Hamden, Connecticut
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Hamden is a town located in New Haven County, Connecticut. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 56,913.
Hamden is home to Quinnipiac University.
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History
Hamden was originally settled by Puritans as part of the town of New Haven. The land was purchased by Theophilus Eaton and Reverend John Davenport in 1638 from the local Quinnipiack Native American tribe. It remained a part of New Haven until 1786 when local residents incorporated themselves as a separate town. It is named after the English statesman John Hampden.
Hamden was largely developed as a nodal collection of village-like settlements. These include Mount Carmel, Whitneyville, Spring Glen, and Highwood. It has a long-standing industrial history having been the site of many workshops of Eli Whitney, as well as Charles Goodyear. The major thoroughfare through town has been named Whitney Avenue in Eli Whitney's honor, and it runs past Whitney's old factory, now the Eli Whitney Museum, at the border with New Haven where a waterfall provided a good source of power.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hamden received a steady influx of immigrants, most notably from Italy and Ireland. To this day, Hamden is an essential part of New Haven's Italian-American community.
In the post-war period, Hamden underwent significant suburban development. Much of the southern section of town is urbanized and is difficult to distinguish from neighboring New Haven. The northern section of town, however, retains a more rural character, and has the distinct neighborhood of Mount Carmel. This area of town is the location of the unique Sleeping Giant hill formation. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant".
Actor Ernest Borgnine was born in Hamden. Playwright Thornton Wilder lived in Hamden and is buried in Mount Carmel Cemetery. In tribute to him, the Miller library (the town's main library) has a stage/performing arts wing named the Thorton Wilder Hall.
Schools
Hamden currently has eight public elementary schools. These are:
- West Woods,
- Church Street,
- Spring Glen,
- Shepard Glen,
- Ridge Hill,
- Dunbar Hill,
- Bear Path and,
- Helen Street
as well as one public Middle School (grades 7, 8, with an enrollement of about 1,100-1,200 students) Hamden Middle School,
and one public High School (grades 9-12, with an enrollment of about 2,100-2,200 students) Hamden High School.
Hamden is also home to two private schools, Hamden Hall Country Day School and Sacred Heart Academy; to Quinnipiac University, which has an enrollment of about 8,000 students; and to the Paier College of Art.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 86.3 km² (33.3 mi²). 84.9 km² (32.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.4 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 1.62% water. The town features the Mill River which runs from Lake Whitney to the Long Island Sound. The town also has the Quinnipiac River and Lake Wintergreen, as well as numerous small strems, many of which are underground.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 56,913 people, 22,408 households, and 14,027 families residing in the town. The population density was 670.4/km² (1,736.1/mi²). There were 23,464 housing units at an average density of 276.4/km² (715.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.30% White, 15.53% African American, 0.13% Native American, 3.53% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.61% from other races, and 1.87% from two or more races. 4.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 22,408 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.8% under the age of 18, 12.1% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $52,351, and the median income for a family was $65,301. Males had a median income of $45,909 versus $35,941 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,039. 7.8% of the population and 4.5% of families were below the poverty line. 8.4% of those under the age of 18 and 7.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
The Arts
Some notable art community locations:
The "Ghost Parking Lot" was a notable roadside piece of art, located in front of the Hamden Plaza shopping center in Hamden's commercial district, on Dixwell Avenue. It was comprised of over a dozen car hulks, specially treated and encased in asphalt. The attraction has since been torn down. There is an urban legend that a man was buried inside his car in this project, but that has never been confirmed.