Editing Ashford, Connecticut

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Ashford, Connecticut
| settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_seal               = AshfordCTseal.png
| image_skyline            = AshfordCT KnowltonHall.jpg
| image_caption            = Babcock Library in Ashford
| image_map                = {{switcher|[[File:Windham County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Ashford highlighted.svg|230px|frameless|alt=Ashford's location within Windham County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Northeastern Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Ashford highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Ashford's location within the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
| image_map1               = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q742016}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|53|N|72|10|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q742016;Q779;Q30|type2=shape|fill2=#ffffff|fill-opacity2=SWITCH:0;0.1;0.1|stroke-width2=2|stroke-color2=#808080|stroke-opacity2=SWITCH:0;1;1|switch=Ashford;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates              = {{coord|41|53|N|72|10|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern CT]]
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = 1714
| government_type          = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-Town meeting]]
| leader_title             = [[First Selectman]]
| leader_name              = William R. Falletti (R)
| leader_title2            = Selectman
| leader_name2             = Cathryn E. Silver-Smith (D)
| leader_title3            = Selectman
| leader_name3             = Roger T. Phillips (R)
| area_total_km2           = 102.3
| area_total_sq_mi         = 39.5
| area_land_km2            = 100.5
| area_land_sq_mi          = 38.8
| area_water_km2           = 1.8
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.7
| elevation_m              = 
| elevation_ft             = 699
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=November 7, 2020}}</ref>
| population_total         = 4191
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;5
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
| postal_code_type         = ZIP code
| postal_code              = 06278
| area_code                = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 09-01430
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 212409<ref name=GNIS1>{{gnis|212409|Ashford}}</ref>
| blank3_name              = Major highways
| blank3_info              = [[File:US 44.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 44]] [[File:I-84.svg|25px|link=Interstate 84 in Connecticut]]
| website                  = {{URL|http://ashfordtownhall.org}}
}}

'''Ashford''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Windham County, Connecticut]], United States.<ref name=GNIS1/> The town is part of the [[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region]]. The population was 4,191 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0901501430|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=November 25, 2021|title=Census - Geography Profile: Ashford town, Windham County, Connecticut}}</ref> It was founded in 1714. [[Eastford, Connecticut|Eastford]] was a part of Ashford until 1847, when the former split off to organize its own town.<ref>Ashford 1714-1989, Moments from History, p69-70</ref> For this reason North Ashford is located in northeast Eastford.

Ashford is home to the largest [[Scouting in Connecticut|boy scout]] camp in Connecticut, the [[June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation]]; to [[Paul Newman]]'s [[Hole in the Wall Gang Camp]] for children with cancer and other serious illness; to the [[Salvation Army]] CONNRI Lodge and Conference Center;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ctri.salvationarmy.org/SNE/CONNRI|title=Salvation Army CONNRI Lodge and Conference Center|access-date=October 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151030035606/http://ctri.salvationarmy.org/SNE/CONNRI|archive-date=October 30, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> and to the Evangelical Christian Center, a retreat, camp and conference center.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eccministries.org/index.html|title=Evangelical Christian Center Web Site|access-date=October 25, 2015}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:SouthwesternViewOfAshfordJWBarber.jpg|thumb|left|Center of town in 1838]]
President [[George Washington]], returning from his tour of the country in the fall of 1789, was chagrined to be involuntarily abandoned in the village on a Sunday. It was contrary to law to hire a conveyance on that day, which was observed by villagers, to Washington's great annoyance.<ref>{{cite book |last =Flexner |first =James Thomas |author-link =James Thomas Flexner |title =Washington, ''The Indispensable Man'' |publisher =[[Signet Books]] |year =1984 |location =New York City |pages =[https://archive.org/details/washingtonindisp00flex/page/229 229] |url =https://archive.org/details/washingtonindisp00flex/page/229 |isbn =0-451-12890-7 |url-access =registration }}</ref>

[[New Ashford, Massachusetts|New Ashford]] in Massachusetts is named after Ashford, as it was settled in 1762 by people from Ashford.

On July 17, 2018, an EF0 [[tornado]]—the first tornado to touch down in Windham County since 1992—struck [[Ashford Lake]] and the surrounding neighborhoods, downing trees, damaging homes, and killing three household rabbits.<ref name=tornado>{{cite news |last1=Rondinone |first1=Nicholas |last2=Dempsey |first2=Christine |date=July 18, 2018 |title=Weather Service Confirms Tornado Touched Down In Eastern Connecticut |url=http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-br-ashford-storm-damage-20180718-story.html |work=The Hartford Courant |access-date=July 18, 2018 }}</ref>

===National Register of Historic Places listings===

* [[Ashford Academy]] – Fitts Road (added 1988)
* [[Church Farm]] – 396 Mansfield Road (added December 17, 1988)
* [[Knowlton Memorial Hall]] – 25 Pompey Hollow Road (added April 17, 1994)
* [[Mixer Tavern]] – 14 Westford Road (added April 17, 1994)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|39.5|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|38.8|sqmi|km2}}  is land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}}  (1.80%) is water. The [[Mount Hope River]] flows through the middle of the town, from north to south, while [[Bigelow Brook]] flows along the town's eastern border with [[Eastford, Connecticut|Eastford]]. Ashford has several lakes and ponds, notably [[Ashford Lake]], [[Lake Chaffee]], Knowlton Pond, Rychlings Pond, Halls Pond, Poole Pond (Also known as Pearson Pond),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.holeinthewallgang.org/about/camp-tour/pearson-pond/|title = Pearson Pond &#124; Hole in the Wall Gang &#124; the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp}}</ref> and Morey Pond. The community of [[Lake Chaffee (CDP), Connecticut|Lake Chaffee]] surrounds the lake of the same name.

[[Boston Hollow]], a deep ravine, is located in Ashford, in the [[Yale-Myers Forest]]. Parts of [[Natchaug State Forest]] and [[Nipmuck State Forest]] are also located in Ashford, and both the [[Natchaug Trail]] and the [[Nipmuck Trail]] runs through the town. [[Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic Trust]] has several nature preserved in town. [[Snow Hill, Connecticut|Snow Hill]] located in the northwest corner of the town, is the highest point in Windham County at 1,210 feet.

===Flora and fauna===
[[File:Ashford_Oak,_Ashford,_CT_-_August_5,_2011.jpg|thumb|150px|right|Ashford Oak]]
Ashford is located in the [[northeastern coastal forests]], which is a [[temperate broadleaf and mixed forest]] ecoregion. Ashford is home to the [[Yale-Myers Forest]], which is used by the [[Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies]] for scientific research and education. The most famous tree in town is the [[Quercus rubra#Famous specimens|Ashford Oak]], a very large and old Northern Red Oak with a trunk that is eight meters in circumference.

The last recorded sighting of [[periodic cicadas]] belonging to [[Brood XI]] of the 17-year variety occurred in Ashford in 1954 along the [[Fenton River]].
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Lake Chaffee in Ashford, CT.jpg|400px|thumbnail|center|Lake Chaffee in the northern part of Ashford]] -->

==Demographics==
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
{{Historical populations
| source = [http://www.sots.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?a=3188&q=392394] [http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/Population1900.htm] [http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/Population1970.htm]
|1830|2661
|1840|2651
|1850|1295
|1860|1231
|1870|1241
|1880|1041
|1890|778
|1900|757
|1910|668
|1920|673
|1930|726
|1940|704
|1950|845
|1960|1315
|1970|2156
|1980|3221
|1990|3765
|2000|4098
|2010|4317
|2020|4191
}}
As of 2010 Ashford had a population of 4,317.  The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 94.1% white, 1.0% black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 1.1% from some other race, 2.1% from two or more races and 3.5% Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>2010 race and Hispanic or Latino by place chart for Connecticut from the US Census</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 4,098 people, 1,578 households, and 1,084 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|105.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,699 housing units at an average density of {{convert|43.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.00% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.02% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.44% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.56% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.00% of the population.

There were 1,578 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 20.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 25.6% from 45 to 64, and 8.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $55,000, and the median income for a family was $61,693. Males had a median income of $42,117 versus $31,942 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $26,104. About 3.4% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

===Politics===
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 29, 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/Nov19RE.pdf?la=en|title=Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 29, 2019|publisher=Connecticut Secretary of State|format=PDF|access-date=February 17, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active voters
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 964
| align = center | 79
| align = center | 1,043
| align = center | 34.12%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 625
| align = center | 47
| align = center | 672
| align = center | 21.98%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
|[[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align = center | 1,126
| align = center | 176
| align = center | 1,302
| align = center | 42.60%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
|[[Third party (United States)|Minor Parties]]
| align = center | 32
| align = center | 7
| align = center | 39
| align = center | 1.27%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 2,747
! align = center | 309
! align = center | 3,056
! align = center | 100%
|}
The town of Ashford is heavily Democratic and has been since the 1930s. Ashford was one of only eight towns in Connecticut that voted for [[George McGovern]] over [[Richard Nixon]] in the [[1972 United States presidential election in Connecticut|1972]] election. In recent elections, Ashford has become one of the few remaining blue towns in Windham County, which has shifted rightward at the federal level.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922 | title=General Elections Statement of Vote 1922 }}</ref> In [[2016 United States presidential election in Connecticut|2016]], Ashford was one of only three Windham County towns, along with [[Windham, Connecticut|Windham]] and [[Pomfret, Connecticut|Pomfret]], to back [[Hillary Clinton]] over [[Donald Trump]], albeit with a plurality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Statement of Vote |url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2016StatementofVotepdf.pdf |website=authoring.ct.gov}}</ref> In [[2020 United States presidential election in Connecticut|2020]], [[Joe Biden]] increased the Democratic vote total in the town while the county at large stayed red.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Statement of Vote |url=https://authoring.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/StatementOfVote_PDFs/2020-SOV.pdf |website=authoring.ct.gov}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Presidential Election Results<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|website=CT Secretary of State|access-date=May 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=December 14, 2020|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref>
|-
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.3%''' ''1,330''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.6% ''1,160''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.1% ''54''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.8%''' ''1,112''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.8% ''1,042''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.4% ''171''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.3%''' ''1,331''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.9% ''803''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.8% ''39''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.4%''' ''1,422''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.1% ''837''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.5% ''58''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.0%''' ''1,311''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.7% ''937''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.3% ''54''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.4%''' ''1,093''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.0% ''737''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|10.6% ''216''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.5%''' ''977''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.9% ''559''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|20.6% ''398''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''44.9%''' ''918''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|25.3% 519
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|29.8% ''611''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.0%''' ''921''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.7% ''731''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''21''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.1% ''685''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.1%''' ''891''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.8% ''13''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''44.3%''' ''638''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.4% ''510''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|20.3% ''292''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.6%''' ''768''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.5% ''577''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.9% ''13''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.6%''' ''708''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.5% ''532''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.9% ''12''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''47.8%''' ''373''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.6% ''333''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|9.6% ''75''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''68.6%''' ''472''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.4% ''216''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.5%''' ''374''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.5% ''300''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.8% ''287''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.2%''' ''314''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

===Religion===
[[File:United Baptist Church, Warrenville CT.jpg|thumb|right|United Baptist Church in the Warrenville section of Ashford]]
Several churches exist in Ashford. They include the St Philip-Apostle Church ([[Catholic]]), Living Proof Church (formerly United [[Baptist Church]] of Ashford), [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], and Westford [[Congregational church|Congregational Church]].

==Education==

Elementary and middle school-aged residents attend Ashford School, the town's only school, built in 1951 to replace the old [[Ashford Academy]] schoolhouse. This school educates students from Pre-K through grade eight. In February 1979, the town's board of education considered closing the school in response to a budget crisis.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110524172719/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/courant/access/980223622.html?dids=980223622:980223622&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&date=Feb+08,+1979&author=MARK+McGRATH&pub=The+Hartford+Courant&desc=Board+May+Close+Ashford+School&pqatl=google  The Hartford Courant, Hartford, Conn. Feb 8, 1979, page 46. by Mark McGrath. "Board May Close Ashford ]</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1979/02/10/archives/connecticut-town-to-close-school-in-budget-indecision-children-seem.html The New York Times, Saturday, February 10, 1979, Page 24. "Connecticut Town to Close School in Budget Indecision; Children Seem Unconcerned" by Matthew L. Wald]</ref>

High school-aged residents may attend [[E. O. Smith High School]] in Mansfield, CT, part of Regional School District 19. They also can go to [[Windham Technical High School]], ACT. and Ellis Technical High School.

==Notable people==

* [[Francis Bugbee]] (1794–1877), lawyer, judge and politician
* [[Walter Eli Clark]] (1869–1950), journalist, last governor of the [[District of Alaska]] and the first governor of the [[Alaska Territory]]
* [[Emeline Horton Cleveland]] (1829–1878), physician and college professor, the first woman on record to perform major surgery<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Emeline Horton Cleveland | encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica  | url=http://www.britannica.com/biography/Emeline-Horton-Cleveland}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Cleveland, Emeline Horton (1829–1878) |url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/article-1G2-2591301997/cleveland-emeline-horton-18291878.html |website=encyclopedia.com |publisher=Encyclopedia,com}}</ref>
* [[Galusha A. Grow]] (1822–1907), speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1861 to 1863
* [[John Keyes (soldier)|John Keyes]] (1744–1824), first [[adjutant general]] of the State of Connecticut
* [[Elias Keyes]], (1758–1844), United States Congressman from [[Vermont]]<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | year = 1963}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Knowlton]] (1740–1776), military officer in the [[American Revolution]], who led the [[Knowlton's Rangers]], America's first Army intelligence unit
* [[Nathaniel Lyon]] (1818–1861), the first Union general to be killed in the [[American Civil War]]<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
* [[Paul Newman]] (1925–2008), award-winning actor, film director and philanthropist. A seasonal resident of Ashford from the opening of the [[Hole in the Wall Gang Camp]] in 1988
* [[Eliphalet Nott]] (1773–1866), president of [[Union College]], and from 1829 to 1845 simultaneously was president of [[Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute]]. Inventor of the first stove for anthracite coal<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
* [[Caroline Lathrop Post]] (1824–1915), poet<ref>{{Cite book |last=Puckett |first=Linda |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sW9tNzHdGk4C&pg=PA14 |title=Post |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-7385-9630-3 |location=Charleston, SC |pages=14 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[James Hamilton Shegogue]] (1806–1872), painter
* [[Solomon Spalding]] (1761–1816), writer
* [[John H. Trumbull]] (1873–1961), the 70th governor of [[Connecticut]]
* [[Valerie Wilson Wesley]] (born 1947), mystery writer<ref>Staff. [https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/26/nyregion/mystery-plot-whodunit-in-newark.html "Mystery Plot: Whodunit in Newark?"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', August 26, 1994. Accessed February 6, 2012. "Ms. Wilson Wesley grew up in Ashford, Conn., and now lives in Montclair, N.J., with her husband and two daughters. But she lived in nearby East Orange in the early 1970s, and Tamara's yellow-and-green Cape Cod is modeled on her old house."</ref>
* [[Edward W. Whitaker]] (1841–1922), Brevet Brigadier General; soldier and [[Medal of Honor]] recipient

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*{{Official website|http://www.ashfordtownhall.org/}}

{{Connecticut}}
{{Windham County, Connecticut}}
{{Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ashford, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Windham County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1714]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:1714 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut]]