Overview

Introduction to Norwalk, Connecticut

The city of Norwalk, part of Fairfield County, lies along the Long Island Sound in southwestern Connecticut about 33 miles southwest of New Haven and 48 miles northeast of New York City. Bordered by Darien, New Canaan, Westport and Wilton, the city is serviced by Interstate I-95, U.S. Routes 1 and 7, and Connecticut State Highway 15 (also known as the Merritt Parkway).

Founded in 1640 and incorporated eleven years later, Norwalk has counted agriculture, coastal trade, manufacturing and shipbuilding among its industries. Once nicknamed "Oyster Town," Norwalk has long relied on oyster farming as its principal industry which even today continues to make the city Connecticut's largest oyster producer.

Arts, Culture and Entertainment in Norwalk

The sandy beaches of Long Island Sound shore and Norwalk's public parks provide a variety of recreational opportunities throughout much of the year. The city boasts over 1,000 acres of park and shoreline land as well as dozens of municipal tennis and basketball courts, soccer and baseball fields, and a public golf course. Many of the city's special festivals are outdoors, including the annual Oyster Festival which allows thousands of visitors to sample the city's excellent seafood. Other annual festivals include the Norwalk Harbor Splash!, an event held in early June which features arts and crafts, food, music, and a parade; the St. George Greek Orthodox Festival, which features Greek food and dance exhibitions; the SoNo Arts Celebration, held in mid-summer; and the Round Hill Highland Games, a festival of Scottish culture featuring bagpipes and Scottish athletic events.

Cultural sites in Norwalk include the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, a 62-room mansion designated a National Historic Landmark; the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, a major aquarium specializing in Long Island Sound marine life and ecology; the Mill Hill Historic Park and Museum, a collection of historic buildings maintained by the Norwalk Historical Society; the Norwalk Museum, a Colonial Revival style building which previously served as Norwalk's City Hall; and the Stepping Stones Museum for Children.

Norwalk sports fans can take pride in a local franchise: the Connecticut Wildcats are a semi-professional rugby team which competes in the American National Rugby League (AMNRL). Major league professional sports are only an hour away in New York City, home of the New York Mets and New York Yankees (Major League Baseball), New York Rangers (NHL hockey), New York Knicks (NBA basketball), and New York Liberty (WNBA women's basketball).

Demographics

People

Total Population88,436
Male Share of the Population47.8%
Female Share of the Population52.2%
Senior Citizens14.9%
Employed Population 16+47,528
Age of the Population40

Families

% of people married48.3%
Average household size3

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher49.6%
Median Earnings25+$49,754
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$25,959
Median Earnings With High School Degree$32,337

Wealth

Median Family Income$95,743
% Above Poverty Level90.3%
% Below Poverty Level9.7%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time27 minutes
% Working from Home4.9%
% Walking and Biking to Work3.1%
% Using Public Transportation9.7%

Housing

People Living Alone28.9%
Median Gross Rent$1,597
Median House Value$427,300

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)39.3%
Italian15%
Irish10.8%
German7.3%
English5.7%
West Indian4.4%
Polish4.2%
Haitian3.1%
Greek2.1%
Hungarian1.7%
French Except Basque1.6%
Russian1.4%
Scottish1.1%
Jamaican1%
Swedish1%
Canadian0.9%
Norwegian0.7%
Dutch0.7%
African0.6%
Danishn0.4%
Austrian0.4%
Ukrainian0.4%
Portuguese0.4%
Slovak0.3%
Swiss0.3%
Lithuanian0.3%
Brazilian0.3%
Welsh0.2%
Romanian0.2%
Czech0.2%
Arab0.2%
Trinidad Tobago0.1%
Turkish0.1%
Israeli0.1%
Albanian0.1%
US/American0.1%
Lebanese0.1%
Palestinian0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Slovene0.1%
+ Show More

Norwalk Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyFairfield County
Standard Zip Codes06851, 06850, 06853, 06854, 06855
P.O. Box Zip Codes6852, 6856
Company Zip Codes6857, 6858, 6859, 6860
Phone Area Codes203
Time ZoneAmerica/New_York
Approximate Latitude41.09
Approximate Longitude-73.42

Norwalk Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

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

StationNORWALK GAS PLANT
Distance0.4 miles
Jan Temp19 to 37 F
Apr Temp38 to 60 F
Jul Temp63 to 84 F
Oct Temp40 to 64 F
Annual Precip48.3 inches
StationSTAMFORD 5 N
Distance7.4 miles
Jan Temp19 to 38 F
Apr Temp38 to 62 F
Jul Temp62 to 85 F
Oct Temp42 to 65 F
Annual Precip52.7 inches
StationBRIDGEPORT SIKORSKY AP
Distance14.7 miles
Jan Temp23 to 37 F
Apr Temp41 to 57 F
Jul Temp66 to 82 F
Oct Temp46 to 63 F
Annual Precip44.1 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Bridgeport146,417$51,801
Danbury84,479$81,125
Derby12,596$69,053
Stamford129,026$106,778

Norwalk Public Libraries

East Norwalk Library
51 VAN ZANT ST.
Norwalk, Connecticut
(203) 838-0408
Norwalk Public Library
1 BELDEN AVE.
Norwalk, Connecticut
(203) 899-2780
Rowayton Library
33 HIGHLAND AVE.
Norwalk, Connecticut
(203) 838-5038

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More Information for Librarians

Norwalk Hospitals

Norwalk Hospital Association
(Non-profit)
24 Stevens Street
(203) 852-2000

Norwalk Public Schools

Fox Run Elementary School
228 Fillow Street
ZIP: 6850
Primary
Total Enrollment 452
Jefferson Magnet School
75 Van Buren Avenue
ZIP: 6850
Primary
Total Enrollment 588
Kendall Elementary School
228 Fillow Street
ZIP: 6850
Primary
Total Enrollment 566
Ponus Ridge Middle School
21 Hunters Lane
ZIP: 6850
Middle
Total Enrollment 645
Silvermine Elementary School
157 Perry Avenue
ZIP: 6850
Primary
Total Enrollment 486
Briggs High School
350 Main Street
ZIP: 6851
High
Total Enrollment 56
Cranbury Elementary School
5 Knowalot Lane
ZIP: 6851
Primary
Total Enrollment 502
Naramake Elementary School
16 King Street
ZIP: 6851
Primary
Total Enrollment 460
Nathan Hale Middle School
176 Strawberry Hill Avenue
ZIP: 6851
Middle
Total Enrollment 620
Norwalk High School
23 Calvin Murphy Streetounty
ZIP: 6851
High
Total Enrollment 1575
Tracey School
20 Camp Street
ZIP: 6851
Primary
Total Enrollment 389
West Rocks Middle School
81 West Rocks Road
ZIP: 6851
Middle
Total Enrollment 635
Wolfpit School
1 Starlight Drive
ZIP: 6851
Primary
Total Enrollment 325
Brien Mcmahon High School
300 Highland Avenue
ZIP: 6854
High
Total Enrollment 1675
Brookside Elementary School
382 Highland Avenue
ZIP: 6854
Primary
Total Enrollment 523
Columbus Magnet School
46 Concord Street
ZIP: 6854
Primary
Total Enrollment 333
Roton Middle School
201 Highland Avenue
ZIP: 6854
Middle
Total Enrollment 459
Side By Side Charter School
10 Chestnut Street
ZIP: 6854
Primary
Total Enrollment 235
Marvin Elementary School
15 Calf Pasture Beach Road
ZIP: 6855
Primary
Total Enrollment 497

Norwalk Private Schools

Parkway Christian Academy Happy Time Nursery
260 New Canaan Ave
ZIP: 6850
Elementary
Total Enrollment 30
All Saints Catholic School
139 W Rocks Rd
ZIP: 6851
Elementary
Total Enrollment 470
Winston Preparatory School
57 W Rocks Rd
ZIP: 6851
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 91
Anchor Academy
7 Academy St
ZIP: 6905
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 63
Sources :
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