Litchfield County, Connecticut

Litchfield County is a county in northwestern Connecticut, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 185,186. The county was named after Lichfield, in England. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut and is the state's largest county by area.
Litchfield County comprises the Torrington, CT, Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the New York–Newark, NY–NJ–CT–PA, Combined Statistical Area.
As is the case with the other seven Connecticut counties, there is no county government and no county seat. Each town is responsible for all local services such as schools, snow removal, sewers, and fire and police departments. However, in some cases in rural areas, adjoining towns may agree to jointly provide services or even establish a regional school system. On June 6, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau formally recognized Connecticut's nine councils of governments as county equivalents instead of the state's eight counties. Connecticut's county governments were disbanded in 1960, and the councils of governments took over some of the local governmental functions. Connecticut's eight historical counties continue to exist in name only, and are no longer considered for statistical purposes.

History

Litchfield County was created on October 9, 1751, by an act of the Connecticut General Court from land belonging to Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties. The act establishing the county states:

That the townships of Litchfield, Woodbury, New Milford, Harwinton, New Hartford, Barkhempstead, Hartland, Colebrook, Norfolk, Canaan, Salisbury, Kent, Sharon, Cornwall, Goshen, Torrington, and Winchester, lying in the northwesterly part of this Colony, shall be and remain one entire county, and be called the County of Litchfield, and shall have and exercise the same powers, and authorities, and be subject to the same regulations, as the other counties in this Colony by law have and are subject unto. The bounds of which county shall extend north to the Colony line, and west to the
Colony line till it meets with the township of New Fairfield, and to include the towns abovementioned.

Between 1780 and 1807, several new towns were created at the boundaries between Litchfield County and other counties in Connecticut. The town of Watertown was established in 1780 from Waterbury and was placed under Litchfield County jurisdiction. The establishment of the town of Brookfield from part of New Milford in 1788 resulted in Litchfield County losing territory to Fairfield County. In 1796, the town of Hartland was transferred to Hartford County. In 1798, the town of Oxford was established from part of Southbury causing Litchfield County to lose territory to New Haven County. In 1807, the town of Southbury was transferred to New Haven County. The final boundary change occurred on October 8, 1807, when the town of Middlebury was established from part of Woodbury.
In 1862, during the Civil War, Litchfield County raised the 2nd Connecticut Regiment of Volunteers Heavy Artillery. This regiment, originally the 19th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, served in the defense of Washington, D.C. from September 1862 to March 1864, at which time it was transferred to the Army of the Potomac. On June 1, 1864, the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery fought as infantry in the Battle of Cold Harbor, experiencing the heaviest proportionate losses of any Connecticut regiment in the Civil War. The regiment remained active to the end of the war, and its final mustering out September 5, 1865.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water. It is the largest county in Connecticut by area. Litchfield County is roughly contiguous with the portion of the Appalachian Mountains range known as the Berkshire Mountains.

Adjacent counties

Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Hampden County, Massachusetts
Hartford County
New Haven County
Fairfield County
Dutchess County, New York
Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 185,186. Of the residents, 18.0% were under the age of 18 and 22.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.8 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.7 males. 54.5% of residents lived in urban areas and 45.5% lived in rural areas.
The racial makeup of the county was 85.7% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.2% from some other race, and 7.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.9% of the population.
There were 77,502 households in the county, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 87,615 housing units, of which 11.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.0%.

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2000	Pop 2010		% 2000	% 2010
White alone	172,154	173,403	155,601	94.48%	91.29%	84.02%
Black or African American alone	1,837	2,206	2,957	1.00%	1.16%	1.59%
Native American or Alaska Native alone	279	284	268	0.15%	0.14%	0.14%
Asian alone	2,107	2,877	3,434	1.15%	1.51%	1.85%
Pacific Islander alone	35	41	63	0.01%	0.02%	0.03%
Other race alone	203	239	931	0.11%	0.12%	0.50%
Mixed race or Multiracial	1,684	2,342	7,352	0.92%	1.23%	3.97%
Hispanic or Latino	3,894	8,535	14,580	2.13%	4.49%	7.87%
Total	182,193	189,927	185,186	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 189,927 people, 76,640 households, and 51,530 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 87,550 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 93.9% white, 1.5% Asian, 1.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were Italian, 21.3% were Irish, 14.8% were English, 14.5% were German, 8.3% were Polish, and 3.3% were American.
Of the 76,640 households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.8% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 44.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $69,639 and the median income for a family was $84,890. Males had a median income of $57,362 versus $42,729 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,848. About 3.6% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 182,193 people, 71,551 households, and 49,584 families residing in the county. The population density was. There were 79,267 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 95.77% White, 1.10% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 2.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.8% were of Italian, 14.8% Irish, 10.6% English, 9.2% German and 6.3% French ancestry. 92.3% spoke English, 2.1% Spanish, 1.6% Italian and 1.2% French as their first language.
There were 71,551 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $56,273, and the median income for a family was $66,445. Males had a median income of $45,586 versus $31,870 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,408. About 2.70% of families and 4.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.30% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.

Demographic breakdown by town

Income

Data is from the 2010 United States Census and the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.

Rank	Town		Per capita income	Median household income	Median family income	Population	Number of households
1	Roxbury	Town	$65,236	$97,768	$119,091	2,262	936
2	Bridgewater	Town	$58,172	$86,607	$105,568	1,727	735
3	Washington	Town	$51,907	$67,417	$84,833	3,578	1,512
4	Kent	Town	$51,772	$68,481	$82,260	2,979	1,246
5	Cornwall	Town	$50,901	$80,179	$97,500	1,420	628
6	Warren	Town	$49,142	$87,857	$94,583	1,461	601
7	Salisbury	Town	$47,361	$63,587	$76,719	3,741	1,693
8	Woodbury	Town	$44,060	$80,595	$100,500	9,975	4,214
9	Norfolk	Town	$43,866	$85,526	$98,098	1,709	720
10	Sharon	Town	$43,317	$70,104	$74,313	2,782	1,250
11	New Hartford	Town	$41,709	$80,718	$90,172	6,970	2,632
12	Litchfield	Town	$41,649	$78,750	$100,833	8,466	3,459
13	Litchfield	Borough	$40,635	$68,125	$81,875	1,258	548
14	Bethlehem	Town	$39,704	$82,899	$86,792	3,607	1,411
15	Goshen	Town	$39,562	$76,705	$86,114	2,976	1,192
16	Colebrook	Town	$39,324	$72,000	$85,833	1,485	589
17	New Milford	Town	$38,893	$84,824	$100,574	28,142	10,618
18	Harwinton	Town	$37,902	$85,253	$92,083	5,642	2,170
19	Canaan	Town	$37,283	$54,219	$77,500	1,234	583
20	Morris	Town	$36,682	$81,583	$97,381	2,388	958
21	Barkhamsted	Town	$34,775	$87,656	$107,804	3,799	1,452
22	Watertown	Town	$34,158	$77,771	$93,194	22,514	8,672
23	Thomaston	Town	$31,652	$63,990	$77,842	7,887	3,108
24	Plymouth	Town	$30,081	$71,630	$82,438	12,243	4,803
25	Winchester	Town	$27,264	$57,958	$68,622	11,242	4,815
26	North Canaan	Town	$26,700	$46,417	$52,604	3,315	1,400
27	Torrington	City	$25,948	$48,409	$64,476	36,383	15,243
28	Winsted	City	$25,291	$61,404	$68,406	7,712	3,346
29	Bantam	Borough	$24,284	$42,256	$54,063	759	372