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Guilford, Connecticut

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Town in Connecticut, United States
Guilford, Connecticut
Town
Town of Guilford
Guilford GreenGuilford Green
Official seal of Guilford, ConnecticutSeal
Motto: "Discover A Piece Of Connecticut History"
Guilford's location within New Haven County and Connecticut New Haven County and ConnecticutGuilford's location within the South Central Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut South Central Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut
Show GuilfordShow ConnecticutShow the United States
Coordinates: 41°17′N 72°41′W / 41.283°N 72.683°W / 41.283; -72.683
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyNew Haven
RegionSouth Central CT
SettledMay 19, 1639
EstablishedOctober 15, 1644
Named forGuildford, Surrey
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanMatthew T. Hoey III (D)
 • SelectmanLouis Federici (D)
 • SelectmanSandra Ruoff (D)
 • SelectmanCharles Havrda (R)
 • SelectmanSusan Renner (R)
Area
 • Total49.7 sq mi (128.7 km)
 • Land47.1 sq mi (121.9 km)
 • Water2.7 sq mi (6.9 km)
Elevation56 ft (17 m)
Population
 • Total22,073
 • Density440/sq mi (170/km)
 • DemonymGuilfordian
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code06437
Area code(s)203/475
FIPS code09-34950
GNIS feature ID0213438
Websitewww.guilfordct.gov

Guilford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, that borders Madison, Branford, North Branford and Durham, and is situated on I-95 and the Connecticut coast. The town is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 22,073 at the 2020 census.

History

Prior to European colonization, the area that became Guilford was the site of Menunkatuck, a Quinnipiac village. The Quinnipiac spoke Quiripi, one of the Eastern Algonquian branches of the Algonquian language family.

By 1614, the Dutch had surveyed, charted, and established New Netherland, a colonial province, with claimed territories from the Delmarva Peninsula to Cape Cod. This included claims over the Quinnipiac territory. However, a lack of any significant Dutch presence in the area gave English settlers an opportunity to settle in the Quinnipiac territory. Dutch claims over land that included Menunkatuck (and would later include Guilford) remained until the 1674 Treaty of Westminster that ended the Third Anglo-Dutch War.

In June 1637 during the Pequot War, a force of 100 English soldiers and Narragansett, Mohegan, and Montauk allies arrived from Long Island in pursuit of the Pequot grand sachem Sassacus near Menunkatuck. At a neck of land known today as Sachems Head, they captured and executed three Pequot sachems before continuing on west in pursuit of Sassacus.

In 1639, after landing in the plantation of Quinnipiaic (later known as New Haven) via ship from England, a group of 24 English Puritan families led by Rev. Henry Whitfield chose to settle almost 13 miles away near Menukatuck. During their voyage from England, the settlers drafted and signed the Plantation Covenant on June 1, 1639 (O.S.). The text of the covenant is memorialized by an engraved pink granite slab at the corner of Old Whitfield and Whitfield streets. On September 29, 1639 (O.S.), the colonists secured a land grant for their settlement from Shaumpishuh, the female sachem of Menunkatuck.

Guilford was admitted to New Haven Colony in 1643. In 1664, New Haven Colony, including Guilford, joined Connecticut Colony.

1838 view of Guilford from the Green showing (left to right) the Academy, the Congregational Church, and the Town House

The English settlement originally shared the name Menunkatuck with the Quinnipiac village. On July 6, 1643 (O.S.), records of the General Court session held at New Haven note that Menunkatuck changed its name to “Guilforde,” although no reason for the change was recorded. It is assumed that Guilford was named after the town of Guildford, England, the native home of a share of its first English settlers. In early maps of the Connecticut Colony, the town is seen on several maps as "Gilford."

1881 bird's eye view of Guilford

Guilford is considered by some to have the third largest collection of historic homes in New England, with important buildings from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. There are five historic house museums, including Dudley Farm and the Henry Whitfield House (1639), the oldest dwelling house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house built by English settlers in North America. The Comfort Starr House (1695) is one of the oldest wooden framed private dwellings in Connecticut, and one of the few houses remaining of the original signers who settled Guilford.

In June 1781, during the American Revolution, a skirmish was fought on Leete's Island between the Associated Loyalists and local militia under Captain Peter Vail.

Guilford, c. 1900

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 49.7 square miles (129 km), of which 47.0 square miles (122 km) is land and 2.7 square miles (6.9 km or 5.39%) is water.

The primary settlement in Guilford, known as Guilford Center, is located in the southern part of town around the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Connecticut Route 77. It is served by three exits of Interstate 95, which passes just north of the town center. The Guilford Center census-designated place had a population of 2,597 at the 2010 census.

The northwest side of Guilford is flanked by the Metacomet Ridge, a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border. Important features of the Metacomet ridge in Guilford include Totoket Mountain; its most notable peak, Bluff Head; and two eastern high points on the Totoket Mountain ridge named East Sugarloaf and West Sugarloaf. The 50-mile (80 km) Mattabesett Trail traverses Bluff Head; a shorter network of trails criss-cross the Sugarloaves. Guilford also contains the Westwoods Trail System which covers 39 miles (63 km) of trails on 1,200 acres (4.9 km) of land.

Transportation

Guilford train station is served by Shore Line East

The Shore Line East train stops at Guilford station with service to Branford, East Haven, New Haven and New London, and the Connecticut Transit S bus travels between Guilford and New Haven several times each day.

Principal communities

  • Guilford Center (Guilford Green)
  • Leete's Island
  • North Guilford
  • Nut Plains
  • Shell Beach
  • Sachem's Head

Other minor communities and geographic features in Guilford are Guilford Lakes, Indian Cove, and Old Quarry.

Demographics

See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18204,131—
18502,653—
18602,624−1.1%
18702,576−1.8%
18802,7828.0%
18902,780−0.1%
19002,7850.2%
19103,0017.8%
19202,803−6.6%
19303,11711.2%
19403,54413.7%
19505,09243.7%
19607,91355.4%
197012,03352.1%
198017,37544.4%
199019,84814.2%
200021,3987.8%
201022,3754.6%
202022,073−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census of 2000, there were 21,398 people, 8,151 households, and 6,039 families residing in the town. The population density was 454.8 inhabitants per square mile (175.6/km). There were 8,724 housing units at an average density of 185.4 per square mile (71.6/km). The racial makeup of the town was 96.04% White, 0.93% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.65% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.

There were 8,151 households, out of which 35.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. Of all households 21.6% were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 31.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $76,843, and the median income for a family was $87,045 (these figures had risen to $90,026 and $104,852 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $60,623 versus $40,307 for females. The per capita income for the town was $37,161. About 2.3% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 30, 2014
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
Democratic 4,743 551 5,294 33.05%
Republican 3,183 333 3,516 21.95%
Unaffiliated 5,995 1113 7,108 44.38%
Minor parties 94 5 99 0.62%
Total 14,015 2,002 16,017 100%

In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 61.02% of the town vote, against 38.06% for Republican John McCain. In 2016, Democrat Hillary Clinton carried the town with 59.2% over Republican Donald Trump with 37.1%.

Economy

American Cruise Lines has its headquarters in Guilford. There are many small businesses throughout the town, including the shops on the Guilford Green.

Education

Public Schools

Guilford is served by the Guilford Public Schools district, which provides comprehensive education from kindergarten through high school. The district comprises four elementary schools, two middle schools, and a high school, offering a range of academic and extracurricular programs.

  • Elementary Schools: Guilford has four elementary schools: Calvin Leete Elementary School, A.W. Cox Elementary School, Melissa Jones Elementary School, and Guilford Lakes Elementary School.
  • Middle Schools: Baldwin Middle School serves students in grades five through six. Adams Middle School serves students in grades seven through eight.
  • High School: Guilford High School, serving grades nine through twelve, offers a wide array of academic courses, including Advanced Placement (AP) classes and college preparatory programs.

Public Library

The Guilford Free Library is a resource for the community, providing access to a vast collection of books, digital media, historical materials about Guilford’s history and genealogy, and educational programs for all ages. The library hosts numerous events, workshops, and activities aimed at promoting literacy and lifelong learning.

List of town parks

The town government operates these parks:

  • Bittner Park: 123 acres (0.50 km) of woodlands and 15 acres (61,000 m) of playground, a lighted softball field (Cash Mitchell Field), baseball and soccer fields, jogging/walking path; trout trail; roller sports complex with a skate park, roller hockey and roller blading. Ice skating available in winter.
  • Chaffinch Island: Picnic areas, short walking trails, salt marsh.
  • Chittenden Park: Softball and soccer fields, bocce courts, picnicking, unsupervised beach area
  • Jacobs Beach: Public swimming (salt water), playground, volleyball courts, picnicking; nonresidents may use the beach, but are charged a daily fee at the gate.
  • Lake Quonnipaug: Public swimming (fresh water), picnic area, small craft launch.
  • Long Hill: 8-acre (32,000 m) park with playing fields for baseball, football, soccer/lacrosse and field hockey
  • Mill Pond: Lighted, supervised ice skating in winter; fishing
  • Nut Plains: Lacrosse/soccer field
  • Town Green: available for special events

Notable locations

Guilford, Connecticut is noted for its rolling farmland, its avoidance of the density and sprawl that has occurred from land use regulations of its neighboring communities, and its numerous historic homes and sites.

Historic Structures and Districts

The town is home to one of the most well-preserved and intact central villages in the region. Its historical significance is further underscored by the presence of over 450 historical houses dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries.

Among its notable designations, Guilford includes a National Historic Landmark, four designated areas, and 11 individual structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, the town features two local historic districts encompassing a total of 226 buildings within the downtown area, highlighting its rich historical and architectural legacy.

Building Image First built National Register of Historic Places listed Current use Notes
Henry Whitfield House 1639 Yes House museum Oldest house in Connecticut and the oldest stone house in New England.
Acadian House 1670 Yes Residential One of Connecticut's oldest surviving houses. Notable for its later occupation by refugee Acadians following their 1755 deportation from Nova Scotia.
Elisha Pitkin House 1690 Yes Residential Moved to Guilford from East Hartford in 1955
Comfort Starr House 1695 No Residential Classic New England saltbox home.
Pelatiah Leete House 1710 Yes Residential Oldest surviving house associated with the locally prominent Leete family, who were among the founders of New Haven Colony. 
Hyland House 1713 Yes House museum Open to the public as a museum since 1918.
Jared Eliot House 1723 Yes Residential Well-preserved example of period residential architecture
Thomas Burgis II House 1735 Yes Residential One of Guilford's finest and best-documented colonial-era houses
Sabbathday House 1735 Yes Residential One of two Sabbathday houses to survive in the town. Built for the purpose of sheltering church-going families between morning and afternoon services. 
Griswold House 1764 Yes House museum Museum includes the saltbox house, a historic blacksmith shop, a barn with farm tools and implements, two corn cribs and a Victorian era three seat outhouse. 
Falkner Island Light 1802 Yes Lighthouse Second-oldest extant lighthouse in Connecticut. Commissioned by Thomas Jefferson.
Medad Stone Tavern 1803 Yes House museum Example of early 19th-century Federal period architecture. Never used as a tavern.
First Congregational Church 1830 No Church Third church building for a congregation founded in 1643.

Historic districts include:

Other Notable Structures

Building Image Built Current use Notes
Junior Olsen House 1951 Residential Modernist home by sculptor and architectural designer Tony Smith. Old Quarry neighborhood.
Fred Olsen, Sr. House 1953 Residential Modernist residential compound by sculptor and architectural designer Tony Smith. Old Quarry neighborhood.
"The spaceship" 1987 Condos Uniqiue condo building designed by architect Wilfred J. O. Armster.

Notable people

Living

See also

References

  1. "The Town of Guilford Connecticut". The Town of Guilford Connecticut. Archived from the original on September 23, 2012. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  2. "Board of Selectmen". Town of Guilford, Connecticut. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  3. "Census - Geography Profile: Guilford town, New Haven County, Connecticut". Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  4. Smith, Ralph (1877). The History of Guilford Connecticut. Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell. pp. 46–47.
  5. "A Tour of New Netherland: Connecticut". New Netherland Institute. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  6. "The History of the Pequot War". Pequot War. Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  7. Smith, Ralph (1877). The History of Guilford Connecticut. Albany, N.Y.: J. Munsell. pp. 46–47.
  8. Eaton-Robb, Pat (February 28, 2022). "Massive Guilford Covenant carved in Stony Creek granite stands test of time". CT Insider. Hearst Connecticut Media. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  9. "Object of the Month: An Indigenous Deed and Map of Lands in Connecticut (January 2023)". Massachusetts Historical Society. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  10. "Guilford - Connecticut History". Connecticut History. Connecticut Humanities. September 13, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  11. Hoadly, Charles J. (1857). Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven from 1638 to 1649. Hartford, Conn.: Case, Tiffany and Company. p. 96, 199. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  12. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 146.
  13. The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 332.
  14. The Connecticut Nutmegger, Connecticut Society of Genealogists (Connecticut Society of Genealogists, 1981).
  15. Federal Writers' Project (1938). Connecticut. Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 978-1-60354-007-0.
  16. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Guilford Center CDP, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  17. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  19. "American FactFinder - Community Facts". factfinder.census.gov. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  20. "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 30, 2014" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 23, 2006. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  21. "Connecticut Election 2008 - Presidential Results Margin of Victory" (PDF). magic.lib.uconn.edu. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
  22. "Connecticut Election Results 2016". The New York Times. August 2017.
  23. "General Information" Archived January 21, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. American Cruise Lines. Retrieved on January 15, 2012. "American Cruise Lines, Inc. operates from headquarters in Guilford, Connecticut"
  24. "Cruise News". (Archive) American Cruise Lines. Retrieved on January 15, 2012. "741 Boston Post Road ٠ Suite 200 ٠ Guilford, CT"
  25. "Schools Overview".
  26. "Schools Overview".
  27. "Schools Overview".
  28. "Schools Overview".
  29. "Schools Overview".
  30. "Schools Overview".
  31. "Schools Overview".
  32. "About the Library – Guilford Free Library".
  33. ^ http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ot-guilford,0,3814997.story Archived May 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Web page titled "Guilford" at Hartford Courant Web site, dated August 16, 2006, accessed January 14, 2007
  34. Hughes, C. J., Guilford, Conn.: Proud of Its Place in New England, the New York Times, September 29, 2019
  35. Guilford Green
  36. Guilford Land Conservation Trust
  37. "Illustrated Historic Survey | Guilford Preservation Alliance". October 2, 2012.
  38. https://guilfordpreservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Guilford_OldQuarryRd_179_HRI.pdf
  39. "FRED OLSEN JR., HOUSE, 1951 - ARCHITECTURE - Artworks - Tony Smith".
  40. "FRED OLSEN SR., HOUSE, 1951-53 - ARCHITECTURE - Artworks - Tony Smith".
  41. "Abraham Baldwin (1754–1807)" Archived March 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, New Georgia Encyclopedia (January 6, 2009), Retrieved on July 21, 2013
  42. Roberts, Sam (May 29, 2016). "Frank Modell, Longtime New Yorker Cartoonist, Dies at 98". The New York Times.
  43. "Becki Newton". IMDb. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  44. "Jennifer Westfeldt biography at IMDB". IMDB.com. Retrieved May 26, 2015.

Further reading


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