Wilton, Connecticut

Wilton is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut.[2] As of the 2010 census, the town population was 18,062.[3]

Wilton, Connecticut

Town of Wilton
Town
Seal
Location in Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut.
Wilton
Location in the contiguous United States and Connecticut
Wilton
Wilton (Connecticut)
Coordinates: 41°12′N 73°26′W
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyFairfield
Metropolitan areaBridgeport-Stamford
Incorporated1802
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanLynne Vanderslice (R)
 • SelectmenDavid Clune (U)
Michael P. Kaelin (U)
Lori Bufano (R)
Deborah McFadden (D)
Area
 • Total27.3 sq mi (71.0 km2)
 • Land26.9 sq mi (69.8 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1.1 km2)
Elevation
335 ft (102 m)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total18,062
 • Density660/sq mi (250/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06897
Area code(s)203/475
FIPS code09-86370
GNIS feature ID0213535
Websitehttp://www.wiltonct.org/

Officially recognized as a parish in 1726, Wilton today is a residential community with open lands, historic architecture such as the Round House, and many colonial homes.[4][5] Many residents commute to nearby cities such as Stamford or New York City.

Wilton is home to many global corporations such as ASML, Deloitte & Touche, Sun Products, Breitling SA, Cannondale Bicycle Corporation, and Melissa & Doug. It is also home to AIG Financial Products, which helped create the financial crisis of 2007–2008.[6][7][8]

History
Main article: History of Wilton, Connecticut

The original 40 families of the parish began their own Congregational church and were allowed by Norwalk to hire a minister (Robert Sturgeon, who also became the town's first schoolmaster), open schools and build roads.[9] During the Revolutionary War in 1777, the British used Wilton as an escape route after their successful raid on Danbury.[10] Several homes were burned along Ridgefield, Belden, Danbury, and Dudley roads, but the town remained intact.[11] In 1802, Wilton was granted a Town Charter by the Connecticut General Assembly and became a political entity independent from Norwalk.[12]

With a strong anti-slavery sentiment by its residents, Wilton served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, primarily at the house of William Wakeman, "an earnest abolitionist and undergrounder for many years."[13]

Wilton was classified as a "dry" town until 1993, when the local ordinance was altered to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages in restaurants. The town was then referred to as "damp." On November 5, 2009, a referendum proposal was passed to allow liquor stores.[14] The town Board enacted an ordinance to allow liquor stores to sell alcoholic beverages in 2010 and since then, several stores have since opened.

The Cannondale Historic District, in north-central Wilton, retains its historic character and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.4 square miles (71 km2), of which 27.0 square miles (70 km2) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), or 1.50%, is water, including the South Norwalk Reservoir. Wilton is bordered by Ridgefield to the Northwest, Norwalk to the South, New Canaan to the Southwest, Westport to the Southeast, and Weston and Redding to the Northeast. It is also bordered on the west by the hamlet of Vista in Lewisboro, Westchester County, New York.

Housing and land use
Police station behind the Town Hall

Wilton has approximately 500 surviving 18th- and 19th-century homes. In 2005, Marilyn Gould, the director of the Wilton Historical Society said:

People aren't taking down historic houses but the more modest homes that were built in the '50s and '60s.... What that's doing is changing the affordability of the town and the demographic of the town. Wilton used to have a wide demographic of people who worked with their hands—artisans, builders, mechanics. Now it's management and upper management.[15]

Between 1999 and 2005, the town's voters endorsed spending $23 million through municipal bonds to preserve land.[15]

South Norwalk Electric and Water (SNEW) has a reservoir on the western side of town with about 350 acres (1.4 km2) of land, along with another 25 acres (100,000 m2) adjacent in New Canaan. In the fall, hunters with bows and arrows—no more than 10 at a time—are allowed to hunt deer on the Wilton property, in order to keep down the number of deer in the area.[16]

Wilton town center contains several local restaurants, boutiques, retail stores, a Starbucks, a Stop & Shop, and a four-screen movie theater owned by Bow-Tie Cinemas.[17] These stores were added around 2000 next to the old Wilton Center, which consists of the Wilton Library,[18] the Wilton Post Office, a CVS/Pharmacy, the Old Post Office Square, and the Village Market.[19] In the southern part of town, US 7 contains a commercial section.

Recent nature access developments in town include the expansion of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, a multi-use trail that is designed to run between Norwalk and Danbury.

Neighborhoods

The southwest corner of town includes part of the Silvermine neighborhood (which also extends into New Canaan and Norwalk). Georgetown, which is primarily in Redding and partly in Weston, extends a bit into the northeast corner of town. Other neighborhoods in town are South Wilton, Wilton Center, Gilbert Corners, Cannondale, and North Wilton.

Zoning

Wilton Zoning laws require minimum undersized lots to be 1.8 acres in land.[20]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18201,818—
18502,066—
18602,2086.9%
18701,994−9.7%
18801,864−6.5%
18901,722−7.6%
19001,598−7.2%
19101,7066.8%
19201,284−24.7%
19302,13366.1%
19402,82932.6%
19504,55861.1%
19608,02676.1%
197013,57269.1%
198015,35113.1%
199015,9894.2%
200017,63310.3%
201018,0622.4%
2019 (est.)18,343[21]1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

As of the census[23] of 2000, there were 17,633 people, 5,923 households, and 4,874 families residing in Wilton. The population density was 654.3 people per square mile (252.6/km2). There were 6,113 housing units at an average density of 226.8 per square mile (87.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 95.55% White, 0.60% African American, 0.09% Native American, 2.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.79% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.

There were 5,923 households, out of which 46.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.4% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.7% were non-families. Of all households 15.3% were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.25.

The age distribution is 31.5% under the age of 18, 2.8% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $197,428, and the median income for a family was $217,415. Males had a median income of $190,000 versus $71,611 for females. The per capita income for the town was $65,806. About 1.3% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.7% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Events
  • Relay for Life
  • Jazz in the Garden takes place at Weir Farm every September.[24]
  • Wilton Rocks for Food is an annual concert by Wilton-based musicians who send all the proceeds to the Wilton Food Pantry and the Connecticut Food bank.[25]
  • Wilton Farmers' Market is an outdoor farmers' market held at the Wilton Historical Society[26] on Wednesdays from June through October.[27]
  • Wilton's annual Street Fair & Sidewalk Sale[28] is an outdoor sales event in the town center that occurs in the summer.

Clubs and organizations

Clubs and civic organizations in town include a Newcomers Club, Wilton Women's Club, League of Women Voters, Kiwanis Club, The Wilton Kiwanis[29] youth coalition, senior meal delivery, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts,[30] the Wilton Land Conservation Trust,[31] the Wilton Family Y and the Moms Club of Wilton.[32] Cultural amenities include the Wilton Historical Society, a Library Association, an Arts Council, an Audubon Society, the Wilton Singers[33] and the Wilton Playshop.[34] Some church organizations at Our Lady of Fatima include the Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes.

National Register of Historic Places listings
Weir Farm National Historic Site in Wilton

Parks and recreation

The Wilton Parks and Recreation Department offers a number of programs for all ages including pre-school programs, senior programs youth soccer and basketball.[35] There are also many walking paths including part of the Norwalk River Valley Trail.[36] Merwin Meadows is a picnic area for families with a pond, playground and athletic field.[37]

Government and politics
Wilton town vote
by party in presidential elections[38]
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 65.59% 7,676 32.63% 3,819 1.86% 218
2016 58.27% 6,055 36.44% 3,786 5.29% 550
2012 45.37% 4,589 53.62% 5,424 1.01% 102
2008 53.41% 5,569 46.04% 4,801 0.55% 57
2004 46.57% 4,823 52.35% 5,422 1.08% 112
2000 41.90% 4,086 54.52% 5,316 3.58% 349
1996 38.75% 3,451 54.55% 4,859 6.70% 597
1992 33.95% 3,402 51.32% 5,143 14.74% 1,477
1988 31.85% 2,964 67.51% 6,283 0.64% 60
1984 27.23% 2,462 72.46% 6,553 0.31% 28
1980 23.73% 1,117 59.91% 2,820 16.36% 770
1976 31.63% 2,566 67.95% 5,513 0.42% 34
1972 31.38% 2,378 67.63% 5,124 0.99% 75
1968 32.69% 1,995 64.85% 3,957 2.46% 150
1964 52.58% 2,553 47.42% 2,302 0.00% 0
1960 26.10% 1,121 73.90% 3,174 0.00% 0
1956 18.19% 612 81.81% 2,753 0.00% 0

Once a Republican bastion, Wilton has become increasingly Democratic in recent years. In 2008,Wilton voted for Barack Obama, who became the first Democrat candidate for U.S. President to carry the town since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. The town flipped back in 2012, voting for to Mitt Romney, a former governor of neighboring Massachusetts. In 2016, voters in Wilton delivered a 22-point margin of victory to Hillary Rodham Clinton, the best performance for a Democratic presidential nominee in the town since Johnson in 1964. In 2020, the town gave a 33 point margin to Joe Biden.

Wilton is apart of the 26th District of the Connecticut Senate. Represented by Will Haskell. Parts of Wilton are encompassed by the 125th District of the Connecticut House of Representatives. Represented by Tom O'Dea. Wilton is also apart of the 143rd District. Currently represented by Gail Lavielle. The 143rd District will be represented by Stephanie Thomas starting in 2021.

Since 2015, Wilton has been led by First Selectwoman Lynne Vanderslice, a Republican serving her second four-year term, her term expires on November 30, 2023.[39]

Education

Public schools

Elementary schools include Miller-Driscoll School (Grades pre-K–2) and Cider Mill School (3–5). There is one middle school named Middlebrook School (6–8) and one high school named Wilton High School, which features accelerated classes for gifted students, music and visual arts courses, and a resource center. The language laboratory teaches six languages, including French, German, Spanish, Latin, Classical Greek, and American Sign Language.

The Town of Wilton has approximately 4,150 students who attend pre-K through 12th grade in the four schools. The two elementary schools have class sizes typically ranging from 18 to 22 and a 19 to 1 student/teacher ratio. Middlebrook features interdisciplinary instruction teams in languages and science, mathematics, social studies, computers, art, and gifted student instruction. Class sizes range from 20 to 25 students with a student/teacher ratio of 13 to 1.[40]

Private schools

There are four private schools in the town:

  • Connecticut Friends School, a Quaker preschool
  • Our Lady of Fatima, a Catholic school, preschool through eighth grade[41]
  • The Montessori School, preschool through sixth grade[42]
  • The Goddard School, a preschool.

Media

The Wilton Bulletin[43] is a weekly newspaper published by Hearst Connecticut Media and formerly published by Hersam Acorn Newspapers. GOOD Morning Wilton[44] is an online daily news website. Virgin Mobile Live, a 24-hour online radio service licensed by Virgin Radio, is based in Wilton. There is also the weekly Wilton Villager newspaper.

Infrastructure

Highways

There are several roads and highways that crisscross the town, including U.S. Route 7 and Route 33, which form the main north-south roadways in town. Although not passing through any part of Wilton, the Merritt Parkway (Route 15) also serves the town via the Route 33 exit (Exit 41) which is signed for Wilton/Westport, as well as the Route 7 exits (Exits 39B & 40B) which are signed for Danbury. Other state highways that run through Wilton are Route 53 and Route 106.

Railroad

The town has two railroad stations: Wilton near the town center and Cannondale. Both are served by Metro-North Railroad's Danbury Branch, which provides direct commuter train service south to Norwalk (15 minutes), Stamford (25 minutes), Danbury (33 Minutes), and New York City's Grand Central Station (90 minutes); and north to New Haven and Boston. Previously, Wilton was also was home to a third station. Known as South Wilton (1852–1971) and Kent Road (1976–1994). The town was also formerly served by the Georgetown station from 1852-1970.

Buses

The town is served by the 7 Link bus route of the Norwalk Transit District that runs between Norwalk and Danbury along the Route 7 corridor. A commuter shuttle bus during rush hours is also available between South Wilton and the South Norwalk railroad station on the New Haven Line.

Notable people

References
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  2. "The Town of Wilton, Connecticut – Official Website". www.wiltonct.org.
  3. "Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2010 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Wilton town, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2011.
  4. "The Round House | Wilton Connecticut".
  5. "Gregory family donates 19th century road cart | Wilton Bulletin". Wilton Bulletin. 2017-09-06. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  6. Behind Insurer’s Crisis, Blind Eye to a Web of Risk, New York Times, September 27, 2008.
  7. Hampson, Rick (March 21, 2009). "AIG office flies under radar of Conn. town". USA Today. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  8. De La Merced, Michael J. (August 5, 2011). "A.I.G. Unit at Center of Financial Crisis Is Wound Down". New York Times. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  9. "The Town of Wilton, Connecticut – Official Website". www.wiltonct.org. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  10. Barone, Meg (2018-10-10). "On the Market / 'The red house with the big window' hits the market". The Hour. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  11. Francis Carr Jr (2015-07-09). "Historians address inaccuracies about the Battle of Norwalk on its (supposed) anniversary". The Hour. Retrieved 2019-03-10.
  12. The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 335.
  13. Strother, Horatio T. (1962). The Underground railroad in Connecticut. Middletown, Conn.: Wesleyan University Press. p. 121.
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  15. West, Debra (December 4, 2005). "A Playground for Preservationists". New York Times. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-04-14.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Glavin, Kristiana, "Deer Hunt Plan Aims for Watershed by Fall", a news article in The New Canaan News Review, April 6, 2007
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  35. "Town of Wilton, CT, Parks & Recreation". wiltonparksandrec.org.
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  38. "General Elections Statement of Vote 1922". CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website.
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