Editing Barkhamsted, Connecticut

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Barkhamsted, Connecticut
| settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline            = Barkhamsted Reservoir.jpg
| image_caption            = View of the [[Barkhamsted Reservoir]]
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = BarkhamsteadCTseal.gif
| image_map                = {{switcher|[[File:Litchfield County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Barkhamsted Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Barkhamsted's location within Litchfield County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Northwest Hills incorporated and unincorporated areas Barkhamsted highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Barkhamsted's location within the Northwest Hills Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills 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=Q2446108}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|55|45|N|72|58|20|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2446108;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=Barkhamsted;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates              = {{coord|41|55|45|N|72|58|20|W|region:US-CT|display=it}}
| 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        = [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills]]
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = 1779
| government_type          = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title             = [[First Selectman]]
| leader_name              = Donald S. Stein (D)
| leader_title1            = Selectman
| leader_name1             = Raymond P. Pech (D)
| leader_title2            = Selectman
| leader_name2             = Nicholas A. Lukiwsky (R)
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_total_km2           = 100.6
| area_total_sq_mi         = 
| area_land_km2            = 93.9
| area_land_sq_mi          = 
| area_water_km2           = 6.7
| area_water_sq_mi         = 
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 607
| population_footnotes     = <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061015003016/http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2005_9.csv U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates]</ref>
| population_total         = 3647
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_density_km2   = 38.8
| 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              = 06063, 06065
| area_codes                = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 09-02760
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0213386<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|213386}}</ref>
| website                  = {{URL|http://barkhamsted.us}}
}}
'''Barkhamsted''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɑː|r|k|ˈ|h|æ|m|s|t|ɛ|d}} {{respell|bark|HAM|sted}}) is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. It contains seven villages: West Hill, Mallory, [[Barkhamsted Center Historic District|Barkhamsted Center]], Center Hill, Washington Hill, [[Pleasant Valley, Connecticut|Pleasant Valley]], and [[Riverton, Connecticut|Riverton]]. The population was 3,647 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900502760| title=Census - Geography Profile: Barkhamsted town, Litchfield County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref> down from 3,799 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. The town is part of the [[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills Planning Region]]. Barkhamsted was first incorporated in 1779, and named after [[Berkhamsted]], [[Hertfordshire]], England.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/townorder.htm |title=Connecticut Towns in the Order of their Establishment |website=www.sots.ct.gov |access-date=January 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314164126/http://www.sots.ct.gov/RegisterManual/SectionVII/townorder.htm |archive-date=March 14, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA330|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=330}}</ref>

==Geography==
The town is in northeastern Litchfield County and is bordered to the north and east by [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|110.6|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|93.9|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|6.7|km2|order=flip}}, or 6.63%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US0900502760| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Barkhamsted town, Litchfield County, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=American FactFinder| access-date=October 3, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213120121/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US0900502760| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> Major bodies of water include [[Saville Dam|Barkhamsted Reservoir]], the primary water source for [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]]; Lake McDonough, and the [[Farmington River]]. The north end of [[West Hill Lake]] is located at the southern border of Barkhamsted. A high percentage of the land in the town is owned by the state of Connecticut as state forest (Peoples State Forest, American Legion State Forest, Tunxis State Forest, and Enders State Forest) and by the [[Metropolitan District Commission of Connecticut|Metropolitan District Commission]] (MDC) as water supply area.

[[U.S. Route 44#Connecticut|U.S. Route 44]] crosses the southwestern part of the town, leading southeast {{convert|22|mi}} to Hartford and northwest {{convert|20|mi}} to [[North Canaan, Connecticut|North Canaan]].

===Principal communities===
*[[Barkhamsted Center Historic District|Barkhamsted Center]]
*[[Barkhamsted Hollow, Connecticut|Barkhamsted Hollow]] (historical; became the Barkhamsted Reservoir in the early 20th century)
*Center Hill
*[[Pleasant Valley, Connecticut|Pleasant Valley]]
*[[Riverton, Connecticut|Riverton]]
*West Hill

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Barkhamsted, Connecticut (2000–2020 temperature normals, extremes 2000-present, 1991-2020 precipitation normals)
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 68
|Feb record high F = 78
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 97
|Jul record high F = 99
|Aug record high F = 99
|Sep record high F = 96
|Oct record high F = 87
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 70
|Jan avg record high F = 55
|Feb avg record high F = 57
|Mar avg record high F = 66
|Apr avg record high F = 81
|May avg record high F = 89
|Jun avg record high F = 92
|Jul avg record high F = 94
|Aug avg record high F = 92
|Sep avg record high F = 88
|Oct avg record high F = 79
|Nov avg record high F = 70
|Dec avg record high F = 59
|year avg record high F= 96
|Jan high F = 34.2
|Feb high F = 37.0
|Mar high F = 45.5
|Apr high F = 59.3
|May high F = 70.0
|Jun high F = 78.4
|Jul high F = 84.2
|Aug high F = 82.3
|Sep high F = 75.7
|Oct high F = 62.6
|Nov high F = 50.9
|Dec high F = 39.3
|year high F= 59.4
|Jan mean F = 24.9
|Feb mean F = 26.6
|Mar mean F = 34.7
|Apr mean F = 47.1
|May mean F = 58.1
|Jun mean F = 67.1
|Jul mean F = 72.8
|Aug mean F = 70.9
|Sep mean F = 64.0
|Oct mean F = 51.7
|Nov mean F = 40.9
|Dec mean F = 30.6
|year mean F= 48.6
|Jan low F = 15.7
|Feb low F = 16.3
|Mar low F = 23.9
|Apr low F = 34.9
|May low F = 46.2
|Jun low F = 55.8
|Jul low F = 61.5
|Aug low F = 59.5
|Sep low F = 52.3
|Oct low F = 40.8
|Nov low F = 31.0
|Dec low F = 21.9
|year low F= 37.8
|Jan avg record low F = -4
|Feb avg record low F = -1
|Mar avg record low F = 6
|Apr avg record low F = 23
|May avg record low F = 31
|Jun avg record low F = 43
|Jul avg record low F = 51
|Aug avg record low F = 49
|Sep avg record low F = 38
|Oct avg record low F = 27
|Nov avg record low F = 16
|Dec avg record low F = 7
|year avg record low F= -6
|Jan record low F = -12
|Feb record low F = -20
|Mar record low F = -8
|Apr record low F = 16
|May record low F = 8
|Jun record low F = 37
|Jul record low F = 38
|Aug record low F = 44
|Sep record low F = 29
|Oct record low F = 19
|Nov record low F = 2
|Dec record low F = -4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.57
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.21
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.09
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.89
|May precipitation inch = 3.94
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.85
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.52
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.31
|Sep precipitation inch = 4.75
|Oct precipitation inch = 5.18
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.83
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.58
|year precipitation inch= 50.84
|Jan snow inch =  14.3
|Feb snow inch =  14.2
|Mar snow inch =  9.3
|Apr snow inch =  0.8
|May snow inch =  0
|Jun snow inch =  0
|Jul snow inch =  0
|Aug snow inch =  0
|Sep snow inch =  0
|Oct snow inch =  0.4
|Nov snow inch =  2.0
|Dec snow inch =  9.2
|year snow inch= 47.9
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan precipitation days = 11
|Feb precipitation days = 9
|Mar precipitation days = 10
|Apr precipitation days = 11
|May precipitation days = 13
|Jun precipitation days = 12
|Jul precipitation days = 12
|Aug precipitation days = 10
|Sep precipitation days = 10
|Oct precipitation days = 11
|Nov precipitation days = 10
|Dec precipitation days = 11
|year precipitation days= 132
|Jan snow days = 5
|Feb snow days = 5
|Mar snow days = 3
|Apr snow days = 1
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 1
|Dec snow days = 3
|year snow days= 18
|Jan snow depth inch = 9
|Feb snow depth inch = 10
|Mar snow depth inch = 10
|Apr snow depth inch = 1
|May snow depth inch = 0
|Jun snow depth inch = 0
|Jul snow depth inch = 0
|Aug snow depth inch = 0
|Sep snow depth inch = 0
|Oct snow depth inch = 0
|Nov snow depth inch = 1
|Dec snow depth inch = 7
|year snow depth inch= 15
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web |url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=box |title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date = October 15, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1820= 1592
|1850= 1524
|1860= 1272
|1870= 1439
|1880= 1297
|1890= 1130
|1900= 864
|1910= 865
|1920= 719
|1930= 697
|1940= 724
|1950= 946
|1960= 1370
|1970= 2066
|1980= 2935
|1990= 3369
|2000= 3494
|2010= 3799
|2020= 3647
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<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=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
As of 2010, Barkhamsted had a population of 3,799.  The racial composition of the population was 97.5% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.6% from some other race and 1.1% reporting two or more races.  1.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>2010 population by 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 3,494 people, 1,334 households, and 1,036 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|96.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,436 housing units at an average density of {{convert|39.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 98.54% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.06% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.17% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.40% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.29% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.54% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.89% of the population.

There were 1,334 households, out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.2% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.3% were non-families. 16.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $65,972, and the median income for a family was $73,218. Males had a median income of $51,925 versus $38,102 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $28,961.  About 1.8% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 1.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Politics==

Since voting predominantly Republican from 1956 through 1988, Barkhamsted has oscillated between the two major parties at the presidential level.

{| 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|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 884
| align = center | 18
| align = center | 902
| align = center | 30.88%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 705
| align = center | 15
| align = center | 720
| align = center | 24.65%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align = center | 1,216
| align = center | 37
| align = center | 1,253
| align = center | 42.90%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| Minor Parties
| align = center | 44
| align = center | 2
| align = center | 46
| align = center | 1.57%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 2,849
! align = center | 72
! align = center | 2,921
! align = center | 100%
|}
{| 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 22, 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/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.3% ''1,154''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.3%''' ''1,228''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.4% ''60''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.3% ''905''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.8%''' ''1,157''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.9% ''131''
|-
|align="center" style="background:#d99fe8"|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.1%''' ''1,033''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.1%''' ''1,033''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.8% ''39''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.6%''' ''1,223''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.2% ''969''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.2% ''50''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.0%''' ''1,124''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.1% ''995''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.9% ''42''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.0%''' ''832''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.7% ''832''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.3% ''136''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''43.3%''' ''735''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.9% ''677''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|16.8% ''285''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''41.7%''' ''779''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.7% ''779''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|26.6% ''496''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.9% ''772''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''50.8%''' ''820''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''21''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.2% ''467''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''68.6%''' ''1,026''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.2% ''3''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|27.4% ''389''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.2%''' ''755''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|19.4% ''275''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.7% ''473''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.8%''' ''742''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.5% ''6''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.1% ''345''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.8%''' ''750''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.1% ''12''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.3% ''295''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.6%''' ''439''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.1% ''56''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.2%''' ''348''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.8% ''306''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|32.3% ''219''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.7%''' ''458''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|16.8% ''89''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''83.2%''' ''440''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

==Services==
The town of Barkhamsted has one elementary school, in the village of Pleasant Valley.

Its high school and middle school students attend Northwestern Regional Middle School and [[Northwestern Regional High School]], of the [[Northwestern Regional School District No. 7]], in neighboring [[Winsted, Connecticut|Winsted]]. Barkhamsted schoolchildren attend the Regional High/Middle School with students from three neighboring towns, New Hartford, Norfolk, and Colebrook.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nwr7.com/district/about-us|title=About Us|publisher=[[Northwestern Regional School District No. 7]]|accessdate=May 19, 2021}}</ref>

Barkhamsted has three fire departments: the Pleasant Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Riverton Volunteer Fire Company, and Barkhamsted East Volunteer Fire Company. The town employs one paid daytime driver/firefighter to assist the volunteers during normal work hours.

Emergency medical care is provided by the [[Winsted Area Ambulance Association]], the New Hartford Volunteer Ambulance Association, and a Campion paramedic. Both Winsted and New Hartford are volunteer-based services.

==Transportation==
There is no public transportation in Barkhamsted; thus, the principal means of transportation is the automobile. The primary state highways in town are Route 44, Route 20, Route 219, Route 318, and [[Connecticut Route 181|Route 181]]. The village of Riverton is located along [[Connecticut Route 20|Route 20]] and the village of Pleasant Valley is off [[U.S. Route 44#Connecticut|Route 44]] (via [[Connecticut Route 318|Route 318]]). [[Bradley International Airport]] is approximately 15 miles east.

==Notable locations==
[[Image:PostcardRivertonCTCFRowley&SonGenlStore1906.jpg|thumb|right|250px|A general store in 1906 in Riverton]]
Barkhamsted is home of the historic [[Saville Dam]], forming Barkhamsted Reservoir, and [[Peoples State Forest]], where the [[Stone Museum]] is located.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.stonemuseum.org/ |title=Stone Museum in Peoples State Forest Pleasant Valley |access-date=July 7, 2009 |archive-date=April 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090419085733/http://www.stonemuseum.org/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Within the Barkhamsted Reservoir lie the foundations of [[Barkhamsted Hollow]], the historic center of town that was purchased by the [[Metropolitan District Commission of Connecticut]] in the early 20th century to create a reservoir to serve the Hartford area. This area was flooded following the construction of the Saville Dam on the East Branch of the Farmington River, and took eight years to fill.

Just south of the Barkhamsted Reservoir is Lake McDonough, also known as the compensating reservoir and owned by the MDC. Originally created to ensure the riparian rights of downstream mill owners, this lake now serves the recreational interests of the surrounding area with beaches, boating, and fishing.

The hamlet of [[Pleasant Valley, Connecticut|Pleasant Valley]] contains the Pleasant Valley General Store, the Barkhamsted Elementary School, the Pleasant Valley Drive-In, the post office (ZIP Code 06063), and the town hall.

The hamlet of [[Riverton, Connecticut|Riverton]] holds a post office (ZIP Code 06065), the Riverton General Store, the Riverton Inn, the Royal Coachman Tavern, the Riverton Congregational Church, the grange, and the fair grounds. This is also the location of the annual Riverton Fair, which takes place the second weekend of October each year, and is Connecticut's last fair of the year.

The West Branch of the Farmington River is designated as a [[Wild and Scenic River]]. It runs through the villages of Riverton and Pleasant Valley and hosts fishermen year-round in the catch-and-release section. On the opening day of fishing season each year, a fishing tournament is held in Riverton, drawing anglers from Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts.

===On the National Register of Historic Places===

[[Image:WestViewOfHitchcocksvilleBarkhamsted.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"West view of Hitchcocksville, Barkhamsted" by [[John Warner Barber]], 1830s]]
* [[American Legion Forest CCC Shelter]] – west side of West River Road, American Legion State Forest (added in 1986)
* [[Barkhamsted Center Historic District]] – 119, 131 Center Hill Road; 2,5,6,8 Old Town Hall Road (added in 1999)
* [[Beaver Meadow Complex Prehistoric Archeological District]] (added in 1988)
* [[Lighthouse Archeological Site (5-37)]] (added in 1991)
* [[William Moore Jr. House]] – 5 Mountain Road (added May 14, 1999)
* [[Old Riverton Inn]] – 436 E. River Rd. (added in 1992)
* [[Peoples Forest Museum]] – Greenwood Road, Peoples State Forest (added in 1986)
* [[Riverton Historic District (Barkhamsted, Connecticut)|Riverton Historic District]] – (added in 2007)
* [[Union Church/St. Paul's Church]] – Riverton Road (added in 1985)

==References==
[[File:PostcardBarkhamstedCTSchoolCirca1908.jpg|thumb|right|School, from a postcard {{circa|1908}}]]
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*[http://barkhamsted.us/ Official town website]
*[http://barkhamstedhistory.us/ Barkhamsted Historical Society]

{{Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Litchfield County, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{New England}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Barkhamsted, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Litchfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1779]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:1779 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut]]