South Windsor, Connecticut

Coordinates: 41°49′56″N 72°34′11″W / 41.83222°N 72.56972°W / 41.83222; -72.56972
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South Windsor, Connecticut
Town of South Windsor
Former Memorial Library
Former Memorial Library
Official seal of South Windsor, Connecticut
South Windsor's location within Hartford County and Connecticut
South Windsor's location within the Capitol Planning Region and the state of Connecticut
Map
Map
Map
Coordinates: 41°49′56″N 72°34′11″W / 41.83222°N 72.56972°W / 41.83222; -72.56972
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyHartford
RegionCapitol Region
Settled1652
IncorporatedSeptember 3, 1845
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • South Windsor Town CouncilLiz Pendleton (D), Mayor
Steven King, Jr. (D), Deputy Mayor
Andrew Paterna (D)
Erica Evans (D)
Matt Siracusa (R)
Marek Kozikowski(R)
Cesar Lopez (D)
Philip Koboski(R)
Karen Lydecker (D)[1]
 • Town managerMichael Maniscalco
Area
 • Total28.7 sq mi (74.3 km2)
 • Land28.1 sq mi (72.7 km2)
 • Water0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Elevation
72 ft (22 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total26,918
 • Density940/sq mi (360/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
06074
Area code(s)860/959
FIPS code09-71390
GNIS feature ID0213509
Interstates
U.S. Highways
State Routes
Websitewww.southwindsor-ct.gov

South Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 26,918 at the 2020 census.[2]

History[edit]

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.[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 from Windsor began using land on the east bank of the Connecticut 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 of East 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, and Ellington. Known for its agriculture and ship building, the town of East Windsor, including South Windsor, supplied more than 200 volunteers during the American 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, theologian Jonathan Edwards, was born in South Windsor (at the time still part of Windsor). Ulysses S. Grant stayed at 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 proposed nuclear waste dump located near the East Windsor town line.

On the National Register of Historic Places[edit]

Geography[edit]

According to the United 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)
Average precipitation 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]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18501,638
18601,7899.2%
18701,688−5.6%
18801,90212.7%
18901,736−8.7%
19002,01416.0%
19102,25111.8%
19202,142−4.8%
19302,53518.3%
19402,86312.9%
19504,06642.0%
19609,460132.7%
197015,55364.4%
198017,19810.6%
199022,09028.4%
200024,41210.5%
201025,7095.3%
202026,9184.7%
DECD[7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 24,412 people, 8,905 households, and 6,767 families residing in the town. The population density was 873.1 inhabitants per square mile (337.1/km2). There were 9,071 housing units at an average density of 324.4 per square mile (125.3/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 85.95% White, 2% African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.71% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.27% of the population.

There were 8,905 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.0% were non-families. 19.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.16.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.4% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $73,990, and the median income for a family was $82,807. Males had a median income of $55,703 versus $38,665 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,966. About 1.5% of families and 1.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.8% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy[edit]

Top employers[edit]

Top employers in South Windsor according to the town's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report[9]

# Employer # of Employees
1 Town of South Windsor 891
2 DST Output 650
3 Ticket Network 441
4 May Company 389
5 Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc. 320
6 Target Corporation 250
7 Stop & Shop 221
8 Performance Food Group 183
9 Lowe's 170
10 Electro-Methods, Inc. 155

Education[edit]

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, with Wapping now used by the local recreation department, instead of previously running as a school. 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 at South Windsor High School. Over 140 students in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 classes have been admitted to the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Government and politics[edit]

South Windsor Town Council
Type
Type
Leadership
Liz Pendleton, Democrat
Steven King Jr., Democrat
Mike Maniscalco
Structure
Seats9
Political groups
Republican Party (3)
Democratic Party (6)
Elections
Last election
November 2, 2021
Meeting place
Council Chambers, 1540 Sullivan Ave.
Website
Official website

Town council[edit]

South Windsor is governed by a council-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. Each party nominates only up to six candidates for the nine town council positions (which are all at-large), and each voter may only vote for up to six 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 or 6–3 majority (assuming only two parties are participating), ensuring representation of the minority party.

Voting[edit]

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 26, 2021[10]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 6,230 313 6,543 35.17%
Republican 3,576 232 3,808 20.47%
Unaffiliated 7,442 510 7,952 42.75%
Minor parties 280 19 299 1.61%
Total 17,528 1,074 18,602 100%
Election results from statewide races
Year Office Results
2020 President Biden 61.1–37.0%
Congress Larson 63.6–35.1%
2018 Governor Lamont 47.5–44.6%
Senator Murphy 60.1–38.7%
Congress Larson 63.4–35.7%
2016 President Clinton 54.9–40.5%
Senator Blumenthal 63.6–34.4%
Congress Larson 61.7–36.8%
2014 Governor Foley 49.7–48.9%
Congress Larson 62.1–36.7%
2012 President Obama 56.3–42.1%
Senator Murphy 52.8–42.9%
Congress Larson 65.4–27.8%
2010 Governor Foley 50.7–48.0%
Senator Blumenthal 53.0–42.9%
Congress Larson 58.1–38.8%
2008 President Obama 60.0–37.7%
Congress Larson 67.7–24.8%
2006 Governor Rell 63.7–35.3%
Senator Lieberman 48.4–41.8–9.0%
Congress Larson 73.2–23.0%
2004 President Kerry 54.5–44.0%
Senator Dodd 69.6–29.0%
Congress Larson 74.4–25.6%

Notable people[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Town Council | Town of South Windsor CT".
  2. ^ a b Stuart, Christine (August 13, 2021). "Census Data Shows Shifts In Connecticut's Demographics". CT News Junkie. Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  3. ^ Goodwin, Joseph Olcott (1879). East Hartford: Its History and Traditions. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Co.
  4. ^ Burnham, Roderick Henry (1869). The Burnham Family; Or Genealogical Records of the Descendants of the Four. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Co.
  5. ^ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 335.
  6. ^ [1] Weather Channel Retrieved 2011-11-16
  7. ^ Office, Enter your Company or Top-Level. "DECD: DECD:Connecticut Population Population by Town 1970-2000". www.ct.gov. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
  8. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. ^ "Comprehensive Annual Financial Report of the Town of South Windsor Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020" (PDF). Town of South Windsor. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  10. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 26, 2021" (PDF).

External links[edit]