Hamden, Connecticut


Hamden is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The town's nickname is "The Land of the Sleeping Giant". The town is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 61,169 at the 2020 census.

History

The peaceful tribe of Quinnipiacs were the first residents of the land that is now Hamden; they had great regard, awe and veneration for the Blue Hills Sleeping Giant Mountain.
In spring 1638, Theophilus Eaton and the Reverend John Davenport purchased, from Quinnipiac Chief Momauguin, the land that would become the settlement of New Haven Colony. Later that November, Eaton expanded the settlement by acquiring 130 square miles from Mattabesset Chief Montowese. This tract extended the original settlement 10 miles north along the Quinnipiac River, with an additional 8 miles to the east and 5 mi. to the west. This piece of land included what would eventually become Hamden. The payment was made with "11 coats of trucking cloth and a fine coat for the chief."
It was settled by Puritans as part of the town of New Haven.
It remained a part of New Haven until 1786 when 1,400 local residents incorporated the area as a separate town, naming it after the English statesman John Hampden.
Largely developed as a nodal collection of village-like settlements, including Mount Carmel, Whitneyville, Spring Glen, West Woods, and Highwood, Hamden has a long-standing industrial history. In 1798, four years after Eli Whitney began manufacturing the cotton gin in New Haven, he made arms for the U.S. government at a mill site in Hamden, where a waterfall provided a good source of power. At that site, Whitney introduced the modern era of mass production with the concept of interchangeable parts.
The major thoroughfare through Hamden is named Whitney Avenue in honor of Eli Whitney, and it runs past Whitney's old factory, now the Eli Whitney Museum.
Whitney constructed stone houses for his employees in the nearby area, which is still referred to as Whitneyville; this is believed to be the first example of employer-provided homes in U.S. history. In 1806, the dam that Eli Whitney built at the mill site was enlarged to create a reservoir, Lake Whitney. The first truss bridge in the United States was erected nearby over the Mill River in Whitneyville in 1823, but has since been replaced.
The Farmington Canal, which boats traveled from New Haven northward, passed through Hamden between 1825 and 1848 until it was supplanted by railroad travel. The canal right-of-way has become, in recent years, a popular walking and bicycling trail, passing by some of the well-preserved locks of the canal, as well as some of Hamden's oldest sites. Before its use as a walking and bicycling trail, many local residents rode their motocross bikes on the Farmington Canal.
During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Hamden received a steady influx of immigrants, most notably from Italy and Ireland. To this day, a large part of Greater New Haven's Italian-American community resides in Hamden.
During 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 that is the source of the town's nickname.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 1.62%, is water. The town features the Mill River, which runs from the northern part of town, is dammed to form Lake Whitney, and flows from there to Long Island Sound. The town also has the Quinnipiac River and Lake Wintergreen, as well as numerous small streams.

Neighborhoods

Source:
  • Augerville
  • Beecher Heights
  • Centerville
  • Dunbar Hill
  • Hamden Plains
  • Highwood
  • Mix District
  • Mount Carmel
  • Pine Rock
  • Spring Glen
  • State Street
  • West Woods
  • Whitneyville

    Notable areas

The Town Hall at the center of Hamden has a distinctive appearance. The rotunda includes commemorative stained glass windows. Across the street is Freedom Park, which contains a fountain with concrete stepping stones leading to a sign that pleads for peace in several different languages. The Town recently completed new facilities for the police and fire departments in the newly renovated Town Hall.
Hamden was host to the Ghost Parking Lot, a notable roadside public art installation by James Wines located in front of the Hamden Plaza shopping center in Hamden's commercial district on Dixwell Avenue. Erected in 1978, it consisted of 15 car hulks, specially treated and encased in asphalt. Although featured in over 100 art books, the attraction was torn down in 2003 due to the excessive cost of restoration and repair.

Adjacent municipalities

Hamden is bordered by six other towns:
Hamden is governed by a mayor-council form of government, with a 15-member legislative council. Six councilors are elected at large while the other nine are elected by district. Town elections are held biennially during odd years in November. Other elected positions in the town government are the Town Clerk and members of the Board of Education. Positions in the various town boards and commissions are generally appointed by the Mayor subject to approval by the Legislative Council.
Adam Sendroff became the town's 15th mayor in November 2025. Past mayors of Hamden are:
  • Lauren Garrett, 2021-2025
  • Curt Balzano Leng, 2015–2021
  • Scott Jackson, 2009–2015
  • Craig Henrici, 2005–2009
  • Carl Amento, 1999–2005
  • Barbara DeNicola, 1997–1999
  • Lillian Clayman, 1991–1997
  • Johnny Carusone, 1987–1991
  • John DeNicola Jr., 1985–1987
  • Peter Villano, 1981–1985
  • Dick Harris, 1979–1981
  • Lucien DiMeo, 1973–1979
  • Bill Adams, 1967–1973
  • John DeNicola Sr., 1965–1967
John DeNicola Sr. was the town's last first selectman before becoming the town’s first mayor, in November 1965.

Economy

Top employers

Top employers in Hamden according to the town's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
#Employer# of Employees
1Town of Hamden/Board of Education1,612
2Quinnipiac University850–900
3Arden House300–325
4Whitney Center300–325
5CT Transit250–300
6AAA Hamden250–300
7ACES200–250
8Home Depot150–200
9XL Care Agencies of CT150–200
10Stop & Shop100–150

The main industries in the town are retail trade, computer products, manufacture of wire and cable, concrete, pump mixer products, fabricated metals, construction and business services. Business services account for 49.4% of employment in the town, with retail trade accounting for 22.8%, and manufacturing accounting for 9.6%. The top four major employers are the Town government and school district, Quinnipiac University, Harborside Health Care, and Area Cooperative Education Services.
Shaw's Supermarket was one of the top five major employers, but the Hamden Shaw's was sold to ShopRite in a sale of Shaw's Connecticut stores announced on February 13, 2010. The Shaw's supermarket has been shut down and the new ShopRite store has opened.
Hamden is a residential suburb for New Haven, with more residents commuting to work in New Haven than residents working in Hamden.

Transportation

The Wilbur Cross Parkway runs through the center of the town serving as a connection to Hartford to the north and the New York metropolitan area to the south. The town is connected to Interstate 91 via Connecticut Route 40, a spur expressway to the Mount Carmel section of town. The main route from the town center to New Haven passing through the commercial areas of Hamden is Dixwell Avenue. Another route to New Haven via the Spring Glen and Whitneyville residential neighborhoods is Whitney Avenue.
Public transportation is provided by Connecticut Transit New Haven. The main bus routes in the town are the Dixwell Avenue and the Whitney Avenue routes. Other secondary routes serving the town are the State Street, Winchester Avenue, and Shelton Avenue bus routes.
North Haven Station, a station on the Hartford Line commuter railroad, is planned be built next to the Hamden–North Haven border near the Route 40 Connector, serving both towns.
Tweed New Haven Airport in East Haven and Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks are the closest commercial airports to Hamden.

Education

Public

The public school district for the town, Hamden Public Schools, operates eight elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school, enrolling a total of about 5,398 students.

Elementary schools

  • Alice Peck Early Learning Center, located on Hillfield Road
  • Bear Path Elementary School, located on Kirk Road
  • Church Street Elementary School, located on Church Street
  • Dunbar Hill Elementary School, located on Lane Street
  • Helen Street Elementary School, located on Helen Street
  • Ridge Hill Elementary School, located on Carew Road
  • Shepherd Glen Elementary School, located on Skiff Street Extension, established in 1972
  • Spring Glen Elementary School, located on Whitney Avenue
  • West Woods Elementary School, located on West Todd Street

    Middle school

  • Hamden Middle School