The Farmington Historic District encompasses a area of the town center of
Farmington, Connecticut
Farmington is a town in Hartford County in the Farmington Valley area of central Connecticut in the United States. The population was 26,712 at the 2020 census. It sits 10 miles west of Hartford at the hub of major I-84 interchanges, 20 miles ...
. It was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
in 1972. The area roughly corresponds to the section of
Route 10 between
Route 4 and
U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 (US 6), also called the Grand Army of the Republic Highway, honoring the American Civil War veterans association, is a main route of the U.S. Highway system. While it currently runs east-northeast from Bishop, California, to P ...
, and includes 115 buildings, primarily residences, built before 1835. The district includes several
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
s, include
Hill-Stead, the
Austin F. Williams Carriagehouse and House
The Austin F. Williams Carriagehouse and House is a historic house at 127 Main Street in Farmington, Connecticut. Built in the mid-19th century, the property was designated a National Historic Landmark for the role it played in the celebrated c ...
, the
First Church of Christ, Congregational, and the
Stanley-Whitman House.
[ and ]
The town of Farmington was settled in 1640 and incorporated in 1645. It flourished during the 18th century, with a variety of trade and industry, that for a time rivaled the economic importance of
Hartford
Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since t ...
. In the early 19th century it benefited for a time from the construction of the
Farmington Canal
The Farmington Canal, also known as the New Haven and Northampton Canal, was a major private canal built in the early 19th century to provide water transportation from New Haven into the interior of Connecticut, Massachusetts and beyond. Its Mass ...
, which passed through the town. The c. 1830 brick Union Hotel, located in the town center, was built to serve travelers on the canal, and is now an administration building for
Miss Porter's School
Miss Porter's School (MPS) is an elite American private college preparatory school for girls founded in 1843, and located in Farmington, Connecticut. The school draws students from 21 states, 31 countries (with dual-citizenship and/or residence), ...
. The town's Main Street was laid out at an early date, and retained its appearance in part because the town's economy declined with the advent of the railroad (which bypassed the town) and the decline of the canal.
Several of the district's building were constructed by Judah Woodruff, a prominent local builder. Among these is the First Church, built in 1771. It is one of the state's only surviving colonial era churches, specifically retaining the original orientation of its main entrance and pulpit on the long sides of the building.
See also
*
References
External links
Historic buildings of Connecticut(Farmington)
{{National Register of Historic Places
Farmington, Connecticut
Historic districts in Hartford County, Connecticut
National Register of Historic Places in Hartford County, Connecticut
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut