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'{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox settlement | name = East Lyme, Connecticut | official_name = Town of East Lyme | settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]] | image_skyline = Bride-Brook-Salt-Marsh-s.jpg | image_caption = [[Salt marsh]] in East Lyme | image_flag = | image_seal = EastLymeCTseal.gif | image_map = {{switcher|[[File:New London County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas East Lyme Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=East Lyme's location within New London County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Southeastern Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas East Lyme highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=East Lyme's location within the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}} | image_map1 = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q1277951}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|21|11|N|72|13|46|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q1277951;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=East Lyme;Connecticut;the United States}} | coordinates = {{coord|41|21|11|N|72|13|46|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}} | subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]] | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}} | subdivision_type2 = [[County (United States)|County]] | subdivision_name2 = [[New London County, Connecticut|New London]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]] | subdivision_name3 = [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern CT]] | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = 1839 | government_type = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]] | leader_title = First selectman | leader_name = Dan Cunningham (D) | unit_pref = Imperial | area_total_km2 = 108.8 | area_total_sq_mi = 42.0 | area_land_km2 = 88.1 | area_land_sq_mi = 34.0 | area_water_km2 = 20.6 | area_water_sq_mi = 7.9 | elevation_m = 64 | elevation_ft = 210 | population_total = 18693 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]] | utc_offset = -5 | timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]] | utc_offset_DST = -4 | postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]s | postal_code = 06333, 06357 | area_code = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]] | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | blank_info = 09-23400 | blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | blank1_info = 0213426 | website = {{URL|https://eltownhall.com/}} }} '''East Lyme''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. The town is part of the [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region]]. The [[population]] was 18,693 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0901123400|title=Census - Geography Profile: East Lyme town, New London County, Connecticut |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=December 15, 2021}}</ref> The villages of [[Niantic, Connecticut|Niantic]] and [[Flanders, Connecticut|Flanders]] are located in the town. ==Geography== [[File:Rocky Neck SP Beach Niantic CT.jpg|left|thumb|500x500px|View of the [[Rocky Neck State Park]] Jetty, beach and the Giants Neck area shoreline in the Niantic section of East Lyme, Connecticut.]]East Lyme is located in southern New London County, west of [[Waterford, Connecticut|Waterford]] and [[Montville, Connecticut|Montville]], east of [[Lyme, Connecticut|Lyme]] and [[Old Lyme, Connecticut|Old Lyme]], and south of [[Salem, Connecticut|Salem]]. [[Long Island Sound]] is to the south. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|42.0|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|34.0|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|7.9|sqmi|km2}}, or 19%, is water. ===Villages=== The town consists primarily of two villages, Flanders and [[Niantic, Connecticut|Niantic]]. It is common for the town of East Lyme to be erroneously called "Niantic", due to this side of town being the "beach" side which is popular with tourists and visitors in the summer months. Niantic's population doubles in the summer months for the beach season, and it has a much higher density than the more sparsely populated Flanders side of town, which is known for its apple orchards, the town's high school, and the forest. ====Niantic==== {{Main|Niantic, Connecticut}} {{More citations needed|date=December 2010}} [[Image:morton house.JPG|thumb|300px|The Morton House Hotel in the village of Niantic has been in continuous operation for more than 100 years.]] The village of Niantic gets its name from the [[Niantic people|Niantic]] or Nehantic people, whose ranging grounds once extended from Wecapaug Brook, in what is now [[Rhode Island]], to the [[Connecticut River]]. Shortly before the first settlers arrived, the [[Pequots]] had invaded Nehantic territory and annexed about half of the land claimed by the tribe. According to local historian Olive Tubbs Chendali: <blockquote>It was the construction of the railroad in 1851 that lured people to the shoreline which up to this time had been known - not as Niantic - but as "The Bank". Long before this time, however, as evidenced by ''The Diary of Joshua Hempstead - 1711 - 1758'' it was known as "Nahantick" "Nyantick" or "Nehantic", the home territory of the Nehantic Indians.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chendali|first1=Olive Tubbs|title=Stories of East Lyme|publisher=East Lyme Public Library|location=East Lyme, CT|pages=13–14}}</ref></blockquote> [[Sportfishing]] and [[marina]]s dominate the village's industry along with summer tourism and restaurant trade. Strong regional businesses include seafood restaurants and hotels/motels serving the town's beaches and the casinos at [[Foxwoods]] and [[Mohegan Sun]]. [[Rocky Neck State Park]] features camping, swimming and picnic areas along with numerous marinas and sportfishing companies. The Niantic Bay Boardwalk is a one-mile (1.6&nbsp;km) long walkway that runs parallel to [[Amtrak]]’s shoreline railroad tracks and spans Niantic Bay from the [[Niantic River]] inlet to Hole-in-the-Wall municipal beach. It first opened to the public in 2005, but was closed from about 2011 due to a combination of Amtrak building a new railroad bridge across the Niantic River, which required a re-positioning of the approach tracks, and damage caused by [[Hurricane Irene]] in October 2011.<ref>{{cite web| title = Boardwalk closed in East Lyme| publisher = WTNH - News 8| access-date = 2012-03-27| url = http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/weather/severe_weather/boardwalk-closed-in-east-lyme| archive-date = October 7, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111007143938/http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/weather/severe_weather/boardwalk-closed-in-east-lyme| url-status = dead}}</ref> The boardwalk fully re-opened to the public in March 2016.<ref>{{cite web| title = Niantic Bay Boardwalk restored | date = 24 March 2016| publisher = WTNH - News 8|access-date = 2016-04-24| url = http://wtnh.com/2016/03/24/niantic-bay-boardwalk-restored/}}</ref> The Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut is located in East Lyme's original public library on Main Street. The museum is aimed primarily at children ages infant to ten years old. The current public library is located on Society Road, away from Niantic. The village of Niantic includes the beach communities of Attawan Beach, Black Point, Crescent Beach, Giants Neck Beach, Giants Neck Heights, Oak Grove Beach, Old Black Point, Pine Grove, and Saunder's Point. [[Niantic station|East Lyme and Niantic station]] was an [[Amtrak]] station that closed in 1981. There are currently proposals to rebuild the station to accommodate [[Shore Line East]] trains. ====Flanders==== The former village, now neighborhood of Flanders, originally a farming area along the Old Post Road, gets its name from the development of woolen mills similar to that in [[Flanders]], [[Belgium]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chendali|first1=Olive Tubbs|title=East Lyme: Our Town and How It Grew|date=1989|publisher=Mystic Publications|location=Mystic, CT|page=142}}</ref> The heart of the village is located at Flanders Four Corners at the intersection of Chesterfield Road ([[Connecticut Route 161|Route 161]]) and [[Boston Post Road]] ([[U.S. Route 1 in Connecticut|Route 1]]). This area is the site of many small stores and businesses, as well as [[East Lyme High School]], Flanders Elementary School, and the Board of Education. Flanders was the original center of East Lyme society with dozens of 18th century homes, shops and public inns situated along the Boston Post Road until the early 1800s. It lost its pre-eminence as Niantic began to flourish, first with the growth of commercial fishing and then with the construction of the [[Shore Line Railway (Connecticut)|Shore Line Railway]].<ref>{{cite web|title=About East Lyme|url=http://www.eastlymehistoricalsociety.org/index_files/Page367.htm|website=East Lyme Historical Society|access-date=24 April 2016|archive-date=27 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627231202/http://www.eastlymehistoricalsociety.org/index_files/Page367.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many of the original Flanders homes have been lost as a result of the construction of Interstate 95 in the 1950s and subsequent commercial construction at the Four Corners area. For example, the old Caulkins Tavern stood at the site of the current CVS and was a well-traveled and documented stopping place in the 18th century from none other than [[Sarah Kemble Knight]] in her diary, as well as General [[George Washington]], who stopped here with thousands of troops in 1776.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Chendali|first1=Olive Tubbs|title=East Lyme: Our Town and How It Grew|date=1989|publisher=Mystic Publications|location=Mystic, CT|page=67}}</ref> Some homes remain closer to the Waterford line at the site of the old Beckwith Shipyard at the head of the Niantic River. <ref></ref> ====Other minor communities==== Golden Spur is a community located at the head of the Niantic River, which earned it its other name, "Head of the River". In the eighteenth century it was the site of the Beckwith shipyard. By the turn of the 20th century it was the site of an [[amusement park]] accessible by trolley run by the East Lyme Street Railway. The park operated until 1924.<ref>{{cite web| title = Local Landmarks| publisher = East Lyme Historical Society| access-date = 2012-03-27| url = http://eastlymehistoricalsociety.org/index_files/Page1095.htm#goldenspur| archive-date = March 11, 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120311105725/http://www.eastlymehistoricalsociety.org/index_files/Page1095.htm#goldenspur| url-status = dead}}</ref> ===Topography=== The [[topography]] of East Lyme consists of rolling hills and lush valleys rounded by glaciers during the last Ice Age. Hills rise to elevations of {{convert|250|to|350|ft}} above sea level in the eastern and central areas of the town. The highest point in town is an unnamed hill with an elevation of {{convert|500|ft}} located in Nehantic State Forest in the northwest corner of the town.<ref>U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic map series, Hamburg quadrangle 2021</ref> East Lyme is especially scenic in the summer when the trees are in bloom. On its east and southern sides, the town abuts tidewater. The tidal [[Niantic River]] on the east feeds Niantic Bay, an arm of [[Long Island Sound]], which forms the southern edge of the town. ==Demographics== {{US Census population |1850= 1382 |1860= 1506 |1870= 1506 |1880= 1731 |1890= 2048 |1900= 1836 |1910= 1916 |1920= 2291 |1930= 2575 |1940= 3338 |1950= 3870 |1960= 6782 |1970= 11399 |1980= 13870 |1990= 15340 |2000= 18118 |2010= 19159 |2020= 18693 |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}} 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 18,118 people, 6,308 households, and 4,535 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|532.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 7,459 housing units at an average density of {{convert|219.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 87.29% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.37% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.44% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.82% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.83% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.59% of the [[population]]. There were 6,308 households, out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.96. In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males. The [[median income]] for a household in the town was $66,539, and the median income for a family was $74,430. Males had a median income of $53,333 versus $37,162 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $28,765. About 1.7% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over. {| class=wikitable ! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 27, 2020<ref>{{cite web|title = Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 27, 2020 | publisher = Connecticut Secretary of State | access-date = 2022-08-27 | url = https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/2020-Voter-Registration-Statistics.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220809175637/https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/2020-Voter-Registration-Statistics.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2022-08-09}}</ref> |- ! colspan = 2 | Party ! Active Voters ! Inactive Voters ! Total Voters ! Percentage |- | {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | align = center | 4,538 | align = center | 201 | align = center | 4,739 | align = center | 32.85% |- | {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | align = center | 3,141 | align = center | 193 | align = center | 3,334 | align = center | 23.11% |- | {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}} | [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]] | align = center | 5,828 | align = center | 337 | align = center | 6,165 | align = center | 42.73% |- | {{party color cell|Minor Parties (United States)}} | [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Minor Parties (Green, Libertarian, Independent)]] | align = center | 181 | align = center | 9 | align = center | 190 | align = center | 1.32% |- ! colspan = 2 | Total ! align = center | 13,688 ! align = center | 740 ! align = center | 14,428 ! align = center | 100% |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |Presidential Election Results<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|url-status=live|access-date=May 1, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514171359/https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922 |archive-date=2019-05-14 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|url-status=live|access-date=May 1, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428192536/http://ctemspublic.pcctg.net:80/ |archive-date=2016-04-28 }}</ref> |- !Year ![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] ![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] ![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]] |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''62.0%''' ''7,290'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.4% ''4,285'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.6% ''181'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.0%''' ''5,512'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.3% ''4,214'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.7% ''474'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.6%''' ''5,426'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|41.3% ''3,886'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.1% ''101'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''60.4%''' ''5,961'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.7% ''3,819'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.9% ''92'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.1%''' ''5,306'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.6% ''4,030'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''120'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.4%''' ''4,546'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.5% ''3,513'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.1% ''605'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.9%''' ''3,778'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.1% ''2,870'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|14.0% ''1,072'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''40.9%''' ''3,425'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.5% ''2,717'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|26.6% ''2,214'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|44.6% ''3,266'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.9%''' ''3,954'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.5% ''105'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.0% ''2,513'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''63.6%''' ''4,438'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.4% ''21'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.9% ''2,192'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.8%''' ''3,419'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|18.3% ''1,254'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.3% ''2,648'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.1%''' ''3,727'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.6% ''36'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.7% ''1,743'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''69.0%''' ''3,918'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.3% ''11'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.2% ''1,797'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''54.3%''' ''2,491'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.5% ''297'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.8%''' ''2,195'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.2% ''1,674'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.1% ''1,186'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.9%''' ''2,198'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|24.4% ''657'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''75.6%''' ''2,036'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0'' |} ==Schools== The town's public schools are operated by the [[East Lyme Public Schools|East Lyme School District]]. The school district consists of one high school, [[East Lyme High School]]; one middle school, East Lyme Middle School (grades 5–8); and three elementary schools: *Flanders Elementary School (grades Pre-K–4), *Lillie B. Haynes Elementary School (grades Pre-K–4), and *Niantic Center School (grades K–4). [[East Lyme High School]] has been recognized by ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine<ref>{{cite web| title = Best High Schools 2008| publisher = Newsweek|access-date = 2008-01-01| url = http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?sort=Rank&count=1236&start=0&limit=100&year=2007&Search=undefined |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071227043102/http://www.newsweek.com/id/39380/?sort=Rank&count=1236&start=0&limit=100&year=2007&Search=undefined <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = 2007-12-27}}</ref> as one of the top 1,000 high schools in the country and by ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]''<ref>{{cite web| title = Best High Schools 2008| publisher = U.S. News & World Report|access-date = 2008-01-01| url = https://www.usnews.com/sections/education/high-schools/ }}</ref> as one of the top 500 high schools in the United States. In 2017, the East Lyme High School earned a National Blue Ribbon Distinction by U.S. Department of Education. The awards are for schools that continue to show high achievement or make strong progress toward closing achievements gaps.<ref>{{Cite web|title = East Lyme High School Earns National Blue Ribbon Distinction| date=28 September 2017 |publisher=Patch|access-date=2022-02-14|url=https://patch.com/connecticut/thelymes/east-lyme-high-school-earns-national-blue-ribbon-distinction}}</ref> [[East Lyme High School]] hosts the [http://www.nutmegaquatics.com East Lyme Aquatic & Fitness Center]. The center contains an eight-lane, {{convert|25|yd|m|adj=mid|-long}}, competition swimming and diving pool, and a fitness facility with Nautilus equipment, free weights, and a cardiovascular line. The facility is used by high school swimming and diving teams as well as being open to the public, on a fee basis, when not in use by the school. East Lyme High School athletic teams have recently won the Class L State Championships in girls volleyball for the 2010 and 2011 seasons, and reached the Class M State Finals in girls tennis in 2012. The baseball team also reached the Class L State finals in 2015 and 2016. The cross country team has achieved unparalleled athletic success at East Lyme, winning three consecutive Class MM State titles in 2017, 2018 & 2019. Students from the neighboring town of [[Salem, Connecticut|Salem]] also attend East Lyme High School. The East Lyme Middle School<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastlymeschools.org/|title=Home - East Lyme Public Schools|website=www.eastlymeschools.org}}</ref> is a 1999–2000 National Blue Ribbon School and a 2004 New England League of Middle Schools Spotlight School. It is also the Connecticut Association of Schools 2013–2014 School of the Year. It includes a high tech computer lab and a spacious library. The Middle School uses a team program called kivas. A kiva contains a science teacher, a language arts or English teacher, a social studies teacher and a math teacher. Some kivas are smaller and have a math and science teacher and a language arts and social studies teacher. There are 11 kivas consisting of two types: multi-age looping and two-year looping. The last kiva is a world language kiva where students can study French or Spanish.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}} ==History== [[File:Thomas Lee House.jpg|thumb|Thomas Lee House]] The [[Thomas Lee House]], built {{circa|1660}}, is the oldest house in Connecticut that is still in its primitive state. This building is located in the southwestern section of East Lyme, adjacent to [[Rocky Neck State Park]], at the intersection of [[Connecticut Route 156]] and Giants Neck Road. Co-located on this site is the one-room Little Boston Schoolhouse, which was relocated to its current location from across Route 156. The town features six homes from 1699 or earlier, and the Old Stone Church Burial Ground from 1719 located off Society and Riverview roads. The area occupied by the town was originally inhabited by the [[Niantic people|Nehantic people]], who maintained villages in the present-day Indian Woods section as well as on Black Point, in the McCook's Beach area and near the Niantic River. The tribe allied itself with the colonists in the 1636 war against the [[Pequot people]]. The Nehantic were reported to have died out in the mid-19th century, but there still exist a Nehantic community today.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nehanticnation.com/about/ | title=About – Nehantic Native Nation }}</ref> The 1750s [[Ezra Stiles]] map shows the Nehantic village in what is now Indian Woods as consisting of "12 or 13 huts". East Lyme, then a part of [[Lyme, Connecticut|Lyme]], had several taverns which offered stopping places for travelers such as [[Sarah Kemble Knight]]. These included Calkins Tavern on what is now Boston Post Road, Royce's Tavern, and Taber Tavern near present-day [[Interstate 95|I-95]]. At least 45 [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] veterans are buried within the borders of East Lyme, and countless more veterans from East Lyme found resting places in [[upstate New York]], [[New Hampshire]] and [[Ohio]]. Moses Warren, along with General [[Samuel Holden Parsons]] originally of Lyme and [[Moses Cleaveland]], set out to survey the [[Northwest Territory|Ohio Territory]] in the latter part of the 1790s and has [[Warren County, Ohio|Warren County]], [[Ohio]] named after him.<ref>{{cite web| title = The Original Surveys of Cleveland| publisher = Association of Engineering Societies| access-date = 2008-01-01| url = http://www.csuohio.edu/CUT/Clev1884.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080511191426/http://www.csuohio.edu/CUT/Clev1884.htm| archive-date = 2008-05-11| url-status = dead}}</ref> ===Notable locations=== * [[Morton Freeman Plant Hunting Lodge]] – built in 1908, added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1988. * [[Samuel Smith House (East Lyme, Connecticut)|Samuel Smith House]] – built in 1685, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. * [[Smith-Harris House (East Lyme, Connecticut)|Smith-Harris House]] – built in 1845, this Greek Revival home was added as the "Thomas Avery House" to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. * [[Thomas Lee House]] – built {{circa|1664}}, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. One of the oldest houses in the state. * [[William Gorton Farm]] – added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. ==Media== ===Library=== The first library was started in 1888 and was called the Niantic Library and Reading Room Association. There were 65 founding members. In 1897 the library was formally incorporated as "The Niantic Public Library Association" by the state of Connecticut. The library moved a few times until a permanent structure was built in 1920 on Main Street. In 1966 a wing was added, and in 1979 another addition was added. In 1990 the library moved into the new Community Center/Library complex, where it exists today. ===Radio=== FM station [[WNLC]] is based in East Lyme. ===Movies=== Portions of the made-for-TV movie ''[[Disaster on the Coastliner]]'', released 29 October 1979, were filmed in East Lyme. In 2016, East Lyme was used as a filming location for the [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] thriller ''Hunter's Cove'', which was renamed ''Stalker's Prey'' when it was released on 9 February 2017. ==Economy== According to 2009 statistics<ref>[http://www.cerc.com/TownProfiles/Customer-Images/EASTLYME2009.pdf CIRC Town Profile: East Lyme, CT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708133215/http://www.cerc.com/TownProfiles/Customer-Images/EASTLYME2009.pdf |date=2011-07-08 }} Connecticut Economic Resource Center. Retrieved 2011-01-16.</ref> 42.2 percent of the town's business was focused in the services industry. A [[Tertiary sector of the economy|service industry]] is a business that focuses on retail, food services, distribution, and transportation.<ref>[http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/service-industry.html Service Industry definition] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231022410/http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/service-industry.html |date=2010-12-31 }}. Business Dictionary.com. Retrieved 2011-01-16</ref> The second largest sector is the trade industry with 23.1% of the town's business, followed by construction and mining which accounts for 12.5% of the town businesses. The largest employer in town is the state of Connecticut's Department of Corrections which runs a women's prison in the west end of town, [[York Correctional Institution]].<ref>[http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1499&q=265454 York Correctional Institute] last modified 2011-01-05.</ref> The Gates Correctional Institute for men, also in town, closed in 2011.<ref>[http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1499&q=265414 Gates Correctional Institute] last modified 2011-01-05</ref> ==Beaches== [[Image:Hole in the wall NianticCT.JPG|thumb|300px|Hole-in-the-Wall Beach in Niantic, looking west towards McCook Point]] ===Public beaches=== * [[Rocky Neck State Park]] – a state park comprising East Beach and West Beach * [[McCook Park Beach]] – locally known as "McCook's", located on the western side of McCook Point Park, and immediately adjacent to the private Crescent Beach. This beach, along with its associated public park, was acquired by the town of East Lyme in 1953 from the estate of the McCook Family. This beach is open to the public, on a fee basis, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and is open free of charge during all other times. Access to this beach is controlled via locked gate. The normal park hours are 8:00&nbsp;a.m. until dusk each day. * Hole-in-the-Wall Beach – an approximately {{convert|5|acre|adj=on}} beach that adjoins McCook Point Park. It is open to the public, on a fee basis, between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The normal park hours are 8:00&nbsp;a.m. until dusk. Access is through a walkway underneath railroad tracks used by [[Amtrak]]'s [[Northeast Corridor]]. The tunnel is located at the end of Baptist Lane.<ref>[http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=57 Hole-in-the-Wall Beach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624132258/http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/site.asp?siteid=57 |date=2010-06-24 }}. State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Accessed: 2011-01-16.</ref> Free public parking is available, but entrance to the beach is monitored during the summer to ensure people entering have paid for access. It also provides access to the Niantic Beach Boardwalk that was built along the shoreline connecting with Railroad Beach. Known as the Niantic Bay Overlook, it is approximately {{convert|1.5|mi}} long. The Overlook parallels the north shore of Niantic Bay and runs adjacent to the Northeast Corridor Amtrak line and consists of an elevated boardwalk and a level stone-dust-filled walkway. * Railroad Beach – the beach at the eastern end of the Niantic Bay Overlook, locally known as "Railroad Beach" due to its proximity with the Niantic Railroad Drawbridge and the Amtrak Northeast Corridor mainline. Access to this beach is from the Niantic Bay Overlook via Hole-in-the-Wall Beach or from Cini Park via the walkway under the railroad drawbridge. ===Private beaches=== * Crescent Beach – adjacent to McCooks; reserved for homeowners in the area * Oak Grove Beach * Black Point Beach – for members of the Black Point Beach Club Association * Old Black Point Beach – for homeowners in Old Black Point. * Attawan Beach – adjacent to Black Point; for homeowners in the Attawan Beach Community * Giants Neck Heights Beach – for members of the Giants Neck Heights Association. Located at the southeastern end of the [[Rocky Neck State Park|Rocky Neck]] beach. It features a jetty that is popular with local crabbers and amateur photographers—and seagulls who drop clams and mussels on the cement surface to crack them open for eating. Use of this beach is restricted to the approximately 400 homeowners of the Giants Neck Height Association. * Pine Grove – For members of the Pine Grove Beach Association * Oswegatchie Hills Club – For the families living in Saunders Point, between Smith Cove and Niantic Bay. ==Notable people== * [[William Colepaugh]] (1918–2005), Nazi sympathizer who grew up on Black Point and traveled to Germany in 1944 to be trained as a spy * [[Tom Danielson]] (born 1978), professional cyclist for Team Garmin, finishing 8th in the 2011 Tour de France * [[John Ellis (baseball)|John Ellis]] (born 1948), Former Major League Baseball player and cleanup hitter for the [[New York Yankees]] in the 1970's. Founder of the CT Sports Foundation against Cancer * [[Pete Walker (baseball)|Pete Walker]] (born 1969), Former Major League Baseball player and current Pitching Coach for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] * [[John McDonald (infielder)|John McDonald]] (born 1974), Former Major League Baseball player and current Infield Coach for the [[Cleveland Indians]] * [[Rajai Davis]] (born 1980), Major League Baseball player for the [[Cleveland Indians]]. Hit a game tying home run in Game 7 of the [[2016 World Series]] against the ultimately victorious [[Chicago Cubs]] * Todd Donovan (born 1978), Former professional baseball player and former [[MLB]] Executive. Currently a Special Assignment Scout for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] * [[Charles Drake (actor)|Charles Drake]] (real name Charles Ruppert) (1917–1994), actor in over 80 films and numerous television shows * [[Otto Graham]] (1921–2003), Hall of Fame professional football player * [[Anne Rogers Minor]] (1864–1947), artist, national president of the [[Daughters of the American Revolution]] from 1920 to 1923<ref>{{Cite news|date=1947-10-25|title=Death Takes Mrs. Minor in Waterford|pages=4|work=Hartford Courant|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74734025/death-takes-mrs-minor-in-waterford/|access-date=2021-03-30}}</ref> * [[Jay Allen Sanford]], author and cartoonist best known as the co-creator of Rock 'N' Roll Comics, and for his work with [[Revolutionary Comics]], [[Carnal Comics]], and the [[San Diego Reader]] * [[Emily Steel]], journalist at The New York Times, whose investigative work [http://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a26757/emily-steel-bill-oreilly/ forced] Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly out of the network in April 2017 * [[James Stevenson (illustrator)]] (1929–2017). illustrator and author of over 100 children's books whose cartoons appear regularly in [[The New Yorker]] * [[Ed Toth]], drummer currently with [[The Doobie Brothers]], formerly with [[Vertical Horizon]] and Jennifer Culture * [[Jeremy Powers]], East Lyme native and former professional racing cyclist, who possesses the most wins by an American male cyclo-cross rider * [[Bill Tytla|Vladimir Peter Tytla]] (1904–1968), known as Bill Tytla, one of the original [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]] [[animator]]s ==Places of worship== * Christ Lutheran Church; 24 Society Road, Niantic, CT 06357; [[Lutheran Church Missouri Synod]] * Lighthouse Assembly of God; 315 Flanders Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; [[Assemblies of God]] * Flanders Baptist Church; 138 Boston Post Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; [[Baptist]] * Saint Matthias Church; 317 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; [[Roman Catholic]] * Saint Matthias Parish Center; 317 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; [[Roman Catholic]] * Miracle Temple Church; 18 Dean Road, East Lyme, CT 06333; Non-denominational * Niantic Community Church; 170 Pennsylvania Avenue, Niantic CT 06357; [[United Methodist Church]] & [[United Church of Christ]] * Saint Agnes Church; 22 Haigh Avenue, Niantic, CT 06357; [[Roman Catholic]] * Niantic Baptist Church; 443 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357; [[Baptist]] * Saint John's Episcopal Church; 400 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357; [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal]] ==Cemeteries== ===Active=== [[Image:Eastlymecemetary fitted to the wiki.png|thumb|East Lyme Cemetery]] *East Lyme Cemetery, Boston Post Road *Stone Church, intersection of Society and Riverview roads, Niantic *Union Cemetery, East Pattagansett Road, Niantic <!--Likewise, is this not too much information? Are these detailed directions to places on private property? ===Historical=== *Old Stone Church, southwest corner of Society Road and Riverview Road *Union, East Pattagansett Road, north of Hope Street *Banty or Niantic Hill, Plants Dam Road and US Route 1 *Rogers or Mack's Mill, west side Scott Road, 1/2 mile from Whistletown and Upper Pattagansett Road *Pest House (yard), east side Upper Pattagansett Roadl, {{convert|400|ft}} back from road *Center or Riverhead, south of I-95, north of US Route 1 where it intersects I-95 near Waterford town line *Huntly, West Main Street and Sessa Court Southwest *Powers, end of Gada Road and across railroad tracks *Flanders Church, south side US Route 1, east of Baptist Church, lane across from Flanders School *Taber Stones (3), on grass divider west of intersection of Rt. 1 and I-95 near Waterford town line *Leech, Beaverbrook Road, on old cart path several hundred feet from road *Fosdick, north side of I-95 opposite northwest corner of Riverhead cemetery, {{convert|150|ft|m}} from I-95 *Barthrick or Champion #3, south side of Green Valley Lake Road, south of Frog Hollow Road *Tinker, east side of Chesterfield Road opposite and northeast of Walnut Hill Road, top of hill *Old Fox Farm, east side of Upper Walnut Hill Road *Holmes, rear of Hames Hatt Farm, dirt lane off of Grassy Hill *Brockway, Whistletown Road east side, 1/4 mile from Grassy Hill Road {{convert|300|ft|m}} from road *Tilleson, {{convert|400|ft|m}} from south side of Grassy Hill Road, southwest of The Old School House *Reeve, Nehantic State Forest going east on Grassy Hill Road from Whistletown Road ...end comment--> ==References== {{Portal|Connecticut}} {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|East Lyme, Connecticut}} *[http://www.eltownhall.com/ Town of East Lyme official website] *[https://eastlymehistoricalsociety.org/ East Lyme Historical Society] *[http://www.ely.lioninc.org/ East Lyme Public Library] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060803055543/http://www.ely.lioninc.org/ |date=2006-08-03 }} *[http://www.childrensmuseumsect.org/ Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut] {{Connecticut}} {{New London County, Connecticut}} {{Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}} {{authority control}} [[Category:East Lyme, Connecticut| ]] [[Category:Towns in New London County, Connecticut]] [[Category:Populated coastal places in Connecticut]] [[Category:Towns in Connecticut]] [[Category:1839 establishments in Connecticut]] [[Category:Towns in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut]]'