Cromwell, Connecticut

Cromwell ( ) is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States, located within the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The population was 14,225 at the 2020 census.

History

The land where Cromwell is now located, was once named for the Mattabesset, a region and settlement that was once home to Eastern Algonquian language-speaking Native Americans. This may have included the Tunxis, Quinnipiac, Wangunk, and the Wappinger. In 1651, the Mattabesset settlement was incorporated as a town by English settlers. By 1653, the colonists had renamed the settlement Middletown.

The area now known as Cromwell was referred to by many names before separating from Middletown. It was commonly referred to as the Upper Houses or Upper Middletown. Upper Middletown is surrounded by natural barriers; such as, the Connecticut River, Mattabesset River and by ridgelines in the North and West. By 1715, the Upper Houses had 50 households, their own school, church and cemetery. Before the creation of the new cemetery in January 1713, burials took place in Middletown. The earliest burial is that of Martha Gipson, who had died in February of that year. As Middletown began to emerge as one of the busiest ports in New England, the Upper Houses also boasted its own expansion of maritime industries. As industry expanded within the Upper Houses a merchant class grew with it. Some of the village's wealthier families owned slaves. Middletown was then incorporated as a city in 1784.

In the 19th century, the War of 1812 limited maritime trade creating a decline in the Upper Houses. Some continued to pursue maritime industry, the village generally reverted back to its agricultural beginnings. By the mid century, the area was revitalized by the founding of several new industries. John and Elisha Stevens formed the J & E Stevens Company in 1843. The company had intended to manufacture cast-iron hardware, hammers and a few iron toys. The brothers later shifted their business plan after much success with their iron toys. J & E Stevens Company would grow to become the largest manufacturer of cast-iron toys in the county. Today, toys produced by this company are a valuable collectible item. In the early 1870s, Andrew N. Pierson emigrated from Sweden and established A.N. Pierson’s Inc. The company started as a small floral nursery, and later evolved into the largest commercial rose growing enterprise in the country. These new industries and labor opportunities created further opportunities for those immigrating to the area. Irish, German and Italian immigrants found housing along the river on lower Main Street, in areas that were more prone to flooding.

With the expansion of the Upper Houses, and the geographical barriers around the town it became increasingly difficult to maintain connection with the larger city of Middletown. Initially, the Upper Houses was able to meet the needs of its residents with the creation of its own school and church, but by the mid-19th century, a stronger movement to become independent of Middletown had developed. In 1851, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut recognized Cromwell as a new town with a population of 1,259.

The exact origin of the town's name is debated, but many acknowledge that it was named for either the 17th-century English leader Oliver Cromwell, or for the privateer Oliver Cromwell. Despite the continuing presence of industry, Cromwell maintained its rural character until the mid-20th century. Post-World War II the town began to change significantly, including growth in population. With the expansion of the highway system in Connecticut during the 1970s, Cromwell became an intersecting point for three major highway systems. The highway system created further retail and population development. By 1980 the population had grown to 10,265, which is over three times the size of 40 years earlier.

Points of interest

* Community and Green Spaces:
** River Highlands State Park
** Cromwell Meadow Wildlife Management Area
** Cromwell Landings
** Pierson Park - named for Andrew N. Pierson, the Rose King of America and founder of A.N. Pierson, Inc.
** Riverport Park at Frisbee Landing
** Watrous Park
** Patriot's Corner - Main Street and Wall Streets
** Memorial Town Green - Main Street and West Street
** Valour Memorial Green - Main Street and Fritsch Lane
** Gold Star Green - West Street, across from St. John Church
* On the National Register of Historic Places:
** Main Street Historic District – roughly bounded by Nooks Hill Rd., Prospect Hill Rd., Wall and West Sts. and New Ln., and Stevens Ln. and Main St.; since October 24, 1985
** Middletown Upper Houses Historic District – on Connecticut Route 99; since July 27, 1979
** Sage-Kirby House – 93 Shunpike Road; since April 29, 1982
* Other Historically Significant Places:
** Cromwell Historical Society - Located within the historic home of John Stevens, built in 1853
** Cromwell Belden Public Library’s Elizabeth Maselli Room
** The Old Burial Ground - Timber Hill Road and Ranney Road
** Hillside Cemetery, East and West - Hillside Road and Shelley Street
** Former Home of Emily Pierson: Listed on the National Votes for Women Trail - Main Street, across from Valour Memorial Green
* Private Industries and Businesses:
** TPC River Highlands – location of the Travelers Championship, PGA Tour event
** Long-time home of hardware manufacturing company Horton Brasses, Inc.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which is land and (4.03%) is water.

The riverfront of the area often experiences freshet during the changing of the seasons. While minor flooding has occurred since Colonial times, occasionally more serious flooding occurs, such as the historic flood of March 1936, the 1955, Hurricanes Connie and Diane, and the most recent serious flood in 1984.

A major north–south highway, Interstate 91, with two Cromwell exits, runs through the Town. The Central Connecticut Expressway (Route 9), opened at the end of 1989, enhances the Town's location as it connects to I-95 in Old Saybrook, I-91 in Cromwell and I-84, the state's major east–west highway in New Britain.

Demographics

At the 2010 census there were 14,005 people, 5,212 households, and 3,262 families in the town. The population density was . There were 5,365 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 93.08% White, 3.13% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.19%.

Of the 5,212 households 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 30.3% of households were one person and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 21.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median household income was US$60,662, and the median family income was $70,505. Males had a median income of $46,223 versus $36,218 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,786. About 1.6% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Cromwell public schools

There are four public schools in Cromwell: Edna C. Stevens Elementary School (Pre-K–2), Woodside Intermediate School (3–5), Cromwell Middle School (6–8), and Cromwell High School (9–12).

Fire Protection

Fire Protection for the Town of Cromwell is provided by the Cromwell Fire District via the Cromwell Fire Department. The Cromwell Fire Department is a combination fire department that operates out of three stations. The Fire Department operates on a rotating 24/7 schedule with six Firefighter/EMT's assigned to each shift. The Fire Department also operates ambulances to provided Emergency Medical Care to residents and visitors.

Full time Firefighters are supplemented by Part-time and Volunteer Firefighters.

Economy

Top employers in Cromwell according to the town's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Notable people

* David Gere, actor and film producer, Gere was born and raised in Cromwell and attended Cromwell High School, class of 1993
* Donald Honig, novelist, historian and editor; lived in Cromwell for over 40 years. In September 2020, there was a ceremony at the Cromwell Belden Public Library where Honig was given with a key to the town and presented with a proclamation declaring it "Donald Honig Day." In his honor, there is a special "Donald Honig Collection," where many of his books are on display at the library
* Elizabeth Maselli, Cromwell Town Historian, whose collections are not available at the Cromwell Belden Public Library and the Cromwell Historical Society. Maselli was responsible for restoring and protecting the historic Old Burying Ground
* Chad Ripperger, a well known Catholic Priest, theologian, philosopher and exorcist. Ripperger had studied at the Holy Apostles College and Seminary located in Cromwell, CT.
* Josiah Belden, born in Upper Houses in 1815, he left the town in 1831. He was a member of the first wagon train taking settlers to California in 1841. There, he became wealthy running a general store during the Gold Rush. In 1888 Belden sent a substantial donation for the new public library in Cromwell.
* Sarah Savage, was a teacher of eighth and ninth grades at the Academy in Cromwell, until becoming the town's first Public Librarian of the Belden Library. The Belden Library was established in 1888 and served until 1919.
* Dr. Emily Pierson, a graduate from Vassar College, and received a master’s degree at Columbia University. Dr. Pierson was actively involved in the Connecticut Effort to win the vote for women. After the 19th amendment was ratified, Pierson attended Yale Medical School, graduating in 1924 when she was in her mid-40s. She then practiced medicine in Cromwell for 40 years, while serving as the town director of health and the school physician.
* James Timothy Pratt, a U.S. Representative who was born in Cromwell in 1802.
* Dr. Winthrop Hallock, opened a private sanatorium, Cromwell Hall, in 1877. Dr. Frank Hallock, son of the founder of Cromwell Hall, worked as the director of the asylum. Frank Hallock was also a founder of the Middlesex Hospital, President and Director of the Cromwell Savings Bank, and President of the Belden Library Association, President of the Cromwell Cemetery Association and member of the school board.
* Rufus B. Sage, born in the Upper Houses in 1817, an American writer, journalist and mountain man. After all his adventures, he returned home to Cromwell where he spent the rest of his life.
* Captain Nathan Sage, commanded several ships during the Revolution and, as a privateer, seized many British vessels. Sage was honored on the floor of Congress for his contributions to the war effort.
* Thomas Ranney, one of the first settlers of the Upper Houses. Ranney was a prominent landowner and influential member of the community. Ranney is the only of the original settlers to be buried in the Old Burying Ground in Cromwell, CT.
* Jenn McKinlay, author, had worked at the Cromwell Belden Public Library and mentions them in the novel, Books Can Be Deceiving

In popular culture

* A season 6 episode of the Discovery Channel series '' A Haunting'', called ''The Well from Hell'', takes place in Cromwell in 2011.

References

External links

Town government websiteCromwell Historical Society

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Towns in Connecticut
Towns in Middlesex County, Connecticut
Connecticut populated places on the Connecticut River
Greater Hartford
Towns in Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut