Woodbridge is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,990 at the 2010 census. It is one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut, ranking 8th in the state per the 2010 US Census in terms of per capita income, and is home to many of the faculty of Yale University. The town center is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Woodbridge Green Historic District.
- 1 History
- 2 Government
- 3 Education
- 4 Geography
- 5 Demographics
- 6 Other
- 7 Notable people
- 8 Notable locations
- 9 References
- 10 External links
Woodbridge was originally called "Amity", having been carved out of land originally belonging to New Haven and Milford as an independent parish in 1739. In 1742, the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge was ordained in Amity, and it is after him that the modern town was named.
In 1661, the town was the location of one of the hideouts of the "Regicides" — three of the judges who signed the death warrant for King Charles I of England. The ruins of their hideout can be found on the nearby West Rock ridge, which runs along the town's eastern border.
Thomas Darling (1720–1789), a tutor at Yale College and later an entrepreneur in New Haven, moved to town in 1774. His home is now the Darling House Museum, operated by the Amity & Woodbridge Historical Association. The original farms of Woodbridge were located in the area of the West River Valley known as "The Flats".
In the modern era, Woodbridge has undergone significant suburbanization.
Woodbridge is governed by a 6-member Board of Selectmen.
Woodbridge is home to Ezra Academy, a Jewish day school. Natalie Portman attended Ezra Academy. Ezra Academy is a regional Jewish day school whose students reside in 21 towns throughout New Haven and Fairfield counties.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 19.2 square miles (50 km2), of which 18.8 square miles (49 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) is water. The total area is 2.03% water.
Woodbridge is informally divided into two distinct parts—central Woodbridge, which occupies the western hilly side of town, and the area known as The Flats, which occupies the eastern slice of town bordering the less wealthy West Rock and the New Haven neighborhood of Westville.
Parks and hiking trails
Woodbridge is home to several organizations that protect undeveloped land and historic sites, including the Woodbridge Land Trust and the Woodbridge Park Association. The town has an extensive system of preserved hiking trails open to the public, notably the 93-acre (376,000 m2) Alice Newton Street Memorial Park and the 22-acre (89,000 m2) Wepawaug Falls area. Some of the land has been donated by residents.
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,983 people, 3,103 households, and 2,553 families residing in the town. The population density was 477.0 people per square mile (184.2/km²). There were 3,189 housing units at an average density of 169.3 per square mile (65.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 91.34% White, 1.50% African American, 0.04% Native American, 5.10% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.60% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,103 households out of which 40.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.7% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. 15.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.17.
27.8% of the population was under the age of 18, 3.8% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $402,121, and the median income for a family was $526,729. Males had a median income of $280,965 versus $265,731 for females. The per capita income for the town was $390,049. 2.3% of the population and 1.4% of families were below the poverty line. 2.7% of those under the age of 18 and 5.3% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
- Woodbridge Green Historic District - added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003
- "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Woodbridge town, New Haven County, Connecticut". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
- "History" web page, Amity & Woodbridge Historical Association website, retrieved February 6, 2008
- Spring 2005 Ezra Academy pamphlet
- "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 2008-03-07. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
- Town of Woodbridge official website
- Woodbridge Historical Society
- Woodbridge Public Library
- Woodbridge Public Schools
- Beecher Road School
- Amity Regional School District
- Woodbridge Fire Department
- The Woodbridge Journal