Woodbridge, Connecticut

History

Woodbridge was originally called "Amity", having been carved out of land originally belonging to New Haven and Milford as an independent parish in 1739. In 1742, the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge was ordained in Amity, and it is after him that the modern town was named.

In 1661, the town was the location of one of the hideouts of the "Regicides" — three of the judges who signed the death warrant for King Charles I of England. The ruins of their hideout can be found on the nearby West Rock ridge, which runs along the town's eastern border.

Thomas Darling (1720–1789), a tutor at Yale College and later an entrepreneur in New Haven, moved to town in 1774. His home is now the Darling House Museum, operated by the Amity & Woodbridge Historical Association. The original farms of Woodbridge were located in the area of the West River Valley known as "The Flats".

In the modern era, Woodbridge has undergone significant suburbanization.

Government

Woodbridge is governed by a 6-member Board of Selectmen.

In April 2006, Edward Maum Sheehy (Democrat) became First Selectman. Sheehy served on the Board of Selectmen for 27 years as a regular selectman. The Board of Selectmen elected Sheehy First Selectman by a 3 to 2 vote, along party lines, to replace Amey Marella (Republican), who stepped down to accept a job as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Before becoming First Selectwoman in 2001, Marella was an attorney with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Edward Sheehy was reelected in May 2009 to another two-year term.

On April 22, 2013, Sheehy died suddenly at the age of 73 while still holding the selectman's office. He was actively seeking re-election in May. He was laid to rest on April 27, 2013.

Recent First Selectmen elections

2015: Ellen Scalettar (Democrat) defeated Catherine Wick (Republican);

2013: Ellen Scalettar (Democrat) defeated Catherine Wick (Republican);

2013: Beth Heller (Democrat) elected by Board of Selectmen, 5 to 0;

2011: Edward Sheehy (Democrat) defeated Laura Ferrante-Fernandes (Republican);

2009: Edward Sheehy (Democrat) defeated Ken Colabella (Republican);

2007: Edward Sheehy (Democrat) defeated Chris Dickerson (Republican);

2006: Edward Sheehy (Democrat) elected by Board of Selectmen, 3 to 2;

2005: Amy Marrella (Republican) defeated Laurence Grotheer (Democrat);

2003: Amy Marrella (Republican) defeated Janice Horowitz (Democrat);

2001: Amy Marrella (Republican) defeated Susan Lora Jacobs (Democrat)

Grammar school

Beecher Road School is the town's pre Kindergarten - Grade 6 school. It is run by a principal, Gina Prisco, and assistant principal Lisa Sherman.

Middle school

As part of the Amity school system, Woodbridge shares a middle school with the town of Bethany, which is located north of Woodbridge.

High school

Woodbridge also shares the Amity Regional High School with the neighboring towns of Bethany and Orange. The high school is located in Woodbridge's town center area. It has recently undergone extensive renovations in order to accommodate the extra ninth grade coming in from all three towns.

Private schools

Woodbridge is home to Ezra Academy, a Jewish day school once attended by Natalie Portman. Ezra Academy is a regional Jewish day school whose students reside in 21 towns throughout New Haven and Fairfield counties.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.2 square miles (50 km²), of which 18.8 square miles (49 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) is water. The total area is 2.03% water.

Woodbridge is informally divided into two distinct parts—central Woodbridge, which occupies the western hilly side of town, and the area known as The Flats, which occupies the eastern slice of town bordering the less wealthy West Rock and the New Haven neighborhood of Westville.

Neighboring towns are Bethany to the north, Hamden to the east, New Haven to the southeast, Orange to the south, and Derby, Ansonia, and Seymour to the west.

Parks and hiking trails

Woodbridge is home to several organizations that protect undeveloped land and historic sites, including the Woodbridge Land Trust and the Woodbridge Park Association. The town has an extensive system of preserved hiking trails open to the public, notably the 93-acre (380,000 m²) Alice Newton Street Memorial Park and the 22-acre (89,000 m²) Wepawaug Falls area. Some of the land has been donated by residents.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,983 people, 3,103 households, and 2,553 families residing in the town. The population density was 477.0 people per square mile (184.2/km²). There were 3,189 housing units at an average density of 169.3 per square mile (65.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.34% White, 1.50% African American, 0.04% Native American, 5.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,103 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.7% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.17.

27.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $137,216, and the median income for a family was $155,694. Males had a median income of $105,632 versus $70,286 for females. The per capita income for the town was $69,179. 2.3% of the population and 1.4% of families were below the poverty line. 2.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Other

Notable people

On the National Register of Historic Places