Litchfield, Connecticut
Litchfield is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut. The population was 8,316 at the 2000 census.
The boroughs of Northfield and Bantam are within the town.
Geography
Located southwest of Torrington, it also includes part of Bantam Lake. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 147.1 km² (56.8 mi²). 145.2 km² (56.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.9 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (1.27%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical population of Litchfield [1] [2] [3] | |
| 1830 | 4,456 |
| 1840 | 4,038 |
| 1850 | 3,953 |
| 1860 | 3,200 |
| 1870 | 3,113 |
| 1880 | 3,410 |
| 1890 | 3,304 |
| 1900 | 3,214 |
| 1910 | 3,005 |
| 1920 | 3,180 |
| 1930 | 3,574 |
| 1940 | 4,029 |
| 1950 | 4,964 |
| 1960 | 6,264 |
| 1970 | 7,399 |
| 1980 | 7,605 |
| 1990 | 8,365 |
| 2000 | 8,316 |
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 8,316 people, 3,310 households, and 2,303 families residing in the town. The population density was 57.3/km² (148.4/mi²). There were 3,629 housing units at an average density of 25.0/km² (64.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.99% White, 0.75% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.56% of the population.
There were 3,310 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 3.6% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 28.6% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,418, and the median income for a family was $70,594. Males had a median income of $50,284 versus $31,787 for females. The per capita income for the town was $30,096. About 2.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.6% of those under age 18 and 5.2% of those age 65 or over.
History
Litchfield was founded in 1721, and by the late 18th century was the major commercial center for northwestern Connecticut. It prospered during the Revolution. British troops would commonly attack coastal towns, so Litchfield became a major "safe town". Judge Tapping Reeve established the first law school in the United States here in 1784.
Famous residents have included Ethan Allen, Andrew Adams, Henry Ward Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Oliver Wolcott.
References
Debby Applegate, The Most Famous Man in America: The Biography of Henry Ward Beecher. Doubleday, 2006.