Danbury, CT

Danbury, Connecticut

Introduction to Danbury, Connecticut

The Connecticut city of Danbury, located in Fairfield County, is situated in the western part of the state, about 35 miles west of New Haven and 60 miles southwest of the state capital of Hartford. Danbury is also about 70 miles northeast of New York City. Interstate I-84 goes through the city, as do U.S. Route 7 and Connecticut State Highway 58. Danbury is home to Western Connecticut State University.

First settled by colonists in the late 17th century, Danbury is thought to have been named for the English city of origin (Danbury, Essex) of many of its early settlers. Nicknamed the Hat City, Danbury saw the development of a growing hatting industry spring forth in the late 18th century, and by 1800 the city was producing more hats than anywhere else in the United States. By the time of Danbury's incorporation in 1889, the city's hat output was numbering in the millions annually. A combination of labor disputes, financial reversals, and changing fashion caused a dramatic turnaround in the 20th century, resulting in many factories ceasing operations or moving elsewhere. By the middle part of the 20th century, the hatting industry had virtually disappeared from the city but its influence is still felt in many ways today. A derby hat is depicted within the city seal and many of the city's exhibits and attractions relate to its once most-prominent industry.

Danbury Points of Interest

Visitors to Danbury can enjoy a number of options for recreation and sightseeing. Outdoor recreation in the form of picnicking, swimming, and boating is available at Candlewood Park, which overlooks Candlewood Lake. Tarrywile Mansion and Park houses an historic Victorian mansion and also contains numerous trails and ponds on its 600-plus acres. Cultural sites in town include the Military Museum of Southern New England, featuring a collection of literally thousands of artifacts, many extremely rare, covering 20th century American military history of all of the nation's armed services. The Danbury Railway Museum chronicles the history of railroading, offers rail excursion trips, and houses a collection of items including original and restored railroad artifacts. The Danbury Museum and Historical Society chronicles New England's past with a principal focus on the heritage of Danbury, offering numerous displays and exhibits as well as summer activities for children.

Performing arts in Danbury can be found in numerous places, including Ives Concert Park, where many rock legends have performed. The Connecticut Choral Society is an ensemble comprised of singers from more than 20 Connecticut towns who have appeared at Carnegie Hall, toured internationally and performed on network television. The Connecticut Master Chorale is a premier vocal ensemble which presents three large annual concerts. The Danbury Music Centre, housed in a beautifully restored 19th century building, is the prime site in the city for performances of classic and modern musical compositions.

Sports fans in Danbury have a local professional hockey franchise they can root for. The New England Stars, members of the North Eastern Hockey League, play their games at the Danbury Ice Arena. Major league sports abound in the greater metropolitan New York City area, less than two hours away. Teams include baseball's Yankees and Mets, basketball's Knicks (NBA) and hockey's Rangers (NHL). The WNBA (Women's National Basketball Association) also has a New York franchise, the New York Liberty.

High Points

Danbury strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Connecticut):

Category	Trophy
Racial Diversity (vs. State)	Top 8%

Comparative Profile of Danbury, CT

Comparing Danbury to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Connecticut (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Women
Well-Paid Single Men
Racial Diversity
Male Share of the Population
Age of the Population
Children Under 5 Years Old
Senior Citizens
Female Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty
College Educated Adults

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Public Transportation Use
Working at Home
Short Commute Times
Walking and Biking to Work

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
People Living Alone
Housing Recently Built
Affordability of Rents
Affordability of Property Taxes

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Property Crime
Low Violent Crime

Danbury Almanac

Danbury Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Danbury Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Political Contributions (2004)

Money donated by Danbury residents to parties and candidates for the 2004 elections.

by Political Party

by Presidential Candidate

Nearby Cities and Towns

Danbury Hospitals

DANBURY HOSPITAL
(Voluntary non-profit - Private)
24 HOSPITAL AVE
(203) 797-7000
Emergency Service: Yes

Danbury High Schools (2004)

DANBURY HIGH SCHOOL
43 CLAPBOARD RIDGE RD.
203-797-4803
Serves 2,801 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 14.7

HENRY ABBOTT V-T SCHOOL
21 HAYESTOWN AVE.
203-797-4460
A Vocational School
Serves 650 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 10.2

ALTERNATIVE CENTER FOR EDUCATION
26 LOCUST AVE.
203-797-4786
A Non-traditional School
Serves 84 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 9.3

HOMEBOUND
49 OSBORNE STREET
203-797-4701
A Non-traditional School

Danbury Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

American Academy of Cosmetology

Henry Abbott Regional Vocational Technical School

Post University

Western Connecticut State University

(List of All Connecticut Colleges)

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