Woodbridge, Connecticut

Woodbridge is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,990 at the 2010 census.[1] It is home to many of the faculty of Yale University. The town center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Woodbridge Green Historic District.

Woodbridge, Connecticut
Town
Seal
Location in New Haven County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°21′15″N 73°00′41″W
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	New Haven
Metropolitan area	New Haven
Incorporated	1784
Government
• Type	Selectman-town meeting
• First selectman	Beth Heller (D)
• Selectmen	Mica J. Cardozo (D) Joseph J. Crisco, Jr. (D) Joseph S. Dey III (R) Dwight Rowland (R) Sandra Stein (D)
Area
• Total	19.2 sq mi (49.7 km^2)
• Land	18.8 sq mi (48.8 km^2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (1.0 km^2)
Elevation	348 ft (106 m)
Population  (2017)
• Total	8,907
• Density	460/sq mi (180/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP code	06525
Area code(s)	203/475
FIPS code	09-87700
GNIS feature ID	0213539
Website	www.woodbridgect.org

History

Woodbridge was originally called "Amity", having been carved out of land originally belonging to New Haven and Milford as an independent parish in 1739. In 1742, the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge was ordained in Amity, and it is after him that the modern town was named. Woodbridge was incorporated in 1784.[2]

In 1661, the town was the location of one of the hideouts of the "Regicides" — three of the judges who signed the death warrant for King Charles I of England. The ruins of their hideout can be found on the nearby West Rock ridge, which runs along the town's eastern border.

Thomas Darling (1720–1789), a tutor at Yale College and later an entrepreneur in New Haven, moved to town in 1774. His home is now the Darling House Museum, operated by the Amity & Woodbridge Historical Association.[3] The original farms of Woodbridge were located in the area of the West River Valley known as "The Flats".

In the modern era, Woodbridge has undergone significant suburbanization.

Government

Woodbridge is governed by a 6-member Board of Selectmen.

In April 2006, Edward Maum Sheehy (Democrat) became First Selectman. Since 2017, Beth Heller is the First Selectwoman in Woodbridge (Democrat). Sheehy served on the Board of Selectmen for 27 years as a regular selectman. The Board of Selectmen elected Sheehy First Selectman by a 3 to 2 vote, along party lines, to replace Amey Marella (Republican), who stepped down to accept a job as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Before becoming First Selectwoman in 2001, Marella was an attorney with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Edward Sheehy was reelected in May 2009 to another two-year term.

On April 22, 2013, Sheehy died suddenly at the age of 73 while still holding the First Selectman's office. He was actively seeking re-election in May. He was laid to rest on April 27, 2013.[4] On April 25, 2013, the Board of Selectman unanimously selected Deputy First Selectman Beth Heller to serve as First Selectmen for the remainder of Sheehy's term. The Woodbridge Democratic Town Committee selected Ellen Scalettar to replace Sheehy as their nominee for First Selectman. Scalettar was elected on May 6, 2013 and sworn in as First Selectman on June 28, 2013. Scalettar served as the First Selectman for 2 terms (four years) and choose not to seek reelection in 2017. Beth Heller was elected as the First Selectman in 2017 and was reelected in 2019.

Recent First Selectmen elections

2019: Beth Heller (Democrat) defeated Ed Weinberg (Republican);

2017: Beth Heller (Democrat) defeated Anthony Anastasio (Republican);

2015: Ellen Scalettar (Democrat) defeated Catherine Wick (Republican);

2013: Ellen Scalettar (Democrat) defeated Catherine Wick (Republican);

2013: Beth Heller (Democrat) elected by Board of Selectmen, 5 to 0;

Education

Grammar school

Beecher Road School is the town's pre Kindergarten-Grade 6 school. It is run by a principal, Analisa Sherman, and assistant principal Doreen Merrill.[5]

Middle school

As part of the Amity school system, Woodbridge shares a middle school with the town of Bethany, which is located north of Woodbridge. It is run by a principal, Dr. Richard Dellinger, and assistant principal Thayer Doyle.

High school

Woodbridge also shares the Amity Regional High School with the neighboring towns of Bethany and Orange. The high school is located in Woodbridge's town center area. It is run by a principal, Anna Mahon and three assistant or associate principles.

Woodbridge is home to Ezra Academy, a Jewish day school once attended by Natalie Portman.[6] Ezra Academy is a regional Jewish day school whose students reside in 21 towns throughout New Haven and Fairfield counties.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.2 square miles (50 km²), of which 18.8 square miles (49 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) is water. The total area is 2.03% water.

Woodbridge is informally divided into two distinct parts—central Woodbridge, which occupies the western hilly side of town, and the area known as The Flats, which occupies the eastern slice of town bordering the less wealthy West Rock and the New Haven neighborhood of Westville.

Neighboring towns are Bethany to the north, Hamden to the east, New Haven to the southeast, Orange to the south, and Derby, Ansonia, and Seymour to the west.

Parks and hiking trails

Below Wepawaug Falls in Woodbridge

Woodbridge is home to several organizations that protect undeveloped land and historic sites, including the Woodbridge Land Trust and the Woodbridge Park Association.[7] The town has an extensive system of preserved hiking trails open to the public, notably the 93-acre (380,000 m²) Alice Newton Street Memorial Park and the 22-acre (89,000 m²) Wepawaug Falls area. Some of the land has been donated by residents.[8]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1820	1,988		—
1850	912		—
1860	872		−4.4%
1870	829		−4.9%
1880	926		11.7%
1890	926		0.0%
1900	852		−8.0%
1910	878		3.1%
1920	1,170		33.3%
1930	1,630		39.3%
1940	2,262		38.8%
1950	2,822		24.8%
1960	5,182		83.6%
1970	7,673		48.1%
1980	7,761		1.1%
1990	7,924		2.1%
2000	8,983		13.4%
2010	8,990		0.1%
Est. 2014	8,925	[9]	−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 8,983 people, 3,103 households, and 2,553 families residing in the town. The population density was 477.0 people per square mile (184.2/km²). There were 3,189 housing units at an average density of 169.3 per square mile (65.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.34% White, 1.50% African American, 0.04% Native American, 5.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,103 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.7% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.17.

27.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $137,216, and the median income for a family was $155,694. Males had a median income of $105,632 versus $70,286 for females. The per capita income for the town was $69,179.[1] 2.3% of the population and 1.4% of families were below the poverty line. 2.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 25, 2005[12]
Party		Active voters	Inactive voters	Total voters
	Republican	1,436	72	1,508
	Democratic	1,767	125	1,892
	Unaffiliated	2,951	253	3,204
	Minor Parties	7	0	7
Total		3,766	138	3,904

Other

• The sulfur match was invented in Woodbridge by Samuel Beecher and Thomas Sanford in 1835.
• Woodbridge is often mentioned on the CW show Gilmore Girls as a rival of Stars Hollow, a fictional Connecticut town. Per the show, Woodbridge is to the east of Stars Hollow.
• Because of its proximity to Yale and its good school district, Woodbridge is considered one of the most educated towns in Connecticut. In 2011, Woodbridge had the highest percentage of residents with graduate or professional degrees in Connecticut.[13]

Notable people

• Guido Calabresi, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit judge and Yale Law School professor.
• Charles Edward Clark, jurist and politician.
• David Gelernter, author and Yale University professor of computer science.
• Suzanne Greco, businesswoman.
• Boone Guyton, businessman, author, and WWII test pilot.
• John Hollander, poet and literary critic.
• Bun Lai, award-winning chef, author, and creator the first sustainable sushi in the world, Miya's.
• David Aaron Kessler, physician and former FDA commissioner.
• Jeremy Leven, Hollywood screenwriter, director, producer, and novelist.
• Jonathan Mostow, film director, producer, screenwriter.
• Paul Roessler, musician, composer, and producer.
• Tarek Saleh, NFL linebacker.
• Louise Shaffer, actress, scriptwriter, and author.
• Bernie S. Siegel, author and pediatric surgeon.
• Maury Yeston, Tony Award-winning Broadway composer and lyricist.
• Josh Zeid, American-Israeli baseball player.

Notable locations

On the National Register of Historic Places

• Darling House Museum - added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979
• Woodbridge Green Historic District - added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003

References

1. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Woodbridge town, New Haven County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
2. The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 335.
3. "History" web page, Amity & Woodbridge Historical Association website, retrieved February 6, 2008,
4. "Obituary: Woodbridge First Selectman Edward Maum Sheehy, 73". Bethwood, Connecticut Patch. 24 April 2013.
5. "Woodbridge School District".
6. Spring 2005 Ezra Academy pamphlet
7. http://www.woodbridgect.org/content/136/default.aspx
8. http://www.woodbridgeparks.org/LandDonations.pdf
9. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
12. "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
13. LEE, MARA. "Woodbridge Leads State In Advanced Degrees". courant.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.

External links

• Official website
• Woodbridge Historical Society