Newtown CT

NEWTOWN CT
Town Hall: 45 Main Street, Newtown CT 06468
Main Phone: (203) 270-4201
Online: http://www.newtown-ct.gov

Geography & History
The town of Newtown, originally known as Quanneapague, was purchased from the Pohtatuck Indians in 1705. Settled from Stratford an incorporated in 1711, Newtown was a stronghold of Tory sentiment during the early Revolutionary War. French General Rochambeau and his troops encamped here in 1781 on their way to the siege of Yorktown, Virginia, which ended the Revolution. An important crossroads throughout its early history, the village of Hawleyville briefly emerged as a railroad center and the town's population grew to over 4,000 circa 1881. In the following decades, the population dwindled to a low of 2,635 in 1930 before again growing. Newtown covers an area of approximately 60 square miles.

Local industry has included the manufacture of furniture, tea bags, combs, fire hose, folding boxes, buttons, an hats, as well as farming and mica and feldspar mining. The game of Scrabble was developed here by James Brunot.

Among notable residents have been Connecticut Governors Isaac Toucey, Henry Dutton, and Luzon Morris as well as Charles Goodyear, inventor of the vulcanization process; Purdy, who ministered to an buried smallpox victims during an epidemic at the time of the Civil War; Elizabeth Hawley, Newtown's benefactress: and opera star Grace Moore.

Local landmarks are the flag (or liberty) pole first erected in 1876; H.G. Warner's store, in operation by the same family since 1857; The Newtown Bee, a newspaper serving the Newtown area since 1877; and the rooster weathervane atop teh Congregational Church, said to have been used as a target by French soldiers encamped here in 1781 during the Revolutionary War.

Population & Demographics
Newtown, Connecticut is home to just over 26,000 residents. There are nearly 9,000 homes, 95% of which are single family units. The median age is 38 and the median household income more than $97,000.

Parks & Recreation
The town of Newtown offers a great deal of programs for area residents and there are numerous parks and fields offering playgrounds, swimming, tennis, softball, baseball, volleyball, lacrosse, soccer, as well as a nature center and trails.

Economic & Business Climate
newtown is one of the fastest growing communities in Connecticut and welcomes development from a wide range of businesses. The newtown Chamber of Commerce serves the interests of local businesses.

Top Taxpayers - Newtown CT (2002)
The following are the top taxpayers on the newtown, CT Grand List
• Connecticut Light & Power Company
• Sand Hill LLC
• Curtis Packaging Corp.
• Barnabas Realty Group Partnership
• Homesteads of Newtown LLC

Top Employers - Newtown CT (2002)
The following are the top employers within newtown, CT
• Town of Newtown-Board of Education
• State of Connecticut (Dept. of Corrections)
• Kendro Laboratory Products
• Pitney Bowes
• Taunton Press