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Coordinates: 41°29′23″N 73°03′05″W / 41.48972°N 73.05139°W / 41.48972; -73.05139
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{{short description|Consolidated borough and town in Connecticut, US}}
{{short description|Consolidated borough and town in Connecticut, US}}
{{redirect|Naugatuck|the community in West Virginia|Naugatuck, West Virginia|other uses|}}
{{redirect|Naugatuck|the community in West Virginia|Naugatuck, West Virginia|other uses|}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Naugatuck, Connecticut
| name = Naugatuck, Connecticut
| settlement_type = [[Borough (Connecticut)|Borough]]
| settlement_type = [[Borough (Connecticut)|Borough]]
| image_skyline =
| image_skyline = Naugatuck Green, Connecticut.jpg
| image_caption =
| image_caption = Naugatuck Green
| image_seal = NaugatuckCtTownSeal.png
| image_seal = NaugatuckCtTownSeal.png
| nickname = "Naugy"
| nickname = "Naugy"
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:New Haven County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Naugatuck Highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Naugatuck's location within New Haven County and Connecticut]]| [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Naugatuck Valley incorporated and unincorporated areas Naugatuck highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Naugatuck's location within the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
| image_map = Naugatuck CT lg.PNG
| image_map1 = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q753957}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|29|23|N|73|03|05|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q753957;Q779;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1|switch=Naugatuck;Connecticut;the United States}}
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Location in [[New Haven County, Connecticut]]
| coordinates = {{coord|41|29|23|N|73|03|05|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|29|23|N|73|03|05|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[United States]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Connecticut]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_type2 = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven]]
| subdivision_type3 = Metropolitan area
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Greater New Haven|New Haven]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1844
| established_date = 1844
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| government_type = [[Mayor-council|Mayor-burgesses]]
| government_type = [[Mayor-council|Mayor-burgesses]]
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 = [[N. Warren "Pete" Hess]]
| leader_name1 = N. Warren "Pete" Hess
| unit_pref = Imperial
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 42.46
| area_total_km2 = 42.46
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| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_density_km2 = 746.7
| population_density_km2 = 746.7
| timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| timezone = Eastern
| utc_offset = -5
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| timezone_DST = Eastern
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code = 06770
| postal_code = 06770
| area_codes = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203, 475]]
| area_codes = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203/475]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-49880
| blank_info = 09-49880
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| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_09.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 2, 2020}}</ref>
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_09.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 2, 2020}}</ref>
}}
}}
'''Naugatuck''' is a consolidated [[borough (Connecticut)|borough]] and [[New England town|town]] in [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]], [[Connecticut]], [[United States]]. The town spans both sides of the [[Naugatuck River]] just south of [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, which has its own post office, Straitsville on the southeast (along [[Connecticut Route 63|Route 63]]), and Millville on the west (along Rubber Avenue). As of the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]], Naugatuck had a population of 31,519.<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0949880| title=Census - Geography Profile: Naugatuck borough, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 18, 2021}}</ref>


'''Naugatuck''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|n|ɔː|g|ə|t|ʌ|k}} {{respell|NAW|gə|tuhk}}) is a consolidated [[borough (Connecticut)|borough]] and town in [[New Haven County, Connecticut]], United States. The town, part of the [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley Planning Region]], had a population of 31,519 as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census.]]<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |title=Census - Geography Profile: Naugatuck borough, Connecticut |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0949880 |access-date=December 18, 2021 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
== History ==


The town spans both sides of the [[Naugatuck River]] just south of [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]] and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, Straitsville on the southeast (along [[Connecticut Route 63|Route 63]]), and Millville on the west (along Rubber Avenue).
Naugatuck was settled in 1701 as a farming community in rural western Connecticut. As the [[Industrial Revolution]] commenced, Naugatuck was transformed into a hardscrabble mill town like its neighbors in the [[Naugatuck River Valley|Naugatuck Valley]].


== History ==
[[File:Goodyear-1-.jpg|thumbnail|left|Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company & Downtown Naugatuck ({{circa|1890}})]]
The town of Naugatuck was occupied by settlers as early as 1702. Samuel Hickox (1669–1713) is credited with being Naugatuck's first settler. He established a fulling mill on Fulling Mill Brook in Naugatuck in 1709. The locality was called Judds Meadow until 1752, when it was renamed Salem Bridge.
[[Rubber]] was the chief manufactured product. [[Charles Goodyear]] worked at his brother's rubber company, the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company & Downtown Naugatuck, until the company was consolidated into the [[United States Rubber Company]]. The United States Rubber Company (renamed Uniroyal Inc. in 1961) was founded in Naugatuck in 1892 as a consolidation of nine rubber companies, and maintained their corporate headquarters there until the 1980s. Their Footwear Division manufactured [[Keds (shoes)|Keds]] [[sneakers (footwear)|sneakers]] in Naugatuck from 1917 until the 1980s. U.S. Rubber also produced [[Naugahyde]] in a Naugatuck factory, but it is no longer produced there.


In 1844, parts of Waterbury, Bethany, and Oxford incorporated to form the town of Naugatuck.
Due to an increase in the price of [[sulfuric acid]], which was needed for the process then used for reclaiming old rubber, the United States Rubber Co. formed the Naugatuck Chemical Company on June 1, 1904, and the company soon was in the forefront of the chemical industry in the United States. Naugatuck Chemical remained a subsidiary of the U.S. Rubber Co. until, under Uniroyal, it gained independence as Uniroyal Chemical Co. They moved their operations to [[Middlebury, Connecticut|Middlebury]], [[Connecticut]], in the 1970s.


The industrial borough of Naugatuck established in 1893 and became coextensive with the town in 1895.
The Risdon Manufacturing Company, established in Naugatuck around 1910, began by producing safety pins. Local housewives and children were often hired to attach the pins to cardboard for easy sale. Risdon became the manufacturer of total packaging for cosmetics, personal, household and other consumer products and home sewing notions such as common pins, needles, snaps and other accessories. It is now the Crown Risdon Co., headquartered in [[Watertown, Connecticut|Watertown]], [[Connecticut]].


As the [[Industrial Revolution]] commenced, Naugatuck was transformed into a mill town like its neighbors in the [[Naugatuck River Valley]].{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
In the 1960s, Harold Barber founded [[H. Barber and Sons]] in the community. The company builds beach rakes for picking up debris and grooming beaches and claims to be the largest such business in the world.<ref>[http://www.hbarber.com/AboutUs/History.aspx Barber Company History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603033134/http://www.hbarber.com/AboutUs/History.aspx |date=June 3, 2008 }}</ref>
{{Multiple image
| header = Naugatuck
| align = left
| direction =
| total_width = 250
| perrow = 1/1
| image1= Goodyear-1-.jpg
| caption1 = Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company in Downtown Naugatuck ({{circa|1890}})
| image2= Whittemore Library, Naugatuck, Connecticut.jpg
| caption2 = Whittemore Library, designed by [[McKim, Mead & White]]
}}
Rubber was the chief manufactured product. [[Charles Goodyear]] worked at his brother's rubber company, the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company & Downtown Naugatuck, until the company was consolidated into the [[United States Rubber Company]]. The United States Rubber Company (renamed Uniroyal Inc. in 1961) was founded in Naugatuck in 1892 as a consolidation of nine rubber companies, and maintained their corporate headquarters there until the 1980s. Their footwear division manufactured [[Keds (shoes)|Keds]] sneakers in Naugatuck from 1917 until the 1980s. U.S. Rubber also produced [[Naugahyde]] in a Naugatuck factory, but it is no longer produced there.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}


The United States Rubber Co. formed the Naugatuck Chemical Company on June 1, 1904, due to an increase in the price of [[sulfuric acid]], which was needed for the process then used for reclaiming old rubber. The company was soon in the forefront of the chemical industry in the United States. Naugatuck Chemical remained a subsidiary of the U.S. Rubber Co. until it gained independence as Uniroyal Chemical Co. They moved their operations to [[Middlebury, Connecticut]] in the 1970s.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Naugatuck was the home to [[Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company|Peter Paul]], the [[Hershey Foods Corporation|Hershey Foods]] division that produces [[Almond Joy]] and [[Mounds (candy)|Mounds]] candy bars, until the Hershey Co. closed the Peter Paul factory in November 2007.


The Risdon Manufacturing Company was established in Naugatuck around 1910 producing safety pins. Risdon became the manufacturer of packaging for cosmetics and sewing items such as pins, needles, snaps, and other accessories. It is now the Crown Risdon Co., headquartered in [[Watertown, Connecticut]].{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
The normally peaceful Naugatuck River that flows through Naugatuck [[Flood of 1955 (Connecticut)|overflowed its banks]] on August 19, 1955.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naugct.com/Flood.htm |title=1955 Flood |access-date=2011-02-02}}</ref> Fed by over {{convert|10|in}} of rain from [[Hurricane Diane]], the river cut a path of destruction that forever changed the face of Naugatuck.


In the 1960s, Harold Barber founded [[H. Barber and Sons]] in the community. The company builds beach rakes for picking up debris and grooming beaches and claims to be the largest such business in the world.<ref>[http://www.hbarber.com/AboutUs/History.aspx Barber Company History] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603033134/http://www.hbarber.com/AboutUs/History.aspx |date=June 3, 2008 }}</ref>
[[File:Naugatuck town history sign 1.jpg|thumb|right|Town history sign found on the Naugatuck Green]]
As American manufacturing declined in the late 20th century, the mills closed and the town fell on largely hard times. With the expansion of suburbs, especially in [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] and [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield County]], the town is now largely a bedroom community for the middle class. With this, many of Naugatuck's neighbors are fairly wealthy. Middlebury and [[Oxford, Connecticut|Oxford]] are affluent towns that have higher performing school districts, but the price to live in these suburbs is high. Currently, many new more expensive homes are being built as people from Fairfield County and other areas are looking for more affordable housing and convenient access to major highways.


Naugatuck was the home to [[Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company]], the [[Hershey Foods Corporation|Hershey Foods]] division that produces [[Almond Joy]] and [[Mounds (candy)|Mounds]] candy bars, until the Hershey Co. closed it in November 2007.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
[[File:NaugatuckHighSchool.jpg|thumb|left|Naugatuck High School ({{circa|1910}}). A McKim, Mead, and White design, the building is now Hillside Intermediate School, following erection of a new high school on Rubber Avenue in the late 1950s.]]
The local high school, [[Naugatuck High School]], has a [[List of High School Football Rivalries|storied football rivalry]] with the high school in [[Ansonia, Connecticut|Ansonia]] that is one of the longest in America. Like the other rival high schools in the [[Naugatuck River Valley|Naugatuck Valley]], the two teams meet the morning of Thanksgiving Day. The first meeting was in 1900. Ansonia is the long-term winner in the series. Naugatuck High School's mascot is the [[greyhound]], and its colors are [[garnet]] and [[grey]].


The normally peaceful Naugatuck River that flows through Naugatuck [[Flood of 1955 (Connecticut)|overflowed its banks]] on August 19, 1955,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.naugct.com/Flood.htm |title=1955 Flood |access-date=February 2, 2011}}</ref> fed by over {{convert|10|in}} of rain from [[Hurricane Diane]]. The river cut a path of destruction that forever changed the face of Naugatuck.
The town of Naugatuck is affectionately referred to as "Naugy" by its residents. The town common features 11 commissions by the renowned New York architecture firm of [[McKim, Mead & White]].


[[Naugatuck High School]] has a [[List of high school football rivalries more than 100 years old|storied football rivalry]] with the high school in [[Ansonia, Connecticut|Ansonia]] that is one of the longest in America. The two teams meet the morning of Thanksgiving Day, and the first meeting was in 1900. Ansonia is the long-term winner in the series. Naugatuck High School's mascot is the greyhound, and its colors are garnet and grey.
Naugatuck has experienced some economic and budgetary problems since 2009 resulting from the 2008 recession. However, the Borough's credit rating has remained stable.

== Education ==

Naugatuck has a total of 5 public elementary schools (which include grades K–4), 2 public intermediate schools (grades 5–6), 1 public middle school (grades 7–8), and 1 public high school (grades 9–12). The high school has an overall enrollment of 1,267 students and a graduation rate of 82%.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/connecticut/districts/naugatuck-school-district/naugatuck-high-school-4489|title=How Does Naugatuck High School Rank Among America's Best High Schools?|website=www.usnews.com|access-date=2016-10-19}}</ref>

In 2013, an $81 million renovation for the high school took place and was completed by the fall of 2015 that brought the school up to date and back to mint condition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mycitizensnews.com/news/2013/07/nhs-renovations-moving-ahead-full-steam/|title=NHS renovations moving ahead full steam {{!}} Citizen's News|website=www.mycitizensnews.com|access-date=2016-10-19}}</ref>

[[Naugatuck High School]] was ranked 149th best in Connecticut.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://patch.com/connecticut/naugatuck/naugatuck-high-school-ranked-149th-best-connecticut-1|title=Naugatuck High School Ranked 149th Best in Connecticut|newspaper=Naugatuck, CT Patch|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-19}}</ref> This is near the bottom of all public high schools in Connecticut. Although well funded, many years of mismanagement by the elected Board of Education, has led to this poor rating. In recent years, a mostly new Board of Education and a new Superintendent has helped improve the quality of education in the school district.


==Geography==
==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of 16.5&nbsp;square miles (42.6&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), of which 16.4&nbsp;square miles (42.4&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}) is land and 0.1&nbsp;square miles (0.2&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), or 0.36%, is water.
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the borough has a total area of 16.5&nbsp;square miles (42.6&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), of which 16.4&nbsp;square miles (42.4&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}) is land and 0.1&nbsp;square miles (0.2&nbsp;km{{sup|2}}), or 0.36%, is water.

== Government ==
Naugatuck is unique in [[Connecticut]] government for being the only consolidated town and borough. Every other borough in Connecticut is a special services district located within another [[New England town|town]], the unit of Connecticut local government. Naugatuck has both a town clerk and a borough clerk managing official records, the same as Connecticut cities having two clerks: a town clerk and a city clerk.

As with most other Connecticut towns and cities, Naugatuck elect its officials in November of odd-numbered years.

==Transportation==
[[File:Naugatuck Station.jpg|thumb|[[Naugatuck station|Naugatuck Metro-North Railroad station]], located on the [[Waterbury Branch]] line]]
The town has a [[Metro-North Railroad]] station ([[Naugatuck (Metro-North station)|Naugatuck]]) along the [[Waterbury Branch]] of the [[New Haven Line]]. The principal highways through the town are [[Connecticut Route 63]] (connecting to [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]]), [[Connecticut Route 68|Route 68]] (leading to [[Durham, Connecticut|Durham]]), and the [[Connecticut Route 8|Route 8]] expressway (for [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], [[Derby, Connecticut|Derby]], [[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]], and [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]]).


==Demographics==
==Demographics==

{{US Census population
{{US Census population
|1850= 1720
|1850= 1720
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|2010= 31862
|2010= 31862
|2020= 31519
|2020= 31519
| estyear = 2023
| estimate = 31820
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 30,989 people, 11,829 households, and 8,292 families residing in the borough. The [[population density]] was 1,890.9 people per square mile (730.0/km{{sup|2}}). There were 12,341 housing units at an average density of 753.0 per square mile (290.7/km{{sup|2}}). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.76% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.85% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.26% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.68% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.58% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.85% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.47% of the population.
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 30,989 people, 11,829 households, and 8,292 families residing in the borough. The population density was {{convert|1,890.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 12,341 housing units at an average density of {{convert|753.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the borough was 91.76% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.85% [[African American (U.S. Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.26% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.68% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.58% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.85% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.47% of the population.


Of the 11,829 households, 36.3% of them had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13.
Of the 11,829 households, 36.3% of them had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13.
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{| class=wikitable
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 5, 2016<ref>{{cite web | title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of November 1, 2016 | publisher = Connecticut Secretary of State | format = PDF | access-date = 2019-05-28 | url = https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/Copy-of-Nov18RE.pdf?la=en | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170205183747/http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/registration_and_enrollment_stats/nov16r%26e.pdf | archive-date = February 5, 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 5, 2016<ref>{{cite web | title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of November 1, 2016 | publisher = Connecticut Secretary of State | format = PDF | access-date = May 28, 2019 | url = https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/Copy-of-Nov18RE.pdf?la=en | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170205183747/http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/lib/sots/electionservices/registration_and_enrollment_stats/nov16r%26e.pdf | archive-date = February 5, 2017 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
|-
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! colspan = 2 | Party
Line 183: Line 177:
|}
|}


== Government ==
==On the National Register of Historic Places==
Naugatuck is unique in [[Connecticut]] government for being the only consolidated town and borough. Every other borough in Connecticut is a special services district located within another [[New England town|town]], the unit of Connecticut local government. Naugatuck has both a town clerk and a borough clerk managing official records, the same as Connecticut cities having two clerks: a town clerk and a city clerk.
[[File:PostcardSalemSchoolNaugatuckCT1915.jpg|thumb|Salem School, from a 1905 postcard]]

As with most other Connecticut towns and cities, Naugatuck elect its officials in November of odd-numbered years.

== Education ==
Naugatuck has a total of five public elementary schools (which include grades K–4), two public intermediate schools (grades 5–6), one public middle school (grades 7–8), and [[Naugatuck High School]] (grades 9–12). The high school has an overall enrollment of 1,267 students.

In 2013, an $81 million renovation for the high school took place and was completed by the fall of 2015 that brought the school up to date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mycitizensnews.com/news/2013/07/nhs-renovations-moving-ahead-full-steam/|title=NHS renovations moving ahead full steam {{!}} Citizen's News|website=www.mycitizensnews.com|date=July 23, 2013 |access-date=October 19, 2016}}</ref>

==Transportation==
The town has a [[Metro-North Railroad]] station ([[Naugatuck (Metro-North station)|Naugatuck]]) along the [[Waterbury Branch]] of the [[New Haven Line]]. The principal highways through the town are [[Connecticut Route 63]] (connecting to [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]]), [[Connecticut Route 68|Route 68]] (leading to [[Durham, Connecticut|Durham]]), and the [[Connecticut Route 8|Route 8]] expressway (for [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], [[Derby, Connecticut|Derby]], [[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]], and [[Bridgeport, Connecticut|Bridgeport]]).


==National Register of Historic Places==
* [[Bronson B. Tuttle House]]: 380 Church St., now headquarters of the Naugatuck Historical Society
* [[Bronson B. Tuttle House]]: 380 Church St., now headquarters of the Naugatuck Historical Society
* [[Naugatuck Center Historic District]]: Roughly bounded by Fairview Avenue, Hillside Avenue, Terrace Avenue, Water Street and Pleasant View Street (added August 30, 1999)
* [[Naugatuck Center Historic District]]: Roughly bounded by Fairview Avenue, Hillside Avenue, Terrace Avenue, Water Street and Pleasant View Street (added August 30, 1999)
* [[Salem School (Naugatuck, Connecticut)|Salem School]]: 124 Meadow St. (added December 3, 1983). Before construction of the first Naugatuck High School (now Hillside Intermediate School), high-school classes were held on the top floor of this building.
* [[Salem School (Naugatuck, Connecticut)|Salem School]]: 124 Meadow St. (added December 3, 1983). Before construction of the first Naugatuck High School (now Hillside Intermediate School), high-school classes were held on the top floor of this building.
* [[United States Post Office–Naugatuck Main]]: Church and Cedar streets (added February 21, 1986)
* [[United States Post Office–Naugatuck Main]]: Church and Cedar streets (added February 21, 1986)

==Popular culture==

In 2008, an episode of [[Food Paradise]] (Sandwich Paradise) on the [[Travel Channel]] highlighted the Nardelli's Grinder Shoppe and its specialty Italian [[grinder sandwich]]es ("Meat Combo"). The town has also been used as a filming location for works such as [[Engine Trouble (short film)|''Engine Trouble'']], released in 2002, and [[War of the Worlds (2005 film)|''War of the Worlds'']], filmed at the former Uniroyal plant and released in 2005. (The plant was demolished on February 28, 2008.)


==Notable people==
==Notable people==

* [[Adrian (costume designer)|Adrian]], costume designer for Hollywood films such as ''The Wizard of Oz'' and the Broadway musical ''Camelot'', for which he won a posthumous [[Tony Award]]<ref>[http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=24600 IBDB]</ref>
* [[Adrian (costume designer)|Adrian]], costume designer for Hollywood films such as ''The Wizard of Oz'' and the Broadway musical ''Camelot'', for which he won a posthumous [[Tony Award]]<ref>[http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=24600 IBDB]</ref>
* [[Michael Bergin]], former Calvin Klein model and ''Baywatch'' actor; attended Naugatuck High School where he played baseball and basketball
* [[Michael Bergin]], former Calvin Klein model and ''Baywatch'' actor; attended Naugatuck High School where he played baseball and basketball
Line 204: Line 204:
* [[Ray Foley (baseball)|Ray Foley]], baseball player who appeared in two games for the [[1928 New York Giants (MLB) season|1928 New York Giants]]
* [[Ray Foley (baseball)|Ray Foley]], baseball player who appeared in two games for the [[1928 New York Giants (MLB) season|1928 New York Giants]]
* [[Charles Goodyear]], first American to [[Vulcanization|vulcanize]] rubber, lived in Naugatuck as a young man; his brother, Henry Goodyear, founded the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company in Naugatuck that became part of the United States Rubber Company in 1892<ref>C. Slack, ''Noble Obsession'', (Hyperion, 2003)</ref><ref>Federal Writers' Project, ''Connecticut: A Guide to Its Roads, Lore, and People'' (US History Publishers, 1938)</ref>
* [[Charles Goodyear]], first American to [[Vulcanization|vulcanize]] rubber, lived in Naugatuck as a young man; his brother, Henry Goodyear, founded the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company in Naugatuck that became part of the United States Rubber Company in 1892<ref>C. Slack, ''Noble Obsession'', (Hyperion, 2003)</ref><ref>Federal Writers' Project, ''Connecticut: A Guide to Its Roads, Lore, and People'' (US History Publishers, 1938)</ref>
* [[Shirley Grey]], stage and movie actress during the 1920s and 1930s<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0336956/ Shirley Grey IMDB]</ref>
* [[Shirley Grey]], stage and movie actress during the 1920s and 1930s
* [[Robert Harper (computer scientist)|Robert Harper]], computer scientist
* [[Robert Harper (computer scientist)|Robert Harper]], computer scientist
* [[Mohamed Hrezi]], runner who competed in the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|2016 Summer Olympics in the marathon]]
* [[Mohamed Hrezi]], runner who competed in the [[Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|2016 Summer Olympics in the marathon]]
* [[Spec Shea|Frank "Spec" Shea]], professional baseball player who pitched in [[1947 World Series]], nicknamed "The Naugatuck Nugget"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Spec_Shea_1920|title=The Ballplayers - Spec Shea|publisher=Baseball Library|access-date=2008-07-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522154028/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/ballplayers/player.php?name=Spec_Shea_1920|archive-date=2007-05-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Spec Shea|Frank "Spec" Shea]], professional baseball player who pitched in [[1947 World Series]], nicknamed "The Naugatuck Nugget"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://baseballbiography.com/spec-shea-1920|title=Spec Shea|publisher=Baseballbiography.com|access-date=July 30, 2008}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="220px" heights="165px">
Naugatuck town history sign 1.jpg|Town history sign found on the Naugatuck Green
NaugatuckHighSchool.jpg|Naugatuck High School ({{circa|1910}}), a McKim, Mead, and White design. The building is now Hillside Intermediate School, following erection of a new high school on Rubber Avenue in the late 1950s.
PostcardSalemSchoolNaugatuckCT1915.jpg|Salem School, from a 1905 postcard
Naugatuck Station.jpg|[[Naugatuck station|Naugatuck Metro-North Railroad station]], located on the [[Waterbury Branch]] line
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 226: Line 234:
* [http://naugatuckhistory.org Naugatuck Historical Society]
* [http://naugatuckhistory.org Naugatuck Historical Society]
* [http://www.whittemorelibrary.org Howard Whittemore Memorial Library]
* [http://www.whittemorelibrary.org Howard Whittemore Memorial Library]
* [http://naugatuckarts.org Naugatuck Arts Commission]
* [http://southbury.macaronikid.com/ Macaroni Kid]


{{Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New Haven County, Connecticut}}
{{New Haven County, Connecticut}}
{{Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}

{{authority control}}
{{authority control}}


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[[Category:Boroughs in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Boroughs in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Boroughs in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Boroughs in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Connecticut placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Towns in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in New Haven County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Greater Waterbury, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Greater Waterbury, Connecticut]]
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[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut]]

Latest revision as of 16:58, 20 December 2024

Naugatuck, Connecticut
Naugatuck Green
Naugatuck Green
Official seal of Naugatuck, Connecticut
Nickname: 
"Naugy"
Naugatuck's location within New Haven County and Connecticut
Map
Map
Map
Coordinates: 41°29′23″N 73°03′05″W / 41.48972°N 73.05139°W / 41.48972; -73.05139
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyNew Haven
RegionNaugatuck Valley
Incorporated1844
Consolidated1895
Government
 • TypeMayor-burgesses
 • MayorN. Warren "Pete" Hess
Area
 • Total
16.39 sq mi (42.46 km2)
 • Land16.30 sq mi (42.21 km2)
 • Water0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2)
Elevation
207 ft (63 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
31,519
 • Density1,908.58/sq mi (746.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06770
Area codes203/475
FIPS code09-49880
GNIS feature ID0209191
Websitewww.naugatuck-ct.gov

Naugatuck (/ˈnɔːɡətʌk/ NAW-gə-tuhk) is a consolidated borough and town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town, part of the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, had a population of 31,519 as of the 2020 Census.[2]

The town spans both sides of the Naugatuck River just south of Waterbury and includes the communities of Union City on the east side of the river, Straitsville on the southeast (along Route 63), and Millville on the west (along Rubber Avenue).

History

[edit]

The town of Naugatuck was occupied by settlers as early as 1702. Samuel Hickox (1669–1713) is credited with being Naugatuck's first settler. He established a fulling mill on Fulling Mill Brook in Naugatuck in 1709. The locality was called Judds Meadow until 1752, when it was renamed Salem Bridge.

In 1844, parts of Waterbury, Bethany, and Oxford incorporated to form the town of Naugatuck.

The industrial borough of Naugatuck established in 1893 and became coextensive with the town in 1895.

As the Industrial Revolution commenced, Naugatuck was transformed into a mill town like its neighbors in the Naugatuck River Valley.[citation needed]

Naugatuck
Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company in Downtown Naugatuck (c. 1890)
Whittemore Library, designed by McKim, Mead & White

Rubber was the chief manufactured product. Charles Goodyear worked at his brother's rubber company, the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company & Downtown Naugatuck, until the company was consolidated into the United States Rubber Company. The United States Rubber Company (renamed Uniroyal Inc. in 1961) was founded in Naugatuck in 1892 as a consolidation of nine rubber companies, and maintained their corporate headquarters there until the 1980s. Their footwear division manufactured Keds sneakers in Naugatuck from 1917 until the 1980s. U.S. Rubber also produced Naugahyde in a Naugatuck factory, but it is no longer produced there.[citation needed]

The United States Rubber Co. formed the Naugatuck Chemical Company on June 1, 1904, due to an increase in the price of sulfuric acid, which was needed for the process then used for reclaiming old rubber. The company was soon in the forefront of the chemical industry in the United States. Naugatuck Chemical remained a subsidiary of the U.S. Rubber Co. until it gained independence as Uniroyal Chemical Co. They moved their operations to Middlebury, Connecticut in the 1970s.[citation needed]

The Risdon Manufacturing Company was established in Naugatuck around 1910 producing safety pins. Risdon became the manufacturer of packaging for cosmetics and sewing items such as pins, needles, snaps, and other accessories. It is now the Crown Risdon Co., headquartered in Watertown, Connecticut.[citation needed]

In the 1960s, Harold Barber founded H. Barber and Sons in the community. The company builds beach rakes for picking up debris and grooming beaches and claims to be the largest such business in the world.[3]

Naugatuck was the home to Peter Paul Candy Manufacturing Company, the Hershey Foods division that produces Almond Joy and Mounds candy bars, until the Hershey Co. closed it in November 2007.[citation needed]

The normally peaceful Naugatuck River that flows through Naugatuck overflowed its banks on August 19, 1955,[4] fed by over 10 inches (250 mm) of rain from Hurricane Diane. The river cut a path of destruction that forever changed the face of Naugatuck.

Naugatuck High School has a storied football rivalry with the high school in Ansonia that is one of the longest in America. The two teams meet the morning of Thanksgiving Day, and the first meeting was in 1900. Ansonia is the long-term winner in the series. Naugatuck High School's mascot is the greyhound, and its colors are garnet and grey.

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 16.5 square miles (42.6 km2), of which 16.4 square miles (42.4 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2), or 0.36%, is water.

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18501,720
18602,59050.6%
18702,8309.3%
18804,27451.0%
18906,21845.5%
190010,54169.5%
191012,72220.7%
192015,05118.3%
193014,315−4.9%
194015,3887.5%
195017,45513.4%
196019,51111.8%
197023,03418.1%
198026,45614.9%
199030,62515.8%
200030,9891.2%
201031,8622.8%
202031,519−1.1%
2023 (est.)31,8201.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 30,989 people, 11,829 households, and 8,292 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,890.9 inhabitants per square mile (730.1/km2). There were 12,341 housing units at an average density of 753.0 per square mile (290.7/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 91.76% White, 2.85% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.58% from other races, and 1.85% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.47% of the population.

Of the 11,829 households, 36.3% of them had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the borough, the population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 33.1% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.

The median income for a household in the borough was $51,247, and the median income for a family was $59,286. Males had a median income of $42,103 versus $29,971 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $22,757. About 0.9% of families and 1.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 5, 2016[7]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
Democratic 6,068 389 6,457 31.66%
Republican 4,159 200 4,359 21.37%
Unaffiliated 8,551 710 9,261 45.41%
Minor parties 294 23 317 1.55%
Total 19,072 1,322 20,394 100%

Government

[edit]

Naugatuck is unique in Connecticut government for being the only consolidated town and borough. Every other borough in Connecticut is a special services district located within another town, the unit of Connecticut local government. Naugatuck has both a town clerk and a borough clerk managing official records, the same as Connecticut cities having two clerks: a town clerk and a city clerk.

As with most other Connecticut towns and cities, Naugatuck elect its officials in November of odd-numbered years.

Education

[edit]

Naugatuck has a total of five public elementary schools (which include grades K–4), two public intermediate schools (grades 5–6), one public middle school (grades 7–8), and Naugatuck High School (grades 9–12). The high school has an overall enrollment of 1,267 students.

In 2013, an $81 million renovation for the high school took place and was completed by the fall of 2015 that brought the school up to date.[8]

Transportation

[edit]

The town has a Metro-North Railroad station (Naugatuck) along the Waterbury Branch of the New Haven Line. The principal highways through the town are Connecticut Route 63 (connecting to New Haven), Route 68 (leading to Durham), and the Route 8 expressway (for Waterbury, Derby, Torrington, and Bridgeport).

National Register of Historic Places

[edit]
  • Bronson B. Tuttle House: 380 Church St., now headquarters of the Naugatuck Historical Society
  • Naugatuck Center Historic District: Roughly bounded by Fairview Avenue, Hillside Avenue, Terrace Avenue, Water Street and Pleasant View Street (added August 30, 1999)
  • Salem School: 124 Meadow St. (added December 3, 1983). Before construction of the first Naugatuck High School (now Hillside Intermediate School), high-school classes were held on the top floor of this building.
  • United States Post Office–Naugatuck Main: Church and Cedar streets (added February 21, 1986)

Notable people

[edit]
[edit]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Naugatuck borough, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  3. ^ Barber Company History Archived June 3, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "1955 Flood". Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  7. ^ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of November 1, 2016" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 5, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  8. ^ "NHS renovations moving ahead full steam | Citizen's News". www.mycitizensnews.com. July 23, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
  9. ^ IBDB
  10. ^ C. Slack, Noble Obsession, (Hyperion, 2003)
  11. ^ Federal Writers' Project, Connecticut: A Guide to Its Roads, Lore, and People (US History Publishers, 1938)
  12. ^ "Spec Shea". Baseballbiography.com. Retrieved July 30, 2008.
[edit]