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Goshen is a
town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an o ...
in
Litchfield County Litchfield County is in northwestern Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,186. The county was named after Lichfield, in England. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut and is th ...
,
Connecticut Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the ...
,
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
. The population was 3,150 at the 2020 census.


Geography

Goshen is in central Litchfield County and is bordered to the east by the city of Torrington. According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of th ...
, the town of Goshen has a total area of , of which are land and , or 3.44%, are water. A large portion of the
Mohawk State Forest Mohawk State Forest, also known as Mohawk State Forest/Mohawk Mountain State Park, encompasses over in the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, and Litchfield in the southern Berkshires of Litchfield County, Connecticut. As overseen by the Connecticu ...
is located in the town. The
Appalachian Trail The Appalachian Trail (also called the A.T.), is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states.Gailey, Chris (2006)"Appalachian ...
formerly passed through the town until it was re-routed west of the
Housatonic River The Housatonic River ( ) is a river, approximately long,U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline dataThe National Map , accessed April 1, 2011 in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United S ...
.


Principal communities

* Goshen Center * West Goshen Other minor communities and geographic areas in the town are Hall Meadow, North Goshen, Tyler Lake, West Side, and Woodridge Lake. Woodridge Lake is private. It is only available to residents (it is not a gated community). They have access to the clubhouse, and all of the lake's beaches.


History

The town was incorporated in 1739, one year after settlement of the town center began. The community was named after the
Land of Goshen The land of Goshen ( he, אֶרֶץ גֹּשֶׁן, Modern: ''ʾEreẓ Gōšen'', Tiberian: ''ʾEreṣ Gōšen'') is named in the Hebrew Bible as the place in Egypt given to the Hebrews by the pharaoh of Joseph (Book of Genesis, ), and th ...
, in Egypt. The
Congregational church Congregational churches (also Congregationalist churches or Congregationalism) are Protestant churches in the Calvinist tradition practising congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its ...
was founded the following year."History of the Town of Goshen, Connecticut," Page 72, 1897
/ref> During the 18th century, Goshen was a farming, and later, prosperous business community. Gunmakers from the town such as the Medad Hills manufactured guns during the
French and Indian War The French and Indian War (1754–1763) was a theater of the Seven Years' War, which pitted the North American colonies of the British Empire against those of the French, each side being supported by various Native American tribes. At the st ...
and Revolutionary War. Other notable business include the Pine Apple Cheese Factory and the Brooks pottery shop. The first school in Goshen was built in 1753. A seminary for young women was established in 1819. The
Goshen Academy The land of Goshen is the Hebrew name of an area in the Nile delta in Ancient Egypt. Goshen may also refer to: Places United States Cities and towns * Goshen, Alabama * Goshen, Arkansas *Goshen, California *Goshen, Connecticut * Goshen, Georgia * ...
was established several years later and became a well-regarded preparatory school during the 19th century. Settlers from Goshen were the first to settle
Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio Hudson Township was one of the 16 original townships in Summit County, Ohio. When created, it occupied survey Range 10, Town 4 in the Connecticut Western Reserve and was about in area. Its first settlers were David Hudson and his party from Go ...
, in the
Connecticut Western Reserve The Connecticut Western Reserve was a portion of land claimed by the Colony of Connecticut and later by the state of Connecticut in what is now mostly the northeastern region of Ohio. The Reserve had been granted to the Colony under the terms o ...
.


Notable locations

Historic sites in the town include: *
Hervey Brooks Pottery Shop and Kiln Site The Hervey Brooks Pottery Shop and Kiln Site is a historic industrial archaeological site in Goshen, Connecticut. It is the site of the 19th-century pottery of Hervey Brooks, a local potter significant for his extensive recordkeeping. Brooks' ...
, an archeological site 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 ...
(NRHP) * Goshen Historic District (Goshen Center) – CT 63 and 4 and Gifford Rd., NRHP-listed *
West Goshen Historic District The West Goshen Historic District is a historic district in the village of West Goshen in the town of Goshen, Connecticut. It encompasses a well-preserved early 19th-century industrial village, with twenty historically significant properties i ...
– roughly bounded by CT 4, Beach, Mill and Milton Sts., and Thompson Rd., NRHP-listed


Transportation

Connecticut Route 4 is the principal east–west through route in the town, while Connecticut Route 63 serves as the main north–south road. Route 4 leads east into Torrington and west into
Cornwall Cornwall (; kw, Kernow ) is a Historic counties of England, historic county and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is recognised as one of the Celtic nations, and is the homeland of the Cornish people ...
, while Route 63 leads northwest to
South Canaan South Canaan is a second-class township in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The township's population was 1,768 at the time of the 2010 United States Census. South Canaan is home to Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary and ...
and southeast to Litchfield.


Demographics

As of the
census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses inc ...
of 2000, there were 2,697 people, 1,066 households, and 814 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 1,482 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 98.26%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White ...
, 0.48%
African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
, 0.15% Native American, 0.74% Asian, and 0.37% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties for ...
or Latino of any race were 1.22% of the population. There were 1,066 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were
married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between ...
living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 20.2% 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 2.53 and the average family size was 2.91. In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males. The median income for a household in the town was $64,432, and the median income for a family was $72,452. Males had a median income of $48,125 versus $30,464 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...
for the town was $33,925. About 2.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.


Arts and culture

Multiple events are hosted at the Goshen Fairgrounds each year, located on Route 63 south just outside the center of town. One such event is the Goshen Stampede, a festival held annually on
Father's Day Father's Day is a holiday of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In Catholic countries of Europe, it has been celebrated on 19 March as Saint Joseph's Day since the Middle Ages. In the Unite ...
weekend that hosts a
rodeo Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working vaq ...
,
demolition derby Demolition derby is a non-racing motorsport usually presented at county fairs and festivals. While rules vary from event to event, the typical demolition derby event consists of five or more drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehic ...
, music festival, and truck pull. Later in the summer on
Labor Day Labor Day is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday in September to honor and recognize the American labor movement and the works and contributions of laborers to the development and achievements of the United St ...
weekend is the annual Goshen Fair. As the county's largest
agricultural fair An agricultural show is a public event exhibiting the equipment, animals, sports and recreation associated with agriculture and animal husbandry. The largest comprise a livestock show (a judged event or display in which breeding stock is exhibi ...
, it features farm animal judgement shows, competition and contest in log chopping, log sawing, hay-bale throwing and the like. There are food, art, photography, baked goods, and craft contests, as well as rides for children, carnival games, and craft and food vendors. Attendance over the three days can range up to 50,000 people. Traditionally at the beginning of August, and usually the first Saturday, the Church of Christ presents an Annual Blueberry Festival where they sell blueberry pies, blueberries and host a blueberry breakfast. It is very well known and people from all around the area come to enjoy the festival and the pies. The blueberry pies are available for sale all year long, as well as other flavors made by hand by the congregation (apple, peach, and blueberry-peach). Mini pies are also sold by the church at the Goshen Fair. The town is also home to the Goshen Players.


Notable people

* William R. Brewster, American Civil War general * David Darling, cellist and composer *
Daniel S. Dickinson Daniel Stevens Dickinson (September 11, 1800April 12, 1866) was an American politician and lawyer, most notable as a United States senator from 1844 to 1851. Biography Born in Goshen, Connecticut, he moved with his parents to Guilford, Chenan ...
, U.S. senator * Ezra Foot, Wisconsin state senator * Eunice Newton Foote, scientist, inventor and woman's rights campaigner * Asaph Hall, astronomer credited with discovering the moons of
Mars Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second-smallest planet in the Solar System, only being larger than Mercury. In the English language, Mars is named for the Roman god of war. Mars is a terrestrial planet with a thin at ...
*
Ivan Lendl Ivan Lendl (; born March 7, 1960) is a Czech–American former professional tennis player. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis players of all time. Lendl was ranked world No. 1 in singles for 270 weeks and won 94 singles titles. ...
, Professional Tennis Player and Coach *
Madeleine L'Engle Madeleine L'Engle DStJ (; November 29, 1918 – September 6, 2007) was an American writer of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and young adult fiction, including '' A Wrinkle in Time'' and its sequels: ''A Wind in the Door'', ''A Swiftly Tilting Plan ...
, author *
Frederick Miles Frederick Miles (December 19, 1815 – November 20, 1896) was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut's 4th congressional district from 1879 to 1883 and from 1889 to 1891. He had previously served in ...
,
congressman A Member of Congress (MOC) is a person who has been appointed or elected and inducted into an official body called a congress, typically to represent a particular constituency in a legislature. The term member of parliament (MP) is an equivalen ...
* Ebenezer F. Norton, congressman *
Mary Pope Osborne Mary Pope Osborne (born May 20, 1949) is an American author of children's books. She is best known as the author of the ''Magic Tree House'' series, which sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, ...
, author * Kevin Phillips, author and political analyst *
Isaac Williams, Jr. Isaac Williams Jr. (April 5, 1777 in Goshen, Litchfield County, Connecticut – November 9, 1860 in Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York) was an American politician from New York. Life He received a limited schooling, and in 1793 moved with hi ...
, congressman


References


External links


Town of Goshen official websiteGoshen Garden ClubChurch of Christ Congregational
{{authority control Towns in Litchfield County, Connecticut Federal architecture in Connecticut Historic districts in Litchfield County, Connecticut Towns in the New York metropolitan area Towns in Connecticut