South Windsor, Connecticut | |
|---|---|
| Town of South Windsor | |
 Former Memorial Library | |
 Seal | |
 Hartford County and Connecticut Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut | |
 Show South Windsor Show Connecticut Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°49′56″N72°34′11″W / 41.83222°N 72.56972°W /41.83222; -72.56972 | |
| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | Hartford |
| Region | Capitol Region |
| Settled | 1652 |
| Incorporated | September 3, 1845 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager |
| • South Windsor Town Council | Craig Zimmerman (D), Mayor Andy Paterna (D), Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Pendleton (D) Steven King Jr. (D) Maura Fitzgerald (D) Audrey Delnicki (R) Michael Ouellette (R) Steve Cordeiro (R) Richard M. Balboni Jr. (R)[1] |
| • Town manager | Michael Maniscalco |
| Area | |
• Total | 28.7 sq mi (74.3 km2) |
| • Land | 28.1 sq mi (72.7 km2) |
| • Water | 0.62 sq mi (1.6 km2) |
| Elevation | 72 ft (22 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 26,918 |
| • Density | 959/sq mi (370/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 06074 |
| Area codes | 860/959 |
| FIPS code | 09-71390 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213509 |
| Interstates |  |
| U.S. Highways |  |
| State Routes |    |
| Website | www |
South Windsor is a town inHartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of theCapitol Planning Region. The population was 26,918 at the2020 census.[2]
In 1659,Thomas Burnham (1617–1688) purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor andEast Hartford from Tantinomo, chiefsachem of thePodunk Indians.[3] Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children.[4] Beginning in the middle of the 17th century, a few settlers fromWindsor began using land on the east bank of theConnecticut River for grazing and farming purposes. By 1700, a number of families had made their homes in the area. In 1768, the residents of the area were allowed to incorporate as the separate town ofEast Windsor, though the area was informally referred to as East Windsor before this time. At the time, the town included all of what is now the present-day towns of East Windsor, South Windsor, andEllington. Known for its agriculture and ship building, the town of East Windsor, including South Windsor, supplied more than 200 volunteers during theAmerican Revolution. In 1786, Ellington became an independent town, and South Windsor was incorporated as a separate town in 1845.[5]Tobacco has been a major crop grown in South Windsor since its founding.
(Old) Main Street, located near the Connecticut River and running north to south from the border of East Windsor to that of East Hartford, is the center of the town's historic district. The Wood Memorial Library & Museum and Ellsworth School are located on the street. Minister Timothy Edwards, the namesake of the town's middle school, is buried in a cemetery located on this street. In 1698, Edwards became the first minister for the settlers on the east side of the river, and his church was built on Main Street (in present-day South Windsor). His son, theologianJonathan Edwards, was born in South Windsor (at the time still part of Windsor).Ulysses S. Grant stayed at a home on the street.
The town has become less and less agricultural and rural since 1950. This former farming community has been transformed into a suburban town with industrial and commercial districts. The town's population more than tripled between 1950 and 2000. In the early 1990s, residents mobilized a successful campaign against a proposednuclear waste dump located near the East Windsor town line.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.7 square miles (74.3 km2), of which 28.1 square miles (72.7 km2) is land and 0.62 square miles (1.6 km2), or 2.12%, is water.[2]
| Climate data for South Windsor, Connecticut | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 70 (21) | 74 (23) | 86 (30) | 93 (34) | 99 (37) | 100 (38) | 101 (38) | 102 (39) | 101 (38) | 89 (32) | 83 (28) | 75 (24) | 102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 36 (2) | 39 (4) | 48 (9) | 60 (16) | 70 (21) | 79 (26) | 84 (29) | 82 (28) | 75 (24) | 63 (17) | 52 (11) | 41 (5) | 61 (16) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 18 (−8) | 22 (−6) | 29 (−2) | 40 (4) | 49 (9) | 59 (15) | 65 (18) | 63 (17) | 54 (12) | 42 (6) | 35 (2) | 24 (−4) | 42 (5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −17 (−27) | −24 (−31) | −4 (−20) | 11 (−12) | 25 (−4) | 39 (4) | 45 (7) | 38 (3) | 29 (−2) | 18 (−8) | 5 (−15) | −12 (−24) | −24 (−31) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.15 (80) | 2.75 (70) | 3.57 (91) | 3.88 (99) | 3.89 (99) | 3.99 (101) | 4.00 (102) | 3.66 (93) | 3.48 (88) | 4.14 (105) | 3.84 (98) | 3.35 (85) | 43.70 (1,110) |
| Source: Weather Channel[6] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 1,638 | — | |
| 1860 | 1,789 | 9.2% | |
| 1870 | 1,688 | −5.6% | |
| 1880 | 1,902 | 12.7% | |
| 1890 | 1,736 | −8.7% | |
| 1900 | 2,014 | 16.0% | |
| 1910 | 2,251 | 11.8% | |
| 1920 | 2,142 | −4.8% | |
| 1930 | 2,535 | 18.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,863 | 12.9% | |
| 1950 | 4,066 | 42.0% | |
| 1960 | 9,460 | 132.7% | |
| 1970 | 15,553 | 64.4% | |
| 1980 | 17,198 | 10.6% | |
| 1990 | 22,090 | 28.4% | |
| 2000 | 24,412 | 10.5% | |
| 2010 | 25,709 | 5.3% | |
| 2020 | 26,918 | 4.7% | |
| DECD[7] | |||
As of thecensus[8] of 2020, there were 26,918 people and 9,926 families residing in the town. The population density was 944.5 inhabitants per square mile (364.7/km2). There were 10,804 housing units at an average density of 379.1 per square mile (146.4/km2).
The racial makeup of the town was 68.7%White, 18.4%Asian, 5.9%Hispanic orLatino (of any race), 4.4%Black or African American, 0.2%Native American, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 1.9% fromother races, and 6.4% from two or more races.
There were 9,926 households, out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% weremarried couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 11.2% had a male householder with no spouse present.
In the town, the population included 25.7% age birth to 19; 5.4% from age 20 to 24; 24.1% from age 25 to 44; 29.0% from age 45 to 64; and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years.
The median household income in the town was $126,996, and the median income for a married-couple family was $153,438. About 4.9% of people were below thepoverty line, including 7.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Among residents age 25 or over, 55.0% held abachelor's degree or higher, and 97.0% held a high school or equivalent degree.
Top employers in South Windsor according to the town's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report[9]
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Town of South Windsor | 926 |
| 2 | Broadbridge | 550 |
| 3 | New England Mechanical | 368 |
| 4 | Target Corporation | 250 |
| 5 | The May Company | 221 |
| 6 | Electro Methods | 208 |
| 7 | Doosan Fuel Cell America | 193 |
| 8 | Lowe's | 160 |
| 9 | Stop & Shop | 145 |
| 10 | TicketNetwork | 141 |
Children attending the public school systems in South Windsor begin at the elementary school level (Kindergarten through Grade 5) at one of four elementary schools: Pleasant Valley, Orchard Hill, Philip R. Smith, and Eli Terry. Wapping Elementary School was transferred to the Parks and Recreation department for several years before being turned over to the high school in 2023 for additional classroom space due to growing school enrollment.[10] After graduating from elementary school, students then move on to Timothy Edwards Middle School, for grades 6–8. They also have the choice to go to a magnet school,Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford. They then finish up their schooling atSouth Windsor High School. Over 140 students in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 classes have been admitted to theUniversity of Connecticut inStorrs.
South Windsor Town Council | |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Type | |
| Leadership | |
Craig Zimmerman, Democrat | |
Andy Paterna, Democrat | |
Mike Maniscalco | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 9 |
Political groups | Democratic Party (5) Republican Party (4) |
| Elections | |
Last election | November 4, 2025 |
| Meeting place | |
| Council Chambers, 1540 Sullivan Ave. | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
South Windsor is governed by acouncil-manager form of government. The town manager is appointed by the town council and the leader of the council is designated as the mayor, with a deputy mayor also chosen from amongst the council.
The town council holds its elections every two years, on odd-numbered years. Effective in 2025, each party nominates only up to five candidates for the nine town council positions (which are all at-large), and each voter may only vote for up to five candidates from the pool of all candidates nominated by all parties. The top nine vote-getters win seats on the town council; as a result the council always has a 5–4 majority (assuming only two parties are participating), ensuring representation of the minority party.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2025[11] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active Voters | Inactive Voters | Total Voters | Percentage | |
| Democratic | 5,741 | 633 | 6,374 | 33.88% | |
| Republican | 3,499 | 319 | 3,818 | 20.29% | |
| Unaffiliated | 7,333 | 1,040 | 8,373 | 44.50% | |
| Minor parties | 218 | 31 | 249 | 1.32% | |
| Total | 16,791 | 2,023 | 18,814 | 100% | |
| Election results from statewide races[12] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Office | Results | |
| 2024 | President | Kamala Harris 58.4% | Donald Trump 39.0% |
| Senator | Chris Murphy 60.6% | Matthew Corey 37.7% | |
| Congress | John Larson 62.8% | Jim Griffin 35.1% | |
| 2022 | Governor | Ned Lamont 59.3% | Bob Stefanowski 39.5% |
| Senator | Richard Blumenthal 61.0% | Leora Levy 39.0% | |
| Congress | John Larson 61.6% | Larry Lazor 37.2% | |
| 2020 | President | Joe Biden 61.1% | Donald Trump 36.3% |
| Congress | John Larson 64.5% | Mary Fay 34.2% | |
| 2018 | Governor | Ned Lamont 47.5% | Bob Stefanowski 44.6% |
| Senator | Chris Murphy 60.1% | Matthew Corey 38.7% | |
| Congress | John Larson 63.4% | Jennifer Nye 35.7% | |
| 2016 | President | Hillary Clinton 55.3% | Donald Trump 39.8% |
| Senator | Richard Blumenthal 69.1% | Dan Carter 28.9% | |
| Congress | John Larson 62.4% | Matthew Corey 36.1% | |
| 2014 | Governor | Thomas Foley 49.8% | Dan Malloy 48.9% |
| Congress | John Larson 62.1% | Matthew Corey 36.7% | |
| 2012 | President | Barack Obama 56.4% | Mitt Romney 42.3% |
| Senator | Chris Murphy 54.0% | Linda McMahon 43.9% | |
| Congress | John Larson 68.3% | John Henry Decker 29.1% | |
| 2010 | Governor | Thomas Foley 50.7% | Dan Malloy 48.0% |
| Senator | Richard Blumenthal 55.5% | Linda McMahon 42.9% | |
| Congress | John Larson 60.0% | Ann Brickley 38.8% | |
| 2008 | President | Barack Obama 61.0% | John McCain 37.7% |
| Congress | John Larson 72.7% | Joe Visconti 25.8% | |
| 2006 | Governor | Jodi Rell 63.7% | John DeStefano Jr. 35.4% |
| Senator | Joe Lieberman 48.4% | Ned Lamont 41.8% | |
| Congress | John Larson 76.1% | Scott MacLean 23.9% | |
| 2004 | President | John Kerry 54.5% | George W. Bush 44.0% |
| Senator | Chris Dodd 69.6% | Jack Orchulli 29.0% | |
| Congress | John Larson 74.4% | John Halstead 25.6% | |
South Windsor travel guide from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofHartford County, Connecticut,United States | ||
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