Norfolk, Connecticut


Norfolk is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,588 at the 2020 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region. The urban center of the town is the Norfolk census-designated place, with a population of 553 at the 2010 census.
Norfolk is the home of the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, an annual chamber music concert series hosted by the Yale School of Music. The festival takes place in the Music Shed, a performance hall located on the Ellen Battell Stoeckel estate to the west of the village green.
Norfolk has important examples of regional architecture, including the Village Hall ; the Norfolk Library ; and over thirty buildings, in a wide variety of styles, designed by Alfredo S. G. Taylor in the four decades before the Second World War.

History

Norfolk incorporated as a town in 1758. Although the town was named after Norfolk in England, the name of the town may be pronounced various ways by residents.
The Norfolk Historic District includes the historic center of the village of Norfolk.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which are land and, or 2.38%, are water. The town is located in the Litchfield Hills portion of the Appalachian mountain range. Norfolk's elevation is above sea level, and the town is sometimes called "the Icebox of Connecticut" for its severe winters and particularly cool summers.
The town is bordered on the west by Canaan and Canaan, Connecticut">Canaan, Connecticut">Canaan, Connecticut; on the north by New Marlborough and Sandisfield, Massachusetts; on the east by Colebrook and Winchester, Connecticut; and on the south by Goshen, Connecticut.

Principal communities

State parks

Norfolk is home to three state parks: Dennis Hill State Park, which includes the remnants of a lavish summer pavilion designed by Alfredo Taylor; Haystack Mountain State Park, with a stone tower at the mountain's summit; and Campbell Falls State Park Reserve, with an approximately natural waterfall.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Norfolk has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps. This climatic region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters. On February 16, 1943, the temperature fell to −37 °F, the lowest temperature ever recorded in Connecticut.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,660 people, 676 households, and 461 families residing in the town. The population density was. There were 871 housing units at an average density of 19.2 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 97.11% White, 0.48% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.60% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.96% of the population.
There were 676 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.7% were non-families. 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 29.2% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,906, and the median income for a family was $67,500. Males had a median income of $41,654 versus $36,442 for females. The per capita income for the town was $34,020. About 1.8% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Norfolk is a member of Regional School District 7, which also includes, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, and New Hartford. Public school students attend Botelle Elementary School for grades K–6, Northwestern Middle School for grades 7–8, and Northwestern Regional High School for grades 9–12.

Transportation

The main thoroughfares of the town are U.S. Route 44 and Connecticut Route 272. US 44 leads west to North Canaan and southeast to Winsted, while CT 272 leads south to Torrington.

Notable locations

Notable people, past and present

Nearby Attractions