Mayor Ken Nelson Jr. (R) Deputy Mayor Marie Pyznar (R) District Councilors Ken Nelson Jr. (R), Dist 1 John Santanella (D), Dist 2 Douglas Finger (R), Dist 3 Bob Hendrickson (R), Dist 4 Council At-Large Cynthia Mangini (D) Gena Cekala (D) Robert Cressoti (D) Lori Unghire (R) Mike Ludwick (R) Jim Nasuta (R) Marie Pyznar (R)
Enfield was originally inhabited by the Podunk people, and contained their two villages of Scitico and Nameroke. Though land grants were first granted in 1674, no one attempted to settle what is known as Enfield until 1679 when the Pease Brothers of Robert and John II, settlers from Salem, Massachusetts came in to settle the fertile lands. They dug a shelter into a hill and camped there for the winter until their families came to help them build houses. In 1675, a sawmill owned by William Pynchon II was burned in the wake of King Phillip's War. The first town meeting was held on August 14, 1679, and a committee of five were appointed by men from Springfield as it was the parent town at the time. Enfield was incorporated in Massachusetts on May 16, 1683, as the Freshwater Plantation, the same day as the town of Stow, Massachusetts, making them the 52nd/53rd towns in the Colony. The namesake is the Freshwater Brook (Also known as the Asnuntuck Brook) that traverses the town. Five years later, on March 16, 1688, the townspeople purchased Enfield from a Podunk named Notatuck for 25 pounds Sterling. It is unclear what claim Notatuck actually had to the land, or whether he was selling the land or the rights to use it. Shortly around 1700, the town changed its name to Enfield after Enfield in Middlesex, and to go with the other "fields" in the area such as Springfield, Westfield, and Suffield.
In 1734, the eastern part of town separated into the town of Somers.[4] In 1749, following the settlement of a lawsuit in which it was determined that a surveyor's error placed a section of present-day Hartford County (including Enfield) within the boundaries of Massachusetts, the town seceded and became part of Connecticut.[5]
The modern town of Enfield was formed through the merging of Enfield, Thompsonville, and Hazardville, named for Colonel Augustus George Hazard (1802–1868), whose company manufactured gunpowder in the Powder Hollow area of the town from the 1830s to the 1910s. In the 1989 film Glory, boxes of gunpowder can be seen with the words Enfield, CT printed on the sides. In an episode in the 1970s police drama Hawaii Five-O, Jack Lord's character Steve McGarrett traces explosives back to "The Hazard Gunpowder Company- Enfield, CT". The capacity of the mill at the time of the Civil War was 1,200 pounds (540kg) per day.[6] Over 60 people died in explosions in Powder Hollow during the years when gunpowder was manufactured there. The mill blew up several times, but was set up so that if one building blew up, the rest would not follow in a chain reaction. The ruins of these buildings and the dams are open to the public. Powder Hollow is now home to baseball fields and hiking trails.
King's Island in the Connecticut River, previously known as Terry Island (or Terry's Island, or Great Island),[7] was the location of pivotal meetings of Adventist Christians in 1872 and 1873.[8]
In 1972, Asnuntuck Community College was established in Enfield as the twelfth institution in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (CSCU). Classes began in 1972 with an initial enrollment of 251, and 12 Associate in Science degrees and 20 Associate of Art degrees were awarded to the first graduating class in 1974.
There are five sections of the town of Enfield: Enfield Village, Thompsonville, Hazardville, Scitico, and Sherwood Village.
In 1793, a historic Shaker village, Enfield Shaker village, one of nineteen scattered from Maine to Kentucky, was established in the town. The Utopian religious sect practiced celibate, communal living, and is today renowned for its simple architecture and furniture. Membership eventually dwindled, however, and the village disbanded. The property has since been redeveloped by the Enfield Correctional Institution, still located on Shaker Road.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.2 square miles (88.6km2), of which 33.3 square miles (86.2km2) is land and 0.93 square miles (2.4km2), or 2.76%, is water.[10]
As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 45,212 people, 16,418 households, and 11,394 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,354.3 inhabitants per square mile (522.9/km2). There were 17,043 housing units at an average density of 510.5 per square mile (197.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 89.74% White, 5.61% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.57% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.74% of the population.
There were 16,418 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $67,402, and the median income for a family was $77,554. Males had a median income of $42,335 versus $31,082 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,340. About 2.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government and politics
Enfield town vote by party in presidential elections[12][13]
Enfield was home to the U.S. headquarters of Danish plastic building toy manufacturer Lego, which was also the town's largest employer. Hallmark Cards was the town's second-largest employer. It is now closed, having sent all distribution to Kansas City in 2016.
Enfield was once the home to the headquarters of the Casual Corner clothing company.
Formerly and most notably, Enfield had booming carpet and gunpowder industries. Orrin Thompson set up shop for the Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co. in the Thompsonville section of town, employing many Scottish immigrants and building housing for them, which still stand today.
The gunpowder industry was founded by Colonel Augustus Hazard. Hazard was instrumental in implementing water power and other technologies to allow his business to prosper. Hazard's company was among the biggest gunpowder suppliers for the American Civil War.
Enfield was the headquarters of Pilch Meat Breeders, which was once the second-largest broilerbreeder in the world. The company was founded by Chester Pilch in 1936, and sold in 1969 to DeKalb Agricultural Research Corp. At its peak, Pilch owned 230 acres in Enfield, had farms in four countries, and produced about 24 million chickens a year. DeKalb moved the operation to North Carolina, taking 365 jobs from Enfield.[14]
Enfield is currently the headquarters of Precision Camera and Video Repair as well as Control Module Industries.
The town contains several shopping centers, including the Enfield Square Mall.
Top employers
According to Enfield's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report[15]
"Crescent Lake" – Borders scenic farmland. It is in close proximity to both the minimum and maximum correctional facilities. This small friendly neighborhood holds an annual July 4 parade.
Hazardville – Named after Colonel Augustus Hazard, this neighborhood encompasses a few smaller burbs, including Powder Hollow, and more recently, the center of Enfield began to encroach on this historical area. The center of Hazardville is located between the streets of Park Street and North Street on Hazard Avenue. Notable small shops include The Connecticut Valley Tobacconist, Gayle's Thyme Herbal Apothecary, The Cranberry Scoop Gift Shop, Smoke n' Leather, and numerous pizzerias. The Powder Hollow Park is located in the Hazardville neighborhood district.
North Thompsonville – Contains mostly residential and partially commercial areas of Enfield with many parks and schools.
Presidential Section – This entirely residential area contain streets that are all named after former presidents of the United States. Houses are mid-sized to large in this area.
Presidential Section
Scitico – located in the eastern end of town. Green Manor is considered part of Scitico. This is a suburb in the purest sense, with winding roads, sidewalks, a park, and cul-de-sacs. Green Manor is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2km) from the main highway Interstate 91 and borders the town of Somers. Across from Nathan Hale Elementary School is a residential park with tennis court, skate boarding ramps, and a playground for younger kids. Green Manor Park contained a pool at one time but was removed due to the lack of maintenance by the town.
Shaker Pines – This neighborhood consists mostly of quaint lakeside houses with tall pine trees towering overhead. Shaker Pines was originally part of the Shaker settlement in Enfield. The lake was built by the Shakers to power a mill. The mill stood vacant by the dam at the end of the lake, until it was dismantled in the 1980s. This mill provided shelter for Frederick Merrill in 1987 after he escaped from the local high security prison. He was dubbed "The Peanut Butter Bandit" after his mother sneaked him supplies for his first prison escape in 1968 in a jar of peanut butter.
Southwood Acres – A residential neighborhood in the south part of town.
Thompsonville – Named after Orrin Thompson, Thompsonville is the town center of Enfield with a more urban environment. In the past few years, there has been an attempt to revitalize the downtown area.[16] On the southbound portion of Pearl Street there are many old Victorian houses. There are also many boat launches onto the bordering Connecticut River. Commuter rail service is expected to begin in 2025, and planning has started for renovating an old building into Enfield station (Connecticut), a transportation hub on the proposed Hartford Line, previously in operation until 1986. Enfield and Thompsonville are currently served by the Connecticut Transit commuter bus services for easy access to and from Hartford, with a 4x daily connection to the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority Bus services, serving Springfield MA, and its surrounding areas.
Parks and recreation
Brainerd Park: on Brainard Road, features softball fields, children's swing sets.
Green Manor Recreational Area: off Taylor Road, features playscape, skate park
Hazardville Park: off Hazard Avenue, features playscapes, basketball courts, covered picnic area
Mark Twain Recreational Area: off South Road, features tennis courts, ball fields
Scantic River State Park: near South Maple Street Bridge, rapids for canoeing and kayaking, fishing
Enfield is home to the New England Lightning girls AAU basketball program.
Government and infrastructure
Connecticut Department of Correction prisons are located in Enfield.[17] Enfield Correctional Institution,[18] Robinson Correctional Institution,[19] and Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution are in Enfield.[20]
In January 2013, the town began running the Magic Carpet public bus service. The in-town bus provides service to Thompsonville, Hazard Avenue, and Elm Street.
Police brutality lawsuit settlements
In 2017, the Associated Press reported that nearly $800,000 was paid to settle lawsuits filed against the Enfield Police Department and former officer Matthew Worden, who was accused in several brutality cases; 10 lawsuits were settled for a total of $792,500.[21]
Thomas G. Alcorn School was originally a high school until it was converted to an elementary school when the current high school (Enfield High School) was built in the 1960s. Alcorn School was closed in 2011 and its building is now used as government office space and now operates as one of the Family Resource Centers in Enfield. Enfield High School was later extensively renovated in 1993. Enrico Fermi High School was one of two high schools in town, which opened in 1972, but closed in 2016 as a result of the town's high school consolidation into Enfield High School. The Fermi high school mascot was a falcon. The Fermi high school logo included an image of an atom and a distillation flask.
As of 2016, Enfield Public Schools educates approximately 5,000 students.
One Catholic parochial school (Kindergarten through grade 8) serves the Enfield community, known as St. Bernard School. Typically, this school operates on the same academic calendar as the public schools.
There were formerly five Catholic parochial schools in Enfield (St. Bernard's, St. Adalbert's, St. Joeseph's, St. Martha's and Our Lady of the Angels [OLA]). St. Martha’s School was closed in June 2020 due to financial difficulties and COVID-19.[23] St Martha’s School is now only a Catholic church (the only Catholic church in Enfield that offers a Traditional Latin Mass and a Spanish Mass).[24]
Notable people
Johnny April, bassist for the alternative metal/hard rock band Staind
Elisha M. Pease, politician and two-term governor of Texas (elected in 1853 and 1855). Renamed 15th Street in Austin, Texas, Enfield Road after the town where he was born[25]
Nathaniel Terry, Congressman from Connecticut (served 1817–1819)
Notable historical sites
The Strand Theatre (Enfield Cinema), most prominently active in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1970s the Strand had to resort to X-rated films to remain afloat until finally closing doors in the 1980s. Locals have many ideas for the future of the theater, but it is in great disrepair.
Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co., now Bigelow Commons, a renovated apartment complex. These buildings were the site of a large carpet company that employed many in the town. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
The Enfield Town Meetinghouse was built in 1773 and was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1974
Manchester is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. As of the 2020 census, the town had a total population of 59,713. The urban center of the town is the Manchester census-designated place, with a population of 36,379 at the 2020 census. The town is named after Manchester, in England.
Sherwood Manor is a census-designated place (CDP) within the town of Enfield in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,410 at the 2010 census.
Thompsonville is a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Enfield in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population of the CDP was 8,577 at the 2010 census.
Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States, and was the first English settlement in the state. It lies on the northern border of Connecticut's capital, Hartford. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population of Windsor was 29,492 at the 2020 census.
Somers is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 10,255 at the 2020 census. The town center is listed by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP). In 2007, Money Magazine listed Somers 53rd on its "100 Best Places to Live", based on "economic opportunity, good schools, safe streets, things to do and a real sense of community."
Windsor Locks is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. As of the 2020 census, its population was 12,613. It is the site of Bradley International Airport, which serves the Greater Hartford-Springfield region and occupies approximately a third of the town. Windsor Locks is also the site of the New England Air Museum.
Greater Hartford is a region located in the U.S. state of Connecticut, centered on the state's capital of Hartford. It represents the only combined statistical area in Connecticut defined by a city within the state, being bordered by the Greater Boston region to the northeast and New York metropolitan area to the south and west. Sitting at the southern end of the Metacomet Ridge, its geology is characterized by land of a level grade along the shores of Connecticut River Valley, with loamy, finer-grained soil than other regions in the state. Greater Hartford, had a total population of 1,213,531 at the 2020 United States census.
Asnuntuck Community College (ACC) is a public community college in Enfield, Connecticut. It offers associate degree and certificate programs as well as healthcare certificate programs and business and industry programming.
The Scantic River is a river that flows through the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut. It is a tributary to the Connecticut River.
Enfield station is a planned CTrail Hartford Line station in Enfield, Connecticut. As of September 2023, construction is expected to begin in 2025. A previous station at the site was open from 1844 to 1986.
Route 190 is a state route in the northern part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It starts at Route 75 in the town of Suffield and proceeds eastward across the Connecticut River through the towns of Enfield, Somers, and Stafford. It ends at Route 171, in the town of Union. Route 190 was established in 1932 as a route between the state line at Southwick and the town of Enfield. The route was later extended eastward to Union but was truncated in the west to Suffield center.
Route 191 is a state highway in northern Connecticut, running from East Windsor to Enfield.
Route 192 is a 5.71-mile-long (9.19 km) state route in the U.S. states of Connecticut and Massachusetts, serving the southeastern suburbs of Springfield. It connects the Hazardville section of the town of Enfield, Connecticut, to the town center of Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts portion of the route is maintained by the town, as opposed to MassDOT.
Route 220 is a 7.95-mile-long (12.79 km) state route in northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts, serving the southeastern suburbs of Springfield. The route runs in an "L" pattern and connects the town of Enfield, Connecticut, to the town of East Longmeadow. The route serves the Thompsonville and North Thompsonville sections of Enfield, connecting them to East Longmeadow center. In Connecticut, Route 220 is signed east-west. In Massachusetts, Route 220 is a town-maintained road and it is signed north-south.
The Hazardville Historic District is a historic district in the Hazardville section of Enfield, Connecticut, United States, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Enfield Public Schools is a school district located in Hartford County, in Enfield, Connecticut. The district's boundaries are coterminous with those of the town. Approximately 5,000 students, grades Pre K–12, attend the Enfield Public Schools. The town's schools are organized into three Pre-K through 2nd grade primary schools coupled through a sister-school concept with three 3rd through 5th grade intermediate schools, one sixth grade through eighth grade middle school, and one ninth grade through twelfth grade high school.
Scantic River State Park is a public recreation area consisting of several separated parcels totaling 784 acres (317 ha) along the Scantic River in the towns of Enfield, East Windsor, and Somers, Connecticut. The state park is suitable for hiking, fishing, and hunting and is managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
Augustus George Hazard, known as Colonel Augustus Hazard, was an American gunpowder manufacturer and Hazardville, Connecticut's namesake.
The Bigelow-Hartford Carpet Mills were once one of the largest manufacturers of carpeting in the United States. The company's early 20th-century factories, located in Thompsonville, Connecticut, were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Used by a succession of carpet makers until the 1960s, the company complex has for the most part been converted to residential use.
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