Middlesex County, Connecticut

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Middlesex County
County
Middletown, CT - Raymond E Baldwin Courthouse 01.jpg
Raymond E Baldwin Courthouse
Map of Connecticut highlighting Middlesex County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Connecticut
Connecticut in United States.svg
Connecticut's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°26′N72°31′W / 41.44°N 72.52°W / 41.44; -72.52
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Connecticut.svg  Connecticut
FoundedMay, 1785
Named for Middlesex, England
Seat none (since 1960)
Middletown (before 1960)
Largest city Middletown
Area
 • Total439 sq mi (1,140 km2)
 • Land369 sq mi (960 km2)
 • Water70 sq mi (200 km2)  15.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total164,245 Decrease2.svg
 • Density370/sq mi (140/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 1st, 2nd, 3rd
Middlesex County, Connecticut
Interactive map of Middlesex County, Connecticut

Middlesex County is a county in the south central part of the U.S. state of Connecticut. As of the 2020 census, the population was 164,245. [1] The county was created in May 1785 from portions of Hartford County and New London County.

Contents

Middlesex County is included in the Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown metropolitan statistical area known as Greater Hartford.

As with all eight of Connecticut's counties, there is now no county government and no county seat. In Connecticut, towns are responsible for all local government activities, including local police, fire and rescue, snow removal, and schools. In a few cases, neighboring towns will share certain resources, e.g. water, gas, etc. On June 6, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau formally recognized Connecticut's nine councils of governments as county equivalents instead of the state's eight counties. Connecticut's county governments were disbanded in 1960, and the councils of governments took over some of the local governmental functions. Connecticut's eight historical counties continue to exist in name only, and are no longer considered for statistical purposes. [2]

Government

Middletown was the county seat of Middlesex County from its creation in 1785 until the elimination of county government in 1960. There is no government in Middlesex County other than the Middlesex County Judicial District. All county functions other than courts and county sheriff's departments were discontinued in 1960, and again in 2000 when the county sheriff's departments were reorganized as the Connecticut Judicial Marshal, due to political corruption in the county sheriff's departments. Joseph E. Bibisi was the last person to serve as high sheriff of Middlesex County.

Geography

The county has a total area of 439 square miles (1,140 km2), of which 369 square miles (960 km2) is land and 70 square miles (180 km2) (15.9%) is water. [3] It is the smallest county in Connecticut by land area and second-smallest by total area.

The terrain trends from mostly level along the Connecticut River and Atlantic coast to gently rolling uplands away from them. The highest elevation is close to a triangulation station in Meshomasic State Forest, at 916 feet (279 m) above sea level; the lowest point is sea level.

Middlesex County is also the home of Wadsworth Falls.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 18,828—
1800 19,8745.6%
1810 20,7234.3%
1820 22,4058.1%
1830 24,84410.9%
1840 24,8790.1%
1850 27,2169.4%
1860 30,85913.4%
1870 36,09917.0%
1880 35,589−1.4%
1890 39,52411.1%
1900 41,7605.7%
1910 45,6379.3%
1920 47,5504.2%
1930 51,3888.1%
1940 55,9999.0%
1950 67,33220.2%
1960 88,86532.0%
1970 114,81629.2%
1980 129,01712.4%
1990 143,19611.0%
2000 155,0718.3%
2010 165,6766.8%
2020 164,245−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census [4]
1790–1960 [5] 1900–1990 [6]
1990–2000 [7] 2010–2018 [8]

2000 census

As of the census [9] of 2000, there were 155,071 people, 61,341 households, and 40,607 families living in the county. The population density was 420 inhabitants per square mile (160/km2). There were 67,285 housing units at an average density of 182 per square mile (70/km2). According to the Census of 2010, the racial makeup of the county was 89.22% White, 4.64% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 2.56% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.30% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 4.73% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.4% were of Italian, 14.3% Irish, 11.1% English, 8.9% Polish and 8.2% German ancestry. 91.1% spoke English, 2.6% Spanish, 1.9% Italian, 1.2% French and 1.0% Polish as their first language.

There were 61,341 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.20% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $59,175, and the median income for a family was $71,319. Males had a median income of $48,341 versus $35,607 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,251. About 2.30% of families and 4.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.00% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 165,676 people, 67,202 households, and 43,743 families living in the county. [10] The population density was 448.6 inhabitants per square mile (173.2/km2). There were 74,837 housing units at an average density of 202.6 per square mile (78.2/km2). [11] The racial makeup of the county was 89.2% white, 4.7% black or African American, 2.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.3% from other races, and 2.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.7% of the population. [10] In terms of ancestry, 24.6% were Italian, 21.2% were Irish, 14.0% were English, 13.5% were German, 11.1% were Polish, and 3.4% were American. [12]

Of the 67,202 households, 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.9% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 43.1 years. [10]

The median income for a household in the county was $74,906 and the median income for a family was $91,589. Males had a median income of $62,031 versus $50,031 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,519. About 3.0% of families and 6.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over. [13]

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

Data is from the 2010 United States Census and the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. [14] [15]

RankTownPer capita
income		Median
household
income		Median
family
income		PopulationNumber of
households
1 Fenwick Borough$110,127$114,375$250,000+4326
2 Essex Town$57,365$87,480$105,9826,6832,916
3 Killingworth Town$45,404$99,500$108,2326,5252,474
4 Old Saybrook Town$43,400$79,985$99,59510,2424,247
5 Cromwell Town$41,926$82,012$99,36214,0055,752
6 Chester Town$40,783$80,185$89,7603,9941,714
7 Durham Town$39,579$105,417$110,5837,3882,610
8 Portland Town$39,100$86,661$96,0169,5083,822
9 Westbrook Town$38,158$61,069$72,9696,9382,948
10 Haddam Town$37,324$86,179$100,3438,3463,218
11 East Haddam Town$37,156$82,695$86,0239,1263,593
12 Clinton Town$37,117$74,174$82,83913,2605,303
13 Middlefield Town$36,747$80,392$94,4324,4251,742
14 Deep River Town$35,564$65,250$81,6414,6291,940
15 East Hampton Town$34,555$88,281$95,85412,9595,060
16 Middletown City$31,348$57,655$78,00647,64819,863

Race

Data is from the 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, "Race alone or in combination with one or more other races." [16]

RankTownPopulationWhiteBlackAsianAmerican
Indian		OtherHispanic
1 Middletown City47,51079.2%15.7%4.9%0.6%3.2%8.1%
2 Cromwell Town13,95193.2%3.9%3.3%0.3%0.5%4.2%
3 Clinton Town13,29195.8%0.5%2.1%0.2%1.8%3.5%
4 East Hampton Town12,92695.4%1.6%1.7%0.3%1.9%3.8%
5 Old Saybrook Town10,30797.8%0.7%1.8%0.6%0.0%0.4%
6 Portland Town9,47096.2%2.2%1.0%0.2%1.9%4.4%
7 East Haddam Town9,06999.3%1.2%0.0%0.2%0.7%0.9%
8 Haddam Town8,26798.5%1.5%0.5%1.5%0.2%2.6%
9 Durham Town7,34294.7%0.5%3.1%0.2%3.2%5.3%
10 Westbrook Town6,89195.4%0.5%4.0%1.2%0.0%4.5%
11 Essex Town6,69798.8%0.6%1.4%0.1%0.1%0.6%
12 Killingworth Town6,49996.7%0.0%7.5%1.4%0.7%3.0%
13 Deep River Town4,65288.7%2.0%0.3%0.8%7.5%8.6%
14 Middlefield Town4,41894.3%1.7%4.2%0.0%0.7%1.5%
15 Chester Town3,98498.3%0.4%1.7%0.7%0.0%2.6%
16 Fenwick Borough51100.0%5.9%0.0%0.0%0.0%0.0%

Communities

Map of Middlesex County, Connecticut showing cities, boroughs, towns, and CDPs Map of Middlesex County Connecticut With Municipal Labels.PNG
Map of Middlesex County, Connecticut showing cities, boroughs, towns, and CDPs

City

Towns

Villages are named localities within towns, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

Politics

Middlesex County is a statewide bellwhether. Since 1948, the winning statewide candidate has also carried Middlesex County, the longest active streak in the state.

United States presidential election results for Middlesex County, Connecticut [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 40,66540.99%56,84857.30%1,6901.70%
2016 38,86743.86%45,35751.18%4,4004.96%
2012 34,59141.41%47,85557.29%1,0921.31%
2008 32,91837.73%52,98460.72%1,3511.55%
2004 35,25241.97%47,29256.31%1,4401.71%
2000 29,29537.83%43,31955.94%4,8196.22%
1996 22,96031.98%37,69552.51%11,13115.51%
1992 24,64630.42%34,70742.83%21,67426.75%
1988 34,68250.01%33,94648.95%7161.03%
1984 39,58059.32%26,91540.34%2270.34%
1980 28,98945.53%24,76838.90%9,91515.57%
1976 31,11551.39%29,09748.05%3380.56%
1972 33,24957.90%23,57341.05%6021.05%
1968 21,99945.34%23,72748.90%2,7985.77%
1964 14,69732.45%30,51767.39%710.16%
1960 22,04549.87%22,15850.13%10.00%
1956 25,49664.80%13,85135.20%00.00%
1952 22,15758.38%15,72241.43%730.19%
1948 16,11951.56%14,60946.73%5371.72%
1944 14,31551.05%13,55148.32%1760.63%
1940 13,44750.69%13,04449.17%390.15%
1936 10,92546.34%12,29452.14%3591.52%
1932 10,77052.79%9,28645.52%3441.69%
1928 11,20559.92%7,38039.47%1150.61%
1924 9,38365.22%4,00927.87%9946.91%
1920 8,44765.24%4,17032.21%3312.56%
1916 4,52453.42%3,76544.46%1792.11%
1912 2,89235.43%3,39341.57%1,87823.01%
1908 5,07161.92%2,93535.84%1832.23%
1904 4,99160.00%3,16738.07%1601.92%
1900 5,00060.81%3,10237.72%1211.47%
1896 22,39662.21%12,46334.62%1,1393.16%
1892 15,77745.92%18,00652.41%5721.66%
1888 14,93448.41%15,25149.44%6632.15%
1884 12,29347.41%12,96650.01%6692.58%

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chester, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haddam, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Higganum, Connecticut</span> Census-designated place in Connecticut, United States

Higganum is a village and census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Haddam, a part of Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,089 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killingworth, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Saybrook Center, Connecticut</span> Census-designated place in Connecticut, United States of America

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Saybrook Manor is a community and census-designated place (CDP) in Old Saybrook, a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,127 at the 2020 census. The Saybrook Manor section is generally the area south of U.S. Route 1 between the Westbrook town line and the Oyster River.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Durham, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clinton, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

Clinton is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The population of the town was 13,185 at the 2020 census. The town center along the shore line was listed as a census-designated place (CDP) by the U.S. Census Bureau in the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Hampton, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

East Hampton is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The population was 12,717 at the 2020 census. The town center village is listed as a census-designated place (CDP). East Hampton includes the communities of Cobalt, Middle Haddam, and Lake Pocotopaug.

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Middlesex County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  2. ↑ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/06/06/2022-12063/change-to-county-equivalents-in-the-state-of-connecticut Federal Register: Change to County-Equivalents in the State of Connecticut
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  8. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved June 11, 2014.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  12. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  14. ↑ "SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2012.
  16. ↑ "ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2013.
  17. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved May 26, 2017.

41°26′N72°31′W / 41.44°N 72.52°W / 41.44; -72.52

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