 50.6% | |
| 1870 | 2,830 | 9.3% | |
| 1880 | 4,274 | 51.0% | |
| 1890 | 6,218 | 45.5% | |
| 1900 | 10,541 | 69.5% | |
| 1910 | 12,722 | 20.7% | |
| 1920 | 15,051 | 18.3% | |
| 1930 | 14,315 | −4.9% | |
| 1940 | 15,388 | 7.5% | |
| 1950 | 17,455 | 13.4% | |
| 1960 | 19,511 | 11.8% | |
| 1970 | 23,034 | 18.1% | |
| 1980 | 26,456 | 14.9% | |
| 1990 | 30,625 | 15.8% | |
| 2000 | 30,989 | 1.2% | |
| 2010 | 31,862 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 31,519 | −1.1% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 32,116 | 1.9% | |
| U.S. decennial census[13] | |||
As of the2020 census, there were 31,519 people and 12,432 households residing in the borough, and 13,239 housing units.[14] The population density was 1,933.8 inhabitants per square mile (746.6/km2). There were 13,239 housing units at an average density of 812.2 per square mile (313.6/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 71.4%White, 7.8%Black orAfrican American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.4%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 7.4% from some other race, and 10.8% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino residents of any race were 15.5% of the population.
Of the 12,432 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% weremarried couple households, 8.3% were cohabiting couple households, 18.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present, and 28.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present.[14] About 26.9% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
In 2020, about 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18, approximately 62.8% were between 18 and 64, and 16.1% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 40.2 years.[14] Males made up about 48.7% of the population and females 51.3%. According to 2016–2020American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the median household income in Naugatuck was $77,967, the median family income was $91,089, and the mean household income was $91,071.[14]
Naugatuck is the only consolidated town and borough inConnecticut. Every other borough in the state is a special-services district located within atown, the basic unit of Connecticut local government. Naugatuck has both a town clerk and a borough clerk managing official records, similar to cities that have separate town and city clerks.
As with most other Connecticut municipalities, Naugatuck elects its officials in November of odd-numbered years.
Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
United States presidential election results | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Notes: 1912 – Third-party total785 comprised Progressive274, Socialist456, and other55. ·1872 – Votes forHorace Greeley (Liberal Republican), also endorsed by Democrats, are recorded under Liberal Republican. ·1860 – “Third-party” votes were for theSouthern Democratic ticket. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Naugatuck has four public elementary schools (grades K–4), two public intermediate schools (grades 5–6), one public middle school (grades 7–8), andNaugatuck High School (grades 9–12). The high school’s total enrollment is 1,267.
In 2013, an $81 million renovation of the high school began and was completed by fall 2015.[18]
The town is served byNaugatuck station on theWaterbury Branch of theNew Haven Line. Principal highways includeConnecticut Route 63 (toNew Haven),Route 68 (toDurham), and theRoute 8 expressway (toWaterbury,Derby,Torrington, andBridgeport).
Municipalities and communities ofNew Haven County, Connecticut,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| Boroughs | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
Municipalities and communities ofNaugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
