Edit filter log

'{{Infobox settlement | name = Bethany, Connecticut | official_name = Town of Bethany | settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]] | image_skyline = | image_caption = | image_seal = BethanyCtTownSeal.png | motto = "Rural Is Beautiful"<ref name="Town of Bethany, Connecticut">{{cite web|url= http://www.bethany-ct.com/home/home.asp |title= Town of Bethany, Connecticut|publisher= Town of Bethany, Connecticut |access-date= September 22, 2012}}</ref><ref name="ePodunk">{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9100|title= Profile for Bethany, Connecticut, CT|publisher= ePodunk |access-date= September 22, 2012}}</ref> | image_map = Bethany CT lg.PNG | mapsize = 250x200px | map_caption = Located in New Haven County, [[Connecticut]] | coordinates = {{coord|41|25|32|N|72|59|33|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}} <!-- location -->| subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{US}} | subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]] | subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}} | subdivision_type2 = [[County (United States)|County]] | subdivision_name2 = [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven]] | subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]] | subdivision_name3 = [[South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|South Central CT]] | established_title = Incorporated | established_date = 1832<ref name="Town of Bethany, Connecticut"/> | government_type = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]] | leader_title = First selectman | leader_name = Paula Cofransesco (R) | leader_title1 = Selectman | leader_name1 = Donald R. Shea, Jr. (R) | leader_title2 = Selectman | leader_name2 = Elizabeth A. Appel (D) | unit_pref = Imperial | area_total_km2 = 55.4 | area_total_sq_mi = 21.4 | area_land_km2 = 54.3 | area_land_sq_mi = 21.0 | area_water_km2 = 1.0 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.4 | elevation_m = 175 | elevation_ft = 574 | population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020"/> | population_total = 5297 | 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 | postal_code = 06524 | area_codes = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203/475]] | blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]] | blank_info = 09-04580 | blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID | blank1_info = 0213389 | website = {{URL|www.bethany-ct.com}} }} '''Bethany''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[New Haven County, Connecticut]], United States. The population was 5,297 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900904580|title=Census - Geography Profile: Bethany town, New Haven County, Connecticut |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref> ==History== Bethany was first settled in 1717, but it was not until May 1832 that Bethany separated from [[Woodbridge, Connecticut|Woodbridge]] to become incorporated as a town. This slightly remote, sparsely populated, residential town retains its rural character. There is some [[dairying]] and [[agriculture]]. The town is dotted with reservoirs serving [[Naugatuck, Connecticut|Naugatuck]] and, principally, [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]]. [[File:Perkins Hotel, Bethany, Connecticut (1908).jpg|thumb|left|The Perkins Hotel in Bethany was used by travelers on the turnpike between [[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]] and [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]], 1908.<ref>{{cite book | last = Sharpe | first = W. C. | title = Bethany Sketches and Records | publisher = W. C. Sharpe | year = 1908 | url = https://archive.org/details/bethanysketchesr00shar | pages = [https://archive.org/details/bethanysketchesr00shar/page/42 42]}}</ref>]] There have been inhabitants in Bethany since before 1638, predominantly Naugatucks of the Paugusset tribe and Mattabessitts of the Wanguck tribe. The first European settlers arrived in the area around April 1638, creating the towns of [[Milford, Connecticut|Milford]] and New Haven, with their boundary split down the middle of what is now Bethany. The area of the boundary was settled in 1678, twelve years after New Haven County was organized. In 1717, the Amity Parish was accepted by the General Assembly of the Connecticut Colony and in 1832, Bethany was incorporated as a town.<ref name="Town of Bethany, Connecticut"/> The town is named after the [[Bethany|biblical place]].<ref name="ePodunk"/> In the mid-to-late 19th century, the population of the town and the land decreased as parts were annexed by the neighboring town of [[Woodbridge, Connecticut|Woodbridge]] and the new town of [[Beacon Falls, Connecticut|Beacon Falls]] was incorporated into the general geography of Connecticut. The population would continue to decrease until about the 1940s, when the population would spike. In 1923, the Bethany Airport opened up, one of the first in New England. Soon after, Troop I of the [[Boy Scouts of America]] (now known as Troop 931) was chartered in Bethany, and an organized police staff and volunteer fire fighter organization were founded. In 1954, a senior high school was built in Woodbridge to serve Woodbridge, Bethany, and Orange. Earlier Bethany students had been sent to public high schools in neighboring towns as tuition students for grades nine through twelve. In 1963, Amity Junior High School was created in Bethany. In 1970, Bethany Community School was finished, replacing most of the single roomed schools. The layout composes of a main campus, and two four roomed schools, built in 1934.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Inc|first=The Bethany Historical Society|title=We Are All Part of History|url=https://bethanyhistory.com/bethany-history-timeline|access-date=2021-11-28|website=The Bethany Historical Society, Inc.|language=en-US}}</ref> After the [[Brampton Centennial Secondary School shooting|1975 Ontario School shooting]], they discontinued the four roomed schools for educational and safety reasons.<ref name=":0" /> In 2007, Bethany was named Connecticut's #1 Small Town by ''[[Connecticut Magazine]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bethanyhistory.org/timeline.html|title=Timeline|website=Bethanyhistory|access-date=2017-01-18}}</ref> ===Town seal=== Bethany's town seal is a circle within which appears a circle of rope. In the upper aspects of the seal appear the words TOWN OF BETHANY CONNECTICUT in two curved lines of print bordering the inner aspect of the rope circle. On the bottom of the seal also bordering the inner aspect of the rope circle appear the words INCORPORATED 1832. These words form the top and bottom edges of a third circle, the sides of which are made of a string of inverted oak leaves on each side. A roadway bisecting the seal and extending from bottom to center is pictured within the innermost circle. Surrounded by trees are Christ Episcopal Church pictured on the right, and First Church of Christ Congregational with carriage shed on the left. The Town Seal was created by local artist and Bethany resident, Betsy Seaton, as part of Bethany's 150th anniversary celebration in 1982. === Police === Currently, Bethany has a single [[police officer]] who is hired by the town. This along with the State Police Troop I station serve to protect the town and local area. The barracks located next to the Station remains abandoned and in a state of disrepair. ==Geography== According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|21.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|21.0|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.4|sqmi|km2}}, or 1.83%, is water. ==Demographics== {{US Census population |1850= 914 |1860= 974 |1870= 1135 |1880= 637 |1890= 550 |1900= 517 |1910= 495 |1920= 411 |1930= 480 |1940= 706 |1950= 1318 |1960= 2384 |1970= 3857 |1980= 4330 |1990= 4608 |2000= 5040 |2010= 5563 |2020= 5297 |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 2010 Census Bethany had a population of 5,563. The [[Race (human categorization)|racial composition]] of the population was 91.6% white, 1.9% black or African American, 4.8% Asian, 0.6% other races and 1.1% from two or more races. 2.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>2010 population by race and Hispanic or Latino by place chart for Connecticut from the US Census</ref> 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 5,040 people, 1,755 households, and 1,449 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|240.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,792 housing units at an average density of {{convert|85.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.04% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.83% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.30% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.53% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.10% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.48% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.73% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.02% of the population. There were 1,755 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.4% were non-families. 13.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.18. In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.1 males. The median income for a household in the town was $74,898, and the median income for a family was $79,493. Males had a median income of $52,037 versus $44,427 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $31,403. About 1.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 0.6% of those age 65 or over. {| class=wikitable ! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 29, 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/Nov19RE.pdf?la=en|title=Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 29, 2019|publisher=Connecticut Secretary of State|format=PDF|access-date=2020-02-17}}</ref> |- ! colspan = 2 | Party ! Active voters ! Inactive voters ! Total voters ! Percentage |- | {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}} | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] | align = center | 1,175 | align = center |42 | align = center |1,217 | align = center | 27.66% |- | {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}} | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] | align = center | 1,170 | align = center |50 | align = center |1,220 | align = center | 27.73% |- | {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}} | [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]] | align = center | 1,824 | align = center |81 | align = center |1,905 | align = center | 43.30% |- | {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}} | Minor Parties | align = center | 56 | align = center | 2 | align = center | 58 | align = center | 1.31% |- ! colspan = 2 | Total ! align = center | 4,225 ! align = center | 175 ! align = center | 4,400 ! 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|website=CT Secretary of State|access-date=May 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=December 16, 2020|website=CT Secretary of State}}</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}}|'''51.7%''' ''1,912'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.5% ''1,718'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.8% ''68'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.8% ''1,580'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.7%''' ''1,646'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.5% ''151'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.6%''' ''1,615'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.2% ''1,536'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.2% ''39'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.1%''' ''1,781'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.4% ''1,525'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.5% ''51'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|48.91% ''1,617'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.94%''' ''1,618'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.15% ''71'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.2%''' ''1,470'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.0% ''1,285'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.8% ''234'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''46.3%''' ''1,246'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.8% ''1,047'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|14.9% ''402'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.1% ''1,053'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''39.4%''' ''1,117'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|23.5% ''668'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.7% ''1,024'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.4%''' ''1,505'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.9% ''48'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.5% ''878'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.0%''' ''1,654'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.5% ''12'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|27.8% ''722'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.6%''' ''1,490'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|13.1% ''332'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.4% ''898'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.9%''' ''1,427'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.7% ''18'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|32.2% ''696'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''66.5%''' ''1,433'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''27'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.3% ''573'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.9%''' ''967'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.8% ''130'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.1%''' ''695'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.9% ''664'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.8% ''454'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.2%''' ''814'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0'' |- |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]] |align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|26.7% ''269'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''73.3%''' ''741'' |align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0'' |} ==Parks and recreation== In a span of two years (1997–1999), the town purchased {{convert|165|acre|km2}} of land for the new Veterans Memorial Park. In 1999, the man-made Hockanum Lake at Veterans Memorial Park was opened for swimming. In 2000, the first Summer Sparkler was held there. ==Notable people== * [[Amy Arnsten]], neuroscientist * [[Robert Crabtree]], chemist * [[David Hoadley (architect)|David Hoadley]] (1774–1839), [[architect]] who worked in [[New Haven County|New Haven]] and [[Middlesex County, Connecticut|Middlesex]] counties in [[Connecticut]]; designed Darius Beecher House in Bethany<ref>{{cite web|url= http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0100/ct0134/data/ct0134data.pdf|title= The Wheeler-Beecher House Bethany, Connecticut|publisher= The Wheeler-Beecher House|access-date= September 19, 2012|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130526214519/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pnp/habshaer/ct/ct0100/ct0134/data/ct0134data.pdf|archive-date= May 26, 2013}}</ref> * [[Silas Hoadley]] (1786–1870), [[clockmaker]]; born in Bethany * [[R. W. B. Lewis]] (1917–2002), biographer and Yale professor * [[Quincy Porter]] (1897–1966), Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer * [[Katharine Weber]], novelist * Nick Reis, news and sports reporter ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{Commons category|Bethany, Connecticut}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded --> {{Portal|Connecticut}} * {{wikivoyage inline|Bethany (Connecticut)|Bethany, Connecticut}} * [http://www.bethany-ct.com/home/home.asp Town of Bethany official website] * [http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=9100 Profile for Bethany, Connecticut], at ePodunk.com * [http://amitystar.wordpress.com The Amity Star], a newspaper published in Bethany from 1950 to 1953 * [http://bethanyhistory.org Bethany Historical Society] {{Connecticut}} {{New Haven County, Connecticut}} {{South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Bethany, Connecticut| ]] [[Category:Towns in New Haven County, Connecticut]] [[Category:Populated places established in 1717]] [[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]] [[Category:Towns in Connecticut]] [[Category:1717 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies]] [[Category:Towns in South Central Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut]]'