East Hartford, Connecticut

East Hartford, Connecticut
—  Town  —
Main Street at the intersection with Burnside Avenue
Flag Seal
Location in Hartford County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°45′41″N 72°36′55″W / 41.76139°N 72.61528°W / 41.76139; -72.61528Coordinates: 41°45′41″N 72°36′55″W / 41.76139°N 72.61528°W / 41.76139; -72.61528
Country	United States
State	Connecticut
NECTA	Hartford
Region	Capitol Region
Incorporated	1783
Government
– Type	Mayor-council
– Mayor	Marcia Leclerc (D)
Area
– Total	18.8 sq mi (48.7 km2)
– Land	18.0 sq mi (46.7 km2)
– Water	0.8 sq mi (2.0 km2)
Elevation	39 ft (12 m)
Population (2010)[1]
– Total	51,252
– Density	2,847/sq mi (1,097/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	06108, 06118
Area code(s)	860
FIPS code	09-22630
GNIS feature ID	0213424
Website	http://easthartfordct.gov/

East Hartford (41n47, 72w37 EST) is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,252 at the 2010 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 18.8 square miles (48.6 km²), of which, 18.0 square miles (46.7 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²) of it (4.05%) is water.

History

When the Connecticut Valley became known to Europeans around 1631, it was inhabited by what were known as the River Tribes — a number of small clans of Native Americans living along the Great River and its tributaries. Of these tribes the Podunks occupied territory now lying in the towns of East Hartford and South Windsor, and numbered, by differing estimates, from sixty to two hundred bowmen. They were governed by two sachems, Waginacut and Arramamet, and were connected in some way with the Native Americans who lived across the Great River, in Windsor. The region north of the Hockanum river was generally called Podunk; that south of the river, Hockanum; but these were no certain designations, and by some all the meadow along the Great River was called Hockanum.^[2]

In 1659, Thomas Burnham (1617–1688) purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, Chief sachem of the Podunk Indians.^[2] Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children.^[3] The town of Hartford once included the land now occupied by the towns of East Hartford, Manchester, and West Hartford. In 1783, East Hartford became a separate town, which included Manchester in its city limits until 1823.^[2]

Demographics

As of the census^[4] of 2000, there were 49,575 people, 20,206 households, and 12,830 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,750.5 people per square mile (1,062.2/km²). There were 21,273 housing units at an average density of 1,180.2 per square mile (455.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 64.69% White, 18.83% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 4.01% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 8.74% from other races, and 3.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.23% of the population.

There were 20,206 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.5% were married couples living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 30.2% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $41,424, and the median income for a family was $50,540. Males had a median income of $36,823 versus $29,860 for females. The per capita income for the town was $21,763. About 8.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 30, 2007[5]
Party		Active Voters	Inactive Voters	Total Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	11,321	1,088	12,409	45.82%
	Republican	2,820	305	3,125	11.54%
	Unaffiliated	10,087	1,420	11,507	42.48%
	Minor Parties	38	6	44	0.16%
Total		24,266	2,819	27,085	100%

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1900	6,406		—
1910	8,138		27.0%
1920	11,648		43.1%
1930	17,125		47.0%
1940	18,615		8.7%
1950	29,933		60.8%
1960	43,977		46.9%
1970	57,583		30.9%
1980	52,563		−8.7%
1990	50,452		−4.0%
2000	49,575		−1.7%
Est. 2007	50,633		2.1%

Economy

East Hartford is home to the headquarters of Pratt & Whitney,^[6] part of the United Technologies conglomerate. The manufacturing plant takes up a significant amount of East Hartford's area, and at its peak, it employed tens of thousands of people; however, currently, it only employs about 5,000. East Hartford also contains a Coca-Cola bottling plant, located on Main Street. The city is dotted with various industrial and suburban office parks.^{[citation needed]}

Attractions

The East River Drive and Connecticut Boulevard areas, just east of the Connecticut River, contain extensive development, including car dealerships, medical offices, and light retail development. Notably, Goodwin College has begun to build a large campus on Riverside Drive. It will also develop blighted housing projects into student housing.

Wickham Park, located in both East Hartford and Manchester, features Oriental gardens, fountains, open fields, woodlands, ponds, picnic areas, softball fields, and an aviary. The west side of the park offers a scenic view of East Hartford and the skyline of Hartford across the Connecticut River.

Nearby, on the former Pratt & Whitney company airfield Rentschler Field, lies the recently-erected stadium of the same name (construction completed September 2003), home of the UConn Huskies football team and the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League. The stadium has also been used for concerts by artists including The Rolling Stones. The remainder of the former airfield is currently being redeveloped, with a $1 billion dollar technology, entertainment, lodging, and retail development planned. Hotels, technology companies, and various retail outlets are expected to begin construction in the near future as well.

Neighborhoods

Hanmer St near Goodwin College

East Hartford is home to a diverse mix of neighborhoods. The northeast and southeast sections of the town are suburban and resemble neighboring towns like South Windsor, Connecticut and Glastonbury, Connecticut. People here tend to be middle class. In contrast, the older, more urban sections of the town are moderate and low income. Some of these neighborhoods include Hockanum in the southwest of the city, Burnside Avenue in the center of the city, and Mayberry Village.

Notable residents

• Lawrence Brainerd - Businessman, abolitionist and United States Senator from Vermont.
• Mary Cadorette - Actress
• Francis Patrick Garvan - Lawyer and long time president of the Chemical Foundation.
• John A. Gurley - U.S. Congressman from Ohio during the early part of the American Civil War.
• Hiram N. Moulton - Mayor of Madison, Wisconsin.
• Aaron Olmstead - Sea Captain, namesake of several cities in Ohio.
• Denison Olmsted - Physicist and astronomer.
• Gérard Ouellet - Member of the Canadian House of Commons.
• Diane Venora - Actress

References

1. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
2. ^ ^{a b c} Goodwin, Joseph Olcott (1879). East Hartford: Its History and Traditions. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Co.. 
3. ^ Burnham, Roderick Henry (1869). The Burnham Family; Or Genealogical Records of the Descendants of the Four. Hartford, Connecticut: Case, Lockwood, and Brainard Co.. 
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
5. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 30, 2007" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/2007_Registration_and_Enrollment_Statistics.pdf. Retrieved 2008-09-18. 
6. ^ "Contact Us." Pratt & Whitney. Retrieved on January 7, 2011. "Corporate Headquarters Pratt & Whitney 400 Main Street East Hartford, CT 06108."

External links

Connecticut portal

• Town of East Hartford
• Historical Society of East Hartford - Related historical links.
• Central Regional Tourism District