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Salisbury, Connecticut

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Salisbury, Connecticut
Town
Location in Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
CountryUnited States
StateConnecticut
NECTANone
RegionNorthwestern Connecticut
Incorporated1741
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanCurtis G. Rand
Area
 • Total
60.1 sq mi (155.7 km2)
 • Land57.3 sq mi (148.5 km2)
 • Water2.8 sq mi (7.1 km2)
Elevation
699 ft (213 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total
3,977
 • Density71/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06039, 06068
Area code860
FIPS code09-66420
GNIS feature ID0213500
Websitehttp://www.salisburyct.us/

Salisbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The MA-NY-CT (Massachusetts-New York-Connecticut) Tri-State Marker is located just on the border of Salisbury. The population was 3,977 at the 2000 census.

History

Salisbury was incorporated in 1741, and contains several historic homes, though some were replaced by larger modern structures in the late 20th Century. Historian Ed Kirby tells us that traces of iron were discovered in what was to become Salisbury in 1728, with the discovery of the large deposit at Old Hill (later Ore Hill) in 1731 by John Pell and Ezekiel Ashley. Beginning before the Revolution, during the Federal period, and until around 1920 Salisbury was the seat of an important iron industry. (See: Ed Kirby, Echoes of Iron in Connecticut's Northwest Corner, Sharon Historical Society, 1998 p. 6). Additional iron mines were opened, mostly in the Western end of the township, although historian Diana Muir dismisses them as "scarcely big enough to notice," with the further disadvantage of not being near a river large enough to ship iron to market at a reasonable cost. The solution, according to Muir, was to pour labor into the iron, working it into a quality of wrought iron so high that it could be used even for gun barrels. This fetched a high price and made Salisbury iron the celebrated choice of Connecticut's early nineteenth century arms industry (See: Diana Muir, Reflections in Bullough's Pond, Economy and Ecosystem in New England, University of New England Press, 2002, p. 126.) as well as the preeminent source of cast iron railroad car wheels until they were superseded by steel wheels. The iron industry in Salisbury became inactive following World War I, although a plan to revive it during World War II was never implemented, and the mines remain under water.[1].

Salisbury is home to the Oldest Methodist Church in New England, The Lakeville Methodist Church, which was constructed in 1789[2]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 60.1 square miles (155.6 km²), of which, 57.3 square miles (148.5 km²) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.1 km²) of it (4.59%) is water. Although the peak of Mount Frissell lies in Massachusetts at an elevation of 2,453 ft, the south slope of the mountain (2,380 ft) in Mount Riga State Park in Salisbury, is the highest point in Connecticut.

Principal communities

The town of Salisbury contains the communities of Salisbury, Lakeville, Lime Rock, Amesville, Joyceville, Ore Hill, Taconic, and Twin Lakes.

There are three boarding schools in the town, Salisbury School and Hotchkiss School, both high schools, and Indian Mountain School, pre-K through grade 9.

Demographics

File:NY-MA-CT Tripoint Marker.JPG
The NY-MA-CT Tri-State marker located in Salisbury.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 3,977 people, 1,737 households, and 1,042 families residing in the town. The population density was 69.4 people per square mile (26.8/km²). There were 2,410 housing units at an average density of 42.0/sq mi (16.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.75% White, 1.66% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.96% Asian, 0.45% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.

There were 1,737 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $53,051, and the median income for a family was $69,152. Males had a median income of $43,807 versus $29,861 for females. The per capita income for the town was $38,752. About 4.9% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Route 44 is the main east-west highway in the town, while Route 41 is the main north-south highway.

Notable people, past and present

Maple Shade Inn (1908 postcard)

Template:Connecticut portal


References

  1. ^ Hartford Courant Jan 25, 1942
  2. ^ http://salisbury-lakevillect.com/salisbury_lakeville_directory_schoolschurches.htm#churches accessed March 18, 2010
  3. ^ History of the Institute of General Semantics
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