Trumbull, Connecticut

History

Originally home to the Golden Hill Paugussett Indian Nation, Trumbull was colonized by the English during the Great Migration of the 1630s as a part of the coastal settlement of Stratford, Connecticut.

The northwest farmers of Stratford petitioned the Colony of Connecticut in 1725 to establish their own separate village apart from Stratford. The farmers wished to call their village Nickol's Farms, after the family that owned a large farm in its center, but the village was named Unity. Unity merged with the village of Long Hill (organized in 1740) in 1744 to form the Society of North Stratford.

After ten years of unsuccessful petitions, the Connecticut General Assembly granted complete town rights to Trumbull in October 1797. The town was named for George Washington's staunch supporter, Revolutionary War Governor, patriot, statesman and merchant, Jonathan Trumbull (1710–1785).

Bodies of water

The Pequonnock River is the only major waterway in Trumbull, beginning northwest of Old Mine Park at the Monroe border and flowing southeasterly through the Pequonnock River Valley State Park, Trumbull Center and Twin Brooks Park. The river leaves Trumbull and continues into Beardsley Park in Bridgeport.

Major bodies of water include Canoe Brook Lake, Pinewood Lake, Tashua Hills Golf Club Pond, and the six Twin Brooks Park ponds. Minor bodies of water include Dogwood Lake, Frog Pond, Kaatz Pond, Kaechele Pond, Porters Pond, Secret Pond, Thrush Wood Lake and Unity Park Pond.

Land

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 23.5 square miles (61 km²), of which 23.3 square miles (60 km²) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km²), or 0.98%, is water. According to the U.S. Geological Survey in 1986, the lowest point in town is approximately 40 feet (12 m) above sea level at Beach Park. The highest point is the top of Monitor Hill at 615 feet (187 m) above sea level.

According to the U.S. Geological Society, at 615 ft Monitor Hill (Tashua Hill) in Trumbull is the highest coastal point on the east coast of the United States. Marked with a plaque on Monitor Hill Road.

Parks

Trumbull has 871.23 acres (3.5257 km²) of park facilities. These areas include:

State parks

The town of Trumbull, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company agreed to make a joint Town and State purchase of land in the Pequonnock River Valley in 1989. The 382-acre (155 ha) parcel cost $9,275,000 and is maintained by the Department of Environmental Protection.

Roads

Route 8 runs through the southeast part of town. Route 8 is a freeway that leads to Waterbury and Interstate 84, continues into Massachusetts as Massachusetts Route 8 and finally terminates in Searsburg, Vermont. Nichols residents petitioned the legislature and won a bypass for Route 8 which was initially proposed to be built directly through the center of the historic village in the early 1900s.

Route 15, the historic Merritt Parkway, runs north (east) to New Haven (eventually connecting to Interstate 91) and south (west) towards New York City. Route 15 was built through Nichols center displacing a home, the old Nichols Store and Trinity Episcopal Church in 1939.

Route 25 runs north to south, merging with Route 8 at the Bridgeport line and continues overlapped with Route 8 (commonly known as the Route 8/25 connector) into Bridgeport ending at Interstate 95. Continuing north on Route 25, the freeway ends as it crosses Route 111 and continues as a surface road towards I-84 in Newtown leading to Danbury.

Route 108, also known as Nichols Avenue and Huntington Turnpike, heads north into Trumbull from Stratford at Hawley Lane. The Nichols Avenue portion in Trumbull was completed and its dimensions and abutting landowners were entered into the land records on December 7, 1696, making it the third oldest documented highway in Connecticut. It terminates in Shelton at the intersection with Route 110 (Howe Avenue). Route 108 can be reached via exit 52 from Route 15 or exit 8 from Route 8.

Route 111, also known as Main Street, begins at the intersection of Route 15 (exit 48) at the North End of Bridgeport. In 1801, the road connecting Bridgeport to Newtown was called the Bridgeport and Newtown Turnpike. From 1826 to 1852, the road from Trumbull to Stevenson was chartered as a turnpike and called the Monroe and Zoar Bridge Turnpike. Route 111 terminates at Route 34 in Monroe. Prior to the last section of the Route 25 highway opening in 1982, the portion of the current Route 111 from Route 15 to the intersection with the northern terminus of the divided-highway section of Route 25 was known as Route 25 instead of Route 111, with Route 111 starting at the Route 25 intersection.

Route 127, also known as White Plains Road and Church Hill Road, runs through the town center from south to north from the East Side of Bridgeport. The section in Trumbull was laid out to Pulpit Rock in 1705. Route 127 ends at the intersection of Main Street (Route 111) at the Town Hall.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,243 people, 11,911 households, and 9,707 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,470.6 people per square mile (567.7/km²). There were 12,160 housing units at an average density of 522.2 per square mile (201.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.02% White, 1.88% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.71% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.70% of the population.

There were 11,911 households out of which 37.5% had children under the age of 18 living within them, 71.7% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.5% were non-families. 16.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.17.

In the town, the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 5.0% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

As of the 2000 census, males had a median income of $62,201 versus $41,384 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,931. About 1.4% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.4% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those over age 65.

2008 estimates

According to the American Community Survey (ACS) 2008 estimate there were 37,134 people, 12,338 households, and 10,021 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,593.73 people per square mile. There were 12,651 housing units (93% ownership, 7% rental) with an average density of 542.9 per square mile.

There were 12,338 households out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living within them, 69% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.8% were non-families. 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.90 and the average family size was 3.31.

In the town, the population includes 25.5% under the age of 18 and 20.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.4 years. For every 100 females there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $103,082, and the median income for a family was $115,686.The per capita income for the town was $46,307. About 1.7% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those over age 65.

The racial makeup of the town was 92.0% White, 4.1% Asian, 2.9% Black or African American, 0.5% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.70% of the population. The ten largest ethnicities were Italian 11,025 (29.70%), Irish 9,166 (24.70%), German 4,363 (11.70%), English 3,112 (8.40%), Polish 2,762 (7.40%), Russian 1,558 (4.20%), Hungarian 1,447 (3.90%), French (except Basque) 1,087 (2.90%), Portuguese 885 (2.40%), & Slovak 881 (2.40%).

Notable locations

Bicentennial fountain and time capsule

The town's Bicentennial fountain is located at the corner of Quality Street and Church Hill Road (Connecticut Route 127), near the main branch of the library and the town hall. It features the Trumbull town seal and a memorial plaque of donors. In 1997 a time capsule was laid at the base of the Bicentennial Fountain with an opening date of October 12, 2097, Trumbull's tricentennial.

On the National Register of Historic Places

Christ Episcopal Church and Tashua Burial Ground – 5170 Madison Ave. (added May 25, 2001)

David Mallett Jr. House – 420 Tashua Road (added March 20, 1986)

Nichols Farms Historic District – Center Road, 1681–1944 Huntington Turnpike, 5–34 Priscilla Place, and 30-172 Shelton Road (added September 20, 1987)

Old Mine Park Archeological Site (added 1990)

Notable people

Lee Abbamonte, travel blogger and the youngest American to visit all 193 United Nations member states

Dick Allen (b. 1939), American poet and present poet laureate of the state of Connecticut.

John W. Beach (b. 1825), seventh President of Wesleyan University

James Beebe (1717–1785), Reverend at Unity Parish, Army Preacher in the French and Indian War and patriot.

Truman Bradley (1826–1900), American Indian from the Schaghticoke tribe.

Craig Breslow (b. 1980), professional baseball player (pitcher) Oakland Athletics and Boston Red Sox, 1998 Trumbull High School graduate.

P. W. Catanese, author of the Books of Umber and Further Tales Adventures series

Joseph DiMenna, hedge-fund manager and patron of the arts.

Nancy DiNardo, Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Connecticut.

Chris Drury, professional hockey player New York Rangers (forward), Stanley Cup winner Colorado Avalanche, 2-time Olympic silver medalist and member of 1989 Little League World Series champions from Trumbull.

Will Geer, (1902–78), actor and folklorist

Nero Hawley, (1742–1817), Negro slave, served in the Continental Army earning his freedom.

Robert Hawley, (1729–1799), Captain North Stratford Train Band in the American Revolutionary War.

Carolyn Hax (b. 1966), writer and columnist for the Washington Post and the author of the advice column "Tell Me About It," born in Bridgeport and grew up in Trumbull.

Tony Horton, actor, personal trainer and creator of p90x home fitness program.

Harvey Hubbell (1857–1927), inventor.

Joseph Judson (1619–1690), early settler, militia officer and local official. Negotiated the purchase of Long Hill area from the Paugussett Indians.

Burt Kearns, television and motion picture writer and producer, journalist and Tabloid Baby author.

Lisa Lampanelli, comedian, actress and writer.

January LaVoy, Broadway and television actress most recognized as Noelle Ortiz on the ABC daytime drama One Life to Live.

Mark Longwell, All-New England soccer player at Fairfield University competed for the United States men's national soccer team and Tampa Bay Rowdies, a 1977 Trumbull High School graduate.

Brian E. Luther, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral.

Manya Makoski, professional soccer player (Los Angeles Sol) and three-time state champion.

Wayne Norman, morning radio host at WILI-AM, Willimantic, CT since 1970, radio announcer of University of Connecticut basketball and football, and author (Hoop Tales: UConn Huskies Men's Basketball). Graduated Trumbull High in 1966.

Henry E. Pardee (1831–89), New Haven lawyer and judge

Igor Sikorsky (1889–1972), aviation pioneer and helicopter inventor.

Benjamin Silliman (1779–1864), first professor of science at Yale and first to distill petroleum.

Chris Soule, Olympic skeleton (sport) athlete.

Jim Tennant, former MLB player

Economics

The revised town budget for 2009–2010 is $140,054,187.23.

For 2009, Trumbull maintained a AA bond rating on $26.3 million in new general obligation issues. The total of Trumbull GOs is $98.1 million. Trumbull has approximately 1400 businesses.

Commerce

Shopping

The Westfield Trumbull Mall is located on Route 111, or Main Street, on the town boundary with Bridgeport, has over 180 stores including Target, J.C. Penney and Macy's.

The Hawley Lane Mall is located on Hawley Lane south of Route 8 on the town boundary with Stratford, features Best Buy, Kohl's and Target.

Corporate and industrial parks

Located north of the Merritt Parkway and east of Route 8 near the town boundary with Shelton and Stratford, 93,000 square feet (8,600 m²) of commercial space is zoned and includes offices for large firms such as Helicopter Support, Sun Products, Unilever, and United Healthcare. It is also home to the Market Integrity office of the NASDAQ OMX Group.

Economic development

Planning and Zoning Regulations

Professional Office Overlay Zones (formerly Design Districts) have been established on certain areas along White Plains Road (Route 127), Church Hill Road and Main Street (Route 111). A combination Business Commercial Multi-Family Residential Zone, or Mixed-use, has been created around the historic Long Hill Green (dating to 1720), to encourage new commercial development.

Adaptive reuse has been adopted to permit the reuse of all antique structures situated on state numbered roads which have been previously occupied by a non-conforming use, or are deemed historic by the town, and for which uses allowed by the existing zones are no longer viable - resulting in structures that may become badly maintained, under-utilized, vacant or demolished by neglect.

Blight Ordinance

The town amended its Municipal Code effective on October 1, 2012 to establish a Blight Prevention Ordinance pursuant to Section 7-148(c) (7) (H) (xv) of the Municipal Powers Act of the State of Connecticut General Statutes. This new ordinance encourages the rehabilitation of blighted premises by prohibiting any owner(s), or occupant(s) of real property from; allowing, creating, maintaining or causing the creation or maintenance of a blighted premises.

Taxes

The town's grand list assesses the taxable value in Trumbull at $5.114 billion, with a mill rate of 30.71 percent. The cumulative value of Trumbull real estate is $4.615 billion.

Education

Public education

Public schools are managed by the Trumbull Public Schools System and include approximately 6,955 students, 450 teachers and 240 staff. The district has been ranked 18th (of 164) in Connecticut by the National Center for Education Statistics.

The system includes Trumbull High School, which is also home to an Agriscience & Biotechnology program, the Alternative High School, and REACH. Trumbull has two middle schools: Hillcrest Middle School and Madison Middle School. The six elementary schools in town include Booth Hill Elementary, Daniels Farm Elementary, Frenchtown Elementary, Jane Ryan Elementary School, Middlebrook Elementary, and Tashua Elementary. The Trumbull Early Childhood Education Center serves as the town's pre-school.

Private education

Trumbull has several private schools, including the (non-denominational) Christian Heritage School (K-12) and (Catholic) St. Catherine of Siena School (K-8), St. Joseph High School, and St. Theresa School (K-8). A private pre-school, the Montessori Center for Early Learning, is located in Trumbull.

Continuing education

Trumbull provides adult education in a variety of subjects at Trumbull High School, typically in the early evening.

Emergency services

Emergency Medical Services

Trumbull EMS is an all-volunteer organization founded in 1976. Trumbull EMS Headquarters is at 250 Middlebrooks Avenue. EMT-B and EMT re-certification classes are regularly offered.

Fire departments

Firefighting in the town of Trumbull is served by three independent and all-volunteer fire departments. Each fire department handles its own tax structure and fund raising, but receives no funding from the town. There are a total of seven fire stations, equipped with and an apparatus fleet of nine engines, three trucks (including one ladder tender/air truck), one quint, three rescues, one squad engine, one satellite maxi-water unit, one fire boat, one town-wide command trailer, five utility units, and numerous support units. The current Town Fire Marshal is Megan Murphy.

Long Hill Fire District (since 1921)

Nichols Fire District (since 1917)

Trumbull Center Fire District (since 1925)

Fire station locations and apparatus

Police department

The Trumbull Police Department was created in 1941 through an act of the State Legislature. It is under the jurisdiction of a six-member Board of Police Commissioners appointed by the First Selectman. The department currently has seventy officers and ten civilian workers, including the dog warden. The current Chief of Police is Thomas Kiely. The police department is located at 158 Edison Road. The 2009–2010 revised departmental budget is $6,819,421.00.

Accolades

Family Circle magazine has ranked Trumbull 7th in their "10 Best Towns for Families" 2011. U.S. News & World Report magazine has ranked Trumbull one of the best 15 places to retire in Connecticut. RelocateAmerica.com ranked Trumbull in their annual list of America's "Top 100 Places to Live". Money magazine ranked Trumbull #68 in their 100 best places to live rankings of U.S. cities in 2007 and #77 in 2009.

Notable sport teams

The National Little League of Trumbull defeated the Kang-Tu Little League of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, in the championship game of the 1989 Little League World Series.

Activities and organizations

The Nichols Improvement Association or N.I.A., was founded in 1889 and has 47 acres (0.19 km²) of open space. Its gazebo is used for wedding pictures, social gatherings and for the sale of Christmas trees.

Tashua Recreation Facility, at 268 acres (1.08 km²) in size, includes basketball, tennis courts, swimming pool, playground, picnic area, multi-purpose field and Tashua Knolls, an 18-hole golf course built in 1976 and designed by noted golf architect Al Zikorus. The course features a driving range, two putting greens, pro shop, locker rooms, Eagle's Nest Grille restaurant and banquet facility. There is also Tashua Glen, a 9-hole "Executive style" course opened in 2004. Both courses feature cart paths. There is a Men's Club, Senior Men's Club, Ladies 9-holer, and Ladies 18-holer organizations active at the course.

The Trumbull Community Women is a group dedicated to promoting civic service. It is open to all women over 18, and runs a Young Women's Club as well. They meet at the Trumbull Library Community Room, generally on the first Tuesday of the month September through June.

The Town Hall Gazebo is host to concerts most summer Tuesday nights.

The Trumbull Historical Society, founded in 1964, maintains a museum of Trumbull's past at 1856 Huntington Turnpike on the site of Abraham Nichols farm.

The Trumbull Nature & Arts Center is located at 7115 Main Street and coordinate trips for fishing, butterfly searches, gardening, outdoor photography and other nature related activities.

The Trumbull Teen Center is located at the barn at Indian Ledge Park and features activities such as air hockey, Foosball, local band concerts, ping pong and basketball for Trumbull residents

Trumbull's Senior Center is located at 23 Priscilla Place. The senior transportation department continues to provide effective door-to-door services to seniors age 60 and over without transportation or unable to drive. Services include doctor’ s appointments, shopping, nutrition program, dentist appointments and legal appointments. It provides a variety of resources such as Continuing Education and Social Services as well as activities.

Library

The Trumbull Library System (TLS) is the town's main lending library with a staff of fifteen and two locations. The library features online book searches & renewal, statewide inter-library loan, adult & youth sections, and several meeting rooms. Internet terminals and photocopy machines are also available for use. Various groups utilize the library for meetings and workshops. The catalog of the library includes over 148,000 printed materials, 10,000 video materials, 4,500 audio materials and 200 subscriptions available as audio books on CD/tape/MP3, books, DVD's, graphic novels, magazines, music CD's, and VHS tapes. Annual circulation exceeds 373,000 transactions.

There are two branches of the library:

The Trumbull Library (main branch) is adjacent to Town Hall at 33 Quality Street.

The Fairchild-Nichols Memorial Library is located at 1718 Huntington Turnpike.

Places of worship

The town of Trumbull features over twenty houses of worship representing numerous faiths.

Media

Trumbull is served by the following local media outlets:

Trumbull Community Television, is available via Charter Cable on channel 17 and via Frontier Communications on channel 99. The Educational-access television cable TV station's programming features coverage of school events and programs, Government-access television (GATV) provides coverage of all town government commissions, boards and legislative meetings. It also provides emergency announcements, community information and announcements regarding town services.

Public-access television is available via Charter Cable Community Vision 21.

The Trumbull Times is the local community newspaper, published weekly on Thursdays.

Movies filmed (or partially filmed) in Trumbull

Isn't it Delicious?, Independent film (2011)

A Dance for Grace (2010)

Revolutionary Road (2008)

Oprah Winfrey presents For One More Day which aired on ABC in December 2007

Sister cities

Xinyi, Jiangsu (China) since 2008