South Windsor, Connecticut


South Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 26,918 at the 2020 census.
WWW southwindsor.org/Pages/sw...

History

In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children. Beginning in the middle of the 17th century, a few settlers from Windsor began using land on the east bank of the Connecticut River for grazing and farming purposes. By 1700, a number of families had made their homes in the area. In 1768, the residents of the area were allowed to incorporate as the separate town of East Windsor, though the area was informally referred to as East Windsor before this time. At the time, the town included all of what is now the present-day towns of East Windsor, South Windsor, and Ellington. Known for its agriculture and ship building, the town of East Windsor, including South Windsor, supplied more than 200 volunteers during the American Revolution. In 1786, Ellington became an independent town, and South Windsor was incorporated as a separate town in 1845. Tobacco has been a major crop grown in South Windsor since its founding.
Main Street, located near the Connecticut River and running north to south from the border of East Windsor to that of East Hartford, is the center of the town's historic district. The Wood Memorial Library & Museum and Ellsworth School are located on the street. Minister Timothy Edwards, the namesake of the town's middle school, is buried in a cemetery located on this street. In 1698, Edwards became the first minister for the settlers on the east side of the river, and his church was built on Main Street. His son, theologian Jonathan Edwards, was born in South Windsor. Ulysses S. Grant stayed at a home on the street.
The town has become less and less agricultural and rural since 1950. This former farming community has been transformed into a suburban town with industrial and commercial districts. The town's population more than tripled between 1950 and 2000. In the early 1990s, residents mobilized a successful campaign against a proposed nuclear waste dump located near the East Windsor town line.

On the National Register of Historic Places

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of, of which is land and, or 2.12%, is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2020, there were 26,918 people and 9,926 families residing in the town. The population density was. There were 10,804 housing units at an average density of.
The racial makeup of the town was 68.7% White, 18.4% Asian, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 4.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 6.4% from two or more races.
There were 9,926 households, out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 11.2% had a male householder with no spouse present.
In the town, the population included 25.7% age birth to 19; 5.4% from age 20 to 24; 24.1% from age 25 to 44; 29.0% from age 45 to 64; and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years.
The median household income in the town was $126,996, and the median income for a married-couple family was $153,438. About 4.9% of people were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Among residents age 25 or over, 55.0% held a bachelor's degree or higher, and 97.0% held a high school or equivalent degree.

Economy

Top employers

Top employers in South Windsor according to the town's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
#Employer# of Employees
1Town of South Windsor926
2Broadbridge550
3New England Mechanical368
4Target Corporation250
5The May Company221
6Electro Methods208
7Doosan Fuel Cell America193
8Lowe's160
9Stop & Shop145
10TicketNetwork141

Education

Children attending the public school systems in South Windsor begin at the elementary school level at one of four elementary schools: Pleasant Valley, Orchard Hill, Philip R. Smith, and Eli Terry. Wapping Elementary School was transferred to the Parks and Recreation department for several years before being turned over to the high school in 2023 for additional classroom space due to growing school enrollment. After graduating from elementary school, students then move on to Timothy Edwards Middle School, for grades 6–8. They also have the choice to go to a magnet school, Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford. They then finish up their schooling at South Windsor High School. Over 140 students in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 classes have been admitted to the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Government and politics

Town council

South Windsor is governed by a council-manager form of government. The town manager is appointed by the town council and the leader of the council is designated as the mayor, with a deputy mayor also chosen from amongst the council.
The town council holds its elections every two years, on odd-numbered years. Effective in 2025, each party nominates only up to five candidates for the nine town council positions, and each voter may only vote for up to five candidates from the pool of all candidates nominated by all parties. The top nine vote-getters win seats on the town council; as a result the council always has a 5–4 majority, ensuring representation of the minority party.

Voting

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2025Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2025Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2025Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2025Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2025Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 17, 2025
PartyPartyActive VotersInactive VotersTotal VotersPercentage
Democratic5,7416336,37433.88%
Republican3,4993193,81820.29%
Unaffiliated7,3331,0408,37344.50%
Minor parties218312491.32%
TotalTotal16,7912,02318,814100%

Notable people