Ashford is a
townThe New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. An institution that does not have a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in that they were originally set up so that all...
in
Windham CountyWindham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2000, the population was 109,091.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
,
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,098 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1714.
EastfordEastford is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,618 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.2 square miles , of which, 28.9 square miles of it is land and 0.3 square miles of...
was a part of Ashford until 1848 or 1847, when the former split off to organize its own town. For this reason North Ashford is located in northeast Eastford. Ashford is home to the largest
Boy ScoutScouting in Connecticut has experienced many organizational changes since 1910. With only eight counties, Connecticut has had 40 Boy Scout Councils since the Scouting movement began in 1910. In 1922, 17 Boy Scout Councils existed in Connecticut, but currently only four exist...
camp in Connecticut, June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation and
Paul NewmanPaul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast...
's
Hole in the Wall Gang CampHole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut is a nonprofit, residential summer camp and year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions. It was founded by Paul Newman in 1988...
.
Boston HollowBoston Hollow is a deep ravine in Ashford, Connecticut. It is a unique location in several ways. In geological terms it is an ancient fault in the Avalonian bedrock of the eastern highlands of Connecticut...
, a deep ravine, is also in Ashford.
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the town has a total area of 39.5 square miles (102.3 km²), of which, 38.8 square miles (100.5 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.80%) is water.
- Ashford Academy — Fitts Road (added 1988)
- Church Farm — 396 Mansfield Road (added December 17, 1988)
- Knowlton Memorial Hall — 25 Pompey Hollow Road (added April 17, 1994)
- Mixer Tavern — 14 Westford Road (added April 17, 1994)
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 4,098 people, 1,578 households, and 1,084 families residing in the town.
Historical population of
Ashford http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/Population1830.htm http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/Population1900.htm http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/Population1970.htm |
| 1830 |
2,661 |
| 1840 |
2,651 |
| 1850 |
1,295 |
| 1860 |
1,231 |
| 1870 |
1,241 |
| 1880 |
1,041 |
| 1890 |
778 |
| 1900 |
757 |
| 1910 |
668 |
| 1920 |
673 |
| 1930 |
726 |
| 1940 |
704 |
| 1950 |
845 |
| 1960 |
1,315 |
| 1970 |
2,156 |
| 1980 |
3,221 |
| 1990 |
3,765 |
| 2000 |
4,098 |
Ashford is a
townThe New England town is the basic unit of local government in each of the six New England states. An institution that does not have a direct counterpart in most other U.S. states, New England towns are conceptually similar to civil townships in that they were originally set up so that all...
in
Windham CountyWindham County is a county located in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of 2000, the population was 109,091.The entire county is within the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor, as designated by the National Park Service.-History:Windham...
,
ConnecticutConnecticut is a state in the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and New York to the west and south ....
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 4,098 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1714.
EastfordEastford is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,618 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.2 square miles , of which, 28.9 square miles of it is land and 0.3 square miles of...
was a part of Ashford until 1848 or 1847, when the former split off to organize its own town. For this reason North Ashford is located in northeast Eastford. Ashford is home to the largest
Boy ScoutScouting in Connecticut has experienced many organizational changes since 1910. With only eight counties, Connecticut has had 40 Boy Scout Councils since the Scouting movement began in 1910. In 1922, 17 Boy Scout Councils existed in Connecticut, but currently only four exist...
camp in Connecticut, June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation and
Paul NewmanPaul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast...
's
Hole in the Wall Gang CampHole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut is a nonprofit, residential summer camp and year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions. It was founded by Paul Newman in 1988...
.
Boston HollowBoston Hollow is a deep ravine in Ashford, Connecticut. It is a unique location in several ways. In geological terms it is an ancient fault in the Avalonian bedrock of the eastern highlands of Connecticut...
, a deep ravine, is also in Ashford.
Geography
According to the
United States Census BureauThe United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the town has a total area of 39.5 square miles (102.3 km²), of which, 38.8 square miles (100.5 km²) of it is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km²) of it (1.80%) is water.
On the National Register of Historic Places
- Ashford Academy — Fitts Road (added 1988)
- Church Farm — 396 Mansfield Road (added December 17, 1988)
- Knowlton Memorial Hall — 25 Pompey Hollow Road (added April 17, 1994)
- Mixer Tavern — 14 Westford Road (added April 17, 1994)
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 4,098 people, 1,578 households, and 1,084 families residing in the town. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 105.6 people per square mile (40.8/km²). There were 1,699 housing units at an average density of 43.8/sq mi (16.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.71% White, 1.00% African American, 0.27% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.44% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.00% of the population.
There were 1,578 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $61,693. Males had a median income of $42,117 versus $31,942 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the town was $26,104. About 3.4% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005 |
| Party |
Active Voters |
Inactive Voters |
Total Voters |
Percentage
|
Democratic The Democratic Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. It is the oldest political party in continuous operation in the United States and it is one of the oldest parties in the world. In the U.S...
|
867 |
8 |
875 |
31.34%
|
RepublicanThe Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the Grand Old Party or the GOP, despite being the younger of the two major parties. In the U.S...
|
518 |
2 |
520 |
18.62%
|
Unaffiliated |
1,379 |
11 |
1,390 |
49.79%
|
Minor Parties |
7 |
0 |
7 |
0.25% |
| Total |
2,771 |
21 |
2,792 |
100% |
Notable residents, past and present
- Clay Dreslough
Clay Dreslough is the creator of the Baseball Mogul and Football Mogul computer sports games, and is the founder of Sports Mogul, Inc. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1970, and graduated from Wesleyan University in 1993. He is married to Dee Dreslough...
(1970-) Noted game designer and creator of the Baseball Mogul series of products.
- Galusha A. Grow
Galusha Aaron Grow was a prominent U.S. politician, lawyer, writer and businessman, and was Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863. He was defeated for reelection in 1862...
(1822–1907) Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863, was born in Ashford.
- Elias Keyes
Elias Keyes was a United States Representative from Vermont. He was born in Ashford, Windham County, Connecticut. He attended the common schools and later studied law. He moved to Stockbridge, Vermont in 1785....
, (1758-1844), born in Ashford, United States Congressman from VermontThe State of Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd by land area, , and 45th by total area. It has a population of 621,270, making it the second least-populated state...
.
- Thomas Knowlton
Thomas Knowlton was an American patriot who served in the French and Indian War and acted as a Colonel during the American Revolution. Knowlton is considered America's first Intelligence professional, and his unit, Knowlton's Rangers, made a significant contribution to intelligence gathering...
(1740–1776) in addition to being a daring officer in the American RevolutionThe American Revolution is the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen of Britain's colonies in North America at first rejected the governance of the Parliament of Great Britain, and later the British monarchy itself, to become the sovereign United States of...
, headed up Knowlton's Rangers, America's first Army intelligence unit. He grew up in Ashford.
- Nathaniel Lyon
Nathaniel Lyon was the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil War and is noted for his actions in the state of Missouri at the beginning of the conflict....
(1818 -1861), born in Ashford, the first Union general to be killed in the American Civil WarThe American Civil War , also known as the War Between the States and several other names, was a civil war in the United States of America. Eleven Southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America...
, grew up on a farm in Ashford. He hated farming but escaped by getting into West Point where he graduated 11th in his class.
- Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, and auto racing enthusiast...
(1925–2008), award winning actor, film director and philanthropist, was a seasonal resident of Ashford from the opening of the Hole in the Wall Gang CampHole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, Connecticut is a nonprofit, residential summer camp and year-round center serving children and their families coping with cancer and other serious illnesses and conditions. It was founded by Paul Newman in 1988...
in 1988.
- Eliphalet Nott
Eliphalet Nott , was a famed Presbyterian minister, inventor, educational pioneer, and long-term president of Union College, Schenectady, New York.-Life:...
(1773-1866), native of Ashford, was left an orphan without resources, but graduated in 1795 from Brown UniversityBrown University is a private university located in Providence, Rhode Island, and a member of the Ivy League. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III...
. In 1804 he became president of Union CollegeUnion College is a private, non-denominational liberal arts college located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Founded in the wake of the American Revolution, it was the first institution of higher learning chartered by the New York State Board of Regents...
in Schenectady, New YorkSchenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2000 census, the city had a population of 61,821, making it the ninth-largest city in New York...
, a post he held till his death 62 years later. From 1829 to 1845 he simultaneously was president of Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaer Polytechnic Institute, or RPI, is a private research university located in Troy, New York, United States.RPI was founded in 1824 by Stephen Van Rensselaer for the "application of science to the common purposes of life", and is the oldest technological university in the English-speaking...
. He was also the inventor of the first stove for anthracite coal.
Education
Elementary and middle school-aged residents attend
Ashford SchoolAshford School is an independent school in East Hill, Ashford, Kent. For the vast majority of its 111 years of existence it has been a school purely for girls but in 2006 boys were admitted and it is now a school for both sexes from the age of 3 to 18 offering boarding and day facilities.The...
, the town's only school. This school educates students from pre-k through grade eight. In February 1979, the town's board of education considered closing the school in response to a budget crisis.
High school-aged residents attend E. O. Smith High School in
Mansfield, ConnecticutMansfield is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 20,720 at the 2000 census.Mansfield was incorporated in October 1702 from the Town of Windham, in Hartford County. When Windham County was formed on 12 May 1726, Mansfield then became part of that county...
, part of Regional School District 19
http://www.eosmith.org/.
Powerball jackpot winner
A ticket bought for the
PowerballPowerball is an American lottery game sold through U.S. lotteries as a shared jackpot pool game. It is coordinated by the Multi-State Lottery Association , a non-profit association formed by an agreement with member lotteries. Powerball is available in 30 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S...
drawing of October 3, 2007 in Ashford won the jackpot, the first sold in
ConnecticutThe Connecticut Lottery , which began in 1972, is run by the government of Connecticut. It is a member of the Iowa-based Multi-State Lottery Association . The Lottery headquarters is in Rocky Hill....
since June 2005. The holder of the winning ticket could have received an annuity valued at $15 million but instead chose to receive the
cash valuePresent value is the value on a given date of a future payment or series of future payments, discounted to reflect the time value of money and other factors such as investment risk...
of the ticket, over $7 million.
External links