Lyme, Connecticut


Lyme is a New [England town|town] in New London County, Connecticut, United States, situated on the eastern side of the Connecticut River. The town is part of the Lower [Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region]. The population was 2,352 at the 2020 census. Lyme is the eponym of Lyme disease.

History

In February 1665, the portion of the territory of the Saybrook Colony east of the Connecticut River was set off as the plantation of East Saybrook, which included present-day Lyme, Old Lyme, and the western part of East Lyme. In 1667, the Connecticut General Court formally recognized the East Saybrook plantation as the town of Lyme, named after Lyme Regis, a coastal town in the southwest of England. The eastern portion of Lyme separated from Lyme in 1823 and became part of East Lyme. The southern portion of Lyme separated in 1855 as South Lyme. Both changes were consistent with the then-existing laws of the state of Connecticut.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which are land and, or 7.63%, are water.

Principal communities

  • Hadlyme
  • Hamburg
  • North Lyme
Other minor communities and geographic areas are Becket Hill, Bill Hill, Brockway's Ferry, Brush Hill, Elys Ferry, Grassy Hill, Gungy, Joshuatown, Lord Hill, Mt. Archer, Pleasant Valley, Rogers Lake West Shore, and Sterling City.

Principal bodies of water

Coves along the Connecticut River

  • Hamburg Cove.
  • Lord Cove.
  • Selden Cove.
  • Whalebone Cove.

    Lakes and ponds

  • Cedar Lake.
  • Joshua Pond – a.k.a. Lower Pond.
  • Moulsons Pond.
  • Norwich Pond.
  • Rogers Lake.
  • Uncas Pond.
  • Upper Pond.

    Rivers, creeks, and brooks

  • Eightmile River; a federally designated "Wild and Scenic River."
  • Beaver Brook.
  • Broad Swamp Brook.
  • Cedar Pond Brook.
  • Cranberry Meadow Brook.
  • Deep Creek.
  • East Branch Eightmile River.
  • Falls Brook.
  • Grassy Hill Brook.
  • Hemlock Valley Brook.
  • Hungerford Brook.
  • Joshua Creek – a.k.a. Rams Horn Creek.
  • Lord Creek.
  • Mack Creek.
  • Mill Brook.
  • Roaring Brook.
  • Selden Creek.
  • Whalebone Creek.

    Demographics

2010 and 2020 censuses

As of the 2010 census, Lyme had a population of 2,406. Its racial and ethnic makeup was 96.5% non-Hispanic white, 0.1% non-Hispanic black, 0.1% non-Hispanic Native American, 1.0% Asian, 0.1% non-Hispanic from some other race, 0.6% from two or more races and 1.7% Hispanic or Latino.

Voter registration

Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 1, 2022.Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 1, 2022.Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 1, 2022.Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 1, 2022.Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 1, 2022.Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 1, 2022.
PartyPartyActive votersInactive votersTotal votersPercentage
Republican464647023.81%
Democratic7421575738.35%
Unaffiliated6992071936.42%
Minor Parties280281.42%
TotalTotal1,933411974100%

The number of Lyme residents registering with the Democratic party has grown in recent years, from 541 in 2015 to 757 in 2022.

Ancestry/Ethnicity

According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2017 the largest self-identified ancestry/ethnic groups in Lyme were:
Largest ancestries Percent
English ancestry30.5%
Irish ancestry19.8%
German ancestry14.2%
Italian ancestry11.7%
American ancestry7.3%
Polish ancestry6.3%
Scottish ancestry4.9%
French-Canadian ancestry3.5%
Swedish ancestry2.4%
Norwegian ancestry1.6%
Swiss ancestry1.5%
Russian ancestry1.2%

Public facilities

Civic and fraternal

  • Hadlyme Public Hall
  • Lyme Consolidated School
  • Lyme Grange Hall
  • Lyme Public Hall Association
  • Lyme Public Library
  • Lyme Volunteer Fire Co. Hadlyme Station
  • Lyme Volunteer Fire Co. Lyme Station

    Governmental

  • Hadlyme Ferry Boat Launch
  • Hadlyme Post Office
  • Lyme Town Hall

    Religious

  • The First Congregational Church of Lyme

    Points of interest

State parks and forests

and Becket Hill State Park Reserve are wholly located in Lyme. Nehantic State Forest and Gillette Castle State Park are partly located in Lyme.

On the National Register of Historic Places

The Estuary Transit District provides public transportation throughout Lyme and the surrounding towns through its 9 Town Transit Service. Services include connections to Old Saybrook station, served by Amtrak and Shore Line East railroads.

Lyme in literature, art, and film