Cromwell, Connecticut
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.
History
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The company started as a small floral nursery, and later evolved into the largest commercial rose growing enterprise in the country. These new industries and their demand for labor 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.
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.
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 18th century 20-gun 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.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and 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, the 1955, Hurricanes Connie and Diane, 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, opened at the end of 1989, enhances the Town's location as it connects to I-95 in Old Saybrook, I-91 in Cromwell and I-84, the state's major east–west highway in New Britain.
Demographics
At the 2010 census there were 14,005 people, 5,212 households, and 3,262 families in the town. The population density was. There were 5,365 housing units at an average density of. 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%.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.
Economy
Top employers in Cromwell according to the town's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report| # | Employer | # of Employees |
| 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 |
Arts and culture
On the National Register of Historic Places:Historically Significant Places:
- Cromwell Historical Society - Located within the historic home of John Stevens, built in 1853
- Cromwell Belden Public Library’s Elizabeth Maselli Room
- The Old Burial Ground
- Hillside Cemetery, East and West
- Former Home of Emily Pierson: Listed on the National Votes for Women Trail
- TPC River Highlands - location of the Travelers Championship, PGA Tour event
Parks and recreation
- River Highlands State Park
- Cromwell Meadow Wildlife Management Area
- Cromwell Landings
- Pierson Park - named for Andrew N. Pierson, the Rose King of America and founder of A.N. Pierson, Inc.
- Riverport Park at Frisbee Landing
- Watrous Park
- Patriot's Corner
- Memorial Town Green
- Valour Memorial Green
- Gold Star Green
Government
| Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 27, 2020 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 27, 2020 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 27, 2020 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 27, 2020 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 27, 2020 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 27, 2020 |
| Party | Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters | Percentage |
| Democratic | 3,511 | 190 | 3,701 | 32.98% | |
| Republican | 2,418 | 98 | 2,516 | 22.42% | |
| Unaffiliated | 4,607 | 180 | 4,787 | 42.66% | |
| Minor parties | 211 | 7 | 218 | 1.94% | |
| Total | Total | 10,747 | 475 | 11,222 | 100% |
Education
There are four public schools in Cromwell: Edna C. Stevens Elementary School, Woodside Intermediate School, Cromwell Middle School, and Cromwell High School.Infrastructure
Fire department
Fire Protection 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, on a rotating 24/7 schedule with six Firefighter/EMT's assigned to each shift. The Fire Department operates ambulances. Full time firefighters are supplemented by part-time and volunteer firefighters.Highways
- Interstate 91 in Connecticut
- Connecticut Route 3
- Connecticut Route 9
- Connecticut Route 99
Notable people
- David Gere, actor and film producer, Gere was born and raised in Cromwell and attended Cromwell High School, class of 1993
- Donald Honig, novelist, historian and editor; lived in Cromwell for over 40 years. In September 2020, there was a ceremony at the Cromwell Belden Public Library where Honig was given with a key to the town and presented with a proclamation declaring it "Donald Honig Day." In his honor, there is a special "Donald Honig Collection," where many of his books are on display at the library
- Chad Ripperger, a well known Catholic Priest, theologian, philosopher and exorcist. Ripperger had studied at the Holy Apostles College and Seminary located in Cromwell, CT.
- Josiah Belden, born in Upper Houses in 1815, he left the town in 1831. He was a member of the first wagon train taking settlers to California in 1841. There, he became wealthy running a general store during the Gold Rush. In 1888 Belden sent a substantial donation for the new public library in Cromwell.
- Emily Pierson, a graduate from Vassar College, and received a master’s degree at Columbia University. Pierson was actively involved in the Connecticut Effort to win the vote for women. After the 19th amendment was ratified, Pierson attended Yale Medical School, graduating in 1924 when she was in her mid-40s. She then practiced medicine in Cromwell for 40 years, while serving as the town director of health and the school physician.
- James Timothy Pratt, a U.S. Representative who was born in Cromwell in 1802.
- Rufus B. Sage, born in the Upper Houses in 1817, an American writer, journalist and mountain man. After all his adventures, he returned home to Cromwell where he spent the rest of his life.