Branford, Connecticut

Branford, Connecticut
Town
Academy in Branford. The building dates from 1820 on the site of the meeting that established Yale University Academy in Branford. The building dates from 1820 on the site of the meeting that established Yale University
Seal
Location in Connecticut
Country	United States
State	Connecticut
NECTA	New Haven
Region	South Central Region
Named	1653
Government
• Type	Representative town meeting
• First selectman	Anthony "Unk" DaRos (D)
Area
• Total	28.0 sq mi (72.5 km2)
• Land	22.0 sq mi (56.9 km2)
• Water	6.0 sq mi (15.6 km2)
Elevation	43 ft (13 m)
Population  (2005)
• Total	29,089
• Density	1,322/sq mi (511/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	06405
Area code	203
FIPS code	09-07310
GNIS feature ID	0213395
Website	http://www.branford-ct.gov/

Branford is a town located on Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut, eight miles (13 km) east of New Haven. The population was 29,089 in 2005, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It is situated between New Haven and the smaller, less commercially developed shoreline towns to the east.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.0 square miles (72.5 km²); 22.0 square miles (56.9 km²) is land and 6.0 square miles (15.6 km²) (21.5%) is water, including the Branford River, Queach Brook and the Branford Supply Ponds. There are two harbors, the more central Branford Harbor and Stony Creek Harbor on the east end. Much of the town's border with East Haven to the west is dominated by Lake Saltonstall, a reservoir owned by the Greater New Haven Regional Water Authority, and Saltonstall Mountain, part of the Metacomet Ridge, a mountainous traprock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border. The southern terminus of the Metacomet Ridge, Beacon Hill, is also located in Branford.

The Town of Branford includes the Thimble Islands. Neighboring towns are North Branford to the north, Guilford to the east, and East Haven to the west.

History

An area called "Totoket", which became Branford, was part of the land bought from the Mattabesech Indians in 1638 by the first settlers of New Haven. The Dutch set up a trading post at the mouth of the Branford River in the 1600s, the source of the name "Dutch Wharf."

The town's name is said to be derived from the town of Brentford, England. Established in 1644, the town grew during the 18th and 19th centuries. In the late 18th century, the first shoreline community, Stony Creek, was settled. Indian Neck and Pine Orchard were also settled, but neither of those settlements were permanent until the mid-19th century.

In 1852, the railroad helped bring new business, including Branford Lockworks, Malleable Iron Fittings Company, and the Atlantic Wire Company.

During the mid-nineteenth century, Branford became a popular resort area. Approximately twenty hotels opened, including Indian Point House in Stony Creek, Montowese House in Indian Neck, and Sheldon House in Pine Orchard. During the mid-20th century, Branford shed its resort image and subsequently took on many characteristics typically associated with northeastern suburbs.

In 1974, Connecticut Hospice was founded in Branford, the first hospice in the United States.

Landmarks and attractions

Relaxation and rehabilitation can be found at Now 'N' Then Theraputic Massage on the Green in Branford. This professional establishment helps residents live a healthier lifestyle by upholding the true values of wellness.

Branford has six National Register of Historic Places districts, including buildings in Federal, Arts and Crafts, and Queen Anne styles of architecture.

Harrison House and Museum, a 1724 structure, has period furnishings, local historical items, archives, a barn and a herb garden.

Cruises of the Thimble Islands depart from the Stony Creek dock, and seal-watch cruises take place in March.

Branford's recreational facilities include several town-maintained parks and beaches owned by private foundations, hiking trails along Lake Saltonstall and a stretch of the Shoreline Greenway Trail, and 20 miles (30 km) of coastline with more than 12 marinas.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 28,683 people, 12,543 households, and 7,663 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,305.2 people per square mile (503.8/km²). There were 13,342 housing units at an average density of 607.1/sq mi (234.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.05% white, 1.35% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race comprised 2.57% of the population.

Of the 12,543 households, 25.7% included children under the age of 18, 47.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female head of household with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 41 years.

The median income for a household in the town was $58,009, and the median income for a family was $69,510. The per capita income for the town was $32,301, with 4.1% of the population and 3.3% of families below the poverty line.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25 2005
Party		Active Voters	Inactive Voters	Total Voters	Percentage	Democratic	5,369	221	5,590	28.82%	Republican	2,889	155	3,044	15.69%	Unaffiliated	10,200	527	10,727	55.31%	Minor Parties	30	4	34	0.18%
Total		18,488	907	19,395	100%

Principal communities in Branford

Branford Center

Branford Center is home to many small stores, restaurants, and coffee houses, which line Main Street, with the Green at the center. The Branford Green has churches as well as the town hall and other government facilities and hosts concerts and other events, such as the annual Branford Festival.

Main article: Branford Center

Branford Hills

Branford Hills sits on the western end of town and centers on the heavily commercialized strip of Route 1. Fast-food and sit-down restaurants, auto dealers, grocery stores, and several strip malls are located there.

Branford Hills features many condominum and apartment complexes, most of which house middle and lower-middle-class residents. The original sites of Connecticut Hospice and St. Elizabeth Roman Catholic Church are in Branford Hills.

Indian Neck

Indian Neck is in the south-central section of Branford, dominated by a peninsula bordering Branford Harbor. Both Foote Park and John B. Sliney Memorial Park are located within Indian Neck.

Back in the early to mid 20th century Indian Neck was a tourist destination. Trolley service came down to Sybil and Limewood Ave which had its own commercial area. These included Harry's General Store, Bud's Bait Box, The Waverly Inn, Madelyn's Restaurant, Surfside Restaurant, a Candy Store, and Dairy Joy Ice Cream. Much of the area contained second homes, so the beach was an active place. As the area became more year round the commercial business slowly shut-down. In fact the landmark Waverly Inn burned to the ground in the early 70's truly marking the end of an era.

Pine Orchard

Pine Orchard, between Indian Neck and Stony Creek, is an affluent section of town. The Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club, The Pine Brook School (formerly Wightwood School) a private institution, and Francis Walsh Intermediate School are found here.

Short Beach

Main article: Short Beach

Short Beach is a beach neighborhood in the western end of town, south of Branford Hills. It is home to many small islands, the largest being Kelsey Island, which has a few small cabins used as summer homes. Short Beach is home to half of the famous Shoreline Trolley Museum, which is also in neighboring East Haven. Also in Short Beach are the Yale Corinthian Yacht Club (YCYC), Short Beach Union Church and three parks, the largest being Pardee Park. Short Beach's population is about 1,500 and features a three-day festival at the end of summer called Short Beach Days. Short Beach is known for the population of monk parakeets that live there (referred to as the "Short Beach Parrots"), a non-native bird.

Stony Creek

Main article: Stony Creek, Connecticut

Stony Creek is a shorefront section in the southeastern section of Branford, centered on a harbor on Long Island Sound. Stony Creek, along with Pine Orchard a relatively affluent section of Branford, has an ambience of a small seaside village. It is famous for the archipelago of islands knowns as the Thimble Islands.

The Thimbles are a jumble of glacial rocks, ranging from 17 acres (69,000 m²) down to stepping stone size, at the mouth of the harbor. Despite their small size, they possess a wealth of history and local lore, as well as providing pleasant scenery for a summer cruise.

The Stony Creek Puppet House is one of the few places in the world where traditional 4- to 5 foot (1.5 m)-high Sicilian puppets can be seen. The puppets do not perform regularly, but they are on display on the walls of the Puppet House and sometimes are demonstrated at other venues. The 100-year-old puppet house serves as a theater for a wide variety of concerts, dances, plays, musicals, dinner theater, small puppet shows and children's programs, year round.

Stony Creek is also home to the all-male Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps and the all-female Totoket Ancient Fife & Drum Corps. A large quarry is still working, and supplied the distinctive pink/orange Stony Creek granite for the Brooklyn Bridge, the Stony Creek library and the newest House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Hotchkiss Grove

Hotchkiss Grove is located between Indian Neck and Pine Orchard and consists of 9 Avenues, Hotchkiss Grove Road, and Dudley Road. It has a small beach used for swimming and keeping boats with a raft to swim out to. The point is a small peninsula going out into the water with a small dock and grass, where parties are held sometimes. Every first Saturday of August, Hotchkiss Grove Day is held, with the day starting with a costume parade, with prizes. Then are beach games, in which kids compete with one another on the beach. There is live music at that time and a clam bar. Then there is a dinner on the point in the evening, with a raffle, live auction, and dance.

Industry

Now that Malleable Iron Fittings has been largely demolished and the site turned into housing, Branford is known for high-technology companies such as Curagen and 454 Life Sciences. Also with offices and manufacturing space in Branford is American Polyfilm, Inc. which specializes in the manufacture of Polyurethane film for a number of industries including industrial and high performance fabrics and medical products to name a few. It is also home to Wilson Arms, which produces small-caliber rifles and parts, and Islander East Pipeline Co., which seeks to build a controversial natural gas pipeline from North Haven to Yaphank, New York.

Transportation

The main artery through the town is Interstate 95, running along the eastern coast of the United States. Between Branford and New Haven, the highway passes over the Pearl Harbor Memorial Bridge. The Shore Line East railway system has been expanded over the past few years in order to simplify commuting from eastern shore towns such as Branford into New Haven. The Branford Steam Railroad carries quarried traprock from North Branford to barges at Juniper Point near Stony Creek. Tweed New Haven Regional Airport is located three miles (5 km) west of Branford.

Major roads

• West Main Street/North Main Street/East Main Street (US Route 1) - parallels I-95.
• Main Street passes through the town center
• Route 142 (Short Beach Road/Shore Drive) serves the community of Short Beach in the southwestern part of the town
• Route 146 is a scenic route that passes through various coastal communities in the southeastern part of the town and into Guilford.
• Cedar Street/Brush Plain Road, which runs from Main Street into North Branford, ending at Route 80. The section north of Route 1 is State Road 740.

Culture

One of the largest events in Branford every year is the Branford Festival on Father's Day weekend, which features food, crafts, children's rides, music and a 5 mile road race.

Sister cities

• Brentford, England

Trivia

• On November 6th, 2007, 18-year-old Grady Keefe was elected to the RTM, making him the youngest town representative in Connecticut.

• Two Major League Baseball players were born in Branford: Beauty McGowan (1901) and Ollie Sax (1904).

External links

Government

• Town of Branford official web site
• Town of Branford Police Department
• Town of Branford Fire Department

Industry

• American Polyfilm, Inc.

Other

• Branford Chamber of Commerce
• Branford Historical Society
• Connecticut Hospice, first hospice in the United States
• Branford Festival