Middletown, Connecticut

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Middletown, Connecticut

Seal

Nickname: "Forest City"

Coordinates: 41°32′13″N, 72°39′″W

NECTA

Hartford

Region

Midstate Region

Incorporated (town)

1651

Incorporated (city)

1784

Consolidated

1923

Government

- Type

Mayor-council

- Mayor

Sebastian N. Giuliano

Area

- City

109.6 km² (42.3 sq mi)

- Land

105.9 km² (40.9 sq mi)

- Water

3.7 km² (1.4 sq mi)

Population (2005)^[1]

- City

47,438

- Density

448/km² (1,160.3/sq mi)

- Summer (DST)

06457

Website: http://www.cityofmiddletown.com/

Middletown is a city located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, along the Connecticut River, in the south-central part of the state, 16 miles (26 km) south of Hartford. It was founded in 1650 and incorporated the town of Mattabassett in 1651. It received its present name in 1653 and was incorporated as a city in 1784. Originally a busy sailing port and then an industrial center, it is now largely a residential city and college town, home to Wesleyan University. In 1910, 11,851 people were residents of the city. In 1940, 26,495 people lived here. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 43,167.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Middletown today
5 Well-known residents
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

see also: Middletown, CT Historic Sites

The land on the western bank of the Connecticut River where Middletown now lies was home to the Mattabeseck Indians when the Connecticut General Court elected to establish a settlement there in 1650. Colonists arrived shortly thereafter from nearby Hartford, Wethersfield, and Windsor, and lived peacefully (for the most part) alongside the tribe. Later in the seventeenth century, Mohegans moved into the area from the Hudson River Valley. Dubbed Pequots, or killers of men, by the more peaceful Mattabesecks, the newcomers threatened and raided fellow Native Americans and English settlers alike for several decades before a peaceful coexistence was reestablished. The English settlers eventually purchased nearly all of the shrinking holdings of the Native Americans, including substantial lands on the eastern side of the river, limiting them to a small strip of land surrounding the tribal home of the Mattabeseck chief.

During the 1700s, Middletown became the largest and most prosperous settlement in Connecticut. By the time of the American Revolution, Middletown was a thriving port, comparable to Boston or New York in importance, with one-third of its citizens involved in merchant and maritime activities. The port's decline began in the early 1800s with strained American-British relations and resulting trade restrictions, which led to the War of 1812. The port never recovered; however, the city distinguished itself in the war effort, as Middletown's Commodore Thomas Macdonough led American forces to the victory on Lake Champlain in 1814 which ended British hopes for an invasion of New York.

During this period, Middletown became a major hub of firearm production. Numerous gun manufacturers in the area supplied the majority of pistols to the United States government during the War of 1812. Afterwards, however, the center of this business passed to Springfield, Massachusetts, Hartford, Connecticut, and New Haven, Connecticut. (See also History of Connecticut industry)

1831 saw the establishment of Wesleyan College (later Wesleyan University,) which became one of the United States' leading liberal arts institutions. The mid-nineteenth century also saw manufacturing replace trade as Middletown's economic mainstay; however, industrial growth was limited by railroad operators' decision to bypass Middletown when tracks were laid between Hartford and New Haven. Regardless, Middletonians played a role in the Civil War. For example, General Joseph K. Mansfield of Middletown led Union forces at Antietam, where he died in action in 1862. The city was also active in the abolition movement, and was a hub along the underground railway.

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the once predominantly Anglo-Saxon city underwent a demographic transformation. First the Irish, and then large numbers of Italian immigrants arrived to work in Middletown's factories and farms, many coming from the town of Melilli, Sicily. Polish and German arrivals followed, and by 1910 the population had swelled to nearly 21,000. Meanwhile, the number of African-Americans dwindled to a mere 53 persons, as employers chose to hire white immigrants. Later in the century, more African-Americans migrated to the area, followed by a more recent influx of Hispanic residents, giving the city its current mix of diverse ethnic groups.

Both natural events and a continuing influx of people and businesses impacted the city in the first half of the twentieth century. Middletown was hit by floods in 1927 and 1936, and by The Great New England Hurricane in 1938. Despite these occurrences, the Arrigoni Bridge was completed over the Connecticut River in 1938, connecting Middletown to Portland and points east.

During the 1950s, as the popularity of the automobile increased, government officials approved the construction of a highway that effectively separated Middletown from the Connecticut River, its initial, natural raison d'etre. Highway construction demolished historic neighborhoods, including many buildings from the 1700s. Thereafter Middletown, like many other Northeastern cities at the time, went into a decline that did not reverse until the 1990s. During this time, many handsome (albeit decrepit) buildings were torn down in the name of 'urban renewal', and later turned into parking lots, or left empty. Crime increased. During the 1960s, Pratt and Whitney Aircraft opened a large plant in Middletown. Concurrently, developers bought much of the city's remaining farms, including most of Oak Grove Dairy, to create suburban developments for local workers and commuters to surrounding cities. During the 1990s, a partnership between the city, the Middlesex Chamber of Commerce, and Wesleyan University invested heavily in Middletown's Main Street, and downtown Middletown revived. Crime decreased, and new restaurants and shops opened.

[edit] Geography

Physically smaller than the colonial town from which it grew, Middletown now sits solely along the west bank of the Connecticut River, in the south-central portion of the state. Running alongside the river, Route 9 traverses the city's eastern border. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 109.6 km² (42.3 mi²). 105.9 km² (40.9 mi²) of it is land and 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 3.36% water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 43,167 people, 18,554 households, and 10,390 families residing in the city. The population density is 407.5/km² (1,055.4/mi²). There are 19,697 housing units at an average density of 185.9/km² (481.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 80.01% White, 12.26% Black or African American, 5.30% Hispanic or Latino, and 2.68% Asian, .

There are 18,554 households, of which 25.7% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% are married couples living together, and 44.0% are non-families. The average household size is 2.23 and the average family size is 2.90.

21.7% of residents are under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 35.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.4% are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 36 years.

The median income for a household in the city is $47,162, and the median income for a family is $60,845. Males have a median income of $45,790 versus $34,648 for females. The per capita income for the city is $25,720. 7.5% of the population and 4.3% of families are below the poverty line.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005^[2]
Party		Active Voters	Inactive Voters	Total Voters	Percentage
	Democratic	10,672	1,610	12,282	45.18%
	Republican	3,665	414	4,079	15.00%
	Unaffiliated	9,365	1,377	10,742	39.51%
	Minor Parties	69	14	83	0.31%
Total		23,771	3,415	27,186	100%

[edit] Middletown today

In recent decades, Middletown has focused on balancing the needs and comforts of its residents with the industrial development required to help fund services. These efforts date at least from 1931, when the city was one the first in America to establish a planning board. Progress continued under the leadership of four term Democratic mayor, Domenique S. Thornton. On November 8, 2005, Republican Sebastian Giuliano won the mayor's office, replacing Thornton, whom he criticised for raising taxes and for the awarding of a contract for the construction of a new high school to Tomasso Brothers, Inc., a firm that has been the target of a federal corruption probe. Middletown continues to support manufacturing and small business.

Culturally, Middletown is in the midst of an effort to revitalize its historically disadvantaged North End, with the building of Wharfside Commons, a new 96-unit mixed income housing unit on Ferry Street. The Green Street Arts Center, founded by Wesleyan and a coalition of community groups in 2000, is a pioneering attempt to attract residents and businesses to the neighborhood by promoting arts education and outreach. For decades, the famous O'Rourke's Diner has done much to bring some stability to the North End. However, a fire on August 31, 2006 gutted much of the historic structure. The Middletown community has held many fundraising events to raise money for the diner's rebuilding.

Russell Library, the public library of Middletown, continues to be a cultural, educational and entertainment center that offers a place for the community to meet. Currently, the library makes available to the general public books, newspapers, magazines, informational databases of full-text newspaper and magazine articles (offering news, business, medical, health, biographical, literary, etc., information), classes, computer training, workshops, concerts, and meeting spaces, including the Hubbard Room, a large meeting room that can accommodate 100 people.

Middletown is also the only location of a well-known youth theater group, Oddfellows Playhouse. It is located on Washington Street and pulls in children of all ages from all over the state to learn theater skills. Oddfellows also runs the Children's Circus of Middletown where children learn circus skills and put on a free show for close to a thousand people.

At present, the Downtown Business District continues to revitalize the downtown area. Pratt and Whitney, Aetna, Middlesex Hospital, Connecticut Valley Hospital and Wesleyan University are major employers. Adjacent to the town is Powder Ridge Ski Area, on Powder Hill. Powder Ridge has recently gone bankrupt and the future use of the site is in doubt. Located on the western border of the city, in an area known as Westlake, is an 84 house community known as The Farms. This architectural award winning community was developed in 1969 by George Achenbach, and was one of the first communities in Connecticut designed for cluster living, with open areas designated as common land.

There are also many parks and nature trails including the Middletown Nature Gardens for families to enjoy.

[edit] Well-known residents

Samuel Holden Parsons, merchant & lawyer, Revolutionary War General, later led settlement scheme in Ohio.
Thomas Macdonough, Commodore, hero of the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812.
Henry Clay Work, author of the Civil War song, "Marching Through Georgia."
Samuel Dickinson Hubbard, U.S. congressman, United States Postmaster General (1852-1853)
Asahel Sage, Brigadier General in the New York militia, led the invasion of Canada at the Battle of Lewiston.
Joseph K. Mansfield, General, died at the Battle of Antietam in the Civil War.
Joey Jay, major league baseball player and the first Little Leaguer to reach the major leagues.
Bill Rodgers, five-time Boston Marathon winner and Wesleyan University graduate.
Ambrose Burfoot, former Boston Marathon winner and Wesleyan University graduate.
Willie Pep, pound-for-pound one of the greatest boxers of all-time.
Major Taylor, world-champion cyclist and second African-American world champion in any sport.
U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, professor of History at Wesleyan University.
Dean Acheson, on Wesleyan University faculty, US Secretary of State, 1949-1953.
Anthony Braxton, on Wesleyan faculty, noted contemporary composer.
Allie Wrubel, famous composer of 'Zip A Dee Doo Da' and other hit songs.
John Pastore, Jazz musician with the Artie Shaw orchestra.
Jeff Bagwell, Houston Astros first baseman, who lived in Killingworth, Connecticut, is a Xavier High School graduate.
Alton Tobey (5 November 1914 - 4 January 2005), artist, born in Middletown.
Bill Watrous, jazz musician and band leader, was born in Middletown.
Bill Belichick, attended Wesleyan University
Eric Mangini, attended Wesleyan University
William Manchester, famous author, Wesleyan University writer in residence.
Jeduthun Wilcox was a United States Representative from New Hampshire.
Daniel Burrows was a United States Representative from Connecticut.

[edit] References

History of Middlesex County 1635-1885: With Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men. Pratt & Read Co. New York: J. B. Beers & Co., 1884.
History of Middlesex County, Connecticut, Whittemore, (New York, 1884)
Middletown Upper Houses: A History of the North Society of Middletown from 1650 to 1800, C. C. Adams, (New York, 1908)

^ [1]
^ Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005 (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.

[edit] External links

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