East Hartford, Connecticut
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| East Hartford, Connecticut | |
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Connecticut |
| NECTA | Hartford |
| Region | Capitol Region |
| Incorporated | 1783 |
| Government | |
| - Type | Mayor-council |
| - Mayor | Melody A. Currey (D) |
| Area | |
| - Total | 18.8 sq mi (48.7 km²) |
| - Land | 18.0 sq mi (46.7 km²) |
| - Water | 0.8 sq mi (2.0 km²) |
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Population (2005)[1] | |
| - Total | 49,173 |
| - Density | 2,732/sq mi (1,055/km²) |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) |
| - Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 06108, 06118 |
| Area code(s) | 860 |
| FIPS code | 09-22630 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213424 |
| Website: http://www.ci.east-hartford.ct.us/ | |
East Hartford (41n47, 72w37 EST) is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 49,575 at the 2000 census.
The Indians knew East Hartford as Podunk. [1]
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.8 square miles (48.6 km²), of which, 18.0 square miles (46.7 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it (4.05%) is water.
[edit] History
When the Connecticut Valley became known to Europeans around 1631, it was inhabited by what were known as the River Tribes — a number of small clans of Native Americans living along the Great River and its tributaries. Of these tribes the Podunks occupied territory now lying in the towns of East Hartford and South Windsor, and numbered, by differing estimates, from sixty to two hundred bowmen. They were governed by two sachems, Waginacut and Arramamet, and were connected in some way with the Native Americans who lived across the Great River, in Windsor. The region north of the Hockanum river was generally called Podunk; that south of the river, Hockanum; but these were no certain designations, and by some all the meadow along the Great River was called Hockanum. [2]
In 1659, Thomas Burnham (1617 - 1688) purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, Chief sachem of the Podunk Indians.[2] Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children.[3] The town of Hartford once included the land now occupied by the towns of East Hartford, Manchester, and West Hartford. In 1783, East Hartford became a separate town, which included Manchester in its city limits until 1823.[2]
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 49,575 people, 20,206 households, and 12,830 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,750.5 people per square mile (1,062.2/km²). There were 21,273 housing units at an average density of 1,180.2/sq mi (455.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.69% White, 18.83% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 4.01% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 8.74% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.23% of the population.
There were 20,206 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $41,424, and the median income for a family was $50,540. Males had a median income of $36,823 versus $29,860 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,763. About 8.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[4] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active Voters | Inactive Voters | Total Voters | Percentage | |
| Democratic | 11,734 | 715 | 12,449 | 46.00% | |
| Republican | 3,012 | 188 | 3,200 | 11.82% | |
| Unaffiliated | 10,489 | 916 | 11,405 | 42.14% | |
| Minor Parties | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0.04% | |
| Total | 25,247 | 1,819 | 27,066 | 100% | |
[edit] Attractions
East Hartford is home to the headquarters of Pratt & Whitney, part of the United Technologies conglomerate. The manufacturing plant takes up a significant amount of East Hartford's area, and at its peak, it employed tens of thousands of people; however, currently, it only employs about 5,000. East Hartford also contains a Coca-Cola bottling plant, located on Main Street. The city is dotted with various industrial and suburban office parks.
The East Riverside Drive and Connecticut Boulevard areas, just east of the CT river, contain extensive development, including car dealerships, medical offices, and light retail development. Notably, Goodwin College plans to build a large campus on Riverside Drive. It will also develop blighted housing projects into student housing.
Wickham Park, located in both East Hartford and Manchester, features Oriental gardens, fountains, open fields, woodlands, ponds, picnic areas, softball fields, and an aviary. The west side of the park offers a scenic view of East Hartford and the skyline of Hartford across the Connecticut River.
Nearby, on land previously owned by Pratt & Whitney, lies the recently erected Rentschler Field (construction completed September 2003), home of the UConn Huskies football team.
Built on an abandoned section of the Pratt and Whitney air field, a $1 billion dollar technology, entertainment lodging and retail development called Rentschler Field is in the process of being built. Currently, Rentschler Field consists of a stadium which is the home of the UConn Huskies football team. The arena has also been used for concerts by artists including Rolling Stones. Cabela's, also known as the "world's foremost outfitter's" and a major direct marketer of outdoor merchandise in the U.S., has committed to constructing an interactive super center at the site. It is easily identifiable by the large Cabela's sign next to the airport. Hotels, technology companies, and various retail outlets are expected to begin construction in the near future as well.
[edit] Neighborhoods
East Hartford is home to a diverse mix of neighborhoods. The northeast and southeast sections of the town are suburban and resemble neighboring towns like South Windsor, Connecticut. Especially in the south of the city, many single family homes are look-a-like ranch houses, contributing to Hartford's urban sprawl. People here tend to be lower middle class. In contrast, the older, more urban sections of the town are moderate and low income. Some of these neighborhoods include Hockanum in the southwest of the city, Burnside Avenue in the center of the city, and Mayberry Village. Unlike poor districts in other cities, there are still large populations of whites living with other minorities, though white flight is beginning to change this. This demographic shift is occurring everywhere in the city.
[edit] References
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
- ^ a b c Goodwin, Joseph Olcott (1879). East Hartford: Its History and Traditions. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Co..
- ^ Burnham, Roderick Henry (1869). The Burnham Family; Or Genealogical Records of the Descendants of the Four. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Co..
- ^ Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005 (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.
[edit] External links
- Town of East Hartford
- Historical Society of East Hartford - Related historical links.
- Central Regional Tourism District
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