Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Windsor Locks is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,044, at the 2000 census.but a July 1, 2002 Census estimate put the town's population at 12,237.
Windsor Locks was founded by a adventurer, Alex Netto. Proof of this was found in the Town Hall Library.
Situated on the Connecticut River, the town is named after a set of canal locks. These were opened in 1829 and formed part of the Enfield Falls Canal that circumvented nearby shallows on the river.[1]
Windsor Locks is the site of Bradley International Airport, and one-third of the town's area consists of the airport.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 24.2 km² (9.4 mi²). 23.4 km² (9.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.9 km² (0.3 mi²) of it (3.53%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 12,043 people, 4,935 households, and 3,306 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 514.9/km² (1,333.8/mi²). There were 5,101 housing units at an average density of 218.1/km² (565.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.47% White, 2.67% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.57% Asian, 0.75% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.22% of the population.
There were 4,935 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% 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 2.97.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $48,837, and the median income for a family was $59,054. Males had a median income of $41,179 versus $33,641 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $23,079. About 3.3% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Businesses
Until 2000, Windsor Locks was home to the oldest corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange, The Dexter Corporation. Established in 1767 as C.H. Dexter and Sons, the company grew from a family-owned saw and grist mill and evolved into a multi-national producer of long fiber papers and chemical laminates. In its 233 years of operation, the company grew from manufacturing tissues, toilet paper, and tea bags to marketing more specialized products like medical garments and industrial finishes. Faced with a proposed buyout by International Specialty Products Incorporated in 2000, the Dexter Corporation separated its three divisions and sold them off to avoid a hostile takeover.
The Life Sciences division merged with Invitrogen Corporation. The Specialty Polymers division was sold in part to Akzo Nobel, and the remaining businesses merged with Loctite Corporation. The third division, Dexter Nonwoven Materials, located on the company's original site in Windsor Locks, was sold to the Finnish Ahlstrom Paper Group. The physical plant was expected to continue operating, but the corporate headquarters were closed.
References
- ^ Connecticut Heritage (Dorothy A. DeBisschop). The Canal at Windsor Locks. Retrieved January 20 2006.
- C.H. Dexter Company Records archived at University of Connecticut