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Middlesex County, Connecticut

Coordinates: 41°26′N 72°31′W / 41.44°N 72.52°W / 41.44; -72.52
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Middlesex County
County of Middlesex
Raymond E Baldwin Courthouse
Raymond E Baldwin Courthouse
Map of Connecticut highlighting Middlesex County
Location within the U.S. state of Connecticut
Map of the United States highlighting Connecticut
Connecticut's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°26′N 72°31′W / 41.44°N 72.52°W / 41.44; -72.52
Country United States
State Connecticut
FoundedMay, 1785
Seatnone (since 1960)
Middletown (before 1960)
Largest cityMiddletown
Area
 • Total439 sq mi (1,140 km2)
 • Land369 sq mi (960 km2)
 • Water70 sq mi (200 km2)  15.9%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2016)
163,329
 • Density449/sq mi (173/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts1st, 2nd, 3rd

Middlesex County is a county in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2010 census, the population was 165,676.[1] The county was created in May 1785 from portions of Hartford County and New London County.

Middlesex County is included in the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford metropolitan statistical area known as Greater Hartford.

As with all eight of Connecticut's counties, there is now no county government and no county seat. In Connecticut, towns are responsible for all local government activities, including local police, fire and rescue, snow removal, and schools. In a few cases, neighboring towns will share certain resources, e.g. water, gas, etc. Counties in Connecticut serve merely as dividing lines for the state's judicial system.

Government

Middletown was the county seat of Middlesex County from its creation in 1785 until the elimination of county government in 1960. There is no government in Middlesex County other than the Middlesex County Judicial District. All county functions other than courts and county sheriff's departments were discontinued in 1960, and again in 2000 when the county sheriff's departments were reorganized as the Connecticut Judicial Marshal, due to political corruption in the county sheriff's departments. Joseph E. Bibisi was the last person to serve as high sheriff of Middlesex County.

Geography

The county has a total area of 439 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 369 square miles (960 km2) is land and 70 square miles (180 km2) (15.9%) is water.[2] It is the smallest county in Connecticut by land area and second-smallest by total area.

The terrain trends from mostly level along the Connecticut River and Atlantic coast to gently rolling uplands away from them. The highest elevation is close to a triangulation station in Meshomasic State Forest, at 916 feet (279 m) above sea level; the lowest point is sea level.

Middlesex County is also the home of Wadsworth Falls.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
179018,828
180019,8745.6%
181020,7234.3%
182022,4058.1%
183024,84410.9%
184024,8790.1%
185027,2169.4%
186030,85913.4%
187036,09917.0%
188035,589−1.4%
189039,52411.1%
190041,7605.7%
191045,6379.3%
192047,5504.2%
193051,3888.1%
194055,9999.0%
195067,33220.2%
196088,86532.0%
1970114,81629.2%
1980129,01712.4%
1990143,19611.0%
2000155,0718.3%
2010165,6766.8%
2016 (est.)163,329[3]−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
1990-2000[7] 2010-2016[1]

2000 census

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 155,071 people, 61,341 households, and 40,607 families residing in the county. The population density was 420 people per square mile (162/km²). There were 67,285 housing units at an average density of 182 per square mile (70/km²). According to the Census of 2010, the racial makeup of the county was 89.22% White, 4.64% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 4.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.4% were of Italian, 14.3% Irish, 11.1% English, 8.9% Polish and 8.2% German ancestry. 91.1% spoke English, 2.6% Spanish, 1.9% Italian, 1.2% French and 1.0% Polish as their first language.

There were 61,341 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $59,175, and the median income for a family was $71,319. Males had a median income of $48,341 versus $35,607 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,251. About 2.30% of families and 4.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.00% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 165,676 people, 67,202 households, and 43,743 families residing in the county.[9] The population density was 448.6 inhabitants per square mile (173.2/km2). There were 74,837 housing units at an average density of 202.6 per square mile (78.2/km2).[10] The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% white, 4.7% black or African American, 2.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.7% of the population.[9] In terms of ancestry, 24.6% were Italian, 21.2% were Irish, 14.0% were English, 13.5% were German, 11.1% were Polish, and 3.4% were American.[11]

Of the 67,202 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.9% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 43.1 years.[9]

The median income for a household in the county was $74,906 and the median income for a family was $91,589. Males had a median income of $62,031 versus $50,031 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,519. About 3.0% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.[12]

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

Data is from the 2010 United States Census and the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.[13][14]

Rank Town Per capita
income
Median
household
income
Median
family
income
Population Number of
households
1 Fenwick Borough $110,127 $114,375 $250,000+ 43 26
2 Essex Town $57,365 $87,480 $105,982 6,683 2,916
3 Killingworth Town $45,404 $99,500 $108,232 6,525 2,474
4 Old Saybrook Town $43,400 $79,985 $99,595 10,242 4,247
5 Cromwell Town $41,926 $82,012 $99,362 14,005 5,752
6 Chester Town $40,783 $80,185 $89,760 3,994 1,714
7 Durham Town $39,579 $105,417 $110,583 7,388 2,610
8 Portland Town $39,100 $86,661 $96,016 9,508 3,822
9 Westbrook Town $38,158 $61,069 $72,969 6,938 2,948
10 Haddam Town $37,324 $86,179 $100,343 8,346 3,218
11 East Haddam Town $37,156 $82,695 $86,023 9,126 3,593
12 Clinton Town $37,117 $74,174 $82,839 13,260 5,303
13 Middlefield Town $36,747 $80,392 $94,432 4,425 1,742
14 Deep River Town $35,564 $65,250 $81,641 4,629 1,940
15 East Hampton Town $34,555 $88,281 $95,854 12,959 5,060
16 Middletown City $31,348 $57,655 $78,006 47,648 19,863

Race

Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, "Race alone or in combination with one or more other races."[15]

Rank Town Population White Black Asian American
Indian
Other Hispanic
1 Middletown City 47,510 79.2% 15.7% 4.9% 0.6% 3.2% 8.1%
2 Cromwell Town 13,951 93.2% 3.9% 3.3% 0.3% 0.5% 4.2%
3 Clinton Town 13,291 95.8% 0.5% 2.1% 0.2% 1.8% 3.5%
4 East Hampton Town 12,926 95.4% 1.6% 1.7% 0.3% 1.9% 3.8%
5 Old Saybrook Town 10,307 97.8% 0.7% 1.8% 0.6% 0.0% 0.4%
6 Portland Town 9,470 96.2% 2.2% 1.0% 0.2% 1.9% 4.4%
7 East Haddam Town 9,069 99.3% 1.2% 0.0% 0.2% 0.7% 0.9%
8 Haddam Town 8,267 98.5% 1.5% 0.5% 1.5% 0.2% 2.6%
9 Durham Town 7,342 94.7% 0.5% 3.1% 0.2% 3.2% 5.3%
10 Westbrook Town 6,891 95.4% 0.5% 4.0% 1.2% 0.0% 4.5%
11 Essex Town 6,697 98.8% 0.6% 1.4% 0.1% 0.1% 0.6%
12 Killingworth Town 6,499 96.7% 0.0% 7.5% 1.4% 0.7% 3.0%
13 Deep River Town 4,652 88.7% 2.0% 0.3% 0.8% 7.5% 8.6%
14 Middlefield Town 4,418 94.3% 1.7% 4.2% 0.0% 0.7% 1.5%
15 Chester Town 3,984 98.3% 0.4% 1.7% 0.7% 0.0% 2.6%
16 Fenwick Borough 51 100.0% 5.9% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Communities

Map of Middlesex County, Connecticut showing cities, boroughs, towns, and CDPs

City

Towns

Villages are named localities within towns, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

Politics

Presidential elections results
Middlesex County vote
by party in presidential elections
[16]
Year GOP DEM Others
2016 43.9% 38,867 51.2% 45,357 5.0% 4,400
2012 41.4% 34,591 57.3% 47,855 1.3% 1,092
2008 37.7% 32,918 60.7% 52,984 1.6% 1,351
2004 42.0% 35,252 56.3% 47,292 1.7% 1,440
2000 37.8% 29,295 55.9% 43,319 6.2% 4,819
1996 32.0% 22,960 52.5% 37,695 15.5% 11,131
1992 30.4% 24,646 42.8% 34,707 26.7% 21,674
1988 50.0% 34,682 49.0% 33,946 1.0% 716
1984 59.3% 39,580 40.3% 26,915 0.3% 227
1980 45.5% 28,989 38.9% 24,768 15.6% 9,915
1976 51.4% 31,115 48.1% 29,097 0.6% 338
1972 57.9% 33,249 41.1% 23,573 1.1% 602
1968 45.3% 21,999 48.9% 23,727 5.8% 2,798
1964 32.5% 14,697 67.4% 30,517 0.2% 71
1960 49.9% 22,045 50.1% 22,158 0.0% 1
1956 64.8% 25,496 35.2% 13,851 0.0% 0
1952 58.4% 22,157 41.4% 15,722 0.2% 73
1948 51.6% 16,119 46.7% 14,609 1.7% 537
1944 51.1% 14,315 48.3% 13,551 0.6% 176
1940 50.7% 13,447 49.2% 13,044 0.2% 39
1936 46.3% 10,925 52.1% 12,294 1.5% 359
1932 52.8% 10,770 45.5% 9,286 1.7% 344
1928 59.9% 11,205 39.5% 7,380 0.6% 115
1924 65.2% 9,383 27.9% 4,009 6.9% 994
1920 65.2% 8,447 32.2% 4,170 2.6% 331
1916 53.4% 4,524 44.5% 3,765 2.1% 179
1912 35.4% 2,892 41.6% 3,393 23.0% 1,878
1908 61.9% 5,071 35.8% 2,935 2.2% 183
1904 60.0% 4,991 38.1% 3,167 1.9% 160
1900 60.8% 5,000 37.7% 3,102 1.5% 121
1896 62.2% 22,396 34.6% 12,463 3.2% 1,139
1892 45.9% 15,777 52.4% 18,006 1.7% 572
1888 48.4% 14,934 49.4% 15,251 2.2% 663
1884 47.4% 12,293 50.0% 12,966 2.6% 669

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  3. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  4. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  8. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  9. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  10. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  11. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  12. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-01-12.
  13. ^ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-11-25.
  14. ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2014-03-05. Retrieved 2012-11-25. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-08.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

41°26′N 72°31′W / 41.44°N 72.52°W / 41.44; -72.52