Windsor, Connecticut | |
|---|---|
| Town of Windsor | |
 Windsor Town Hall, located on Broad Street | |
 Flag  Seal  Emblem | |
| Motto: First in Connecticut, First for its Citizens | |
 Hartford County and Connecticut Capitol Planning Region and Connecticut | |
 Show Windsor Show Connecticut Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:41°51′10″N72°38′35″W / 41.85278°N 72.64306°W /41.85278; -72.64306 | |
| Country |  United States |
| U.S. state |  Connecticut |
| County | Hartford |
| Region | Capitol Region |
| Settled | September 26, 1633 |
| Incorporated | February 21, 1637 |
| Named after | Windsor, Berkshire |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-manager[1] |
| • Town manager | Peter Souza |
| • Town council | Nuchette Blacke-Burke (D), Mayor; Darlene Klase (D), Deputy Mayor; Lenworth Walker (R); Ojala Naeem (D); Kristin Gluck-Hoffman (R); William Pelkey(R); Mary Armstrong (D); Leroy Smith (D); Ronald Eleveld (R) |
| Area | |
• Total | 31.0 sq mi (80.2 km2) |
| • Land | 29.5 sq mi (76.4 km2) |
| • Water | 1.5 sq mi (3.8 km2) |
| Elevation | 57.0 ft (17.37 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 29,492 |
| • Density | 1,000/sq mi (386/km2) |
| Demonym | Windsor-head |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (Eastern) |
| ZIP Code | 06095 |
| Area codes | 860/959 |
| FIPS code | 09-87000 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0212354 |
| Interstates |  |
| List of auxiliary Interstate Highways |  |
| State Routes |        |
| Commuter Rail |   |
| Website | www |
| Elevation noted at Town Hall. | |
Windsor is atown inHartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital,Hartford. The town is part of theCapitol Planning Region. The population of Windsor was 29,492 at the2020 census.[2]
Poquonock (/pəˈkwɒnək/) is a northern area of Windsor that has its ownzip code (06064) forpost-office box purposes.[3] Other unincorporated areas in Windsor include Rainbow and Hayden Station in the north, and Wilson and Deerfield in the south.
The Day Hill Road area is known as Windsor's Corporate Area, although other centers of business include New England Tradeport, Kennedy Industry Park and Kennedy Business Park, all nearBradley International Airport and the Addison RoadIndustrial Park.
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The coastal areas and riverways were traditional areas of settlement by variousAmerican Indian cultures, who had been in the region for thousands of years. They relied on the rivers for fishing, water and transportation. Before European contact, the historicPequot andMohegan tribes had been oneAlgonquian-speaking people. After they separated, they became competitors and traditional enemies in the Connecticut region.
During the first part of the 17th century, the Pequot and Mohegan nations had been at war. ThePodunk were forced to pay tribute to the more powerful Pequot, who claimed their land. Eventually, the Podunk invited a small party of settlers fromPlymouth, Massachusetts, to settle as a mediating force between the other tribes. In exchange they granted them a plot of land at the confluence of theFarmington River and the west side of theConnecticut River. AfterEdward Winslow came from Plymouth to inspect the land, William Holmes led a small party, arriving at the site on September 26, 1633, where they founded a trading post.[4] The spot of the trading post is at the confluence of the Farmington and Connecticut Rivers. TheLoomis Chaffee School currently owns the land as the spot is now the school's sports fields.
Native Americans referred to the area asMatianuck. It was about 50 miles (80 km) up river fromLong Island Sound, at the end of waters navigable by ship and above theDutch fort at Hartford, offering an advantageous location for the English to trade with the Indians before they reached the Dutch. (The Sicaog tribe had made a similar offer to mediate to theDutch inNew Amsterdam.New Netherland had far fewer European settlers than New England, and they were not in a position to take up the opportunity.)
In 1635, a party of around 30 people, sponsored bySir Richard Saltonstall, and led by the Stiles brothers, Francis, John and Henry, settled in the Windsor area. GovernorJohn Winthrop of theMassachusetts Bay Company acknowledged in a letter to Saltonstall that the Stiles party was the second group to settle Connecticut.
The first group of 60 or more people were led byRoger Ludlow, primary framer of theFundamental Orders of Connecticut, having trekked overland fromDorchester, Massachusetts.[5] They had arrived in the New World five years earlier on the shipMary and John fromPlymouth, England, and settled in Dorchester.[6] Reverend Warham promptly renamed the Connecticut settlement "Dorchester". During the next few years, more settlers arrived from Dorchester, outnumbering and soon displacing the original Plymouth contingent, who returned to Plymouth in 1638 after selling their parcel to a Matthew Allyn of Hartford.[7]
On February 21, 1637, the colony's General Court changed the name of the settlement from Dorchester to Windsor,[8] named after the town ofWindsor, Berkshire, on theRiver Thames in England.[9] The same day, Windsor was incorporated as a town along with Hartford and Wethersfield.
Several "daughter towns" were formed from Windsor's original boundaries. These include portions or all ofBarkhamsted,Bloomfield,Bolton,Colebrook,Coventry,East Granby,East Windsor,Ellington,Enfield,Granby,Harwinton,Litchfield,Manchester,Morris,Simsbury,South Windsor,Suffield,Tolland,Torrington,Vernon, andWindsor Locks.[10]
The first "highway" in theConnecticut Colony opened in 1638 between Windsor andHartford. Two years later, the highway was extended north to the colony's 1636 settlement atSpringfield, with the road also connecting toWethersfield and thus the four settlements that came to dominate the region for much of colonial history were connected.
In the summer of 1640, an event took place that would forever change the boundaries of the Connecticut River Valley. During a grain famine, the founder of Springfield,William Pynchon,[11] was given authority by Windsor and Hartford to negotiate a price for grain for the three settlements with the natives. First, the natives refused to sell grain at the usual market price, and then refused to sell it at "a reasonable price". Pynchon refused to buy it, attempting to teach the natives a peaceful lesson about integrity and reliability. Windsor's cattle were starving, however, and the citizens of Hartford were furious. With Windsor's consent, Hartford commissioned the famous Indian fighter John Mason to travel to Springfield with "money in one hand and a sword in the other" to threaten the natives, and thereby force thegrain trade. The natives capitulated and ultimately sold their grain. After "negotiating the trade", Mason refused to share the grain with Springfield, and, to add further insult, insisted that Springfield pay a tax when sailing ships passed Windsor. Outraged, Springfield forever sided with theMassachusetts Bay Colony, a Puritan settlement inBoston, rather than with the Connecticut Colony, which was much closer geographically and far more compatible ideologically. Windsor played a neutral role in the colonial rivalry between Hartford and Springfield; however, Windsor's direct border with both settlements caused many discussions about whether to align with Massachusetts or Connecticut. Ultimately, Windsor sided with Connecticut.[12]
The Hartford & Springfield StreetRailway, atrolley, connected with the Connecticut Company in Windsor Center until 1925. Buses replaced trolleys between Rainbow (a northern section of Windsor) and Windsor Center in 1930. Trolley cars continued to run from Windsor to Hartford until 1940.[13]
The original Windsor settlers have many descendants around the country and beyond. Many are members of the Descendants of the Founders of Ancient Windsor (DFAW).
When the Springfield Line of the NY, New Haven & Hartford RR was built, station stops includedWindsor station in Windsor Center with stations also at Wilson in the south of town and Hayden in the north, named for owners who provided land for the railroad right of way. The line was double tracked until the late 1990s and redouble tracked in 2018. Sidings at Windsor station allowed cars to be spotted at the freight house and on the Loomis trestle just to its south. The trestle was removed in the late 1980s. An 1856 brownstone arch bridge carries the tracks over Pleasant St and the Farmington River. Incorporating a horizontal curve, its engineering was noteworthy when built. Following a fatal grade crossing accident, a three-track-wide plate girder bridge was installed to carry tracks over Palisado Avenue.
Windsor's highest point is on Day Hill at 230 feet (70 m) above sea level.[14] Windsor's lowest point is on theConnecticut River, at 5 feet (1.5 m) above sea level.[14] The Connecticut River defines Windsor's eastern border. The city ofHartford, the capital of Connecticut, is adjacent to Windsor to the south. The town ofWindsor Locks, home ofBradley International Airport, is adjacent to Windsor to the north. Prior to its incorporation in 1854, it was known as the Pine Meadow section of Windsor. The towns ofEast Windsor andSouth Windsor are on the east side of the Connecticut River. The town ofBloomfield is to the west. The town ofEast Granby is to the northwest.
TheFarmington River joins the Connecticut River in Windsor. The Farmington River is dammed in the northwestern corner of Windsor to form the 234-acre (0.95 km2) Rainbow Reservoir.[15]
The Joseph Kesselringstage play and Frank Capra movieArsenic and Old Lace was inspired by actual events that took place in a three-story brick house on Prospect Street, just off the north end of the Windsor green. Sixty men died between 1907 and 1917 while in the care ofAmy Archer-Gilligan. Most were proven to be victims of arsenic poisoning.
On historic Palisado Avenue, one can find the First Church in Windsor,Congregational, and adjacent graveyard.[16]
Across the street on the Palisado Green stands a statue ofJohn Mason, a founder of Windsor and a colonial leader in thePequot War.
Further north is the home ofOliver Ellsworth, third Chief Justice of the United States.[17]
The town center is well-planned in comparison to many others in theGreater Hartford area. It has a relative diversity of chains and local shops, as well as a restoredAmtraktrain station dating to the 1850s. The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of Connecticut is located in Windsor.[18]
From 1957 to 2006, the town was the location of the S1C Nuclear Powered Training Unit; a prototype nuclear power plant for the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. The former site has the distinction of being the first nuclear reactor site to receive unrestricted release after demolition and decontamination efforts.[19]
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Windsor is home to the following locations on theNational Register of Historic Places:[21]
Tobacco farming in Connecticut has a long history. When the first settlers came to the valley in the 1630s, tobacco was already being grown by the native population. By 1700 it was being exported via theConnecticut River toEuropean ports. The use of Connecticut tobacco as acigar wrapper leaf began in the 1820s.[23]
Area farmers grew tobacco for the two outside layers of cigars, the binder and the wrapper. Approximately 34,000 acres (14,000 ha) of land in Connecticut is covered byWindsor Soil, named after the town.[24]
The movieParrish, starring Troy Donahue and Karl Malden, was set and filmed in the tobacco farms of Windsor. The film was released in 1961.
The Connecticut Valley Tobacco Museum,[25] containing authentic farming implements and tools, can be found atNorthwest Park in Windsor.[26]
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| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 3,008 | — | |
| 1850 | 3,294 | — | |
| 1860 | 2,278 | −30.8% | |
| 1870 | 2,783 | 22.2% | |
| 1880 | 3,058 | 9.9% | |
| 1890 | 2,954 | −3.4% | |
| 1900 | 3,614 | 22.3% | |
| 1910 | 4,178 | 15.6% | |
| 1920 | 5,620 | 34.5% | |
| 1930 | 8,290 | 47.5% | |
| 1940 | 10,068 | 21.4% | |
| 1950 | 11,833 | 17.5% | |
| 1960 | 19,467 | 64.5% | |
| 1970 | 22,502 | 15.6% | |
| 1980 | 25,204 | 12.0% | |
| 1990 | 27,817 | 10.4% | |
| 2000 | 28,237 | 1.5% | |
| 2010 | 29,044 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 29,492 | 1.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[27] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 29,044 people, 11,233 households, and 7,881 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 984.5 persons per square mile (380.2/km2). There were 11,767 housing units at an average density of 398.9 per square mile (154.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 54.7%White, 34.3%African American, 0.2%Native American, 4.5%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 3.1%some other race, and 3.2% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 8.4% of the population.[28]
There were 11,233 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were headed bymarried couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.8% were non-families. Of all households, 24.1% were made up of individuals, and 8.8% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.04.[28]
In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 31.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.[28]
According to the U.S. Census Bureau'sAmerican Community Survey, for the period 2009–2011, median income for a household in the town was $78,211, and median income for a family was $89,726. Male full-time year-round workers had a median income of $58,668 versus $50,529 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $34,899. About 3.1% of families and 4.5% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.[29]
Windsor was one of a handful of towns in the country where, in the2000 United States census, median income for black households ($64,159) was larger than white households ($63,624). Asian households had a median income of $75,716. Hispanic or Latino (of any race) households have a median income of $69,808.[30]
Windsor High School has 1,471 students enrolled. Demographics for 2004–2005 were:[needs update]
Top employers in Windsor according to the town's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report[32]
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon.com | 7,223 |
| 2 | Town of Windsor | 1,181 |
| 3 | Voya Financial | 723 |
| 4 | Walgreens | 700 |
| 5 | SS & C Technologies Inc | 500 |
| 6 | Eversource Energy | 400 |
| 7 | Dollar Tree | 375 |
| 8 | Waste Management | 375 |
| 9 | TLD GSE | 350 |
| 10 | Barnes Aerospace | 300 |
Windsor has a council–manager government. The legislative function is performed by a bipartisan council of nine members, who are elected biennially for two-year terms. The rown council elects a mayor from its membership for the two-year term, and also appoints the rown manager. Peter Souza has served as Windsor's town manager since 2004.[33]
| Representative | Chamber | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane Garibay | House of Representatives | 60th | Dem |
| Bobby Gibson | House of Representatives | 15th | Dem |
| Maryam Khan | House of Representatives | 5th | Dem |
| Tami Zawistowski | House of Representatives | 61st | Rep |
| Representative | Chamber | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas McCrory | Senate | 2nd | Dem |
| John Kissel | Senate | 7th | Rep |
| Representative | Chamber | District | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| John B. Larson | Congress | 1st | Dem |
| Voter registration and party enrolment as of October 31, 2024[35] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters | |
| Democratic | 10,983 | 587 | 11,570 | |
| Republican | 2,845 | 194 | 3,039 | |
| Unaffiliated | 8,601 | 591 | 9,192 | |
| Minor parties | 259 | 27 | 286 | |
| Total | 22,688 | 1,399 | 24,087 | |
The following minor parties have registered voters in Windsor: theGreen Party,Libertarian Party,Working Families Party, andIndependent Party.
Windsor Police Department is located off of Day Hill Road, at 100 Addison Road.[37]
Windsor Volunteer Fire Department has five stations: Windsor Station (at the Windsor Safety Complex), Wilson Station, Poquonock Station, Rainbow Road Station and Hayden Station.[38]
Windsor Volunteer Ambulance is also located at the Windsor Safety Complex.[39]
The public schools in Windsor are a part of theWindsor Public Schools:
The magnet schools in Windsor are managed by theCapital Region Education Council:
There is one public library, Windsor Public Library, with two branches:
There are several private schools in Windsor:
Windsor Meadows State Park is in the southeast corner of town[51] and runs along the shore of theConnecticut River.
Keney Park, in the south, straddles Windsor andHartford; it includescricket fields and agolf course.[52]
Northwest Park, Windsor's largest park, is located in the northwest corner of Windsor. It includes a nature center, trails and an animal barn showcasing a burro, sheep, chickens, goats, rabbits, ducks, and a turkey.[53]
Welch Park is in the neighborhood of Poquonock on theFarmington River and is home to a public pool, abasketball court, numerousbaseball diamonds,tennis courts, and a small playground.
Stroh Park is off Route 159 near Wilson Congregational Church towards the south end of town. It is home to a public pool, tennis courts, a playground, and a pond.
Strawberry Hills Park is located on River Street. It is a popular location in the summer months for those interested incanoeing andkayaking theFarmington River.
Mill Brook Open Space, the former Mill Brook and Traditions golf course headed to housing development was purchased and protected as open space byThe Trust for Public Land in 2014.[54][55] This 95 acre property cost $2.1million dollars, with a $1,086,000 grant from the State of Connecticut to help preserve this open meadow.[56] This property will serve as "land for passive recreation, wildlife habitat, community character along with water quality & storm water protection purposes".[56] The proximity of the park to the town is also important in that it will put more than 1,200 residents within a 10-minute-walk to the property.[55]
The Northwest Park Country Fair is held every fall.[57]
The Shad Derby Festival is held every spring in the town center.[58]
The Carol sing and torchlight parade mark the holiday season in December.
Places adjacent to Windsor, Connecticut | |
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Municipalities and communities ofHartford County, Connecticut,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
