Brooklyn, Connecticut

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 29.1 square miles (75 km²), of which, 29.0 square miles (75 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²) of it (0.58%) is water.

History

Settled in the late 17th century and incorporated as its own town in 1786, Brooklyn is now one of the fastest growing towns in Windham County. It is named for the Quinebaug River, or Brook Line, which forms its eastern boundary. Originally land of the Wabaquasset, Brooklyn incorporated as a town separate from Canterbury and Pomfret in May 1786.It is home to the Brooklyn Fair, America's oldest continuously operating agricultural fair, as well as the Brooklyn Correctional Institution, a state-run medium security prison.

Brooklyn held the 1833 trial of Prudence Crandall, a schoolteacher charged with the crime of educating black students.

Brooklyn is the final resting place of Revolutionary War General Israel Putnam. Though he was originally buried in an above ground tomb in Brooklyn's South Cemetery, his remains had to be moved due to excessive visitors. In 1888, a statue of Putnam mounted on a horse was erected, and his sarcophagus placed in the foundation. The statue stands slightly south of the town green, in front of the post office. Brooklyn is also home of the Middle School Bobcats and Elementary School Bears.

The town historical society operates the Brooklyn Historical Society Museum, which includes the Daniel Putnam Tyler Law Office.

Villages

On the National Register of Historic Places

Education

Residents are served by the Brooklyn School District's Brooklyn Elementary School (K-4) and Brooklyn Middle School (5-8).

Many Brooklyn high school students attend Woodstock Academy; Woodstock was designated as one of Brooklyn's high schools since 1987. Many Brooklyn high school students attend Killingly High School in Danielson. Some students attend H.H. Ellis Technical High School.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,244 people, 3,001 households, and 2,105 families residing in the town. There were 3,247 housing units at an average density of 92.4 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 92.7% White, 2.9% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4% of the population.

There were 3,001 households out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out with 24% under the age of 20, 5.5% from 20 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 36.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years.

The median income as of the 2000 Census for a household in the town was $49,756, and the median income for a family was $60,208. Males had a median income of $39,246 versus $28,889 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,359. About 4.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Climate

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Brooklyn has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.