| Cromwell, Connecticut | |
| Official Name: | Town of Cromwell |
| Settlement Type: | Town |
| Coordinates: | 41.6097°N -72.6631°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | U.S. state |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Middlesex |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Lower CT River Valley |
| Established Title: | Incorporated |
| Established Date: | June 18, 1851[1] |
| Government Type: | Council-Manager |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | James Demetriades (D) |
| Leader Title1: | Town council |
| Leader Title2: | Town Manager |
| Leader Name2: | Anthony J. Salvatore |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Total Km2: | 35.0 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 13.5 |
| Area Land Km2: | 32.1 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 12.4 |
| Area Water Km2: | 1.3 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.5 |
| Elevation Ft: | 128 |
| Population Total: | 14302 |
| Population As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Density Km2: | 445.5 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 1059.4 |
| Timezone: | EST |
| Utc Offset: | -5 |
| Timezone Dst: | EDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 06416 |
| Area Code: | 860/959 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 09-18080 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 0213414 |
| Blank3 Name: | Major highways |
| Nickname: | Crossroads of Connecticut, or the Rose City |
Cromwell is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States, located within the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The population was 14,225 at the 2020 census.[2]
The land where Cromwell is now located, was once named for the Mattabesset, a region and settlement that was once home to Eastern Algonquian language-speaking Native Americans. This may have included the Tunxis, Quinnipiac, Wangunk, and the Wappinger. In 1651, the Mattabesset settlement was incorporated as a town by English settlers. By 1653, the colonists had renamed the settlement Middletown. The area now known as Cromwell was referred to by many names before separating from Middletown. It was commonly referred to as the Upper Houses or Upper Middletown.[3] Upper Middletown is surrounded by natural barriers; such as, the Connecticut River, Mattabesset River and by ridgelines in the North and West. By 1715, the Upper Houses had 50 households, their own school, church and cemetery. Before the creation of the new cemetery in January 1713, burials took place in Middletown. The earliest burial is that of Martha Gipson, who had died in February of that year. As Middletown began to emerge as one of the busiest ports in New England, the Upper Houses also boasted its own expansion of maritime industries. As industry expanded within the Upper Houses a merchant class grew with it. Some of the village's wealthier families owned slaves.[4] Middletown was then incorporated as a city in 1784.
In the 19th century, the War of 1812 limited maritime trade creating a decline in the Upper Houses. Some continued to pursue maritime industry, the village generally reverted back to its agricultural beginnings. By the mid century, the area was revitalized by the founding of several new industries. John and Elisha Stevens formed the J & E Stevens Company in 1843.[5] The company had intended to manufacture cast-iron hardware, hammers and a few iron toys. The brothers later shifted their business plan after much success with their iron toys. J & E Stevens Company would grow to become the largest manufacturer of cast-iron toys in the county.[6] Today, toys produced by this company are a valuable collectible item. In the early 1870s, Andrew N. Pierson emigrated from Sweden and established A.N. Pierson’s Inc.[7] The company started as a small floral nursery, and later evolved into the largest commercial rose growing enterprise in the country.[8] These new industries and labor opportunities created further opportunities for those immigrating to the area. Irish, German and Italian immigrants found housing along the river on lower Main Street, in areas that were more prone to flooding.[4]
With the expansion of the Upper Houses, and the geographical barriers around the town it became increasingly difficult to maintain connection with the larger city of Middletown. Initially, the Upper Houses was able to meet the needs of its residents with the creation of its own school and church, but by the mid-19th century, a stronger movement to become independent of Middletown had developed. In 1851, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut recognized Cromwell as a new town with a population of 1,259.[4]
The exact origin of the town's name is debated, but many acknowledge that it was named for either the 17th-century English leader Oliver Cromwell, or for the privateer Oliver Cromwell. Despite the continuing presence of industry, Cromwell maintained its rural character until the mid-20th century. Post-World War II the town began to change significantly, including growth in population. With the expansion of the highway system in Connecticut during the 1970s, Cromwell became an intersecting point for three major highway systems. The highway system created further retail and population development. By 1980 the population had grown to 10,265, which is over three times the size of 40 years earlier.[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.9sqmi, of which, 12.4sqmi is land and 0.5sqmi (4.03%) is water.
The riverfront of the area often experiences freshet during the changing of the seasons. While minor flooding has occurred since Colonial times, occasionally more serious flooding occurs; such as the historic flood of March 1936,[19] the 1955, Hurricanes Connie and Diane,[20] and the most recent serious flood in 1984.
A major north–south highway, Interstate 91, with two Cromwell exits, runs through the Town. The Central Connecticut Expressway (Route 9), opened at the end of 1989, enhances the Town's location as it connects I-95 in Old Saybrook, I-91 in Cromwell and I-84, the State's major east–west highway in New Britain.[21]
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income. At the 2010 census there were 14,005 people, 5,212 households, and 3,262 families in the town. The population density was 1038.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 5,365 housing units at an average density of 432.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the town was 93.08% White, 3.13% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.03% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.19%.[22]
Of the 5,212 households 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 30.3% of households were one person and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.99.
The age distribution was 21.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.2% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median household income was US$60,662, and the median family income was $70,505. Males had a median income of $46,223 versus $36,218 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,786. About 1.6% of families and 3.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 27, 2020[23] | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters | Percentage | ||||||
| Democratic | align = center | 3,511 | align = center | 190 | align = center | 3,701 | align = center | 32.98% | ||
| Republican | align = center | 2,418 | align = center | 98 | align = center | 2,516 | align = center | 22.42% | ||
| Unaffiliated | align = center | 4,607 | align = center | 180 | align = center | 4,787 | align = center | 42.66% | ||
| Minor parties | align = center | 211 | align = center | 7 | align = center | 218 | align = center | 1.94% | ||
| Total | align = center | 10,747 | align = center | 475 | align = center | 11,222 | align = center | 100% | ||
| Presidential Election Results[24] [25] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties | |
| 2020 | 55.5% 4,872 | 42.7% 3,749 | 1.8% 162 | |
| 2016 | 49.5% 3,808 | 45.3% 3,486 | 5.2% 400 | |
| 2012 | 55.3% 4,063 | 43.5% 3,193 | 1.2% 92 | |
| 2008 | 59.4% 4,551 | 39.0% 2,989 | 1.6% 120 | |
| 2004 | 55.2% 4,126 | 43.2% 3,226 | 1.6% 121 | |
| 2000 | 58.0% 3,865 | 37.1% 2,472 | 14.9% 328 | |
| 1996 | 54.2% 3,389 | 32.1% 2,007 | 13.7% 857 | |
| 1992 | 43.0% 3,030 | 32.8% 2,306 | 24.2% 1,704 | |
| 1988 | 48.0% 2,955 | 50.9% 3,135 | 1.1% 66 | |
| 1984 | 40.6% 2,204 | 59.2% 3,213 | 0.2% 11 | |
| 1980 | 41.3% 2,185 | 40.9% 2,168 | 17.8% 943 | |
| 1976 | 51.0% 2,519 | 48.6% 2,399 | 0.4% 23 | |
| 1972 | 45.4% 1,957 | 53.5% 2,306 | 1.1% 47 | |
| 1968 | 53.7% 1,899 | 40.7% 1,439 | 5.6% 198 | |
| 1964 | 71.1% 2,461 | 28.9% 999 | 0.00% 0 | |
| 1960 | 54.4% 1,918 | 45.6% 1,607 | 0.00% 0 | |
| 1956 | 34.2% 993 | 65.8% 1,909 | 0.00% 0 | |
There are four public schools in Cromwell: Edna C. Stevens Elementary School (Pre-K–2), Woodside Intermediate School (3–5), Cromwell Middle School (6–8), and Cromwell High School (9–12).
Fire Protection for the Town of Cromwell is provided by the Cromwell Fire District via the Cromwell Fire Department. The Cromwell Fire Department is a combination fire department that operates out of three stations. The Fire Department operates on a rotating 24/7 schedule with six Firefighter/EMT's assigned to each shift. The Fire Department also operates ambulances to provided Emergency Medical Care to residents and visitors.
Full time Firefighters are supplemented by Part-time and Volunteer Firefighters.
Top employers in Cromwell according to the town's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report[26]
| Employer |
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Town of Cromwell | 462 | |
| 2 | Adelbrook Behavior & Developmental Services | 356 | |
| 3 | Walmart | 313 | |
| 4 | Covenant Village | 274 | |
| 5 | GKN Aerospace | 250 | |
| 6 | Stop & Shop | 160 | |
| 7 | ShopRite | 138 | |
| 8 | Lowe's | 132 | |
| 9 | Autumn Lake Healthcare | 130 | |
| 10 | Tournament Players Club | 126 |