Editing Colchester, Connecticut

{{For-multi|the census-designated place|Colchester (CDP), Connecticut|other towns named Colchester|Colchester (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Colchester, Connecticut
| settlement_type        = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline          = Colchester, Connecticut, historic sign 01.jpg
| image_caption          = Town of Colchester historical marker
| image_flag             = Flag of Colchester, Connecticut.png
| image_seal             = ColchesterCTSeal.png
| image_map              = {{switcher|[[File:New London County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Colchester Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Colchester's location within New London County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Southeastern Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Colchester highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Colchester's location within the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern 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=Q1107717}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|34|33.4|N|72|19|56.3|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q1107717;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=Colchester;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates            = {{coord|41|34|33.4|N|72|19|56.3|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      = [[New London County, Connecticut|New London]]
| subdivision_type3      = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3      = [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern CT]]
| established_title      = Incorporated
| established_date       = 1698 / 1699
| government_type        = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman–town meeting]]
| leader_title           = [[First Selectman]]
| leader_name            = Bernard Dennler
| unit_pref              = Imperial
| area_total_km2         = 129.0
| area_total_sq_mi       = 49.8
| area_land_km2          = 127.1
| area_land_sq_mi        = 49.1
| area_water_km2         = 1.9
| area_water_sq_mi       = 0.7
| area_water_percent     = 
| area_urban_km2         = 
| elevation_m            = 168
| elevation_ft           = 551
| population_total       = 15555
| population_as_of       = 2020
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone               = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset             = -5
| timezone_DST           = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST         = -4
| postal_code_type       = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code            = 06415, 06420
| area_code              = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info             = 09-15910
| blank1_name            = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info            = 0213409
| website                = {{URL|www.colchesterct.gov}}
}}
{{Multiple image
| align = right
| direction = 
| total_width = 320
| perrow = 2/2
| image1 = Colchester Village HD - Civil War monument.jpg
| caption1 = Civil War monument on the Green (1875)
| image3 = Bacon Academy, Colchester Connecticut.jpg
| caption3 = [[Old Bacon Academy]]
| image2 = Colchester Federated Church, Connecticut.jpg
| caption2 = Colchester Federated Church
| image4 = Cragin Memorial Library, Colchester, Connecticut.jpg
| caption4 = Cragin Memorial Library
}}
'''Colchester''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[New London County, Connecticut]], United States. The town is part of the [[Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region]]. The population was 15,555 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0901115910|title=Census - Geography Profile: Colchester town, New London County, Connecticut |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref> In 2010 Colchester became the first town in Connecticut, and the 36th in the country, to be certified with the [[National Wildlife Federation]] as a Community Wildlife Habitat.

The villages of Westchester and North Westchester are located within Colchester. The [[Colchester (CDP), Connecticut|town center village]], which was previously incorporated as a [[borough (Connecticut)|borough]], is a [[census-designated place]], with a population of 4,700 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0915840|title=Census - Geography Profile: Colchester CDP, Connecticut |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 27, 2021}}</ref>

The Colchester area was part of the Mohegan territory at the time of European settlement. Several members of the [[Paugussett]] tribe currently reside in Colchester, where the tribe (which also has a heritage property in [[Trumbull, Connecticut|Trumbull]]) has a larger and more recently acquired {{convert|106|acre|km2|adj=on}} reservation.<ref name=globe>{{cite news |title=Aurelius Piper, chief of Connecticut tribe |url=http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2008/08/06/aurelius_piper_chief_of_connecticut_tribe/ |agency=Associated Press |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=August 6, 2008 |access-date=August 7, 2010 }}</ref>

The Colchester Historical Society operates a local history museum.

==History==

=== Pre-Township and Becoming a Township ===
On March 31, 1661, the original settlement of Colchester was founded by [[Jeremy Adams]] on a 340-acre area of land, then known as "Jeremiah's Farme."  The land was given to Jeremy by [[Uncas]], [[Sachem]] of the [[Mohegan]] tribe.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Adams |first1=Arthur |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/66465301 |title=Arthur Adams collection |last2=Clement |first2=John B |last3=Satterhwaite |first3=Elizabeth B |last4=Adams |first4=James L |date=1896 |language=English |oclc=66465301}}</ref>

When Connecticut's first counties were created in 1666, Colchester stayed under Adams' ownership and was not incorporated into any new county,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=December 9, 2017 |title=Old Historical City, County and State Maps of Connecticut |url=https://mapgeeks.org/connecticut/ |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=Mapgeeks |language=en-US}}</ref> possibly because of its proximity to both [[Hartford County|Hartford]] and [[New London County]]. It would not formally join a county until 1698. At this time, Colchester was mainly a farming community. In 2009, Colchester adopted a right-to-farm ordinance, recognizing the "significant role" that agriculture played in Colchester's "heritage and future."<ref>Town of Colchester, Municipal Code, Section 55 (2023).</ref>

On October 13, 1698, Michael Taintor II, Samuel Northam and [[Nathaniel Foote|Nathaniel Foote III]] applied to officially settle Colchester.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Colchester, Connecticut Genealogy and History USGenWeb Project |url=http://www.ctgenweb.org/county/conewlondon/towns/colchester.html |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=www.ctgenweb.org}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=An Historical Address; Delivered at the Celebration of the Two Hundredth Anniversary, of the First Church of Christ, in Colchester, Connecticut |url=https://www.forgottenbooks.com/en/readbook/AnHistoricalAddressDeliveredattheCelebrationoftheTwoHundredthAnniversaryoftheFir_10289673#2 |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=www.forgottenbooks.com}}</ref> Jeremiah's Farme was selected as the main point of reference for the town, with its north boundary as the Twenty Mile River. The southern side is bordered by [[Lyme, Connecticut|Lyme]], and the west boundary meets the east bounds of [[Middletown, Connecticut|Middletown]] and [[Haddam, Connecticut|Haddam]]. The east and northeast boundary runs to the bounds of [[Lebanon, Connecticut|Lebanon]] and [[Norwich, Connecticut|Norwich]]. During the initial settlement, the area was also referred to as the Plantation of the Twenty-mile River.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Marshall |first=Benjamin Tinkham |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YqsrAAAAYAAJ&dq=Michael+Taintor+II%2C+Samuel+Northam+and+Nathaniel+Foote+III&pg=PA177 |title=A Modern History of New London County, Connecticut |date=1922 |publisher=Lewis Historical Publishing Company |language=en}}</ref>

On May 11, 1699, the town's principal founders asked the general court of Hartford for assistance, alleging that several persons had hindered the advancement of the settlement by claiming ownership of "considerable tracts of land" within the grant.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> They also asked to be transferred under the jurisdiction of the New London colony and for the town to be recognized as Colchester. On May 11, 1699, the court approved their request, officially establishing Colchester as a town of New London.<ref name=":1" /> The town is said to be named after [[Colchester]], a borough and port in [[Essex, England]], where many colonists had emigrated from and from which Foote's grandfather, [[Nathaniel Foote]], was born.<ref>{{cite book |author=Gannett, Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=Govt. Print. Off. |year=1905 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n85 87]}}</ref>

=== The 1700s ===
Nathaniel Foote and his family were some of the first to settle here and finished building their house in 1702.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Walter |first=Gary |title=Historical Landmarks, A Historical Tour Of Colchester |publisher=Colchester History Society |location=Colchester Connecticut}}</ref> The house began construction in 1699 by Nathaniel Foote III and was then finished by his son Nathaniel Foote IV.<ref name=":4" /> On November 29, 1703,<ref name=":2" /> a saw and grist mill were voted to be built by Israel and Samual Wyatt if they promised to maintain the mill for the town's use.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Extracts from the records of Colchester, with some transcripts from the recording of Michaell Taintor ... |url=https://lccn.loc.gov/02005181 |access-date=April 7, 2022 |website=Library of Congress}}</ref> The first schoolmaster began operations in 1705, and a schoolhouse was finished in 1711.<ref name=":5" /> In 1707 or earlier, a cemetery was built behind where [[Bacon Academy]] would later be built.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ancient Burial Grounds {{!}} Colchester CT |url=https://www.colchesterct.gov/historic-district-commission/pages/ancient-burial-grounds |access-date=May 5, 2022 |website=www.colchesterct.gov}}</ref> The cemetery later held people like Reverend John Bulkeley, Dr. John Watrous, Pierpont Bacon, and his wife, Abigail Bacon. In 1708 Colchester re-joined [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford county]],<ref name=":0" /> and a second religious meeting house was built.<ref name=":2" /> On December 31, 1712, at a legal town meeting held in Colchester, Capt Gilbert Wyatt and Mr. Darnell Clark were Chosen, Selectmen.<ref name=":5" /> On December 28, 1713, Samuel Northam, Thomas Day, and Ebenezer Colman were chosen for a school committee ensuing year.<ref name=":5" />

At a town meeting on June 12, 1716, it was voted to finish the schoolhouse where the foundation of the said house was the only partly standing.<ref name=":5" /> The selectmen Committee for the school has agreed with Nathaniel Loomis Jr. (He and his family are from [[Windsor, Connecticut|Windsor]]<ref name=":2" />) to keep school for twelve months and give him twenty-five pounds and ten shillings. He began to keep building the school. On December 8, 1729, Ensign Foote, Ensign Wells, and Israel Newton were chosen as Selectmen. The constables were selected at the same meeting, being Joseph Chamberlain and Isaac Jones.<ref name=":5" /> On June 3, 1774, Stephen Goodwin wrote to the [[Hartford Courant]] that he had a runaway slave. The slave was named Jefferey and rode away on horseback. A reward was said to be given out if said horse or Jefferey was found (6 dollars for Jeffery and 4 for the horse).

In 1756 Colchester's population was 2,300 people. In 1761 Michael Taintor built Taintors Farm, which stayed in the family until the early 20th century.<ref name=":4" /> The [[Nathaniel Hayward]] house was built in 1775 for Dudley Wright;<ref name=":4" /> The house was lived in by Dr. John Watrous and his wife (who was Dudley Wright's daughter). The house was later sold in 1848 and lived in by [[Nathaniel Hayward]]. The lawn of this house was the original town green. In 1777 Breed's Tavern was built, which is most known for being one of the two remaining sites associated with the Wooster Masonic Lodge.<ref name=":4" /> In 1782 Colchester had 3,300 inhabitants.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=History of the Town of Colchester CT {{!}} Colchester Society |url=https://www.colchesterhistory.org/colchester-history/ |access-date=April 7, 2022 |website=www.colchesterhistory.org}}</ref> Several men went into the [[American Revolutionary War|revolutionary war]], many of them died. One of which was Ephraim Little Jr., son of the 2nd Reverend of Colchester. In 1783 Colchester rejoined [[New London County, Connecticut|New London County]] after being within [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]].<ref name=":0" /> On Thursday, January 29, 1784, [[United States Congress|Congress]] suggested a tax, and the representatives of Colchester (Capt. Buckley and Col. Worthington) voted not to have it go into effect. In 1785 the Foote Family house was built by Nathaniel Foote and was lived in by his family. The [[Henry Champion House]] was built in 1790 by architect William Sprat. for [[Henry Champion (general)|Colonel Henry Champion]] who was active in the revolution and a military figure.<ref name=":4" />

Starting in the mid-1700s, Colchester was a hub for the making [[bed rugs]], heavy embroidered bed covers that were both decorative and served to keep [[New Englanders]] warm in the cold winters. Colchester bed rugs are important for their strong designs and complex embroidery.<ref name=":8">{{Cite book |last=Marshall |first=Jessie Armstead |title=Bed rugs: 18th and early 19th embroidered bed covers: Expressions of the American Spirit. |publisher=J. A. Marshall |year=2000 |location=Storrs, CT |pages=26 |language=en}}</ref> Several women from the Foote family, including Mary Foote, Abigail Foote, and Jerusha Foote Johnson, all have bed rugs attributed to them.<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Collections Database |url=https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+F.416 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=museums.fivecolleges.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bed Rug {{!}} All Works {{!}} The MFAH Collections |url=https://emuseum.mfah.org/objects/157589/bed-rug?ctx=aa9eb23e334dadbf0a8c511e906176816ae9089c&idx=0 |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=emuseum.mfah.org |language=en}}</ref>

=== The 1800s ===
On October 13, 1803, the town of [[Marlborough, Connecticut|Marlborough]], [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]] was created from parts of the towns of Colchester, [[Glastonbury, Connecticut|Glastonbury]], [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]], and [[Hebron, Connecticut|Hebron]], [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]].<ref name=":0" /> In the 1807 election for governor of Connecticut, Colchester voted 105 for [[Jonathan Trumbull Jr.|Trumbull]] and 12 for Hart, a majority for [[Jonathan Trumbull Jr.|Trumbull]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Hartford, Connecticut Breaking News, Sports & Entertainment - Hartford Courant |url=https://www.courant.com/ |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=courant.com}}</ref> On May 27, 1807, heavy cattle losses were reported because of stray dogs biting them.<ref name=":7" /> The following year (1808), Colchester voted for [[Jonathan Trumbull Jr.|Trumbull]]’s re-election (135 to 24). In 1810 Colchester voted for the governor, 82 for [[John Treadwell|Treadwell]], 61 for [[Roger Griswold|Griswold]], and 16 for Spalding.<ref name=":7" /> On March 6, 1821, John Turner sold the southern green to [[Bacon Academy]] Trustees for $100 ($2,800 in 2018).<ref name=":7" /> A hatter came in 1828.<ref name=":6" /> In 1836, a town description was written in "Connecticut Historical Collections" stating that excellent quality iron ore was found. Colchester was hilly and stony in some parts of town. [[Hebron, Connecticut|Hebron]]’s furnaces later used the ore in 1899. In "Connecticut Historical Collections" the school for colored children is mentioned; considering this book was released in 1836, the school could not have been more than 43 years old. Unbeknownst to [[John Warner Barber|John Barber]] (the writer of this book), he got to see it only four years before its ending. On August 8, 1844, Special Park Committee meeting reported costs to acquire {{frac|3|1|2}} acres of land plus costs of posts and rails to line the perimeter for $398 (about $13,000).

In March 1850, The borough petitioned for a special meeting for land donation by [[Nathaniel Hayward]]. His proposal was a donation of land if the borough laid a tax of $1,000 to defray expenses of fences and grading land (about $32,000).<ref name=":7" /> The proposal was approved. In 1851 Work was completed for the new Town Park. The borough passes ordinances to ban cows from the park.<ref name=":7" /> Borough records showed the town immediately designated the park as a source of income. This included land rental for circus, shows, and sales of grasses and hay.<ref name=":7" />

==== Colchester Bank ====
The first known mention of the bank, was on June 19, 1856, when the [[United States Senate|Senate]] agreed to pass a bill incorporating the bank.<ref name=":7" /> On October 11, 1856, the bank's stockholders met and decided on a board of directors. They are as follows, Albert B. Isham, Stephen Brainard Day (Isaac's Buell's brother), William G. Buell, and Samuel F. Jones Jr. (who would later be the main accomplice in the Colchester bank scandal<ref>{{Cite web |title=1800s Colchester Bank Scandal {{!}} Colchester Historical Society |url=https://www.colchesterhistory.org/colchester-history/bank-scandal-1800s/ |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=www.colchesterhistory.org}}</ref>).<ref name=":7" /> In the same meeting, Isaac Biglow Buell (the cousin of Harvey Post Buell, a successful druggist, and pharmacist in Colchester<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bacon |first=George F |url=https://archive.org/details/leadingbusinessm00geor |title=The leading business men of Willimantic and Colchester ... |date=1890 |publisher=Mercantile Publishing Company |location=Boston |language=English |oclc=1048219371}}</ref>) was chosen as president. The bank reportedly began the same day.<ref name=":7" />

=== The 1900s ===

==== The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 ====
On September 21 and 22, 1938, Colchester was slammed by a hurricane. The state of Connecticut was inundated with between 5-10 inches of rain and wind gusts of anywhere from 100–125 miles per hour. Reportedly, the Colchester Town Green resembled a "small lake with cascading streams"

At the time, the town had a number of Dutch Elm trees that were planted in 1850. While the root systems of Dutch elms are extensive, they are also quite shallow. As the hurricane hit on September 21, the shallow root systems were ineffective at keeping the trees rooted in the already saturated ground. These trees fell on many buildings, vehicles, and power lines across town. This blocked roads and left many people without homes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Colchester Historical Society |title=The Hurricane of 1938 |url=https://www.colchesterhistory.org/colchester-history/the-hurricane-of-1938/ |website=Colchester Historical Society}}</ref>

=== The 2000s ===

In July 2005, Colchester was named by CNN's Money Magazine, the 57th best place in the U.S. to live in and is celebrated every year with a festival on the last Saturday of September called 57 Fest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MONEY Magazine: Best places to live 2005 Top 100 (3) |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2005/top100/top100_3.html |access-date=May 10, 2022 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|49.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|49.1|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.7|sqmi|km2}}, or 1.49%, is water. Among the many waterways are the [[Salmon River (Connecticut)|Salmon River]], [[Jeremy River]], and Dickinson Creek, which is spanned by the [[Lyman Viaduct]].

===Principal communities===
*[[Colchester Village Historic District|Colchester center]]
*[[Golden Hill Paugussett Reservation]]
*North Westchester
*Westchester

===Climate===
This [[climate|climatic]] region is typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot (and often humid) summers and cold (sometimes severely cold) winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Colchester has a [[humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=994160&cityname=Colchester%2C+Connecticut%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Colchester, Connecticut]</ref>

== Activities ==
The [[Salmon River State Forest]] provides opportunities for fishing, hiking, and hunting.

=== Landmarks ===
[[Image:KelloggsSteamworksColchester.jpg|thumb|right|253px| Print made about 1848–1849 by Kelloggs & Comstock]]
[[Image:Lyman viaduct pacific railway 1876.JPG|thumb|right|253px|[[Lyman Viaduct]] on the Air-Line Railroad]]
Formerly an incorporated [[borough (Connecticut)|borough]], the town center of Colchester is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as a [[historic districts in the United States|historic district]], known as the [[Colchester Village Historic District]]. The walkable center includes a town green with a veterans' memorial. Retail stores and restaurants are located here.

==Schools==
Colchester has four schools: Colchester Elementary School (Pre K-2), Jack Jackter Intermediate School (Grades 3–5), William J. Johnston Middle School (Grades 6–8), [[Bacon Academy]] (Grades 9–12).

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1820= 2152
|1850= 2468
|1860= 2862
|1870= 3383
|1880= 2974
|1890= 2988
|1900= 1991
|1910= 2140
|1920= 2050
|1930= 2134
|1940= 2338
|1950= 3007
|1960= 4648
|1970= 6603
|1980= 7761
|1990= 10980
|2000= 14551
|2010= 16068
|2020= 15555
|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>
|1800=3163}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
[[Image:BarberJohnWarnerBaconColchester.jpg|thumb|253px|right|The Colchester Congregational Church, [[Bacon Academy]], and, to the right of the church beneath the trees, a small "school for colored children." Sketch by John Warner Barber for his ''Historical Collections of Connecticut'' (published in 1836)]]

=== Population ===

Source:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=United States Census Bureau QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045222/0918015910 |website=United States Census Bureau QuickFacts |publisher=United States Census Bureau |agency=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Population, 2020-2022
!Category
!Date
!Statistic
|-
|Population Estimates
|July 1, 2022
|15,572
|-
|Population estimates base
|April 1, 2020
|15,547
|-
|Population, percent change
|April 1, 2020- July 1, 2022
| +0.2%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Age and Sex, 2020
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|Persons under 5 years, percent
|7.9%
|-
|Persons under 18 years, percent
|23.6%
|-
|Persons 65 years and over, percent
|16.9%
|-
|Female persons, percent
|49.2%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Race & Hispanic Origin, 2020
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|White alone, percent
|92.3%
|-
|Two or More Races, percent
|3.0%
|-
|Black or African American alone, percent
|2.2%
|-
|Asian alone, percent
|1.3%
|-
|American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent
|0.0%
|-
|Native Hawai'ian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent
|0.0%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino, percent
|3.0%
|-
|White alone, not Hispanic or Latino, percent
|90.9%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Population Characteristics, 2018-2022
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|Veterans
|997
|-
|Foreign born persons, percent
|5.0%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Housing, 2018-2022
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|Owner-occupied housing unit rate
|80%
|-
|Median value of owner-occupied housing units
|$315,500
|-
|Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage
|$2,233
|-
|Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage
|$925
|-
|Median gross rent
|$1,276
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Families & Living Arrangements, 2018-2022
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|Households
|6,089
|-
|Persons per household
|2.52
|-
|Living in the same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+
|88.7%
|-
|Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+
|5.5%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Computer and Internet Use, 2018-2022
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|Households with a computer, percent
|93.8%
|-
|Households with a broadband Internet subscription, percent
|92.3%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Education, 2018-2022, age 25 years+
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|High school graduate or higher
|95.9%
|-
|Bachelor's degree or higher
|45.8%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Health, people under age 65 years
!Category
!Timeframe
!Statistic
|-
|Persons with a disability
|2018-2022
|6.5%
|-
|Persons without health insurance 
|2020
|1.1%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+In Civilian Labor Force, 2018-2022
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|Total percent of population age 16+
|69.3%
|-
|Female percent of population age 16+
|64.7%
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Transportation, 2018-2022
!Category
!Statistic
|-
|Mean travel time to work, workers age 16 years+
|32.4 minutes
|}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+Income & Poverty
!Category
!Timeframe
!Statistic
|-
|Median household income (in 2022 dollars)
|2018-2022
|$114,505
|-
|Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2022 dollars)
|2018-2022
|$52,273
|-
|Persons in poverty, percent
|2020
|4.6%
|}
As of the 2000 [[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> the population density was {{convert|296.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}} and 5,407 housing units at an average density of {{convert|110.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

There were 5,247 households as of 2000, out of which 43.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.5% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the town in 2000, the population was spread out, with 29.8% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 36.5% from 25 to 44, 19.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.2% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $64,807, and the median income for a family was $62,346. Males had a median income of $47,123 versus $29,250 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $24,038.  About 6.1% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

{| 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=March 22, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active Voters
! Inactive Voters
! Total Voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 3,180
| style="text-align:center;"| 411
| style="text-align:center;"| 3,591
| style="text-align:center;"| 29.90%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 2,529
| style="text-align:center;"| 293
| style="text-align:center;"| 2,822
| style="text-align:center;"| 23.50%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 4,454
| style="text-align:center;"| 933
| style="text-align:center;"| 5,387
| style="text-align:center;"| 44.85%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| Minor parties
| style="text-align:center;"| 194
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
| style="text-align:center;"| 210
| style="text-align:center;"| 1.75%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 10,357
! style="text-align:center;"| 1,653
! style="text-align:center;"| 12,010
! style="text-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|access-date=December 21, 2020|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=December 21, 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}}|'''53.8%''' ''5,216''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.8% ''4,243''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.4% ''232''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.5% ''3,898''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.0%''' ''4,108''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.5% ''550''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''52.6%''' ''4,125''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.6% ''3,579''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.8% ''144''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.3%''' ''4,712''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.8% ''3,355''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.9% ''152''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.5%''' ''4,081''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.8% ''3,418''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.7% ''134''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.9%''' ''3,845''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|36.9% ''2,454''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.2% ''347''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.5%''' ''3,094''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|29.5% ''1,774''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|19.0% ''1,136''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''39.4%''' ''2,508''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|28.2% ''1,796''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|32.4% ''2,062''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''49.6%''' ''2,488''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|49.4% ''2,478''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.0% ''49''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.6% ''1,720''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.0%''' ''2,603''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.4% ''15''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.8% ''1,543''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''43.1%''' ''1,630''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|16.1% ''607''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.2%''' ''1,867''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.1% ''1,491''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.7% ''26''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.1% ''1,464''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.8%''' ''1,610''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.1% ''33''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''57.7%''' ''1,467''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|34.9% ''887''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.4% ''188''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''74.2%''' ''1,704''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|25.8% ''591''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.5%''' ''1,363''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|38.5% ''854''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.4%''' ''925''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|46.6% ''806''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

==Notable people==

* [[John Adams (educator)|John Adams]] (1772–1863), founder of [[Phillips Exeter Academy]], was the principal of the Bacon Academy here from 1803 to 1810<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>
* [[William Adams (minister)|William Adams]] (1807–1880), born in Colchester, noted clergyman and president of [[Union Theological Seminary (New York)]]<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896" />
* [[Stephen F. Austin]] (1793–1836), "Father of Texas", attended Bacon Academy in 1803
* [[Edward Sheffield Bartholomew]] (1822–1858), sculptor
* [[Jehiel Beman|Jehiel C. Beman]] (1791–1858) African-American 19th-century minister and abolitionist; born in Colchester<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2020 |title=Be(a)man |url=https://www.wshu.org/off-the-path-from-new-york-to-boston/2020-04-03/beaman |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=WSHU PBS |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Eliphalet Adams Bulkeley]] (1803–1872), Bacon Academy graduate (1819), state senator, state's attorney and founder of [[Aetna]] Insurance Company (1846)
* [[Jonathan Coulton]] (born 1970), singer-songwriter, whose first EP ''Where Tradition Meets Tomorrow'' is named after Colchester's town motto
* [[John B. Day]] (1847-1925), tobacco merchant and first owner of the [[New York Giants (baseball)|New York Giants]] baseball team
* [[Rick Derringer]] (born 1947), rock artist and producer
* [[Henry C. Deming]] (1815–1872), mayor of [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], mayor of [[New Orleans]], colonel in the [[Union Army]] and [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. congressman]]
* [[Alfred Ely]] (1815–1892), US congressman of New York and taken prisoner after the [[First Battle of Bull Run]]
* [[Ezra Hall Gillett]] (1823–1875), author, clergyman, and professor
* [[Nathaniel Hayward]] (1808–1865), Inventor, Business Owner
* [[Prince Saunders]] (1775–1839), attorney general of the [[Republic of Haiti]]
* [[Lyman Trumbull]] (1813–1896), born in Colchester, Bacon Academy graduate (1829), became influential as a U.S. senator representing the state of [[Illinois]] during the Civil War and Reconstruction
* [[Abigail Goodrich Whittelsey]] (1788–1858), editor
* [[Denison Worthington]] (1806–1880), [[Wisconsin]] state senator
* [[Ron Wotus]] (born 1961), [[Bacon Academy]] graduate (1979), [[San Francisco Giants]] bench coach
* [[Tokyo's Revenge]] (born 1998) Hip Hop Artist

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.colchesterct.gov/ Town of Colchester official website]
*[http://colchesterhistory.org/ Colchester Historical Society]

{{Connecticut}}
{{New London County, Connecticut}}
{{Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Colchester, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in New London County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut]]