Wallingford, Connecticut
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Wallingford is a town in New Haven County,
Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...
, United States, centrally located between
New Haven New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...
and
Hartford Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
, and
Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
and
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. The town is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region and the
New York Metropolitan Area The New York metropolitan area, also called the Tri-State area and sometimes referred to as Greater New York, is the List of cities by GDP, largest metropolitan economy in the world, with a List of U.S. metropolitan areas by GDP, gross metropo ...
. The population was 44,396 at the 2020 census. The community was named after Wallingford, in England.


History

Wallingford, Connecticut, is deeply woven into the fabric of early American history, from its founding to its connection with some of the most influential figures of the colonial era. Established on October 10, 1667, by the
Connecticut General Assembly The Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is a bicameral body composed of the 151-member House of Representatives and the 36-member Senate. It meets in the state capital, Hartford. The ...
, Wallingford was founded by a group of 38 planters and freemen, including notable figures such as John Moss, Samuel Street, and Robert Wallace. These early settlers chose a strategic location near the Quinnipiac River, which is now the area known as Main Street. By May 12, 1670, the settlement had grown to include 126 residents living in temporary housing, and by 1675, 40 permanent homes had been constructed, signaling the town's early growth and stability. One of Wallingford’s early settlers was Thomas Yale, an influential figure in the New Haven Colony and an ancestor of
Elihu Yale Elihu Yale (5 April 1649 – 8 July 1721) was a British Americans, British-American Colonialism, colonial administrator. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Yale lived in America only as a child, and spent the rest of his life in England, Wales, a ...
, the benefactor after whom
Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701, Yale is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Stat ...
is named. Thomas Yale was a signatory of the Wallingford plantation covenant in 1667, marking the formal establishment of the town. Wallingford’s historical significance extends to its involvement in key moments of colonial America. In 1697, the town became the site of New England's last witchcraft trial when Winifred Benham was accused of witchcraft. She was tried three times in Wallingford but was acquitted on each occasion, marking the end of the witch trials in the region. This event reflects the lingering fears and superstitions of the era, even as the fervor of the Salem witch trials had begun to fade. The town also played a critical role in America’s fight for independence, with Lyman Hall being one of its most distinguished sons. Born in Wallingford in 1724, Lyman Hall went on to become a prominent physician and statesman who represented Georgia in the Continental Congress. Hall was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, underscoring Wallingford’s deep ties to the founding of the United States. His contributions to the Revolutionary cause exemplify the town’s commitment to the ideals of liberty and self-governance. As Wallingford entered the 19th century, it began to transform from an agricultural community into an industrial hub. The arrival of the railroad in the 1840s, specifically the New Haven and Hartford Railroad (later part of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad), further accelerated the town's growth. The railroad connected Wallingford to larger markets in the Northeast, facilitating the transport of goods, including the town's famous silver products, and spurring the development of new industries. Wallingford became particularly renowned for its silver production, with companies like Hall, Elton & Co., Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co., and R. Wallace & Sons gaining national prominence. One of the key figures in this industry was Samuel Simpson, a local industrialist and philanthropist who played a pivotal role in Wallingford’s rise as a center of silver manufacturing. Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co., which he co-founded, became one of the leading producers of silverware in the country. Samuel Simpson’s contributions were instrumental in establishing Wallingford as a major hub for silver production. His company eventually became part of the International Silver Company, headquartered in the neighboring city of Meriden, which solidified the region's status as a global center for silver manufacturing. In the 19th century, Wallingford was also the birthplace of Moses Y. Beach, a prominent figure in American journalism. Born in 1800, Beach became the owner of the
New York Sun ''The New York Sun'' is an American conservative news website and former newspaper based in Manhattan, New York. From 2009 to 2021, it operated as an (occasional and erratic) online-only publisher of political and economic opinion pieces, as we ...
and was known for pioneering the "penny press," making newspapers affordable to the general public. He is also credited for being a leading founder of the
Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...
. However, Wallingford was not immune to tragedy. On August 9, 1878, a devastating
tornado A tornado is a violently rotating column of air that is in contact with the surface of Earth and a cumulonimbus cloud or, in rare cases, the base of a cumulus cloud. It is often referred to as a twister, whirlwind or cyclone, although the ...
struck the town, leaving a path of destruction and claiming the lives of at least 29, and possibly as many as 34, residents. This tornado remains the deadliest in Connecticut's history, and the disaster left a lasting impact on the community. The 20th century marked a period of suburbanization for Wallingford, as the town transitioned from an industrial hub to a residential community while retaining its economic diversity. The post-World War II era saw significant growth in Wallingford’s population, driven by the suburban boom that reshaped much of America. New housing developments sprang up, attracting families looking for a balance between the conveniences of city life and the charm of a smaller town. Despite the suburbanization, Wallingford continued to attract businesses, maintaining a robust economic base. The town became a hub for various industries, including medical, healthcare, high-tech specialty manufacturing, and research and development. The development of several industrial parks—Barnes Industrial Park, Casimir Pulaski Industrial Park, Centract Park, and MedWay Industrial Park—helped attract a wide range of businesses, further diversifying Wallingford's tax base. The establishment of an Interchange Zone at the intersection of Interstate 91 and Route 68 facilitated the growth of office parks, research centers, and hotels, cementing Wallingford's role as a key economic center in the region. One of the most significant industrial presences in Wallingford during the late 20th and early 21st centuries was the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. The pharmaceutical giant established a research and development facility in Wallingford's MedWay Industrial Park, becoming the town's largest taxpayer and a key contributor to its economy. However, in 2017, Bristol-Myers Squibb relocated its operations, and the facility was subsequently demolished in 2018. File:PostcardWallingfordCTNewYorkInsulatedWireCompanyFactoryCirca1910.jpg, New York Insulated Wire Company, 1910 File:PostcardWallingfordCTLibryAndMarlboroughHouse1909.jpg, Library and Marlborough House, File:PostcardQuinniipiacRiverBridgeWallingfordCT1907.jpg, Bridge and falls at Quinnipiac River in Wallingford, 1907


Education

Wallingford is served by the Wallingford Public School District, which includes several elementary schools, two middle schools (Dag Hammarskjold and James H. Moran), and two high schools ( Mark T. Sheehan and Lyman Hall). The district offers a range of academic programs, including Advanced Placement courses, STEM education, and arts programs. Lyman Hall High School features a specialized agricultural science program. The district also provides special education services, English language learning programs, and a variety of sports programs, including football, soccer, basketball, and track and field.


Private schools

Wallingford is also home to three private schools: *
Choate Rosemary Hall Choate Rosemary Hall ( ) is a Independent school, private, Mixed-sex education, co-educational, College-preparatory school, college-preparatory boarding school in Wallingford, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1890, it took its present na ...
, a private,
co-educational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...
, college-preparatory
boarding school A boarding school is a school where pupils live within premises while being given formal instruction. The word "boarding" is used in the sense of "room and board", i.e. lodging and meals. They have existed for many centuries, and now extend acr ...
* Heritage Baptist Academy * Holy Trinity School


Geography

According to the
United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the town has a total area of 39.9 square miles (103.3 km), of which 39.0 square miles (101.1 km) is land and 0.9 square miles (2.2 km), or 2.16%, is water. The town of Wallingford sits astride the Quinnipiac River in northern New Haven County, roughly 90 miles northeast of New York City. It is south of Meriden and about north of
New Haven New Haven is a city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. With a population of 135,081 as determined by the 2020 U.S. census, New Haven is the third largest city in Co ...
. Towns bordering Wallingford are Cheshire, Durham, Hamden, Meriden, Middlefield, North Branford and North Haven. Situated in the
Hartford Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...
-New Haven- Springfield corridor, Wallingford is traversed by
U.S. Route 5 U.S. Route 5 (US 5) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway running through the New England states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont. Significant cities along the route include New Haven, Connecticut; Hartford, Conn ...
,
Interstate 91 Interstate 91 (I-91) is an Interstate Highway in the New England region of the United States. It is the primary north–south thoroughfare in the western part of the region. Its southern terminus is in New Haven, Connecticut, at I-95, whi ...
, and State Highways Route 15 ( Wilbur Cross Parkway), Route 68, Route 71 and Route 150.


Principal communities

* East Wallingford * Quinnipiac (partly in North Haven) * Tracy * Wallingford Center * Yalesville


Demographics

As of 2022, Wallingford is home to approximately 44,446 residents. The racial makeup leans white (80.2%), with a notable Hispanic presence (11.6%) and smaller proportions of Asian (4.4%) and other groups. The median age sits at 44.3, indicating a blend of families and young professionals. Family households comprise 63% of the total, with 24% having children under their roof. Wallingford’s 2023 median household income was $101,572, and the median family income was $123,493. The average household and family income was $120,987 and $145,477 respectively. Compared to the national average, Wallingford's median income is significantly higher, putting it in the top 25% of U.S. households.


Economy


Top employers

Top employers in Wallingford according to the town's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report:


Transportation


Mass transit

Wallingford is also located on the New Haven–Springfield Line, with daily passenger service to points north and south, providing direct access to
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
along with
Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
via a connection in New Haven. It is served at Wallingford station by the CT Rail (
Connecticut Department of Transportation The Connecticut Department of Transportation (officially referred to as CTDOT, occasionally ConnDOT, and CDOT in rare instances) is responsible for the development and operation of highways, Rail transport, railroads, mass transit systems, por ...
)
Hartford Line The Hartford Line is a commuter rail service between New Haven, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts, using the Amtrak-owned New Haven–Springfield Line. The project is a joint venture between the states of Connecticut and Massachuset ...
trains and by
Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
's ''
Hartford Line The Hartford Line is a commuter rail service between New Haven, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts, using the Amtrak-owned New Haven–Springfield Line. The project is a joint venture between the states of Connecticut and Massachuset ...
,'' ''
Northeast Regional The ''Northeast Regional'' is an intercity rail service operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. In the past it has been known as the ''NortheastDirect'', ''Acela Regional'', or ''Regional''. It is Amtrak's busie ...
'', and '' Valley Flyer''.


Airports

Tweed New Haven Airport Tweed-New Haven Regional Airport is a public airport located three miles southeast of downtown New Haven, Connecticut, New Haven, in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States.. Federal Aviation Administration. Effective Sep 15, 2016. The a ...
( HVN) in East Haven,
Westchester County Airport Westchester County Airport is a county-owned airport in Westchester County, New York, Westchester County, New York (state), New York, United States, northeast of downtown White Plains, New York, White Plains, with territory in the Town (New Y ...
in
Westchester County Westchester County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of New York, bordering the Long Island Sound and the Byram River to its east and the Hudson River on its west. The county is the seventh most populous cou ...
, and
Bradley International Airport Bradley International Airport – historically known as Bradley Field – is a public international airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, United States. Owned and operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority, Con ...
( BDL) in Windsor Locks are the closest commercial airports to Wallingford.


Municipal electric utility

The Wallingford Electric Division (WED) is a municipally owned utility that provides electricity to the town. Established in 1899, WED is one of Connecticut's few municipal electric utilities, operating under the town's governance. It supplies electricity to residents and businesses, and is known for offering reliable service at competitive rates. WED is responsible for the generation, distribution, and maintenance of the town's electrical infrastructure, focusing on efficiency and reliability. The Wallingford Electric Division is overseen by the Public Utilities Commission of Wallingford, which manages its operations, finances, and strategic planning. The division's mission is to deliver cost-effective, dependable electric service while meeting the evolving needs of the community.


Sports

In 1943 and 1944 the
Boston Braves The Boston Braves were a Major League Baseball club that originated in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, and played from 1871 to 1952. Afterwards they moved to History of the Atlanta Braves#Milwaukee, Milwaukee (and became the Milwaukee Braves). ...
held
spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
in Wallingford at Choate's Winter Exercise Building. The town is the home of the Connecticut Bearcats, a
New England Football League The New England Football League (NEFL) is a semi-professional American football league based in Salisbury, Massachusetts, and is a Non-profit Corporation founded by Thomas Torrisi. It is the second largest semi-professional league in New England, ...
team.


Notable people

* Erich Auerbach, German philologist * Moses Yale Beach, American inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist and publisher, who started the Associated Press, and is credited with originating print syndication * William Yale Beach, early banker of Wallingford, real estate developer in the city, son of Moses Yale Beach * Stephen R. Bradley, United States Senator * Michael Buckley,
YouTuber A YouTuber is a content creator and social media influencer who uploads or creates videos on the online video-sharing website YouTube, typically posting to their personal YouTube channel. The term was first used in the English language in 2006 ...
* Mary Atwater Choate, cofounded
Choate Rosemary Hall Choate Rosemary Hall ( ) is a Independent school, private, Mixed-sex education, co-educational, College-preparatory school, college-preparatory boarding school in Wallingford, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1890, it took its present na ...
* William Gardner Choate, American judge, cofounded
Choate Rosemary Hall Choate Rosemary Hall ( ) is a Independent school, private, Mixed-sex education, co-educational, College-preparatory school, college-preparatory boarding school in Wallingford, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1890, it took its present na ...
* Bates Cooke, US Congressman * D.J. Cotrona, actor * Pasquale DeBaise (1926–2022), businessman and Connecticut state legislator * Beverly Donofrio,
author In legal discourse, an author is the creator of an original work that has been published, whether that work exists in written, graphic, visual, or recorded form. The act of creating such a work is referred to as authorship. Therefore, a sculpt ...
*
Morton Downey John Morton Downey (November 14, 1901 – October 25, 1985), also known as Morton Downey, was an American singer and entertainer popular in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, enjoying his greatest success in the late 1920s ...
, singer, businessman * Morton Downey, Jr. (1932–2001), talk show host *
Lauren Geremia Lauren Geremia (born 1982) is an American interior designer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Lauren Geremia was born in 1982 in Wallingford, Connecticut. Characterized as an "upstart designer for tech," her clients include Instagram (she desi ...
, interior designer * Robert Gober, influential contemporary artist * Lyman Hall, an American Founding Father, physician, clergyman, statesman, and Declaration of Independence signatory * Dorothy Kosinski, art scholar * Raoul Lufbery, World War I flying ace * John A. McGuire, member of the
United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...
* Art Nugent, cartoonist, creator of '' Uncle Art's Funland'' * Jay Allen Sanford, author and cartoonist * Samuel Simpson, silversmith industrialist and entrepreneur * Hilton Valentine (1943–2021), musician associated with
The Animals The Animals, currently billed as Eric Burdon & the Animals (featuring original frontman Eric Burdon) and also as Animals & Friends (featuring original drummer John Steel (drummer), John Steel), are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Ne ...
, moved to Wallingford in 1977 * Theophilus Yale, captain, magistrate and early settler of Wallingford *
Elihu Yale Elihu Yale (5 April 1649 – 8 July 1721) was a British Americans, British-American Colonialism, colonial administrator. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Yale lived in America only as a child, and spent the rest of his life in England, Wales, a ...
, captain, pioneer bayonet manufacturer in Connecticut * Charles Dwight Yale, Connecticut State Senator, businessman, co-proprietor of Simpson, Hall, Miller & Co. * Thomas Yale, one of the cofounders of Wallingford, son of Capt. Thomas Yale


Points of interest

*
Choate Rosemary Hall Choate Rosemary Hall ( ) is a Independent school, private, Mixed-sex education, co-educational, College-preparatory school, college-preparatory boarding school in Wallingford, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1890, it took its present na ...
* Oakdale Theatre * Paul Mellon Arts Center *
Yalesville Underpass The Yalesville Underpass is a 30-degree skew arch bridge carrying the railroad over Route 150 (Connecticut), Route 150 and Route 71 (Connecticut), Route 71 in Wallingford, Connecticut. Built in 1838 for the Hartford and New Haven Railroad by Wil ...


National Register of Historic Places

Ten buildings and districts in Wallingford are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
: * Center Street Cemetery, added August 1, 1997 * Franklin Johnson House, added November 23, 1998 * John Barker House, added August 3, 1974 * Joseph Blakeslee House, added April 13, 1998 * Nehemiah Royce House, added August 24, 1998 * Samuel Parsons House, added April 12, 1982 * Samuel Simpson House, added June 18, 1986 * Theophilus Jones House, added January 30, 1992 * Wallingford Center Historic District, added December 2, 1993 * Wallingford railroad station, added November 19, 1993


Citations


General references

* Davis, Charles Henry Stanley (1870)
''History of Wallingford, Conn., from Its Settlement in 1670 to the Present Time, Including Meriden, which was One of Its Parishes until 1806, and Cheshire, which was Incorporated in 1780''
Meriden, CT: Charles Henry Stanley Davis. * Gillespie, Charles Bancroft (1895)
''Souvenir History of Wallingford, Connecticut, 1895''
New Haven, CT: Journal Publishing Co. * Kendrick, John B. (1878)
''History of the Wallingford Disaster''
Hartford, CT: Case, Lockwood and Brainard Co.


External links


Town of Wallingford official website

Maps of Wallingford (1881–1919) online

History books on Wallingford (1870–1918) online
{{Authority control 1667 establishments in Connecticut Populated places established in 1667 Towns in Connecticut Towns in New Haven County, Connecticut Towns in the New York metropolitan area Towns in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut