Stafford Springs, Connecticut

Last updated

Stafford Springs
Stafford Springs station postcard.jpg
The Holt Memorial Fountain circa. 1910
Tolland County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Stafford Springs Highlighted 2010.svg
Location in Tolland County and the state of Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°57′12″N72°18′11″W / 41.9534°N 72.3030°W / 41.9534; -72.3030
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
StateFlag of Connecticut.svg  Connecticut
County Tolland
Region Capitol Region
Town Stafford
Area
  Total
6.41 sq mi (16.6 km2)
  Land6.37 sq mi (16.5 km2)
  Water0.036 sq mi (0.093 km2)
Elevation
607 ft (185 m)
Population
 (2020)
  Total
11,000
  Density1,700/sq mi (660/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
06076
Area code860
FIPS code09-72300
GNIS feature ID2377866 [1]
Website staffordct.org

Stafford Springs is a census-designated place located in Stafford, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,780 at the 2020 Census. [2] The village was a borough until November 1991, when it was disincorporated. [3]

Contents

Located near the source of the Willimantic River, [4] the mill industry grew in the town due to its location and became the largest industry in the area. [5] The village has the Holt Memorial Fountain and the former railroad station. [6] A portion of the village center was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2025. [7]

In the 18th century, the spring at Stafford Springs was famous for its reputed ability to cure "the gout, sterility, pulmonary, hysterics, etc." [8] In 1771, John Adams, then a young lawyer, visited Stafford Springs for several days after suffering from overwork and anxiety. [8]

Stafford Springs was once the headquarters of Station C of the Connecticut State Police, and subsequently was the site of the Troop C Barracks. [9]

Currently Route 32, Route 190, Route 19, and Route 140 pass through or originate in the village. [10]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 6.41 mi2 (16.6 km2), of which 6.37 mi2 (16.5 km2) is land and 0.036 mi2 (0.093 km2) (0.56%) is water. [11]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1880 2,081
1890 2,35313.1%
1900 2,64012.2%
1910 3,05915.9%
1920 3,38310.6%
1930 3,4923.2%
1940 3,401−2.6%
1950 3,396−0.1%
1960 3,322−2.2%
1970 3,3390.5%
1980 3,3921.6%
1990 4,10020.9%
2010 4,988
2020 4,780−4.2%

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Stafford Springs
  2. "Stafford Springs CDP, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  3. 1992 Census of Wholesale Trade: Geographic Area Series, Connecticut. U.S. Census Bureau. 1994. p. Appendix F: Geographic Notes.
  4. "Stafford". connecticuthistory.org. Connecticut Humanities. October 28, 2011. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  5. "About Stafford, Connecticut: History". Town of Stafford. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  6. "Holt Memorial Fountain, Stafford Springs". CTMonuments.net. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
  7. "WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 4/11/2025 THROUGH 4/18/2025". National Park Service. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  8. 1 2 Frank Chapelle, Wellsprings: A Natural History of Bottled Spring Waters (Rutgers University Press, 2005), pp. 107-08.
  9. Jerry Longo, Images of America: Connecticut State Police (Arcadia Publishing: 2003), p. 2.
  10. "Highway Log Connecticut State Numbered Routes and Roads" (PDF). ct.gov/dot. Connecticut Department of Transportation. December 31, 2014. Retrieved November 27, 2016.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2019". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 7, 2020.