Route 37 is a north–south
state highway in
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 to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capita ...
running for from
Route 39 in
Danbury
Danbury is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located approximately northeast of New York City. Danbury's population as of 2022 was 87,642. It is the seventh largest city in Connecticut.
Danbury is nicknamed the "Hat City ...
, through
New Fairfield
New Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,579 at the 2020 census. New Fairfield is one of five towns that surround Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut. The town is located nor ...
, to
U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7 (US 7) is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for through the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 (I-95) exit 15 ...
in
New Milford. The northernmost section between the town centers of
Sherman and New Milford was once part of an early toll road known as the New Milford and Sherman Turnpike chartered in 1818.
Route description
Route 37 begins at an intersection with
Route 39 and
Route 53 in downtown
Danbury
Danbury is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located approximately northeast of New York City. Danbury's population as of 2022 was 87,642. It is the seventh largest city in Connecticut.
Danbury is nicknamed the "Hat City ...
, where one can also access
I-84
Interstate 84 may refer to:
* Interstate 84 (Oregon–Utah), passing through Idaho, formerly known as Interstate 80N
* Interstate 84 (Pennsylvania–Massachusetts)
Interstate 84 (I-84) is an Interstate Highway in the Northeaster ...
(exit 6). It heads northeast as North Street, crossing under I-84 at exit 7 with access to the eastbound direction only. North of I-84, the road continues as Padanaram Road for about then shifts to Pembroke Road. Route 37 crosses into the town of
New Fairfield
New Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,579 at the 2020 census. New Fairfield is one of five towns that surround Candlewood Lake, the largest lake in Connecticut. The town is located nor ...
after another , as it skirts the banks of the
Margerie Lake Reservoir. Route 37 intersects with Route 39 for a second time in New Fairfield center, where the road name changes to Sherman-New Fairfield Road. Route 37 continues through the northwest section of New Fairfield. Along the way it intersects with Patterson Road, an unsigned state highway known as State Road 850, which connects to
Putnam County Road 68 in New York state. Route 37 then enters the town of
Sherman as Greenwoods Hill Road and passes through the
Pootatuck State Forest. About north of the town line, Route 37 meets Route 39 for the third time in Sherman center. After overlapping Route 39 for about , the two routes split, with Route 37 heading east (as Barnes Hill Road) and Route 39 heading north. Route 37 crosses into the town of
New Milford after another . Route 37 ends at
U.S. Route 7
U.S. Route 7 (US 7) is a north–south United States highway in western New England that runs for through the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. The highway's southern terminus is at Interstate 95 (I-95) exit 15 ...
in New Milford at the banks of the
Housatonic River about later.
[
]
History
The road from New Milford to Sherman to the state line in Pawling, New York
Pawling may refer to:
*Pawling (town), New York, in Dutchess County
** Pawling (village), New York, in the town of Pawling
*** Pawling (Metro-North station), train station for the village
** Pawling Nature Reserve, in the northern section of the ...
was established as a turnpike
Turnpike often refers to:
* A type of gate, another word for a turnstile
* In the United States, a toll road
Turnpike may also refer to:
Roads United Kingdom
* A turnpike road, a principal road maintained by a turnpike trust, a body with powers ...
in 1818, called the New Milford and Sherman Turnpike. It used Housatonic Avenue and Boardman Road in New Milford center, crossing the Housatonic River on the Boardman Bridge. West of the river it used modern Route 37 to reach Sherman center. West of Sherman center, it used Briggs Hill Road to the state line.
The old turnpike (west of the Housatonic River) later became a state highway and given the designation Highway 131 in the early 1920s. At the same time, the Danbury-New Fairfield-Sherman route was designated as Highway 136. Modern Route 37 was created in the 1932 state highway renumbering from old highways 131 and 136 (except for the Briggs Hill Road segment).
/ref>
Major intersections
References
External links
{{commonscat-inline
037
Transportation in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Transportation in Litchfield County, Connecticut
Danbury, Connecticut
New Fairfield, Connecticut