Woodbridge, Connecticut
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Woodbridge is a town located in New Haven County, Connecticut. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 8,983.
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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.
In 1661, the town was the location of one of the hideouts of the "Regicides" -- judges who had signed the death warrant for King Charles I of England. The ruins of their hideout can be found nearby the West Rock hills, which run along the town's eastern border.
In the modern era, Woodbridge has undergone significant suburbanization, although the majority of homes in town are located on large plots of land. The town also serves as the location of Amity High School, which it shares under a tri-partite school system arrangement with the neighboring towns of Bethany and Orange. It is also home to Ezra Academy, a Jewish day school, and Beecher Road School, an elementary school for grades k-6.
Woodbridge is one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut, ranking 15th in the state in terms of per capita income.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 49.8 km² (19.2 mi²). 48.8 km² (18.8 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it 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.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 8,983 people, 3,103 households, and 2,553 families residing in the town. The population density was 184.2/km² (477.0/mi²). There were 3,189 housing units at an average density of 65.4/km² (169.3/mi²). 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.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.8% 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% who 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 $102,121, and the median income for a family was $111,729. Males had a median income of $75,965 versus $41,731 for females. The per capita income for the town was $49,049. 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.
Interesting facts
The sulfur match was invented in Woodbridge by Samuel Beecher and Thomas Sanford in 1835.
Municipal government is currently headed by first selectwoman Amey W. Marella, a Republican. She has accepted a job with the State of Connecticut as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection. Before assuming the post of first selectwoman she was an attorney with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Amity Regional High School is located in Woodbridge, Connecticut.
Amey Marrella has won three consecutive elections in the town. She beat Susan Jacobs in 2001, Janice Horowitz in 2003, and Lawrence Grotheer in 2005.
Kevin Brennan served as principal of Beecher Road School from 1992-1999. He was forced out by an unruly board and several teachers, including Judy Koch, music. Unfortunately, though the composition of the board has changed, the idiocy present in it has not. Beecher has gone through nine principals in seven years. In 2001, the board split the school into two schools (one preK-2 and multi-age; and one 3-6), once of the worst decisions it ever made.