Old Greenwich, Connecticut should not be confused with Greenwich, Connecticut.
| Old Greenwich, Connecticut | |
| Official Name: | Village of Old Greenwich |
| Settlement Type: | Census-designated place |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | U.S. state |
| Subdivision Name1: | Connecticut |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Fairfield |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Western CT |
| Subdivision Type4: | Town |
| Subdivision Name4: | Greenwich |
| Unit Pref: | US |
| Area Total Km2: | 9.01 |
| Area Land Km2: | 5.17 |
| Area Water Km2: | 3.84 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 3.48 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 2.00 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 1.48 |
| Population As Of: | 2010 |
| Population Total: | 6611 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | Eastern |
| Utc Offset: | -5:00 |
| Timezone Dst: | Eastern |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -4:00 |
| Area Code: | 203/475 |
| Established Date: | 1641 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 09-56900 |
| Blank1 Name: | GNIS feature ID |
| Blank1 Info: | 2631571 |
Old Greenwich is a coastal village in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States.[1] As of the 2010 census it had a population of 6,611.[2]
The town of Greenwich is one political and taxing body, but consists of several distinct sections or neighborhoods, such as Byram, Cos Cob, Glenville, Mianus, Old Greenwich, Riverside and Greenwich (sometimes referred to as central, or downtown, Greenwich). Of these neighborhoods, three (Cos Cob, Old Greenwich, and Riverside) have separate postal names and ZIP codes.
One of the founding settlers of Old Greenwich was Elizabeth Fones,[3] niece and daughter-in-law of John Winthrop, founder and Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. What is now called Greenwich Point was known for much of its early history as "Elizabeth Neck" in recognition of Elizabeth (Fones) Feake Hallet and her 1640 purchase of the Point and much of the area now known as Old Greenwich.[4]
The Old Greenwich Railroad Station, originally called the "Sound Beach Railroad Station", built in 1894 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, serves commuters in the neighborhood. The town's largest beach is on a long, thin peninsula at the southwest end of the neighborhood. The town's local beach is called Tod's Point after a former resident. The beach is now public property, which belongs to the town of Greenwich. Residents can purchase a seasonal beach pass. Non-residents can purchase a one-day pass for $7 per person and $35 per vehicle. During "off season", Innis Arden, a local golf club, is a popular sledding destination for kids in Old Greenwich and neighboring Stamford.
Old Greenwich was known as "Sound Beach" in the 19th century for its proximity to Long Island Sound, and the main road through the small downtown business section is Sound Beach Avenue.
Old Greenwich had an industrial presence in the 1950s and 1960s when Electrolux had a vacuum manufacturing facility on Forest Avenue, opposite "ECCman Center" (now Greenwich Civic Center). Condé Nast operated a printing facility in Old Greenwich from 1924 to 1964 which published many different magazines, including Vogue, Vanity Fair and House & Garden.[5] [6]
The town of Greenwich has one political body (RTM – Representative Town Meeting). It has several distinct sections each with its own mailing address and ZIP code, such as Byram, Cos Cob, Glenville, Mianus, and Riverside and Greenwich proper (downtown Greenwich). The original "well to do" population lived mainly in "The Back Country" (north of the Merritt Parkway) or in the exclusive Belle Haven area on the waterfront. The town was founded there in 1641.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Old Greenwich has a total area of 3.48 mi2 (9.01 km2), of which 2.00 mi2 (5.17 km2) is land and 1.48 mi2 (3.84 km2), or 42.5%, is water.[7]
As with other parts of the Town of Greenwich, Old Greenwich is in the Greenwich Public Schools school district.[8] The district's comprehensive high school is Greenwich High School.