Ledyard, Connecticut

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Ledyard, Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°26′23″N, 72°00′54″W
NECTA	Norwich-New London
Region	Southeastern Connecticut
Incorporated	1836
Government
- Type	Mayor-council
- Mayor	Susan B. Mendenhall
Area
- City	103.6 km²  (40.0 sq mi)
Population (2005)[1]
- City	15,172
- Density	154/km² (398/sq mi)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	06335, 06339
Website: http://www.town.ledyard.ct.us/

Ledyard is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States, located along the Thames River. The population was 14,687 according to the 2000 census. The Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribe, was located in Ledyard until the land was annexed by the tribe. Ledyard's zip code is 06339. Within Ledyard is the district of Gales Ferry with a postal code of 06335.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Demographics 3 Schools 4 Sub Base 5 Background 6 "Fun Facts" 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 103.6 km² (40.0 mi²). 98.8 km² (38.1 mi²) of it is land and 4.8 km² (1.9 mi²) of it (4.62%) is water.

Ledyard is situated north of Groton, and borders the east bank of the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 148.7/km² (385.1/mi²). There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 55.5/km² (143.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was:

• 88.23% White
• 3.51% Native American
• 2.73% Hispanic or Latino of any race
• 2.50% African American
• 2.19% Asian
• 0.07% Pacific Islander
• 0.84% from other races
• 2.66% from two or more races

There were 5,286 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.

The ages of Ledyard's population were spread out with:

• 28.3% under 18
• 6.3% from 18 to 24
• 31.0% from 25 to 44
• 25.4% from 45 to 64
• 9.0% from 65 years of age or older.

The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,647, and the median income for a family was $69,214. Males had a median income of $46,582 versus $32,339 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,953. About 2.9% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[2]
Party		Active Voters	Inactive Voters	Total Voters	Percentage
	Republican	2,350	104	2,454	27.07%
	Democratic	1,879	85	1,964	21.66%
	Unaffiliated	4,404	245	4,649	51.27%
	Minor Parties	0	0	0	0.0%
Total		8,633	434	9,067	100%

[edit] Schools

Ledyard has four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school.

Elementary Schools:

• Gales Ferry School (Grades K through 2)
• Gallup Hill School (Grades K through 6)
• Juliet W. Long School (Grades 3 through 6)
• Ledyard Center School (Grades K through 6)

Middle School:

• Ledyard Middle School (Grades 7 & 8)

High School:

• Ledyard High School (Grades 9 through 12)

[edit] Sub Base

Historical population of Ledyard[1]
1840	1,871
1850	1,558
1860	1,615
1870	1,392
1880	1,373
1890	1,183
1900	1,236
1910	1,079
1920	1,161
1930	1,144
1940	1,426
1950	1,749
1960	5,395
1970	14,837
1980	13,735
1990	14,913
2000	14,687

The Sub Base which is mainly located in the town of Groton in also a part of the town of Ledyard. The Captain of the base's house, the officers' housing, North Lake, and the golf course are located on the Ledyard side. Depending on what side of the base you live on determines the school district you attend.(Groton or Ledyard.)

[edit] Background

The town of Ledyard is named after Colonel William Ledyard, a Revolutionary War Era soldier who is infamous for being killed with his own saber after surrendering to the British at Fort Griswold. In honor of Ledyard, the sports teams of the high school are known as the Colonels.

[edit] "Fun Facts"

Ledyard is among the areas of the United States that was covered by a continental ice sheet during the last Ice Age. Therefore, Ledyard has its share of interesting glacial geology. The glaciers that covered Ledyard carried the many large boulders that litter the town and most of northern United States. The town has set aside land designated as a 'Glacial Park' which consists of a section of end moraine and outwash deposits (containing kettles). This area encompasses a segment of the 'Ledyard Moraine,'--a clast-supported boulder deposit that is anamolous in nature.

Also, Ledyard was featured on an episode of the MTV show, MADE, in which a contestant entered her town's beauty pageant for Miss Ledyard.

Ledyard is also stereotyped as a "cow town" as a result of the few (but large) scattered farms throughout the region. As a result of population influx and increased traffic due to the casinos, however, the town has increasingly moved beyond agricultural subsistence.

[edit] References

1. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
2. ^ Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005 (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved on October 2, 2006.

[edit] External links

• Town government Web site
• Mystic Country: The Eastern Regional Tourism District
• [2]
• http://www.mtv.com/onair/dyn/made/series/]
• Town Education Site

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