Torrington, Connecticut
Torrington | ||
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City of Torrington | ||
FIPS code 09-76500 | | |
GNIS feature ID | 0211514 | |
U.S. Highways | ||
State Routes | ||
Website | www |
Torrington is the most populated municipality and largest city in
Torrington is a former mill town, as are most other towns along the
Torrington has two radio stations, WAPJ 89.9 FM, operated by the non-profit Torrington Community Radio Foundation, and WSNG 610 AM, owned by Buckley Broadcasting.
Torrington has two daily newspapers. The
History
Torrington was first settled in 1735 by Ebenezer Lyman, Jr., of Durham, Connecticut. The downtown section of Torrington was known as Wolcottville, after the Wolcott family of Connecticut, which produced several governors between 1813 and 1881.[6] Its early settlers resided on the hills west of the Naugatuck River where the first school, church, store, and tavern were constructed. Later, the eastern hill known as Torringford was settled, as it provided the best farmland. Torrington was given permission to organize a government and incorporate as a town in October 1740. The town is named after Torrington in Devon, England.[7]
The fast moving waters of the Naugatuck River were used to power early nineteenth-century industries. Industrial growth skyrocketed when Frederick Wolcott constructed a woolen mill in 1813. The mill attracted a large workforce and created demands for goods, services, and housing.
Israel Coe and Erastus Hodges began the construction of two
In 1955, a massive flood destroyed much of the downtown area and other property in the region when Hurricanes Connie and Diane caused local rivers to overflow. Torrington is home to several state parks, one of which is the very popular Burr Pond State Park. In 1851, Milo Burr placed a dam across the confluence of several mountain streams impounding water for power. The tannery and three active sawmills erected downstream consumed the finest pines and oaks for miles around to meet the needs of lumber production. The clearings became homesites, and Connecticut's industrial leadership was further strengthened. Burr Pond was designated as a state park in 1949. The pond itself has several small inlets and islands. The shore is rocky and there are deep drop-offs in several places, but the pond only has a maximum depth of thirteen feet. Fish species present include largemouth bass, chain pickerel, black crappie, yellow perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and brown bullhead. Gail Borden, discoverer of the process of milk preservation by evaporation and condensation, built the world's first condensed milk factory here, in 1856. The new milk product proved to be of great value, particularly to the Union Army during the Civil War. Fire destroyed the mill in 1877. A bronze tablet marks its site, just below the falls.
Torrington is the birthplace of abolitionist John Brown. The birthplace accidentally burned in 1918.[8] In the year 2000, the Torrington Historical Society acquired the property in merger with the John Brown Association. Plans are now being formulated to improve visitor services and to construct interpretive trails on the property.
There was a 100-acre University of Connecticut regional campus in Torrington. It closed in May 2016 due to low enrollment [9] In 2018 the site was sold to Five Points Arts Gallery for $375,000.[10]
Downtown redevelopment
Torrington is planning to revitalize its downtown area in an effort to attract residents and visitors to the city's shopping and cultural opportunities. These redevelopment plans are still in discussion and are not yet completed. The City of Torrington will receive $500,000 for improvements and streetscape enhancements to Torrington's Main Street and downtown. The grant, which will flow through the state, will be designated for downtown improvements on the east side of Main Street and will include, among other enhancements, new sidewalks. A $750,000 grant for downtown improvements secured earlier in 2012 for the west side of Main Street will make similar improvements.
The following ideas have been discussed:
Coe Memorial Park restoration
The historic restoration and renovation to downtown Coe Memorial Park were completed in the beginning of 2004. The Coe Memorial Park Subcommittee and the City of Torrington, worked closely with Ferrero Hixon Associates, to restore the Park to a Victorian walking park, much as it was when it was first gifted to the Town in 1906. These renovations included new sidewalks and paths, and the relocation of memorials and monuments. In 2005, award-winning horticulturist, Gwenythe B. Harvey, owner of the firm The Garden Goddess, LLC, was hired to redefine, design and upgrade existing garden areas. Coe Memorial Park's Botanical Gardens has since become a well-known tourist destination.[11]
Retail expansion
Torrington hopes to attract a wide variety of merchants into its downtown setting. Empty and abandoned buildings would be converted into a mix of retail, office, and residential space. A potential plan discusses the possibility of a national clothing retailer or bookstore chain constructing a location at the top of Water Street on the site of the Kelley Bus Company. This plan had come under fire by some because it involves the demolition of the former Torrington railroad station, which is considered by many to be historical. Despite this, the 113-year-old former Torrington railroad station was demolished, as a safety hazard, on January 4, 2011. The historical society was able to save a few pieces, including the ticket window and some of the terra-cotta ornaments from the outside of the building.
Accessibility
A
Roads and traffic
To relieve congestion, the city plans to convert the Main Street/Water Street/East Main Street downtown intersection into a "+" shape, rather than its current criticized setup. The city expects to convert Main Street into a
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 40.4 square miles (104.6 km2). Approximately 39.8 square miles (103.1 km2) of it is land and 1.5 km2 (0.6 sq mi or 1.41%) of it is water.
The eastern and western sides of the city, at its borders, are at the tops of peaks, while the downtown and central sections of the city are in the Naugatuck River Valley. This provides some interesting views from the higher locations, with the city lights as a backdrop below. Due to the lack of suitable highways and bypass routes in an East–west direction, crossing the city requires driving down into the valley and back up the other side.
Principal communities
- Burrville
- Drakeville
- Newfield
- Torringford (part of which has been named the Torringford Street Historic District)
- Downtown Torrington
- West Torrington
- Wrightville
Climate
This
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 1,400 | — | |
1800 | 1,417 | 1.2% | |
1810 | 1,586 | 11.9% | |
1820 | 1,449 | −8.6% | |
1830 | 1,651 | 13.9% | |
1840 | 1,707 | 3.4% | |
1850 | 1,916 | 12.2% | |
1860 | 2,278 | 18.9% | |
1870 | 2,893 | 27.0% | |
1880 | 3,327 | 15.0% | |
1890 | 4,283 | 28.7% | |
1900 | 8,360 | 95.2% | |
1910 | 15,483 | 85.2% | |
1920 | 20,623 | 33.2% | |
1930 | 26,040 | 26.3% | |
1940 | 26,988 | 3.6% | |
1950 | 27,820 | 3.1% | |
1960 | 30,045 | 8.0% | |
1970 | 31,952 | 6.3% | |
1980 | 30,987 | −3.0% | |
1990 | 33,687 | 8.7% | |
2000 | 35,202 | 4.5% | |
2010 | 36,383 | 3.4% | |
2020 | 35,515 | −2.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[15] |
As of the
There were 14,743 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,841, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $37,702 versus $28,418 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,406.
Government
Torrington is governed by a mayor and a six member Board of Councilmen.[17] Torrington also elects a board of education, a board of public safety, city clerk, and a city treasurer.
Members[18]
- Mayor Elinor Carbone, Chairman
- Anne L. Ruwet, Member
- Drake L. Waldron, Member
- Molly E. Spino, Member
- David L. Oliver, Member
- Paul Cavagnero, Member
- Stephen Ivain, Member
The Board of Councilmen Committees
Committee | Chair | First Member | Second Member |
---|---|---|---|
Personnel | David Oliver | Anne Ruwet | Paul Cavagnero |
Ordinance | Anne Ruwet | Molly Spino | Paul Cavagnero |
Street Light | Molly Spino | Drake Waldron | Stephen Ivain |
Small Cities | Drake Waldron | Stephen Ivain | David Oliver |
Transportation
Three primary state highways meet in downtown Torrington:
There is freight rail service operated by the Naugatuck Railroad extending up the Waterbury Branch to Torrington.
Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks is the closest major commercial airport to Torrington.
Infrastructure
Main Street Marketplace
Main Street Marketplace (MSMP) was created in 2009 by founders Steve Criss, Rose Ponte, Jessica Hodorski and the 2009 ACT Commissioners. The original idea for MSMP was to create an event to bring families together downtown to support the local merchants. Since 2009, MSMP brings in about 3,000 visitors a night, has 40–45 exhibitors, 15–20 food vendors, non-profit exhibitors, and a variety of different types of performers every night.[20] It was a multi-week event [21] that ran consecutively during the summer on a specified weeknight from 5 to 9 o'clock. Main Street was shut down and the marketplace extended from Water Street to Alvord Street.
City financial report (2004)
The City of Torrington typically collects 100% of taxes owed through the use of private tax collectors.
The 2004 General Fund budgetary fund balance was $5.8 million. The city has bonded debt outstanding of $36.8 million for governmental activities and $4.2 million for business type (WPCA). All current outstanding bonded debt will be retired by the year 2021 (current estimate).
Torrington's bond rating is A1.
In 2004, total revenue was $88,444,157: Property Taxes (64.40%), Board of Education Grants (23.44%), Federal & State Grants (7.06%), General Government (3.67%), Public Safety (0.64%), Public Works (0.53%), Invest Income (0.26%), and Recreation (0.01%).
Total expenditures and encumbrances were $88,679,873: Board of Education (53.41%), Public Safety (12.97%), Pension & Miscellaneous (10.58%), Public Works (8.34%), Debt Services (7.69%), General Government (3.49%), Public Health & Social Services (1.99%), Operating Transfers Out (0.85%), Recreation (0.40%), Second Part Budget (0.29%).
Crime and law enforcement
The number of violent crimes recorded by the
In 1984–1985 Torrington's Police Department was sued by
In March 2013, Torrington received a degree of national notoriety for a
Sports teams/events
Baseball
A professional baseball team and two collegiate baseball teams have played their home games at Fuessenich Park.
The Torrington Titans played in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. They played their inaugural season in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League, a collegiate summer baseball league. After leading the ACBL in attendance in 2010, the team was sold to the Carminucci Sports Group (CSG), which transferred their affiliation to the Futures League. CSG owns both the Brockton Rox of the professional Can-Am League, and fellow Futures League affiliate the Martha's Vineyard Sharks.
In 2009, an organization called Our Baseball Haven, introduced a unique concept and proposal through which a collegiate baseball team could once again call Torrington its home. The concept, called "crowdsourcing" was supported by some five hundred individuals and the Peekskill (NY) Robins of the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League (ACBL) were moved to Torrington and their name changed to the Torrington Titans. The Titans capped their successful 2010 inaugural season by winning the Kaiser Division. The Titans did not return for the 2017 season [25]
The
A professional baseball team once located in the city was known as the Torrington Braves, and were a member of the Colonial League. After just one season, 1950, they disbanded.
Running
The Torrington Road Race is a five-mile (8 km) run, which coincides with Donor's Week in August. Starting at Coe Memorial Park, the course extends to the farther reaches of the valley, including Riverside Avenue, Migeon Avenue, Prospect Street and others. The race, which started in 1972, primarily includes runners from around Connecticut and has also attracted some runners each year from Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and others. The record time for the race was 24:22 by Evance Rotich in 2008. Chris Chisholm holds the record for number of times winning the race with six (1984, 2002–2003, 2013–2015), and Anne Curi-Preisig holds the record for most first-place woman finishes with six (1990–1991, 1993–1996). Rosa Moriello is the only woman to finish as the overall winner of the race, with a time of 27:55 in 2012.
High school sports
Torrington High School typically offers football, soccer, volleyball, cross country, swimming, basketball, track, baseball, softball, tennis, and golf, as well as cheerleading and dance.
The Torrington High School Athletic Hall of Fame has elected more than 100 individuals since 1998.
In 2006, the Torrington High School Men's Basketball team captured their first Connecticut State Championship since 1944, beating rival high school Holy Cross of Waterbury.
On the National Register of Historic Places
- Downtown Torrington Historic District—Roughly bounded by Church and Alvord Sts., Center Cemetery, Willow St., E. Main St., Litchfield St., and Prospect St. (added 1988)
- Fyler-Hotchkiss Estate—192 Main St. (added 1987)
- James Alldis House—355 Prospect St. (added 1982)
- Migeon Avenue Historic District—Roughly along Migeon Ave. and parts of Forest St. (added 2002)
- Paugnut Forest Administration Building—385 Burr Mountain Rd. (added 1986)
- Skee's Diner—589 Main St. (added 2002)
- South School—362 S. Main St. (added 1986)
- Torringford Street Historic District—Torringford St. from East Main St. to W. Hill Rd. (added 1991)
- Torrington Fire Department Headquarters—117 Water St. (added 1987)
- Villa Friuli—58 High St. (added 1991)
- Warner Theatre—68-82 Main St. (added 1984)
- Warrenton Woolen Mill—839 Main St. (added 1987)
- Water Street Historic District—Roughly along Water St., from Church St. to Prospect St. (added 2003)
Notable people
- abolitionist, was born in Torrington
- Josiah Bunting III (born 1939), author, educator, soldier and Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute
- W. G. Curtis (1857–1913), a homesteader and politician, lived in Torrington, Connecticut, and later founded and named the town of Torrington, Wyoming after his former residence
- Bill C. Davis (1961–2021), playwright, was living in Torrington at the time of his death
- NBC Universal Sports, was born in Torrington
- sportscaster, was born in Torrington and grew up at 600 Prospect St.
- Aline Huke Frink (1904–2000), mathematician, professor at Pennsylvania State University, born in Torrington
- Ellen Maria Huntington Gates (1835–1920), hymn writer and poet
- Horace Holley(1887–1960), prominent follower of the Bahai Faith was born in Torrington
- Congregationalist missionary
- Lyman Cornelius Smith (1850–1910), an industrialist and founder of the L.C. Smith & Brothers Typewriter Company, which grew into the Smith-Corona Company, was born here
- William L. Shirer, Author of “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich”, lived on the 40 acre estate on Stillwater Pond Road (formerly, Brass Mill Damn Rd.); once the location of Torrington’s first dairy farm.
- Steven Strogatz, American mathematician and popularizer of mathematics, born in Torrington
- Karl Swenson (1908–1978), actor, who died in Torrington
- Tracey Thurman, a victim of domestic violence that drew national attention in 1985[26]
- Patricia Wald (1928–2019), first female judge of the Washington, D.C., circuit, was born and raised in Torrington
- New Jersey Nets
- Jocko Willink (born 1971), US Navy SEAL Lt. Commander, Author, Podcaster. Born in Torrington
See also
References
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau (2018) Metropolitan and micropolitan statistical area population and estimated components of change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2018 (CBSA-EST2018-alldata) https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/time-series/demo/popest/2010s-total-metro-and-micro-statistical-areas.html#par_textimage.
- ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Torrington city, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ "KidsPlay Children's Museum to expand in Torrington". The Register Citizen. July 9, 2015. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "'Dreamtowns' offer refuge from big cities". NBC News. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Connecticut History Online : Item Viewer". July 8, 2009. Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "A Mayoral visit to Torrington, Connecticut". Great Torrington Town Council. August 7, 2017.
- ^ BLINT, DWIGHT F. (September 14, 1997). "JOHN BROWN HOME SITE NOW ON FREEDOM TRAIL". courant.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "UConn Torrington to Close Due to Low Enrollment". April 27, 2016. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ Hutchison, Leslie (December 18, 2018). "Torrington UConn campus sold to gallery for $375K". The Register Citizen. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Coe Memorial Park Historical Page". The Garden Goddess. Retrieved October 9, 2010.
- ^ "City Of Torrington Downtown Municipal Development Plan" (PDF). City Of Torrington. April 2009. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- ^ "City Of Torrington Downtown Municipal Development Plan" (PDF). City Of Torrington. April 2009. p. 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 26, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- ^ "Torrington, Connecticut Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "City Council & WPC Authority | Torrington CT". www.torringtonct.org. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "State of Connecticut Elections Database » 2021 Nov 2 :: Municipal Election :: City/Town Council :: City/Town of Torrington". State of Connecticut Elections Database. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "Home". Northwestern CT Transit District, Torrington CT. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "History - Main Street Marketplace". Archived from the original on May 20, 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2014.
- ^ Olson, Emily M. (July 11, 2018). "Torrington Main Street Marketplace returns for 4 weeks". The Register Citizen. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ a b Levs, Josh; Candiotti, Susan; Levitt, Ross (March 22, 2013). "Rape accusations, teens, and Twitter attacks in another U.S. town". CNN. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Is your town the next Steubenville?". West Hartford News. March 25, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ a b "Torrington High School students rally for rape defendant, blame victim, police- the Register Citizen". Archived from the original on March 31, 2013. Retrieved March 27, 2013.
- ^ "Litchfield County Sports". www.litchfieldcountysports.com. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Untitled Document". cyber.harvard.edu. Retrieved February 24, 2021.