Windsor Locks, Connecticut

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Windsor Locks, Connecticut
settlement_type = Town


imagesize =
image_caption =
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pushpin_label_position =left
pushpin_map_caption =Location within the state of Connecticut
pushpin_mapsize =

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map_caption =


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = NECTA
subdivision_name = Springfield MA
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Capitol Region
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
government_type = Selectman-town meeting
leader_title = First selectman
leader_name = Steven N. Wawruck, Jr.
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1854
area_land_km2 = 23.4
area_water_km2 = 0.9
area_total_sq_mi = 9.4
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 24.3
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 12411
population_footnotes = [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2005_9.csv U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates] ]
population_density_sq_mi = 1379
population_density_km2 = 532
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_land_sq_mi = 9.0
area_water_sq_mi = 0.3
elevation_m = 48
elevation_ft = 157
latd = 41 |latm = 55 |lats = 30 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 38 |longs = 58 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 06096
region =
website = [http://www.munic.state.ct.us/WINDSOR_LOCKS/windsor_locks.htm Windsor Locks]
area_code = 860
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 09-87070
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0212355
footnotes =

Windsor Locks is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 12,043 at the 2000 census.

Situated on the Connecticut River, the town is named after a set of canal locks. These were opened in 1829 and formed part of the Enfield Falls Canal that circumvented nearby shallows on the river. [Connecticut Heritage (Dorothy A. DeBisschop). " [http://www.our-oxford.info/other-history/W-locks.htm The Canal at Windsor Locks] ". Retrieved January 20 2006.]

Windsor Locks is the site of Bradley International Airport, which houses the New England Air Museum. One-third of the town's area consists of the airport.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.4 square miles (24.2 km²), of which, 9.0 square miles (23.4 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.9 km²) of it (3.53%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 12,043 people, 4,935 households, and 3,306 families residing in the town. The population density is 514.9/km² (1,333.8/sq mi). There are 5,101 housing units at an average density of 218.1 persons/km² (565.0 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town is 92.47% White, 2.67% African American, 0.12% Native American, 2.57% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 2.22% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 4,935 households out of which 29.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% are married couples living together, 11.7% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 33.0% are non-families. 27.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.43 and the average family size is 2.97.

In the town the population is spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 94.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 92.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $48,837, and the median income for a family is $59,054. Males have a median income of $41,179 versus $33,641 for females. The per capita income for the town is $23,079. 4.4% of the population and 3.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 4.5% are under the age of 18 and 4.7% are 65 or older.

Businesses

Until 2000, Windsor Locks was home to the oldest corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange, The Dexter Corporation. Established in 1767 as C.H. Dexter and Sons, the company grew from a family-owned saw and grist mill and evolved into a multi-national producer of long fiber papers and chemical laminates. In its 233 years of operation, the company grew from manufacturing tissues, toilet paper, and tea bags to marketing more specialized products like medical garments and industrial finishes. Faced with a proposed buyout by International Specialty Products Incorporated in 2000, the Dexter Corporation separated its three divisions and sold them off to avoid a hostile takeover. The Life Sciences division merged with Invitrogen Corporation. The Specialty Polymers division was sold in part to Akzo Nobel, and the remaining businesses merged with Loctite Corporation. The third division, Dexter Nonwoven Materials, located on the company's original site in Windsor Locks, was sold to the Finnish Ahlstrom Paper Group. The physical plant continues to operate, with offices located nearby at 2 Elm Street.

In 1952 Hamilton Standard opened its aircraft propeller plant in Windsor Locks. In 1999, Hamilton Standard merged with Sundstrand Corporation to become Hamilton Sundstrand, which is headquartered in Windsor Locks.

On 19 September 2008, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston will cease operations at Windsor Locks and move them to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. [cite web
title=Boston Fed Moves up Plans to Close Windsor Locks Office
url =http://www.wtic.com/Boston-Fed-Moves-up-Plans-to-Close-Windsor-Locks-O/2353052
accessdate=2008-09-21]

Education

Primary and secondary education falls under the oversight of Windsor Locks Public Schools [http://www.wlps.org/] .Windsor Locks Middle School [http://www.wlps.org/wms/] .

Interest

* The Windsor Locks High School mascot is the Raider; the colors are maroon and white. [ [http://www.wlps.org/whs/site/files/studenthandbo.pdf WLHS Student Handbook 2006-2007. (p 18)] ]
* For many years, Windsor Locks was known as Pine Meadow -- a section of neighboring Windsor. In 1854, it was formally incorporated as Windsor Locks.
* Connecticut's oldest continuously published local weekly newspaper is the [http://www.windsorlocksjournal.com Windsor Locks Journal] , published in West Hartford by the Journal Register Company.
* Windsor Locks won the Little League World Series in 1965. [ [http://www.sportingnews.com/archives/littleleague/champions.html Little League World Series Champions ] ]
* Windsor Locks claims that a Hessian soldier put up a Christmas tree in 1777 while imprisoned at the Noden-Reed House, thus making it the home of the first Christmas tree in New England.
* Windsor Locks High School won the 2005 and 2006 Class S State Championships in Baseball.

On the National Register of Historic Places

* Dave Pinney House and Barn — 58 West St. (added August 25, 1977)
* Enfield Falls Canal — Along Connecticut River from Windsor Locks north to Thompsonville (added May 22, 1976)
* Memorial Hall — Intersection of South Main and Elm Streets (added July 2, 1987)
* Windsor Locks Passenger Station — Main Street (added October 2, 1975)

ee also

* Windsor Locks (Amtrak station)

* Bradley International Airport

References

*C.H. Dexter Company Records [http://www.lib.uconn.edu/online/research/speclib/ASC/findaids/Dexter/MSS20000128.html archived] at University of Connecticut

External links

* [http://www.windsorlocksct.org/ Town of Windsor Locks]
* [http://www.enjoycentralct.com/index.cfm Central Regional Tourism District]
* [http://www.wlfd.com Windsor Locks Fire Department]
* [http://www.windsorlockspolice.com/ Windsor Locks Police Department]