Barkhamsted, Connecticut

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Barkhamsted, Connecticut
settlement_type = Town


imagesize =
image_caption =


mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location in Connecticut


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =
subdivision_type = NECTA
subdivision_name = Hartford
subdivision_type1 = Region
subdivision_name1 = Litchfield Hills
subdivision_type2 =
subdivision_name2 =
government_type =
leader_title = Government type
leader_name = Selectman-town meeting
leader_title1 = First Selectman
leader_name1 = Donald S. Stein
established_title = Incorporated
established_date = 1779
area_land_km2 = 93.8
area_water_km2 = 6.8
area_total_sq_mi = 38.8
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 100.5
population_as_of = 2005
population_total = 3711
population_footnotes = [ [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2005_9.csv U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates] ]
population_density_sq_mi = 103
population_density_km2 = 40
timezone = Eastern
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = Eastern
utc_offset_DST = -4
area_land_sq_mi = 36.2
area_water_sq_mi = 2.6
elevation_m = 171
elevation_ft = 561
latd = 41 |latm = 55 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 72 |longm = 58 |longs = 20 |longEW = W
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 06063, 06065
region =
website = [http://www.munic.state.ct.us/Barkhamsted/ Barkhamsted]
area_code = 860
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 09-02760
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0213386
footnotes =

Barkhamsted is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut and contains six villages, West Hill, Mallory, Center Hill, Washington Hill, Pleasant Valley and Riverton. The population was 3,494 at the 2000 census. Barkhamsted was named after Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England. [http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/townorder.htm]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.8 square miles (100.6 km²), of which, 36.2 square miles (93.8 km²) of it is land and 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²) of it (6.72%) is water. A high percentage of the land in the town is owned by the State of Connecticut as state forest (People's State Forest and American Legion State Forest) and by the Metropolitan District Commission as water supply area. Major bodies of water include the Barkhamsted Reservoir, Lake McDonough, and the Farmington River.

Principal communities

*Barkhamsted Center
*Center Hill
*Pleasant Valley
*Riverton

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,494 people, 1,334 households, and 1,036 families residing in the town. The population density was 96.5 people per square mile (37.2/km²). There were 1,436 housing units at an average density of 39.6/sq mi (15.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.54% White, 0.06% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.

There were 1,334 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $65,972, and the median income for a family was $73,218. Males had a median income of $51,925 versus $38,102 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,961. About 1.8% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.

Services

The town of Barkhamsted has one elementary school located in the village of Pleasant Valley. Its high school and middle school students attend Northwestern Regional 7 with students from three neighboring towns.

There are three fire departments located in Barkhamsted. The Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Riverton Volunteer Fire Company, and Barkhamsted East Volunteer Fire Company. The town employs one paid daytime driver/firefighter to assist the volunteers during normal work hours.

Emergency medical care is provided by the Winsted Area Ambulance Association, the New Hartford Volunteer Ambulance Association, and a Campion Paramedic. Both Winsted and New Hartford are non-profit volunteer based services.

Transportation

Route 181 is the main highway through the town center. The village of Riverton is located along Route 20 and the village of Pleasant Valley is off Route 44 (via Route 318).

Points of Interest

Home of the historical Saville Dam, Barkhamsted Reservoir, and People's State Forest. This one traffic light town is also the site of the Pleasant Valley Drive-In Movie Theater and Hitchcock Fine Home Furnishings.

In Spring of 2006, Hitchcock Fine Home Furnishings closed their flagship retail store in Riverton. This news was a major disappointment to the other businesses and residents of the town.

Within the Barkhamsted Reservoir lies the foundations of Barkhamsted Hollow, an original portion of town that was purchased by The Metropolitan District Commission during The Great Depression. This area was intentionally flooded following the construction of the Saville Dam.

The center of town contains the Pleasant Valley General Store, the Barkhamsted Elementary School, the Drive-In, the Post Office, and the Town Hall.

A section of Barkhamsted is called Riverton, which holds a post office, the Riverton General store, Sweetpea's Restaurant, Greenwood Glass Blowing Studio and Gallery, and the Riverton Inn. Two major points of interest in Riverton were once the Hitchcock Factory and the Sweet Shop, but both closed down in the Spring of 2006. This is also the location of the Annual Riverton Fair, which takes place in early October of each year. The Riverton Fair is the last fair of the year in Connecticut.

On the National Register of Historic Places

* American Legion Forest CCC Shelter — west side of West River Road, American Legion State Forest (added October 4, 1986)
* Barkhamsted Center Historic District — 119, 131 Center Hill Road; 2,5,6,8 Old Town Hall Road (added 1999)
* Beaver Meadow Complex Prehistoric Archeological District (added October 21, 1988)
* Old Riverton Inn — 436 E. River Rd. (added August 24, 1992)
* Peoples Forest Museum — Greenwood Road, Peoples State Forest (added October 4, 1986)
* William Jr. House — 5 Mountain Road (added May 14, 1999)
* The Riverton Historic District — (added May 15, 2007)

References

External links

* [http://www.munic.state.ct.us/Barkhamsted/ Town government Web site]
* [http://www.barkhamstedhistory.org/ Barkhamsted Historical Society Web site]
* [http://www.artsnwct.org/ Northwest Connecticut Arts Council]
* [http://www.litchfieldhills.com/app/index.jsp Northwest Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau]
* [http://www.nwctc.commnet.edu/ Northwestern Connecticut Community College] in Winsted