Enfield, Connecticut
Enfield is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 45,212. It sits on the border with Longmeadow, Massachusetts to the north, Somers to the east, East Windsor and Windsor Locks to the south and the Connecticut River to the west.
History
Enfield was settled in 1679 by settlers from Salem, Massachusetts. Enfield was incorporated in Massachusetts in 1683. In 1750, the town seceded and became part of Connecticut.
The modern town of Enfield was formed through the merging of Enfield, Thompsonville, and Hazardville. Hazardville was named for Col. Hazard who, during the Civil War, manufactured gun powder in a part of the town known as Powder Hollow. In fact, in the 1989 film Glory boxes of gun powder can be seen with the words Enfield, CT printed on the sides.
Enfield (CT) Shaker Village: In 1793, a historic Shaker village, one of nineteen scattered from Maine to Kentucky, was established in the town. The utopian religious sect practiced celibate, communal living, and are today renowned for their simple architecture and furniture. Membership eventually dwindled, however, and the village disbanded. The property has since been redeveloped by the Enfield Correctional Institution, still located on "Shaker Road."
Industry
Enfield is home to the U.S. headquarters of Danish plastic game manufacturer LEGO, which is also the town's largest employer. Hallmark Cards is the second-largest employer.
In the past, Enfield manufactured carpet and gunpowder.
Neighborhoods
Well-known neighborhoods for Enfield residents are:
Shaker Pines - Neighborhood mostly consists of tall pine trees towering above the quaint lakeside houses. Low crime rate and lower property values relative to most of the rest of town.
Hazardville - Named after General Hazard, this neighborhood encompasses a few smaller burbs, including Powder Hollow, and more recently, the center of Enfield has began to encroach on this historical area. The center of Hazardville is located between the streets of Park Street and North Street on Hazard Avenue. When walking around, you'll be surprised by the eclectic group of shops, from Smoke n' Leather, to pizza shops, to parks, a good area to live in, with a pretty low crime rate, and reputable schools nearby.
Scitico - Scitico is on the eastern end of town. Green Manor is considered part of Scitico. This is a suburb in the purest sense, with winding roads, sidewalks, parks, and cul-de-sacs.
Thompsonville - Named after Orrin Thompson, Thompsonville is the town center of Enfield with a more urban environment. In the past few years, there has been an attempt to revitalize the downtown area. On the southbound portion of Pearl Street there are many old Victorians. There are also many boat launches onto the bordering Connecticut River. Planning has started for renovating an old building into a commuter rail station on the not yet built New Haven-Hartford-Springfield Line.
North Thompsonville - Mostly residential and partially commercial area of Enfield with many parks and schools.
Enfield Historical District- Listed in the National Register of Historical Districts, the Enfield Historical District runs along Enfield Street (US Route 5). Many old homes dating back to the mid-1700s were built from 1106-1492 Enfield Street. Varying styles of architecture are noted including Late Victorian, Georgian and 19th Century Revival. The Enfield Town Hall museum as well as one of the oldest Congregational Churches in America can be found here.
Demographics
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 88.6 km² (34.2 mi²). 86.5 km² (33.4 mi²) of it is land and 2.1 km² (0.8 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.43% water.
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 45,212 people, 16,418 households, and 11,394 families residing in the town. The population density was 523.0/km² (1,354.3/mi²). There were 17,043 housing units at an average density of 197.1/km² (510.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.74% White, 5.61% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. 3.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 16,418 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% 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 3.04.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 110.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,810, and the median income for a family was $60,528. Males had a median income of $42,335 versus $31,082 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,967. 4.0% of the population and 2.8% of families were below the poverty line. 3.4% of those under the age of 18 and 5.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Education System
Elementary
The Enfield Elementary School System runs from kindergarten through grade 6.
| School Name | Students* | Namesake |
|---|---|---|
| Edgar H. Parkman School [1] | 460 | Edgar H. Parkman |
| Eli Whitney School [2] | 440 | Eli Whitney, inventor and manufacturer |
| Enfield Street School [3] | 320 | street on which the school is located (Route 5) |
| Harriet Beecher Stowe School [4] | 280 | Harriet Beecher Stowe, writer and abolitionist |
| Hazardville Memorial School [5] | 450 | Hazardville, the neighborhood in which the school is located |
| Henry Barnard School [6] | 450 | Henry Barnard, who helped to reform Connecticut's schools |
| Nathan Hale School [7] | 310 | Nathan Hale, the famed American Revolutionary War captain |
| Prudence Crandall School [8] | 490 | Prudence Crandall, who created the first integrated classroom |
| Thomas G. Alcorn School** [9] | 323 | Thomas G. Alcorn, town physician |
| TOTAL STUDENTS* | 3,523 |
* Approximate enrollment counts as of 2005
** Thomas G. Alcorn School originally a high school until it was converted to an elementary school when the current high school was opened. It was later extensively renovated in 1993.
Junior High School
The Enfield School Junior High School System runs from grade 7 through grade 8.
| School Name | Students* | Namesake |
|---|---|---|
| John F. Kennedy [10] | 1,087 | Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy |
High school
The Enfield School Senior High School System runs from grade 9 through grade 12.
| School Name | Students* | Namesake |
|---|---|---|
| Enfield High School [11] | 922 | The town itself |
| Enrico Fermi High School [12] | 1,196 | Italian physicist Enrico Fermi |