Editing Danbury, Connecticut

{{Redirect|Danbury}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Danbury
| settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in Connecticut|City]]
| image_skyline            = Danbury CT Montage 2019.png
| imagesize                = 250
| image_caption            = Clockwise, from top left: [[Main Street Historic District (Danbury, Connecticut)|Main Street Historic District]], [[The Summit at Danbury]], [[Tarrywile Park|Tarrywile Mansion]], [[Praxair|Praxair Headquarters]], [[Danbury Municipal Airport]], [[Danbury Fair (shopping mall)|Danbury Fair Mall]], [[David Wooster|David Wooster Monument]], [[Western Connecticut State University]], and the [[Danbury Railway Museum]]
| image_flag               = Danbury, CT Flag.gif
| image_seal               = danbury_seal.png
| image_blank_emblem       = Danbury, CT Logo.png
| blank_emblem_type        = [[Wordmark]]
| nickname                 = The Hat City
| image_map                = {{switcher|[[File:Fairfield County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Danbury highlighted.svg|230px|frameless|alt=Danbury's location within Fairfield County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Western Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Danbury highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Danbury's location within the Western Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Western 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=Q49198}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|24|08|N|73|28|16|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:9;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q49198;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=Danbury;Connecticut;the United States}}
| subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name         = {{USA}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Western CT]]
| parts_type               = Villages/Neighborhoods
| parts                    = [[Beaverbrook, Connecticut|Beaverbrook]]<br />[[Beckettville]]<br />[[Germantown, Danbury, Connecticut|Germantown]]<br />[[Great Plain, Danbury, Connecticut|Great Plain]]<br />[[Hayestown, Connecticut|Hayestown]]<br />Long Ridge<br />[[King Street, Danbury, Connecticut|King Street]]<br />[[Lake Waubeeka]]<br />[[Mill Plain, Danbury, Connecticut|Mill Plain]]<br />[[Miry Brook, Connecticut|Miry Brook]]<br />Pembroke<br />Wooster Heights
| established_title        = Incorporated (town)
| established_date         = 1702
| established_title2       = Incorporated (city)
| established_date2        = 1889
| established_title3       = Consolidated
| established_date3        = 1965
| government_type          = [[Mayor-council]]
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Roberto L. Alves ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_total_km2           = 114.45
| area_total_sq_mi         = 44.19
| area_land_km2            = 108.64
| area_land_sq_mi          = 41.95
| area_water_km2           = 5.81
| area_water_sq_mi         = 2.24
| area_water_percent       = 
| area_urban_km2           = 320.1
| elevation_m              = 121
| elevation_ft             = 397
| coordinates              = {{coord|41|24|08|N|73|28|16|W|region:US-CT_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| population_footnotes     = <ref name="United States Census Bureau">{{cite web|title=QuickFacts Danbury city, Connecticut|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/0918430,09|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=March 15, 2017|archive-date=October 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001190446/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/PST045215/0918430,09|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_total         = 86518
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_metro         = 
| population_note          = 
| 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              = 06810–06811, 06813
| area_code                = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203/475]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 09-18430
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 206580
| blank2_name              = Airport
| blank2_info              = [[Danbury Municipal Airport]]
| blank3_name              = Interstates
| blank3_info              = [[File:I-84.svg|25px|link=Interstate 84 in Connecticut]] 
| blank4_name                     = U.S. Highways
| blank4_info                     = [[File:US 7.svg|24px|link=U.S. Route 7 in Connecticut]] [[File:US 202.svg|24px|link=U.S. Route 202 in Connecticut]]
| blank5_name                     = State Routes
| blank5_info                     = [[File:Connecticut Highway 37.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 37]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 39.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 39]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 53.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 53]]
| blank6_name              = Commuter rail
| blank6_info              = [[File:MTA NYC logo.svg|25px|link=Danbury Branch]]
| website                  = {{URL|http://www.danbury-ct.gov/}}
| population_density_sq_mi = 2062.4
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_09.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 2, 2020|archive-date=March 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321092545/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_09.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_density_km2   = 779.56
}}

'''Danbury''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|æ|n|b|ɛər|i}} {{respell|DAN|bair|ee}}) is a city in [[Fairfield County, Connecticut]], United States, located approximately {{convert|50|mi}} northeast of [[New York City]]. Danbury's population as of 2020 was 86,518. It is the third-largest city in [[Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Western Connecticut]], and the [[List of municipalities in Connecticut|seventh-largest city in Connecticut]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/danburycityconnecticut |title=Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age, and Housing Occupancy: 2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File (QT-PL), Danbury city, Connecticut |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=August 13, 2021  |archive-date=May 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523212031/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/danburycityconnecticut |url-status=live }}</ref> Located within the heart of the [[Housatonic River|Housatonic Valley region]], the city is a historic commercial hub of western Connecticut, home to many [[commuter town|commuters]] and [[summer colony|summer residents]] from the [[New York metropolitan area]] and [[New England]].<ref>Charles, Eleanor. [https://www.nytimes.com/1999/03/14/realestate/if-you-re-thinking-living-danbury-conn-bustling-but-studded-with-lakes-ponds.html "If You're Thinking of Living In / Danbury, Conn.; Bustling, but Studded With Lakes, Ponds"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 14, 1999. Accessed September 18, 2024.</ref>

Danbury is nicknamed the "Hat City", because it was once the center of the American [[hatmaking|hat industry]], during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The mineral [[danburite]] is named after Danbury, while the city itself is named for [[Danbury, Essex|Danbury]] in [[Essex]], England.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Eno |first=Joel N. |title=The Nomenclature of Connecticut Towns |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA331 |date=1903 |magazine=The Connecticut Magazine |volume=8 |issue=11 |page=331 |oclc=1015837896 |access-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001190413/https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA331#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

Danbury is home to [[Danbury Hospital]], [[Western Connecticut State University]], [[Danbury Fair (shopping mall)|Danbury Fair Mall]], and [[Danbury Municipal Airport]].

==History==
{{see also|Main Street Historic District (Danbury, Connecticut)}}
[[File:View of Danbury, Conn. 1875. LOC 74693229.jpg|thumb|[[Panoramic map]] of Danbury with list of sights (1875)]]
[[File:Danbury, Conn. (2675187021).jpg|thumb|[[Lithograph]] of Danbury from a drawing by [[L. R. Burleigh]] with list of landmarks]]
Danbury was settled by colonists in 1685, when eight families moved from what are now [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]] and [[Stamford, Connecticut]]. The Danbury area was then called ''Pahquioque'' by its namesake, the Algonquian-speaking Pahquioque [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] (they are believed to have been a band of the [[Paugusset]] people), who occupied lands along the [[Still River (Housatonic River tributary)|Still River]]. Bands were often identified by such geographic designation but they were associated with the larger nation by culture and language).

One of the original settlers in Danbury was Samuel Benedict, who bought land from the Paquioque in 1685, along with his brother James Benedict, James Beebe, and Judah Gregory. This area was also called '''Paquiack''' ("open plain" or "cleared land") by the Paquioque.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danbury.k12.ct.us/elemweb/danburyhistory/Danbury/Welcome.html|title=A Student's Guide to Danbury, Connecticut|date=November 4, 2009|access-date=January 2, 2011|archive-date=December 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101215010644/http://www.danbury.k12.ct.us/elemweb/danburyhistory/Danbury/Welcome.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In recognition of the wetlands, the settlers chose the name '''Swampfield''' for their town. In October 1687, the general court decreed the name Danbury. The general court appointed a committee to lay out the new town's boundaries. A survey was made in 1693, and a formal town patent was granted in 1702.

During the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]], Danbury was an important military supply depot for the [[Continental Army]]. [[Sybil Ludington]], 16-year-old daughter of American Colonel [[Henry Ludington]], is said to have made a 40-mile ride in the early hours of the night on April 26, 1777, to warn the people of Danbury and her father's forces in [[Putnam County, New York]], of the approach of British regulars, helping them muster in defense; these accounts, originating from the [[Ludington family]], are questioned by modern scholars.<ref name=":0">Paula D. Hunt, "Sybil Ludington, the Female Paul Revere: The Making of a Revolutionary War Heroine." ''New England Quarterly'' (2015) 88#2, pp. 187–222, quote p 187 [http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/TNEQ_a_00452 online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409085410/http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/TNEQ_a_00452 |date=April 9, 2020 }}</ref><ref name=Tucker>{{cite news |title= Did the Midnight Ride of Sibyl Ludington Ever Happen? |last= Tucker |first= Abigail |date= March 2022 |access-date= July 6, 2022 |url= https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/did-midnight-ride-sibyl-ludington-ever-happen-180979557/ |work= [[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |archive-date= November 22, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221122070101/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/did-midnight-ride-sibyl-ludington-ever-happen-180979557/ |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name=Eschner>{{cite news |url= https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianmag/was-there-really-teenage-female-paul-revere-180962993/ |work= [[Smithsonian (magazine)|Smithsonian]] |title= Was There Really a Teenage, Female Paul Revere? |last= Eschner |first= Sybil |date= April 26, 2017 |access-date= July 6, 2022 |archive-date= November 22, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221122070105/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianmag/was-there-really-teenage-female-paul-revere-180962993/ |url-status= live }}</ref>

During the following day on April 26, 1777, the British, under Major General [[William Tryon]], burned and sacked Danbury, but fatalities were limited due to Ludington's warning. The central motto on the seal of the City of Danbury is ''Restituimus'', ([[Latin]] for "We have restored"), a reference to the destruction caused by the Loyalist army troops. The American General [[David Wooster]] was mortally wounded at the [[Battle of Ridgefield]] by the British forces which had raided Danbury, but at the beginning of the battle, the Americans succeeded in driving the British forces down to Long Island Sound.<ref name="Sybil Ludington: a Revolutionary Hero">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20161202065715/http://traverseforwomen.com/Herstory/SybilLudington.htm Sybil Ludington: a Revolutionary Hero]}}, traverseforwomen.com; accessed February 23, 2015.</ref> Wooster is buried in Danbury's Wooster Cemetery; the private [[Wooster School]] in Danbury also was named in his honor.

In 1802, President [[Thomas Jefferson]] wrote a letter to the [[Letter to Danbury Baptists|Danbury Baptist Association]], a group expressing fear of persecution by the [[Congregationalists]] of that town, in which he used the expression "[[Separation of Church and State in the United States|Separation of Church and State]]". It is the first known instance of the expression in American legal or political writing. The letter is on display at the [[Unitarian-Universalist]] Congregation of Danbury.

The first [[Danbury Fair]] was held in 1821. In 1869, it became a yearly event; the last edition was in 1981. The fairgrounds were cleared to make room for the [[Danbury Fair Mall]], which opened in autumn 1986.<ref>Ravo, Nick, "[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/04/nyregion/the-talk-of-danbury-fair-mall-country-fair-becomes-land-of-the-lava-lamp.html?exprod=permalink&partner=permalink Country Fair Becomes Land of the Lava Lamp] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729082010/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/09/04/nyregion/the-talk-of-danbury-fair-mall-country-fair-becomes-land-of-the-lava-lamp.html?exprod=permalink&partner=permalink |date=July 29, 2018 }}", ''The New York Times'', September 4, 1987</ref>

[[File:TerribleDisasterAtDanburyHarpers1869.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Kohanza Reservoir]] disaster, January 31, 1869; the dam was breached, releasing a flood on the town.]]
[[File:SceneOfTheDisasterAtDanburyConnecticut.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Scene of the Disaster at Danbury", January 31, 1869]]

In 1835, the Connecticut Legislature granted a rail charter to the [[Fairfield County Railroad]], but construction was delayed because of lack of investment. In 1850, the organization's plans were scaled back, and renamed the [[Danbury and Norwalk Railroad]]. Work moved quickly on the {{convert|23|mi|abbr=on}} railroad line. In 1852, the first railroad line in Danbury opened,<ref name="DMO">{{cite web|url= http://www.danburymuseum.org/studenthistory/studenthistory/Welcome_files/industrial.pdf|title= Timeline|author= Danbury Museum and Historical Society|access-date= January 2, 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513040410/http://www.danburymuseum.org/studenthistory/studenthistory/Welcome_files/industrial.pdf|archive-date= May 13, 2011|df= mdy-all}}</ref> with two trains making the 75-minute trip to [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]].

The central part of Danbury was incorporated as a borough in 1822. The borough was reincorporated as the city of Danbury on April 19, 1889. The city and town were consolidated on January 1, 1965.

The first dam to be built on the river, to collect water for the hat industry, impounded the [[Kohanza Reservoir]]. This dam broke on January 31, 1869, under pressure of ice and water. The ensuing flood of icy water killed 11 people within 30 minutes, and caused major damage to homes and farms.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.danburymuseum.org/studenthistory/studenthistory/Welcome_files/industrial.pdf|title= Kohanza Disaster|author= Danbury Museum and Historical Society|access-date= January 2, 2011|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110513040410/http://www.danburymuseum.org/studenthistory/studenthistory/Welcome_files/industrial.pdf|archive-date= May 13, 2011|df= mdy-all}}</ref>

As a busy city, Danbury attracted traveling shows and tours, including [[Buffalo Bill]]'s Wild West Show in 1900. It featured young men of the [[Oglala Lakota|Oglala Sioux]] nation, who re-enacted events from frontier history. Oglala Sioux Albert Afraid of Hawk died on June 29, 1900, at age 21 in Danbury during the tour. He was buried at [[Wooster Cemetery]]. In 2012, employee Robert Young discovered Afraid of Hawk's remains. The city consulted with Oglala Sioux leaders of the [[Pine Ridge Indian Reservation]] and arranged repatriation of the remains to the nation. This meeting occurred in the Health Sciences Library of [[Danbury Hospital]] with assistance of the Chaplain. Wrapped in a bison skin, the remains were transported to [[Manderson-White Horse Creek, South Dakota|Manderson]], South Dakota, to Saint Mark's Episcopal Cemetery, for reburial by tribal descendants.<ref>{{cite web|title=Albert Afraid-of-Hawk|url=http://www.afraidofhawk.org/Afraid_of_Hawk/Bio.html|access-date=February 2, 2017|archive-date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509194010/http://afraidofhawk.org/Afraid_of_Hawk/Bio.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Hassan|first1=Diane|last2=Cedrone|first2=Sarajane|title=Rediscovering Albert Afraid-of-Hawk|url=http://ctexplored.org/rediscovering-albert-afraid-of-hawk/|website=Connecticut Explored|date=September 20, 2015|access-date=February 2, 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202234616/http://ctexplored.org/rediscovering-albert-afraid-of-hawk/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1928 local plane pilots bought a {{convert|60|acre|adj=on}} tract near the Fairgrounds, known as Tucker's Field, and leased it to the town. This was developed as an airport, which is now [[Danbury Municipal Airport]] {{Airport codes||KDXR|}}.

Connecticut's largest lake, [[Candlewood Lake]] (of which the extreme southern part is in Danbury), was created as a [[hydroelectric]] power facility in 1928 by building a dam where Wood Creek and the Rocky River meet near the [[Housatonic River]] in [[New Milford, Connecticut|New Milford]].

During [[World War II]], Danbury's [[Federal Correctional Institution, Danbury|federal prison]] was one of many sites used for the incarceration of [[conscientious objector]]s. One in six inmates in the United States' federal prisons was a conscientious objector, and prisons like Danbury found themselves suddenly filled with large numbers of highly educated men skilled in social activism. Due to the activism of inmates within the prison, and local laborers protesting in solidarity with the conscientious objectors, Danbury became one of the nation's first prisons to desegregate its inmates.<ref>{{cite book |last=D'Emilio |first=John |title=Lost Prophet: The Life and Times of Bayard Rustin |publisher=Simon and Schuster |location=New York |year=2003 |isbn=0684827808 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/lostprophetlifet00demi }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Kosek |first=Joseph Kip |title=Acts of Conscience: Christian Nonviolence and Modern American Democracy |location=New York |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2009 |isbn=9780231144186 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Scott H. |last=Bennett |title=Radical Pacifism: The War Resisters League and Gandhian Nonviolence in America, 1915–1963 |location=Syracuse |publisher=Syracuse University Press |year=2003 |isbn=0815630034 }}</ref>

On August 18–19, 1955, the Still River, which normally meandered slowly through downtown Danbury, overflowed its banks when [[Hurricane Diane]] hit the area, dropping six inches of rain on the city. This was in addition to the nine inches that fell from [[Hurricane Connie]] five days earlier.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hanrahan |first1=Ryan |title=Way Too Much Weather |url=http://www.ryanhanrahan.com/flood-of-august-1955/ |website=ryanhanrahan.com |publisher=Ryan Hanrahan |access-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161124161221/http://www.ryanhanrahan.com/flood-of-august-1955/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The water flooded stores, factories and homes along the river from North Street to Beaver Brook, causing $3&nbsp;million in damages. Stores downtown on White Street between Main and Maple were especially hard hit. On October 13–16, another 12 inches of rain fell on Danbury, causing the worst flooding in the city's history. This time, the river damaged all bridges across it, effectively cutting the city in half for several days.  Flooding was more widespread than in August, and the same downtown areas hit in August were devastated once again. The resulting damage was valued at $6&nbsp;million, and two people lost their lives. The City determined the river in the downtown area had to be tamed. $4.5&nbsp;million in federal and state funding were acquired as part of a greater urban renewal project to straighten, deepen, widen, and enclose the river in a concrete channel through the downtown.  At the same time, roads were relocated and rebuilt, 123 major buildings were razed and 104 families were relocated. This began various efforts by the City through 1975 towards urban renewal, using another $22&nbsp;million of federal funding. However, these efforts failed to reinvigorate the central business district.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Devlin |first1=William |last2=Janick |first2=Herbert |title=Danbury's third Century: From Urban Status to Tri-Centennial |date=April 2013 |publisher=Western Connecticut State University |location=Danbury, CT |isbn=978-0-9889243-1-4 |pages=229–241}}</ref>

On February 13, 1970, brothers James and John Pardue detonated time bombs (injuring 26 people) at the police station, [[Union Savings Bank]] and in their getaway car to cover their escape from robbing the bank at gunpoint, the culmination of a two-year crime spree that included four bank robberies and five murders.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pirro |first1=John |title=Pardue brothers bombed Danbury 42 years ago today |url=http://www.newstimes.com/policereports/article/Pardue-brothers-bombed-Danbury-42-years-ago-today-3307719.php |website=newstimes |date=February 12, 2012 |publisher=Hearst Media Services Connecticut |access-date=March 15, 2017 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316025347/http://www.newstimes.com/policereports/article/Pardue-brothers-bombed-Danbury-42-years-ago-today-3307719.php |url-status=live }}</ref>

The flawed [[PerkinElmer#Hubble optics project|primary mirror]] of the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] was ground and polished in Danbury by [[PerkinElmer|Perkin-Elmer's]] Danbury Optical System unit from 1979 to 1981. It was mistakenly ground to the wrong shape due to the use of a miscalibrated testing device. The mistake was not discovered until after the telescope was in orbit and began to be used. The effects of the flaw were corrected during the telescope's [[Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Mission 1|first servicing mission]] in 1993.

In the August 1988 issue of [[Money (magazine)|''Money'' magazine]], Danbury topped the magazine's list of the best U.S. cities to live in, mostly due to low crime, good schools, and location.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1988/08/01/84621/index.htm|title=The Best Places to Live in America in our second annual rating of 300 U.S. areas, the Northeast and California score best – though a New Jersey city is last.|author=Richard Eisenberg and Debra Wishik Englander|date=August 1, 1988|magazine=Money Magazine|access-date=January 16, 2011|archive-date=May 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514235114/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1988/08/01/84621/index.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:PostcardCentralBizSectDanburyCT1907.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Downtown Main Street scene, {{circa|1907}}]]

A case that would make national headlines and play out for over four years began on September 19, 2006, when eleven day laborers, who came to be known as the "Danbury 11", were arrested in Danbury.  A sting operation had been set up where day laborers were lured into a van whose driver, a disguised Danbury police officer posing as a contractor, promised them work.  The laborers were driven to a parking lot where, if it was determined they were in the US illegally, were arrested by agents of [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|ICE]] and the Danbury police. Yale University law students represented the men pro bono and filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city on their behalf. On March 8, 2011, it was confirmed a settlement had been reached in the case whereby Danbury agreed to pay the laborers $400,000 (Danbury's insurance carrier paid the settlement plus legal fees of close to $1,000,000, less a $100,000 deductible). The federal government agreed to pay them $250,000. As part of the settlement, the City did not admit any wrongdoing and there were no changes in the city's policies or procedures.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Somma |first1=Ann Marie |title=Where are they now? The Danbury 11 not forgotten |url=http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Where-are-they-now-The-Danbury-11-not-forgotten-5692673.php |website=newstimes |date=August 16, 2014 |publisher=Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC |access-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123230/http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Where-are-they-now-The-Danbury-11-not-forgotten-5692673.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Perrefort |first1=Dirk |title=City officials reach $400,000 settlement with Danbury 11 day laborers |url=http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/City-officials-reach-400-000-settlement-with-1047922.php |website=newstimes |date=March 9, 2011 |publisher=Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC |access-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123528/http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/City-officials-reach-400-000-settlement-with-1047922.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Alfons o |title=The public deserves to know the truth about the Danbury 11 case |url=http://blog.ctnews.com/robinson/2010/06/24/the-public-deserves-to-know-the-truth-about-the-danbury-11-case/ |website=Hearst CT News Blogs |publisher=Hearst Communications, Inc. |access-date=December 27, 2017 |archive-date=September 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928183229/http://blog.ctnews.com/robinson/2010/06/24/the-public-deserves-to-know-the-truth-about-the-danbury-11-case/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Hatmaking in Danbury===

In 1780, what is traditionally considered to be the first hat shop in Danbury was established by [[Zadoc Benedict]]. ([[Hatmaking]] had existed in Danbury before the Revolution.) The Benedict shop had three employees, and they made 18 hats weekly.<ref name=Pirro>{{cite news |last1=Pirro |first1=John |title=The rise—and fall—of hatting in Danbury |url=http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/The-rise-and-fall-of-hatting-in-Danbury-990165.php |access-date=September 15, 2015 |publisher=Danbury News-Times |date=February 1, 2011 |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925105601/http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/The-rise-and-fall-of-hatting-in-Danbury-990165.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="unisci.com">{{cite web |last1=Varekamp |first1=Johan |title='Mad Hatters' Long Gone, But The Mercury Lingers On |url=http://unisci.com/stories/20022/0625026.htm |website=Daily University Science News |access-date=September 15, 2015 |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101123655/http://www.unisci.com/stories/20022/0625026.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Devlin 1984">{{cite book |last1=Devlin |first1=William E. |title=We Crown Them All |date=1984 |publisher=Windsor Publications, Inc. |isbn=0-89781-092-9 |edition=First}}</ref>{{rp|47–48}} By 1800, Danbury was producing 20,000 hats annually, more than any other city in the U.S.<ref name=NRHP>{{cite web |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/82000998_text |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory--Nomination Form: P. Robinson Fur Cutting Company |date=October 15, 1982 |id=Submitted to the National Park Service by the Connecticut Historical Commission |access-date=March 10, 2016 |archive-date=May 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210504204424/https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/82000998_text |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the fur felt hat coming back into style for men and increasing mechanization in the 1850s, by 1859 hat production in Danbury had risen to 1.5&nbsp;million annually. By 1887, thirty factories were producing 5&nbsp;million hats per year.<ref name="Devlin 1984"/>{{rp|52}} Around this time, fur processing was separated from hat manufacturing when the [[P. Robinson Fur Cutting Company]] (1884) on Oil Mill Road and the White Brothers' factory began operation.<ref name="NRHP"/>

By 1880, workers had unionized, beginning decades of labor unrest. They struggled to achieve conditions that were more fair, going on strike; with management reacting with lockouts. Because of the scale of the industry, labor unrest and struggles over wages affected the economy of the entire town. In 1893, nineteen manufacturers locked out 4000 union hatters. In 1902, the [[American Federation of Labor]] union called for a nationwide boycott of Dietrich Loewe, a Danbury non-union hat manufacturer. The manufacturer sued the union under the [[Sherman Antitrust Act]] for unlawfully restraining trade. In the 1908 [[Danbury Hatters' Case]] the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] ruled that the union was liable for damages. In the 1930s and 1940s, there were a number of violent incidents during several strikes, mostly involving scab workers brought in as strikebreakers.<ref name="Devlin 1984"/>{{rp|58–61}}

Beginning in 1892, the industry was revolutionized when the large hat factories began to shift to manufacturing unfinished hat bodies only, and supplying them to smaller hat shops for finishing. While Danbury produced 24% of America's hats in 1904, the city supplied the industry with 75% of its hat bodies.<ref name="Devlin 1984"/>{{rp|57}} The turn of the century was the heyday of the hatting industry in Danbury, when it became known as the "Hat City" and the "Hatting Capitol of the World". Its motto was "Danbury Crowns Them All".

==== Mercury poisoning ====

The use of [[Mercury(II) nitrate|mercuric nitrate]] in the felting process poisoned many workers in the hat factories, creating a condition called [[erethism]], also called "mad hatter disease."<ref name=Buckell1946>{{cite journal |last1=Buckell |first1=M |last2=Hunter|first2=D|last3=Milton|first3=R|last4=Perry|first4=KM |title=Chronic mercury poisoning |journal=British Journal of Industrial Medicine |date=February 1993 |orig-year=1946 |volume=50 |issue=2 |pages=97–106 |pmid=8435354 |doi=10.1136/oem.50.2.97-a|pmc=1061245}}</ref> The condition, known locally as the "Danbury shakes", was characterized by slurred speech, tremors, stumbling, and, in extreme cases, hallucinations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mercury Workshop |url=https://www.epa.ohio.gov/Portals/41/training/Introduction%20to%20mercury%20issues.pdf?ver=2014-07-08-103928-983 |page=23 |publisher=Ohio Indoor Air Quality Coalition |date=2008 |quote=In the late 1800s hat makers, or hatters, used to use mercury nitrate when working with beaver fur to make felt. Over time, the hatters started exhibiting apparent changes in personality and also experienced tremors or shaking. Mercury poisoning attacks the nervous system, causing drooling, hair loss, uncontrollable muscle twitching, a lurching gait, and difficulties in talking and thinking clearly. Stumbling about in a confused state with slurred speech and trembling hands, affected hatters were sometimes mistaken for drunks. The ailment became known as 'The Danbury Shakes' in the community of Danbury where hat making was a major industry. In very severe cases, they experienced hallucinations. The term '[[mad as a hatter]]' may be a product of mercury toxicity. |access-date=August 18, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922085451/https://www.epa.ohio.gov/Portals/41/training/Introduction%20to%20mercury%20issues.pdf?ver=2014-07-08-103928-983 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=McDowell |first1=Lee |title=Mineral Nutrition History: The Early Years |date=2017 |publisher=Design Pub. |isbn=978-1-5069-0459-7 |page=658 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4otDwAAQBAJ&dq=ailment%20became%20known%20as%20%27The%20Danbury%20Shakes%27&pg=PA658 |language=en |access-date=March 19, 2023 |archive-date=September 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230922005453/https://books.google.com/books?id=Z4otDwAAQBAJ&dq=ailment%20became%20known%20as%20%27The%20Danbury%20Shakes%27&pg=PA658 |url-status=live }}</ref> The effect of mercury on the workers' health was first noted in the late 19th century. While workers in the Danbury factories lobbied for controls on mercury in the early 20th century, a government study on the health effects of mercury was not conducted until 1937. The State of Connecticut announced a ban on mercury in hatmaking in 1941.<ref name="Wajda">{{cite web |url=https://connecticuthistory.org/ending-the-danbury-shakes-a-story-of-workers-rights-and-corporate-responsibility/ |title=Ending the Danbury Shakes: A Story of Workers' Rights and Corporate Responsibility |last=Wajda |first=Shirley T. |date=December 12, 2019 |publisher=Connecticut History |access-date=October 21, 2018 |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022033504/https://connecticuthistory.org/ending-the-danbury-shakes-a-story-of-workers-rights-and-corporate-responsibility/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

While Danbury hat factories stopped using mercury in the 1940s, the mercury waste has remained in the [[Still River (Housatonic River tributary)|Still River]] and adjacent soils, and has been detected at high levels in the 21st century.<ref name="unisci.com"/><ref name="Bronsther">{{cite report |last1=Bronsther |first1=Rachel |last2=Welsh |first2=Patrick |title=Mercury in Soils and Sediments |publisher=Wesleyan University |url=http://jvarekamp.web.wesleyan.edu/199%20ppt/Mercury66%20in%20Soils%20and%20Sediments.ppt |access-date=September 30, 2015 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002425/http://jvarekamp.web.wesleyan.edu/199%20ppt/Mercury66%20in%20Soils%20and%20Sediments.ppt |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Lerman>{{cite thesis |last1=Lerman-Sinkoff |first1=Sarah Tziporah |date=April 2014 |title=Transport and Fate of Historic Mercury Pollution from Danbury, CT through the Still and Housatonic Rivers |type=BA thesis |publisher=Wesleyan University |location=Middletown, CT |url=https://digitalcollections.wesleyan.edu/object/ir-639 |access-date=April 6, 2023 |doi=10.14418/wes01.1.1052 |doi-access=free |archive-date=September 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908233037/https://digitalcollections.wesleyan.edu/object/ir-639 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{better source needed|date=April 2023}}

==== Industry decline ====

By the 1920s, the hat industry was in decline. By 1923, only six manufacturers were left in Danbury, which increased the pressure on workers. After World War II, returning GIs went hatless, a trend that accelerated through the 1950s, dooming the city's hat industry.<ref name="Devlin 1984"/>{{rp|64–65}} The city's last major hat factory, owned by [[Stetson]], closed in 1964.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Devlin |first1=William E. |last2=Janick |first2=Herbert F. |title=Danbury's Third Century: From Urban Status to Tri-Centennial |date=April 2013 |publisher=Western Connecticut State University |location=Danbury, CT |isbn=978-0-9889243-1-4 |pages=190–191 |edition=First}}</ref> The last hat was made in Danbury in 1987 when a small factory owned by Stetson closed.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Serra |first1=Janet |title=Magnificent Millinery: Three Centuries of Women's Hats in Danbury CT |url=https://janetserra.com/2011/06/02/580/ |date=June 2, 2011 |website=Connecticut Travel |publisher=Western Connecticut Convention and Visitors Bureau |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116161613/https://janetserra.com/2011/06/02/580/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Libov |first1=Charlotte |title=Mecca for the Bargain Hunter |date=March 20, 1988 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/20/nyregion/mecca-for-the-bargain-hunter.html?pagewanted=all |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 15, 2017 |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116182320/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/20/nyregion/mecca-for-the-bargain-hunter.html?pagewanted=all |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Historic pictures===

<gallery mode="packed" heights="145">
File:PostcardMainStFromWhiteStDanburyCT1907.jpg|Main Street looking east from White Street, 1907
File:PostcardDanburyCTNatlHatFactry1912.jpg|National Hat Factory, about 1912
File:PostcardDanburyCTViewOfTheHatFactory1911.jpg|View of a hat factory, 1911
File:Danbury CT.png|Danbury station, {{circa|1910}}
File:Revolutionary Sycamore, Danbury, CT - July 14, 2012.jpg|Revolutionary Sycamore
</gallery>

==Geography==
[[File:Lake Candlewood, Connecticut LCCN2012631637.tif|thumb|[[Candlewood Lake]] is the largest lake in the state of Connecticut]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Danbury has a total area of {{convert|44.3|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|42.1|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.2|sqmi}}, or 4.94%, is water. The city is located in the foothills of the [[The Berkshires|Berkshire Mountains]] on low-lying land just south of [[Candlewood Lake]] (the City includes the southern parts of the lake). It developed along the [[Still River (Housatonic River)|Still River]], which flows generally from west to east through the city before joining the [[Housatonic River]]. The city's terrain includes rolling hills and not-very-tall mountains to the west and northwest called the Western Highland. Ground elevations in the city range from 378 feet to 1,050 feet above sea level.

A geologic fault known as [[Cameron's Line]] runs through Danbury.

===Neighboring Connecticut towns===
[[Bethel, Connecticut|Bethel]]

[[Brookfield, Connecticut|Brookfield]]

[[New Fairfield, Connecticut|New Fairfield]]

[[New Milford, Connecticut|New Milford]]

[[Newtown, Connecticut|Newtown]]

[[Ridgefield, Connecticut|Ridgefield]]{{Geographic Location (8-way)
|Centre = Danbury
|North = [[New Fairfield, Connecticut|New Fairfield]]
|Northeast = [[Brookfield, Connecticut|Brookfield]]
|East = [[Bethel, Connecticut|Bethel]]
|Southeast = [[Redding, Connecticut|Redding]]
|South = [[Redding, Connecticut|Redding]]
|Southwest = [[Ridgefield, Connecticut|Ridgefield]]
|West = [[Southeast, New York]]
|Northwest = [[Patterson, New York]]
|image =  
}}

=== Pollution ===
The hatmaking fur-removal process was based on the use of [[Mercury(II) nitrate|mercury nitrate]]. The waste caused serious [[water pollution]] as the hat manufacturers dumped it into the Still River throughout the late 19th century and into the 1940s. This toxic product flowed into the [[Housatonic River]] and [[Long Island Sound]], affecting [[water quality]] and various fish and other organisms.<ref name="unisci.com" /><ref name="Verekamp">{{cite journal |last2=Buchholtz ten Brink |first2=MR |last3=Mecray |first3=EL |last4=Kreulen |first4=B |date=Summer 2000 |title=Mercury in Long Island Sound Sediments |journal=Journal of Coastal Research |volume=16 |issue=3 |pages=613–626 |jstor=4300074 |last1=Varekamp |first1=JC|bibcode=2000JCRes..16..613V }}</ref>

Field studies conducted in the Still River basin in the 21st century have detected the continuing presence of high levels of mercury in the river sediments and nearby soils.<ref name="unisci.com"/><ref name="Bronsther"/>

=== Climate ===
Danbury has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfa''), with four distinct seasons, resembling [[Hartford]] more than coastal Connecticut or New York City. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold with significant snowfall. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from {{convert|28.0|°F|1}} in January to {{convert|74.5|°F|1}} in July; on average, temperatures reaching {{convert|90|or|0|°F|0}} occur on 18 and 3.1 days of the year, respectively. The average annual precipitation is approximately {{convert|56.04|in|mm|sigfig=3}}, which is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year; snow averages {{convert|49.3|in|cm|0}} per season, although this total may vary considerably from year to year. Extremes in temperature range from {{convert|106|°F|0}} on July 22, 1926, and July 15, 1995 (the highest temperature recorded in Connecticut<ref>{{cite web |title=Connecticut |url=http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/ct_geography.htm |publisher=Netstate, LLC |access-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-date=November 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103213149/http://www.netstate.com/states/geography/ct_geography.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>) down to {{convert|-18|°F|0}} on February 9, 1934.

{{Weather box
| location = Danbury, Connecticut (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present)
| single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 71
| Feb record high F = 78
| Mar record high F = 92
| Apr record high F = 95
| May record high F = 97
| Jun record high F = 105
| Jul record high F = 106
| Aug record high F = 104
| Sep record high F = 100
| Oct record high F = 91
| Nov record high F = 82
| Dec record high F = 80
| year record high F = 106

|Jan avg record high F = 57.9
|Feb avg record high F = 58.6
|Mar avg record high F = 69.1
|Apr avg record high F = 83.3
|May avg record high F = 90.3
|Jun avg record high F = 93.7
|Jul avg record high F = 96.0
|Aug avg record high F = 93.6
|Sep avg record high F = 87.7
|Oct avg record high F = 79.2
|Nov avg record high F = 69.3
|Dec avg record high F = 59.2
|year avg record high F = 97.7

| Jan high F = 36.1
| Feb high F = 39.8
| Mar high F = 47.9
| Apr high F = 61.0
| May high F = 71.8
| Jun high F = 80.6
| Jul high F = 85.5
| Aug high F = 82.2
| Sep high F = 75.1
| Oct high F = 63.2
| Nov high F = 51.1
| Dec high F = 40.5
| year high F = 
| Jan mean F = 28.0
| Feb mean F = 30.2
| Mar mean F = 37.8
| Apr mean F = 49.7
| May mean F = 60.0
| Jun mean F = 69.3
| Jul mean F = 74.4
| Aug mean F = 72.3
| Sep mean F = 64.4
| Oct mean F = 52.7
| Nov mean F = 41.9
| Dec mean F = 32.5
| year mean F = 
| Jan low F = 19.9
| Feb low F = 21.1
| Mar low F = 27.9
| Apr low F = 38.5
| May low F = 48.2
| Jun low F = 58.1
| Jul low F = 63.4
| Aug low F = 61.8
| Sep low F = 54.0
| Oct low F = 42.2
| Nov low F = 32.7
| Dec low F = 24.9
| year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 1.3
|Feb avg record low F = 5.2
|Mar avg record low F = 12.0
|Apr avg record low F = 25.1
|May avg record low F = 34.3
|Jun avg record low F = 44.4
|Jul avg record low F = 52.5
|Aug avg record low F = 49.8
|Sep avg record low F = 38.7
|Oct avg record low F = 28.0
|Nov avg record low F = 18.0
|Dec avg record low F = 8.7
|year avg record low F = -1.4

| Jan record low F = −18
| Feb record low F = −16
| Mar record low F = −9
| Apr record low F = 14
| May record low F = 25
| Jun record low F = 35
| Jul record low F = 38
| Aug record low F = 37
| Sep record low F = 23
| Oct record low F = 16
| Nov record low F = 0
| Dec record low F = −11
| year record low F = −18
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.74
| Feb precipitation inch = 3.28
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.43
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.17
| May precipitation inch = 4.23
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.83
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.98
| Aug precipitation inch = 4.88
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.89
| Oct precipitation inch = 4.97
| Nov precipitation inch = 4.02
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.65
| year precipitation inch = 56.04
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan snow inch = 15.7
| Feb snow inch = 11.0
| Mar snow inch = 10.4
| Apr snow inch = 1.7
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 1.9
| Dec snow inch = 8.6
| year snow inch = 49.3
|Jan snow depth inch = 7
|Feb snow depth inch = 9
|Mar snow depth inch = 6
|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 = 5
|year snow depth inch = 12
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 12.0
| Feb precipitation days = 10.8
| Mar precipitation days = 12.3
| Apr precipitation days = 12.1
| May precipitation days = 13.1
| Jun precipitation days = 12.0
| Jul precipitation days = 10.7
| Aug precipitation days = 9.6
| Sep precipitation days = 9.6
| Oct precipitation days = 10.2
| Nov precipitation days = 9.9
| Dec precipitation days = 12.0
| year precipitation days = 134.3
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 8.0
| Feb snow days = 6.0
| Mar snow days = 4.7
| Apr snow days = 1.0
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.2
| Nov snow days = 1.2
| Dec snow days = 5.5
| year snow days = 26.6
| source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA >{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=okx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 2, 2021
| archive-date = May 27, 2015
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150527215410/http://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=okx
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00061762&format=pdf
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| title = Station: Danbury, CT
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| access-date = June 2, 2021
| archive-date = June 2, 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210602213707/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00061762&format=pdf
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==

{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
{{Historical populations
|type= USA
|title= Historical population of Danbury
|align= right
|1756|1527
|1790|3031
|1800|3180
|1810|3606
|1820|3873
|1830|4311
|1840|4504
|1850|5964
|1860|7234
|1870|8753
|1880|11666
|1890|19473
|1900|19474
|1910|23502
|1920|22325
|1930|26955
|1940|27921
|1950|30337
|1960|39382
|1970|50781
|1980|60470
|1990|65585
|2000|74848
|2010|80893
|2020|86518
|align-fn= center
|source=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|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194652/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=December 19, 2012|archive-date=July 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194652/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br />2018 Estimate<ref name="2018 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 8, 2018|archive-date=March 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328165215/https://census.gov/data/tables/2018/demo/popest/total-cities-and-towns.html|url-status=live}}</ref><br />Population by Decade 1790–2010<ref>[http://hvceo.org/tables/TABLE_P1.php Bethel population; Bridgewater population; Brookfield population; Danbury population; New Fairfield population; New Milford population; Newtown population; Redding population; Ridgefield population; Sherman population] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630075342/http://www.hvceo.org/tables/TABLE_P1.php|date=June 30, 2013 }}. Hvceo.org. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref><br />State of Connecticut<ref>[http://www.sots.state.ct.us/RegisterManual/regman.htm Office of the Secretary of the State] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050913183753/http://www.sots.state.ct.us/RegisterManual/regman.htm|date=September 13, 2005 }}. Sots.state.ct.us. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Danbury, Connecticut – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Danbury city, Connecticut|url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALSF12000.P004?g=160XX00US0918430|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Danbury city, Connecticut|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0918430&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Danbury city, Connecticut|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US0918430&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|50,945
|46,309
|style='background: #ffffe6; |37,963
|68.06%
|57.25%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |43.88%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|4,743
|5,030
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,630
|6.34%
|6.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.51%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|131
|106
|style='background: #ffffe6; |70
|0.18%
|0.13%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.08%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|4,068
|5,399
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,339
|5.44%
|6.67%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.17%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|13
|21
|style='background: #ffffe6; |25
|0.02%
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.03%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|1,096
|1,845
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2,980
|1.46%
|2.28%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.44%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|2,061
|1,998
|style='background: #ffffe6; |5,821
|2.75%
|2.47%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |6.73%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|11,791
|20,185
|style='background: #ffffe6; |28,690
|15.75%
|24.95%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |33.16%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''74,848'''
|'''80,893'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''86,518'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

It's estimated that the population of Danbury as of 2015 is 84,657.<ref name="United States Census Bureau"/> As of the 2010 census, there were 80,893 people and 29,046 households in the city, with 2.73 persons per household. 44.1% of the population spoke a language other than English at home. The population density was 1,921.4 people per square mile. There were 31,154 housing units at an average density of 740.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 68.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 25.0% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] (of any race), 7.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.40% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 6.8% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], less than 0.10% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 7.6% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.5% from two or more races. 32% of the population was foreign born. Of particular note is a sizeable population of residents of [[Portuguese Americans|Portuguese]] and [[Brazilian Americans|Brazilian]] heritage. They are served by locally based [[Portuguese language|Portuguese-language]] print and broadcast media.

6.7% of the population was under the age of 5, and 21.1% was under the age of 18. 11.1% of the population was 65 years of age or older. 50.9% of the population was female.

The per capita income for the city was $31,411. 11.1% of the population was below the poverty line. The median gross monthly rent was $1,269.

In 2015 the median income for a household in the city was approximately $66,676.<ref>{{cite web|last1=St. Hilaire|first1=David W.|title=Comprehensive Financial Annual Report|url=http://www.ci.danbury.ct.us/filestorage/21015/21087/21103/22869/2016_CAFR_(FY_15-16).pdf|publisher=City of Danbury|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-date=February 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219171541/http://www.ci.danbury.ct.us/filestorage/21015/21087/21103/22869/2016_CAFR_(FY_15-16).pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 31, 2023 <ref>{{cite web |url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/Registration_and_Enrollment_Stats/Nov23RE-Rev.pdf|title=Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics|access-date=April 9, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active voters
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| style="text-align:left" | Unaffiliated
| 19,671
| 1,287
| 20,958
| 45.53%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| style="text-align:left" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| 14,260
| 787
| 15,047
| 32.69%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| style="text-align:left" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| 8,760
| 487
| 9,247
| 20.08%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| style="text-align:left" | Minor parties
| 731
| 52
| 783
| 1.7%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 43,422
! style="text-align:center;"|  2,613
! style="text-align:center;"|  46,035
! style="text-align:center;"| 100%
|}

When [[ZIP codes]] were introduced in 1963, the '''06810''' code was given to all of Danbury; it was shared with a then-still-rural New Fairfield to its north. In 1984, the 06810 Zip Code was cut back to areas of Danbury south of Interstate 84. A new '''06811''' ZIP code was created for areas north of Interstate 84. New Fairfield received its own code, '''06812'''.

===Economy===

In 2016, Danbury's workforce was approximately 79,400 workers.  12,200 (15.4%) of them worked in goods producing industries. 67,200 (84.6%) of them worked in service providing industries which includes: trade, transportation and utilities (17,300), professional and business services (9,400), leisure and hospitality (7,300), government (10,200) and all other (23,000).  In Nov. 2016, the unemployment rate for the Danbury Labor Market Area was 3.0%, compared to 3.7% for the State and 4.6% nationally.<ref>{{cite web |last1=St. Hilaire |first1=David |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report |url=http://www.ci.danbury.ct.us/filestorage/21015/21087/21103/22869/2016_CAFR_(FY_15-16).pdf |publisher=City of Danbury, CT |access-date=February 25, 2017 |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219171541/http://www.ci.danbury.ct.us/filestorage/21015/21087/21103/22869/2016_CAFR_(FY_15-16).pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
The top employers in the city in 2020 were:<ref>{{cite web |last1=Danbury Dept. of Finance |title=Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, City o Danbury |url=https://www.danbury-ct.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/City-of-Danbury_20-FS-Secured_Final.pdf |publisher=City of Danbury, CT |access-date=November 27, 2021 |ref=Page 196 |archive-date=November 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128145658/https://www.danbury-ct.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/City-of-Danbury_20-FS-Secured_Final.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
|[[Western Connecticut Health Network|Western CT Health Network-Danbury]]
|3,300
|-
|2
|[[Boehringer Ingelheim]]
|2,500
|-
|3
|Danbury School Systems
|2,400
|-
|4
|[[Realogy|Cartus]]
|1,300
|-
|5
|[[IQVIA]]
|1,040
|-
|6
|[[Western Connecticut State University]]
|650
|-
|7
|[[Praxair]]
|602
|-
|8
|[[United Technologies|UTC B.F. Goodrich]]
|550
|-
|9
|City of Danbury
|548
|-
|10
|[[Pitney Bowes]]
|315
|}

==Government==
[[File:Danbury City Hall (53564620781).jpg|thumb|Danbury City Hall (2024)]]
The chief executive officer of Danbury is the Mayor, who serves a two-year term. The current Mayor is Roberto L. Alves (D). Alves, elected in 2023 and sworn in on November 30th, 2023, became the first Mayor from the Democratic party since Gene F. Eriquez left office after his term expired in 1999. The Mayor is the presiding officer of the City Council, which consists of 21 members, two from each of the seven city [[ward (politics)|wards]], and seven at-large.<ref name="council">{{cite web |url=https://www.danbury-ct.gov/government/elected-officials/city-council/ |title=City of Danbury, Connecticut – City Council |publisher=City of Danbury, Connecticut |access-date=April 9, 2021 |archive-date=July 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712181001/https://www.danbury-ct.gov/government/elected-officials/city-council/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The City Council enacts ordinances and resolutions by a simple majority vote. If after five days the Mayor does not approve the ordinance (similar to a veto), the City Council may re-vote on it. If it then passes with a two-thirds majority, it becomes effective without the Mayor's approval. The current City Council consists of 17 Democrats and 4 Republicans. Alongside flipping the Mayor's office, the Democrats flipped a 14 Republican to 7 Democrat council in a city wide blue wave as a result the 2023 elections.<ref name="council"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Perkins |first1=Julia |title=Who was elected in Danbury? Here are the results. |url=https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Who-was-elected-in-Danbury-Here-are-the-results-16588386.php |website=NewsTimes |date=November 3, 2021 |publisher=Hearst CT Media |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211213117/https://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Who-was-elected-in-Danbury-Here-are-the-results-16588386.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
Danbury has six [[Connecticut House of Representatives|state representatives]] as of 2021; [[Raghib Allie-Brennan]] D-2, [[Stephen Harding (politician)|Stephen Harding]] R-107, [[Patrick Callahan]] R-108, [[Farley Santos]] D-109, [[Bob Godfrey (politician)|Bob Godfrey]] D-110 and [[Kenneth Gucker]] D-138.<ref>{{cite web |title=State Legislators |url=https://www2.cbia.com/ga/Danbury_CT_Legislators/-A2,-A,-ADanbury |website=CBIA |access-date=February 11, 2020 |archive-date=September 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922033827/https://www2.cbia.com/ga/Danbury_CT_Legislators/-A2,-A,-ADanbury |url-status=live }}</ref> There is one state senator, [[Julie Kushner]] D-24. Danbury is represented in the [[United States Congress]] by U.S. Rep. [[Jahana Hayes]] (D).

Danbury's Fiscal Year 2020–2021 [[mill rate]] is 24.44, remaining the lowest among Connecticuts top 10 most populated cities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?a=2987&q=385976|title=Mill Rates|publisher=Office of Policy and Management|access-date=February 26, 2017|archive-date=February 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221091307/http://www.ct.gov/opm/cwp/view.asp?A=2987&Q=385976|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Danbury city vote<br /> by party in presidential elections<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|access-date=May 20, 2019|archive-date=May 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514171359/https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=December 22, 2020|website=CT Secretary of State|archive-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428192536/http://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|url-status=live}}</ref>
|- style="background:lightgrey;"
! Year
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2024 United States presidential election|2024]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.15%''' ''16,318''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.50% ''13,971''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.35% ''415''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.93%''' ''18,869''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.94% ''12,788''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.13% ''364''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.75%''' ''16,084''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.30% ''11,626''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|3.95% ''1,139''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''58.45%''' ''15,290''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.48% ''10,590''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.07% ''281''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.41%''' ''16,028''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.78% ''10,732''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.81% ''219''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.34%''' ''13,477''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|47.24% ''12,399''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.42% ''372''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.13%''' ''12,987''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.78% ''9,371''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.09% ''1,199''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.59%''' ''12,102''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|35.27% ''7,965''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|11.14% ''2,515''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|38.35% ''9,909''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''39.90%''' ''10,310''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|21.75% ''5,621''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.10% ''10,071''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.23%''' ''13,690''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.66% ''158''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.38% ''8,922''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.01%''' ''16,143''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.61% ''154''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.04% ''9,374''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.30%''' ''11,308''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|11.67% ''2,732''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|46.50% ''10,379''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.76%''' ''11,777''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.74% ''166''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.51% ''8,186''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.81%''' ''13,271''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.69% ''368''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''48.12%''' ''9,602''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.85% ''8,948''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.03% ''1,403''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''69.30%''' ''12,932''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|30.70% ''5,728''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.53%''' ''10,363''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|45.47% ''8,640''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.11% ''5,816''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''65.89%''' ''11,233''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

==Infrastructure==
=== Education ===
====Public schools====

[[Danbury Public Schools]] operates most public schools, with [[Danbury High School]] belonging to the district. The other public high school, [[Henry Abbott Technical High School]], is within the [[Connecticut Technical High School System]]. Each high school is grades 9 through 12. An alternative school by the name of [[Alternative Center for Excellence]] is housed off-campus, and its graduates receive Danbury High School diplomas upon completion of their studies.<ref>{{cite web|title=Academic s|url=https://sites.google.com/a/danbury.k12.ct.us/ace-web/academics|website=Alternative Center for Excellence|access-date=November 25, 2015|archive-date=November 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126072800/https://sites.google.com/a/danbury.k12.ct.us/ace-web/academics|url-status=live}}</ref> Danbury also has 3 public middle schools for grades 6 through 8: Broadview Middle School, Rogers Park Middle School and [[Westside Middle School Academy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danbury.k12.ct.us/|title=Danbury Public Schools|access-date=June 27, 2005|archive-date=June 23, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050623010641/http://danbury.k12.ct.us/|url-status=live}}</ref> There are 13 elementary schools in Danbury. These schools are Academy for International Studies Magnet School (K–5), Ellsworth Avenue (K–5), Great Plain (K–5), Hayestown (K–5), King Street Primary (K–3) and King Street Intermediate (4–5), Mill Ridge Primary (K–3), Morris Street (K–5), Park Avenue (K–5), Pembroke (K–5), Shelter Rock (K–5), South Street (K–5) and Stadley Rough (K–5).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/a/danbury.k12.ct.us/elementary-schools-home/ |title=Danbury Public Schools |access-date=November 25, 2015 |archive-date=November 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126072759/https://sites.google.com/a/danbury.k12.ct.us/elementary-schools-home/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Parochial schools====

Roman Catholic schools in Danbury reside within the administration of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport|Diocese of Bridgeport]] and include:
* 1 high school: [[Immaculate High School (Danbury, Connecticut)|Immaculate High School]] (9–12)
* 3 elementary schools: St Peter-Sacred Heart School (Pre-K–8),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stpeterschooldanbury.org/website/publish/about/index.php|title=Saint Peter School|access-date=November 25, 2015|archive-date=November 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125230130/http://stpeterschooldanbury.org/website/publish/about/index.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> St. Gregory the Great School (Pre-K–8),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saintgregoryschool.org/|title=St. Gregory the Great School - Danbury, Connecticut .:. Welcome|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=June 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618205209/http://www.saintgregoryschool.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> and St. Joseph School (Pre-K–8)

Other parochial schools in Danbury are:
* Colonial Hills Christian Academy<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colonialhillsbaptistchurchct.com/colonialhillschristianacademy.html|title=Colonial Hills Christian Academy|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=October 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013052238/http://colonialhillsbaptistchurchct.com/colonialhillschristianacademy.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Immanuel Lutheran School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.immanuellutheranschool.org/|title=Immanuel Lutheran School, Danbury, CT|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=July 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703235612/http://www.immanuellutheranschool.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Private schools====
* Hudson Country Montessori School<ref>{{cite web|title=Hudson Montessori School|url=http://www.hudsoncountry.org/|access-date=November 25, 2015|archive-date=November 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126045459/http://www.hudsoncountry.org/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* New England Country Day School<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/5650|title=New England Country Day School Profile - Danbury, Connecticut (CT)|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=November 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151126040116/http://www.privateschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/5650|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Wooster School]]

====Post-secondary schools====
Danbury is home to [[Western Connecticut State University]] and a campus of [[Naugatuck Valley Community College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nv.edu/About-NVCC/NVCC-Danbury-Campus|title=NVCC Danbury Campus|publisher=NVCC|access-date=July 16, 2016|archive-date=March 24, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324014617/http://www.nv.edu/About-NVCC/NVCC-Danbury-Campus|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Danbury Federal Correctional Institution ===
Danbury is the site of a low-security men's and women's prison, the [[Federal Correctional Institution (Danbury)|Danbury Federal Correctional Institution]], located near the border with New Fairfield.<ref name="FCI Danbury">{{cite web|url=https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/dan/|title=FCI Danbury|publisher=Federal Bureau of Prisons|access-date=July 16, 2016|archive-date=September 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903093448/https://www.bop.gov/locations/institutions/dan/|url-status=live}}</ref> Built in the 1940s to house men, the facility was converted to a women's prison in 1994 to address a shortage of beds for low-security female inmates in other facilities. However, overcrowding at federal facilities for low-security males prompted a reconversion to a male prison, beginning in 2013, and relocation of the female inmates from the low-security Pembroke Road facility to other locations.<ref name="Ryan, Maggie">{{cite news |url=http://www.correctionalnews.com/articles/2013/07/17/fci-danbury-prison-being-converted-house-males |title=FCI Danbury Prison Being Converted to House Males |date=July 17, 2013 |work=Correctional News |author=Ryan, Maggie |access-date=November 26, 2013 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230418/http://www.correctionalnews.com/articles/2013/07/17/fci-danbury-prison-being-converted-house-males |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2016, an adjacent satellite camp houses up to 193 women.<ref name="FCI Danbury" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Women-s-prison-construction-to-start-this-summer-6249358.php |title=Women's prison construction to start this summer |newspaper=Connecticut Post |last1=Freedman |first1=Dan |access-date=July 16, 2016 |archive-date=August 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828125718/http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Women-s-prison-construction-to-start-this-summer-6249358.php |url-status=live }}</ref> A new $25&nbsp;million women's facility was completed and began accepting female inmates in December 2016.<ref>{{cite news |title=Enhanced FCI set to reopen to women |date=December 2, 2016 |publisher=The News-Times |last1=Ryser |first1=Bob}}</ref>

=== Libraries ===
[[File:Danbury Public Library (53564936859).jpg|thumb|Danbury Public Library (2024)]]
The Danbury Public Library was established in 1869.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.danburyfriends.org/our-history |title=Our History |website=Friends of the Danbury Library |access-date=February 11, 2017 |archive-date=February 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212091929/http://www.danburyfriends.org/our-history |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Long Ridge Library is a small library occupying an old schoolhouse on Long Ridge Road in Danbury. It was founded in 1916.<ref>{{cite web |title=Danbury's Long Ridge Library Embraces Past, Moves Toward Future |url=http://danbury.dailyvoice.com/neighbors/danburys-long-ridge-library-embraces-past-moves-toward-future/567151/ |website=Danbury Daily Voice |date=February 20, 2013 |access-date=February 13, 2017 |archive-date=February 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214103009/http://danbury.dailyvoice.com/neighbors/danburys-long-ridge-library-embraces-past-moves-toward-future/567151/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Places of worship===
Danbury is home to numerous churches, three synagogues, two mosques, and a Hindu temple.

===Mass media===

Danbury is in the [[List of television stations in New York|New York City]] TV market and receives its TV stations. Some TV stations in the [[List of television stations in Connecticut|Hartford-New Haven]] are also available to Danbury viewers.
* ''[[The News-Times]]'' – a daily newspaper owned by [[Hearst Communications]].
*''Tribuna Newspaper'' – a biweekly, bilingual (Portuguese/English) news publication.
*''HamletHub Danbury'' – a local news publication.
*[[WFAR|WFAR-FM]], 93.3&nbsp;MHz, low-power – religious (Christian) and ethnic/Portuguese-language programming.
*[[WLAD|WLAD-AM]], 800&nbsp;kHz, 1000 watts (daytime), 287 watts (nighttime) – news/talk format, owned by the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.
*[[WDAQ|WDAQ-FM]] 98.3&nbsp;MHz, 1300 watts – hot adult contemporary format, owned by the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.
*[[WDAQ|WDAQ-HD2 FM]], 103.7&nbsp;MHz – alternative rock format, owned by the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Perrefort|first1=Dirk|title=Danbury gets a new alternative rock station|url=http://www.newstimes.com/business/article/Danbury-gets-a-new-alternative-rock-station-6438201.php|website=newstimes|date=August 11, 2015|publisher=The News-Times|access-date=July 18, 2016|archive-date=August 21, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821011437/http://www.newstimes.com/business/article/Danbury-gets-a-new-alternative-rock-station-6438201.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
* WDAQ-HD3 FM, 107.3&nbsp;MHz – new country music, owned by the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Venta|first1=Lance|title=107.3 The Bull Launches In Danbury|url=https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/107134/107-3-the-bull-launches-in-danbury/|website=radioINSIGHT|date=July 5, 2016|access-date=July 17, 2016|archive-date=October 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019053636/https://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/107134/107-3-the-bull-launches-in-danbury/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[WDAQ|WDAQ-HD4 FM]], 94.5&nbsp;MHz – "The Hawk" – classic rock format, owned by the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Venta |first1=Lance |title=94.5 The Hawk Flies Into Danbury Classic Rock Duel |url=https://radioinsight.com/headlines/184741/94-5-the-hawk-flies-into-danbury-classic-rock-duel/ |website=Radio Insight |date=February 26, 2020 |access-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211142317/https://radioinsight.com/headlines/184741/94-5-the-hawk-flies-into-danbury-classic-rock-duel/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[WAXB]], 850&nbsp;kHz AM / 94.5&nbsp;MHz FM, 2500 watts (daytime only) – Spanish-language adult hits, owned by the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.
*[[WXCI|WXCI-FM]], 91.7&nbsp;MHz, 3000 watts – non-profit, college radio station, owned by [[Western Connecticut State University]] and operated by past and present students
*[[WRKI|WRKI-FM]], 95.1&nbsp;MHz, 50000 watts – classic rock music, owned by [[Townsquare Media]]; debuted on December 24, 1976.
*[[WDBY|WDBY-FM]], 105.5&nbsp;MHz ("Kicks 105.5") – contemporary country music, owned by [[Townsquare Media]].
*[[WINE (AM)|WINE-AM]], 940&nbsp;kHz – Portuguese, owned by [[International Church of the Grace of God, Inc]].

===Public utilities===
[[File:Public yard waste management processing center, located on Plumtrees Road, Danbury (CT).png|thumb|The John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant, located on Plumtrees Road, Danbury]]
The Public Utilities Division operates and maintains the City of Danbury's Water Division, water utility infrastructure, sanitary sewer infrastructure, which includes several large water supply dams, a closed landfill, [[landfill gas]] collection system, and administer programs for recycling and disposal of solid waste.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.danbury-ct.gov/government/departments/public-works/public-utilities/|title=Public Utilities|access-date=September 1, 2020|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805134929/https://www.danbury-ct.gov/government/departments/public-works/public-utilities/|url-status=dead}}</ref>  The Division oversees a Water Pollution Control Plant, operated by [[Veolia Water]] North America, and a public yard waste management processing center, located on Plumtrees Road, in accordance with an agreement between the City of Danbury and Total Landscaping and Tree Service. The sewer fund makes up 80 percent of Danbury's 2019–2020 Adopted Capital Projects Budget, accounting for $103 million of the $127 million budget to maintain the plant.<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Danbury 2019-2020 Adopted Budget Book |url=https://www.danbury-ct.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-2020-Adopted-Budget.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326202328/https://www.danbury-ct.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2019-2020-Adopted-Budget.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |access-date=October 13, 2020 |website=Danbury-CT}}</ref>

In October 2020, the city renamed its water pollution control plant the [[John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant]] after [[John Oliver]], the host of the late-night comedy program ''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver]]'' jokingly insulted the city. Oliver attended the unveiling ceremony in person as a condition of [[Mark Boughton|Mayor Boughton]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Danbury Renames Sewer Plant for Comedian John Oliver|url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/danbury-renames-sewer-plant-for-comedian-john-oliver/2347666/|access-date=October 20, 2020|website=NBC Connecticut|language=en-US|archive-date=October 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021211944/https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/danbury-renames-sewer-plant-for-comedian-john-oliver/2347666/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=City of Danbury Won't Waste John Oliver's Donation, on One Condition|url=https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/city-of-danbury-wont-waste-john-olivers-donation-on-1-condition/2329295/|access-date=October 20, 2020|website=NBC Connecticut|language=en-US|archive-date=October 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023235258/https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/city-of-danbury-wont-waste-john-olivers-donation-on-1-condition/2329295/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Highways===
[[File:Danbury CT Rest Area.jpg|thumb|Danbury Rest Area and Information Center on Interstate 84 (eastbound)]]
[[Interstate 84 (Connecticut)|Interstate 84]] and [[U.S. Route 7 (Connecticut)|U.S. Route 7]] are the main highways in the city. I-84 runs west to east from the lower [[Hudson Valley]] region of New York to [[Waterbury, Connecticut|Waterbury]] and [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]]. US 7 runs south to north from [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]] (connecting to [[I-95 (CT)|I-95]]) to the [[Litchfield Hills]] region. The two highways overlap in the downtown area. The principal surface roads through the city are Lake Avenue, West Street, White Street, and Federal Road. Other secondary state highways are [[U.S. Route 6 (Connecticut)|U.S. Route 6]] in the western part of the city, Newtown Road, which connects to US 6 east of the city, [[Route 53 (Connecticut)|Route 53]] (Main Street and South Street), [[Route 37 (Connecticut)|Route 37]] (North Street, Padaranam Road, and Pembroke Road), and [[Route 39 (Connecticut)|Route 39]] (Clapboard Ridge Road and Ball Pond Road). Danbury has 242 miles of streets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=St. Hilaire |first1=David W. |title=Comprehensive Financial Annual Report |url=http://www.ci.danbury.ct.us/filestorage/21015/21087/21103/22869/2016_CAFR_(FY_15-16).pdf |publisher=City of Danbury |access-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219171541/http://www.ci.danbury.ct.us/filestorage/21015/21087/21103/22869/2016_CAFR_(FY_15-16).pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Buses===
[[File:HARTransit Gillig BRTs (Downtown Danbury).jpg|thumb|HARTransit buses in Downtown Danbury]]
Local bus service is provided by [[Housatonic Area Regional Transit]] (HART), and connects the entire [[Greater Danbury]] region as well as various train stations along the [[Harlem Line]] in [[Putnam County, New York|Putnam County]] and [[Westchester County, New York|Westchester County]]. A shuttle also operates between [[CityCenter Danbury|Downtown Danbury]] and [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]].

===Railroad===
[[File:Danbury train station.jpg|thumb|[[Danbury station|Danbury Metro-North Railroad station]], located on the [[Danbury Branch]] line]]
Danbury is the [[Danbury (Metro-North station)|terminus]] of the [[Danbury Branch|Danbury branch]] line of the [[MTA Metro-North Railroad]] which begins in [[Norwalk, Connecticut|Norwalk]]. The Danbury Branch provides [[commuter rail]] service from Danbury, to [[South Norwalk station|South Norwalk]], [[Stamford Transportation Center|Stamford]], and [[Grand Central Terminal]] in [[New York City]]. The line was first built by the [[Danbury and Norwalk Railroad]] which was later bought by the [[New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad]] Company. Danbury was an important junction between the Danbury Branch and the [[Dutchess Rail Trail|Maybrook Line]]. The Maybrook line was the New Haven's main freight line which terminated in [[Maybrook, New York]], where the New Haven exchanged traffic with other railroads. After the ill-fated [[Penn Central]] took over the New Haven, the Maybrook line was shut down when a fire on the [[Poughkeepsie Bridge]] made the line unusable. Today, the historic station is part of the [[Danbury Railway Museum]]. The [[Providence and Worcester Railroad]], along with the [[Housatonic Railroad]] provide local rail freight service in Danbury.

Frequent direct rail access to New York City is also available from [[Brewster station]] along Metro-North's [[Harlem Line]]. The station is located just over the New York state line, roughly 8 miles from downtown. Plans are also being made to connect Danbury station to the Harlem Line, utilizing existing Maybrook Line track which is owned by the MTA. This plan has been dubbed the "Fast track to NYC", as it will provide more frequent access between Danbury and [[Grand Central Terminal]]. In June 2022, a $2 million federal grant was approved to study the environmental impacts of the project.<ref>https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/21269671/ct-danburys-long-shot-fast-track-to-nyc-now-more-of-a-reality-with-hope-of-2m-federal-grant {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209091520/https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/21269671/ct-danburys-long-shot-fast-track-to-nyc-now-more-of-a-reality-with-hope-of-2m-federal-grant |date=December 9, 2022 }} Mass Transit CT: Danbury's 'long shot' fast track to NYC now 'more of a reality' with hope of $2M federal grant</ref>

===Airports===
[[File:View of Danbury Airport from Danbury Fair Mall.jpg|thumb|Danbury Municipal Airport, as seen from the Danbury Fair Mall parking lot]]
Danbury is within reasonable distance of 11 airports: four general aviation, two regional, five international. The city is also the location of [[Danbury Municipal Airport]] ([[IATA airport code|DXR]]).
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! General aviation airports !! Distance from Downtown/Location
|-
| [[Danbury Municipal Airport]] || 2 miles southwest in Danbury, Connecticut
|-
| [[Waterbury–Oxford Airport]] || 18 miles northeast in [[Oxford, Connecticut]]
|-
| [[Sikorsky Memorial Airport]] || 23 miles southeast in [[Stratford, Connecticut]]
|-
| [[Teterboro Airport]] || 49 miles southwest in [[Teterboro, New Jersey]]
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Regional airports !! Distance form Downtown/Location
|-
| [[Westchester County Airport]] || 26 miles southwest in [[Westchester County, New York]]
|-
| [[Tweed New Haven Airport]] || 30 miles southeast in [[East Haven, Connecticut]]
|-
|[[Stewart International Airport|Stewart Airport]]
|34 miles west in [[Newburgh, New York]]
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! International airports !! Distance from Downtown/Location
|-
| [[LaGuardia Airport]] || 48 miles southwest in [[Queens, New York]]
|-
| [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] || 54 miles south in Queens, NY
|-
| [[Bradley International Airport]] || 55 miles northeast in [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut]]
|-
| [[Newark Liberty International Airport]] || 61 miles southwest in [[Newark, New Jersey]]
|}

==Sites of interest==

===Hiking trails===
* Bear Mountain Reservation<ref>{{cite web |url=http://berkshirehiking.com/hikes/bearmt_danbury.html |title=Bear Mt. Reservation Danbury, CT |website=BerkshireHiking.com |access-date=July 1, 2016 |archive-date=June 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616151322/http://berkshirehiking.com/hikes/bearmt_danbury.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The Old Quarry Nature Center has two short [[educational trail]]s on {{convert|39|acre|ha}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.danbury.org/oldquarry/ |title=Old Quarry Nature Center, 5 Maple La., Danbury, CT 06810 |access-date=July 1, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629133105/http://www.danbury.org/oldquarry/ |archive-date=June 29, 2016 }}</ref>
* Tarrywile Mansion and Park<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tarrywile.com/|title=Tarrywile Park and Mansion, Danbury, CT: Hiking, Weddings, and Events|access-date=July 1, 2016|archive-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629133345/http://tarrywile.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> has {{convert|21|mi|km}} of trails and several ponds on {{convert|722|acre|ha}}, as well as a Victorian mansion and gardens. The [[Ives Trail]] runs through the park.
* The [[Ives Trail]] is a 20-mile stretch of trail that runs from Bennett's Pond in Ridgefield through Danbury to Redding. The Charles Ives House and Hearthstone Castle are located along this trail.

===Parks===
* Bear Mountain Park
* Blind Brook Park
* Candlewood Town Park
* Danbury Dog Park at [[Margerie Lake Reservoir]]
* Danbury Dog Park at Miry Brook
* Elmwood Park
* Farrington Woods
* Hatters Park
* Highland Playground
* Joseph Sauer Memorial Park
* Kennedy Park
* Lake Kenosia Park
* Lions Club Children's Park on Rowan Street
* Memorial Park
* Old Quarry Nature Center
* Richter Park
* Rogers Park
* Rogers Park Playground
* Stephen A. Kaplanis Field
* Still River Greenway
* Tarrywile Park
* Tom West Park<ref>{{cite web|title=Parks|url=https://www.danbury-ct.gov/government/departments/parks/|newspaper=City of Danbury|access-date=July 30, 2021|archive-date=September 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210904221254/https://www.danbury-ct.gov/government/departments/parks/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Museums===
* [[Danbury Museum and Historical Society]]
* [[Danbury Railway Museum]]

===Other===
* The Connecticut 9/11 Memorial by sculptor [[Henry Richardson (artist)|Henry Richardson]] is located in Danbury in Elmwood Park.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pelland|first1=Dave|title=9/11 Memorial, Danbury|url=http://ctmonuments.net/2009/04/911-memorial-danbury/|website=CTMonuments.net|access-date=March 11, 2018|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206190326/http://ctmonuments.net/2009/04/911-memorial-danbury/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
* The [[Danbury Fair Mall]] was built on the old fairgrounds in 1986.
* Danbury is also home to an [[United States Army Reserve|Army Reserve]] [[Special Operations]] unit, the [[411th Civil Affairs Battalion (United States)|411th Civil Affairs Battalion]].
*[[Danbury Hospital]] is a 456-bed<ref>{{cite web|title=About Danbury Hospital|url=http://www.danburyhospital.org/about-us/about-danbury-hospital/at-a-glance|website=Danbury Hospital|access-date=November 20, 2016|archive-date=November 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161120212919/http://www.danburyhospital.org/about-us/about-danbury-hospital/at-a-glance|url-status=live}}</ref> hospital, serving patients in Fairfield County, Connecticut and Putnam County, New York.<ref>''2006 Book of Business Lists, Facts and People,'' published by Westfair Communications Inc. of White Plains, N.Y., in conjunction with its ''Fairfield County Business Journal'', page 57</ref> The hospital is the home of the new Praxair Regional Heart and Vascular center,<ref>[http://www.danhosp.org/DH_cardio_layout.cfm?id=142 Danbury Hospital, Western Connecticut Health Network] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070204004148/http://danhosp.org/DH_cardio_layout.cfm?id=142 |date=February 4, 2007 }}. Danhosp.org. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref> providing state of the art [[cardiovascular]] care to this growing region including [[open heart surgery]] and [[coronary angioplasty]].
* '''Richter Park Golf Course''' is Danbury's municipal golf course<ref>[http://www.richterpark.com/index.php Richter Park Golf Course - Danbury, CT] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715183505/http://www.richterpark.com/index.php |date=July 15, 2011 }}. Richterpark.com. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref> and hosts numerous tournaments such as the annual Danbury Amateur and [[American Junior Golf Association]] majors. It has won a variety of awards, including being a "Top 10 Connecticut Course" and the "#2 Best Public Course in the NY Metropolitan Area".<ref>[http://www.richterpark.com/courses.php Richter Park Golf Course - Course Stats] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110804202529/http://www.richterpark.com/courses.php |date=August 4, 2011 }}. Richterpark.com. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref>
* [[The Summit at Danbury]] is one of the largest office complexes in Connecticut
* [[Danbury Ice Arena]]
* The [[John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant]]

===National Register of Historic Places===
{{main|National Register of Historic Places listings in Fairfield County, Connecticut}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Name !! Location !! Date added to [[NRHP]]
|-
| [[Ball and Roller Bearing Company]] || 20–22 Maple Ave. || September 25, 1989
|-
| [[Charles Ives House]] || 7 Mountainville Ave. || May 26, 1976
|-
| [[Hearthstone Castle|Hearthstone]] || 18 Brushy Hill Rd. || December 31, 1987
|-
| [[John Rider House]] || 43 Main St. || added December 23, 1977
|-
| [[Locust Avenue School]] || Locust Ave. || June 30, 1985
|-
| [[Main Street Historic District (Danbury, Connecticut)|Main Street Historic District]] || Boughton, Elm, Ives, Keeler, Main, West and White Sts. || December 29, 1983
|-
| [[Meeker's Hardware]] || 86–90 White St. || July 9, 1983
|-
| [[Octagon House (Danbury, Connecticut)|Octagon House]] || 21 Spring St. || June 7, 1973
|-
| [[P. Robinson Fur Cutting Company]] || Oil Mill Rd. || December 30, 1982
|-
| [[Tarrywile]] || Southern Blvd. & Mountain Rd. || February 6, 1988
|-
| [[Danbury Railway Museum|Union Station (Danbury Railway Museum)]] || White St. and Patriot Dr. || October 25, 1986
|-
| Richter House (Richter Memorial Park) || 100 Aunt Hack Road || September 17, 2010
|-
|}

=== Sports ===
====Ice hockey====

The [[United Hockey League]] (UHL) expanded to Danbury in 2004. The [[Danbury Trashers]] played their first season at the Danbury Ice Arena in October 2004. Among those on the roster included Brent Gretzky (brother of hockey legend [[Wayne Gretzky]]) and Scott Stirling (son of former [[New York Islanders]] coach [[Steve Stirling]]). Scott's older brother, Todd, coached the Trashers in the 2004–2005 season.  The team folded in 2006 after its owner, coach and management were charged (and later convicted) of several charges of wire fraud and racketeering.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/29-people-7-firms-charged-in-probe-115304.php|title=29 people, 7 firms charged in probe|publisher=[[News-Times (Danbury)|News-Times]]|access-date=January 20, 2012|date=June 10, 2006|last=Ali|first=Karen|archive-date=September 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922082431/https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/29-people-7-firms-charged-in-probe-115304.php|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=sentenced>{{cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/ct/Press2009/20090811-1.html |title=Former Controller of Danbury Trash Companies is Sentenced |publisher=United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut |access-date=January 20, 2012 |date=August 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114123022/http://www.justice.gov/usao/ct/Press2009/20090811-1.html |archive-date=January 14, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2008_10_21_Trashers_coach_gets_probation_in_trash_probe/srvc=home&position=recent |title=Trashers coach gets probation in trash probe |newspaper=[[Boston Herald]] |access-date=January 20, 2012 |date=October 21, 2008 |agency=[[Associated Press]] }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

On December 27, 2009, Danbury was named the first city to officially have a team in the newly formed [[Federal Hockey League]] (FHL). The team was named the [[Danbury Whalers]], bringing back the name "Whalers" to Connecticut for the first time since 1997 when the [[Hartford Whalers]] of the WHA/NHL moved to North Carolina and became the [[Carolina Hurricanes]]. At the end of the 2014–2015 season, the Danbury Ice Arena evicted the Danbury Whalers. However, a new FHL Danbury team called the [[Danbury Titans]] was approved for the 2015–2016 season, owned by local car dealership owner Bruce Bennett. The Titans folded after two seasons.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lacey|first1=Ryan|title=Titans throw in the towel|agency=The News-Times|publisher=Hearst Media Services CT. LLC|date=August 3, 2017}}</ref>

The [[Danbury Ice Arena]] was sold and put under new management in 2019. The arena then added a third FPHL franchise called the [[Danbury Hat Tricks]], a [[Junior ice hockey#Tier III|Tier III junior]] team called the [[Danbury Colonials]], and the relocation of the [[Premier Hockey Federation]]'s [[Connecticut Whale (PHF)|Connecticut Whale]]. In 2020, the arena added a [[Junior ice hockey#Tier II|Tier II junior]] team called the [[Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks]] and the Tier III team also rebranded to the same name.

====Other sports====
The [[Danbury Westerners]], a member of the [[New England Collegiate Baseball League]], play their home games at [[Rogers Park (Danbury)|Rogers Park]] in Danbury.

Danbury-based amateur soccer team Villanovence FC play in the [[United Premier Soccer League]].

[[Danbury High School]] carries a strong athletic tradition in wrestling, boys and girls track and field, boys cross country, baseball, tennis, basketball, and football. The wrestling, boys cross country, and boys track teams have all numerous state titles and New England championships. All three programs are considered to be nationally ranked annually.

Western Connecticut State University is a member of the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[Division III (NCAA)|Division III]], the [[Eastern College Athletic Conference]], and the [[Little East Conference]]. The university fields teams in baseball, basketball, lacrosse, football, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, and volleyball. WestConn also fields several nationally competitive club sports on campus including Men's Rugby, Women's Rugby, Dance Team, Cheerleading, and Men's Hockey.

The Danbury Hatters Cricket Club formed in 2001 and has been playing cricket in Southern Connecticut along with other cities such as Norwalk, Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury and West Haven. Their home ground is Broadview Middle School.<ref>{{cite web |title=Danbury Cricket Club |url=https://www.cricclubs.com/DanburyCricketClub/viewTeam.do?teamId=1&clubId=5798 |website=CricClubs.com |access-date=November 18, 2018 |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118122859/https://www.cricclubs.com/DanburyCricketClub/viewTeam.do?teamId=1&clubId=5798 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Western Connecticut Militia is a semi-professional football team that played in the [[New England Football League]] from 2011 to 2016, winning the league championship the last year. The team played its home games in Danbury during that period. After taking 2017 off, the team joined [[Major League Football (MLFB)|Major League Football]] for the 2018 season, playing its home games in [[New Fairfield, CT]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Militia Join the MLF! |url=http://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=WESTERNCTMILITIA&s=football&p=newsstory&newsID=56045 |website=Western Connecticut Militia |publisher=www.HomeTeamsONLINE.com |access-date=October 13, 2018 |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001190403/https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/default.asp?u=WESTERNCTMILITIA&s=football&p=newsstory&newsID=56045 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notable people==
<!--Blue link of name certifies notability, no further reference needed.-->
{{See also|Category:People from Danbury, Connecticut}}
{{div col}}
* [[Alex Pereira]], Professional MMA Fighter in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC) and current champion of the [[Light heavyweight (MMA)]] division, former champion of the [[Middleweight (MMA)]]division
* [[Glover Teixeira]], Professional MMA Fighter in the [[Ultimate Fighting Championship]] (UFC) and former champion of the [[Light heavyweight (MMA)]] division 
* [[Renata Adler]], author, journalist and film critic
* [[Willard H. Allen]] (1893–1957), New Jersey secretary of agriculture
* [[Marian Anderson]] (1897–1993), singer
* [[Sylvia Sydney]] (1910–1999), actress<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | title = Sylvia Sidney | encyclopedia = The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women | date = December 31, 1999 | last = Steinberg | first = Alyssa Gallin | publisher = Jewish Women's Archive | url = https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/sidney-sylvia | access-date = January 17, 2023 | archive-date = January 17, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230117113201/https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/sidney-sylvia | url-status = live }}</ref>
* [[James Montgomery Bailey]], 19th century ''Danbury News'' editor
* [[Matt Barnes (baseball)|Matt Barnes]], professional baseball player
* [[Zadoc Benedict]], the first hat maker of Danbury
* [[Jonathan Brandis]] (1976–2003), actor
* [[Peter Buck (restaurateur)|Peter Buck]] (1930–2021), co-founder, Subway sandwich restaurants<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.forbes.com/profile/peter-buck/#791bd274750f|title = Peter Buck|website = [[Forbes]]|access-date = April 29, 2020|archive-date = April 16, 2019|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190416063314/https://www.forbes.com/profile/peter-buck/#791bd274750f|url-status = live}}</ref>
* [[Austin Calitro]], professional football player
* [[Ray Cappo]], singer
* [[Neil Cavuto]], television anchor
* [[Frank Conniff (journalist)|Frank Conniff]] (1914–1971), [[1956 Pulitzer Prize]]–winning journalist
* [[Mackenzie Fierceton]], activist
* [[Ken Green (golfer)|Ken Green]], professional golfer
* [[Lee Hartell]], [[Medal of Honor]] recipient
* [[Charles Ives]] (1874–1954), composer<ref>Dixon, Ken, "Music Hall of Fame proposed for state", article in ''Connecticut Post'' in Bridgeport, Connecticut, April 26, 2007 ("Charles Ives (1874–1954) of Danbury")</ref>
* [[Joe Lahoud]], professional baseball player
* [[Steven Kaplan (economist)|Steven Kaplan]], American economist and professor
* [[Carole King]], singer-songwriter<ref>{{cite book |last=Gurock|first=Jeffrey S.|page=26|date=2021|title=Lake Waubeeka: A Community History|publisher=The History Press|isbn=978-1467149464}}</ref>
* [[Rose Wilder Lane]], author, writer, daughter of [[Laura Ingalls Wilder]]
* [[Jimmy Monaghan]], Irish musician and former boxer
* [[Jerry Nadeau]], professional auto racing driver
* [[Steven Novella]], neurologist and noted [[skeptical movement|skeptic]]
* [[Laura Nyro]] (1947–1997), musician, songwriter, bandleader, singer
* [[Elizabeth Peyton]], painter
* [[Chet Powers]] a.k.a. Dino Valenti (1937–1994), musician and songwriter
* [[George Radachowsky]], professional football player
* [[William R. Ratchford]], three term U.S. Congressman
* [[Allen Ritter]], music producer
* [[Delvin Rodríguez]], professional boxer
* [[Neil Rudenstine]], past president of [[Harvard University]]
* [[James A. Ryan]], U.S. Army brigadier general<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=Marquis |editor-first=Albert Nelson |editor-link=Albert Nelson Marquis |date=1919 |title=Who's Who In America |volume=X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b60qNoGe8pkC&pg=PA2355 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=A. N. Marquis & Company |pages=2355–2356 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>
* [[Chauncey Foster Ryder]], Postimpressionist painter
* [[Trevor Siemian]], professional football player
* [[Christian Siriano]], fashion designer
* [[Ian Smith (TV)|Ian Smith]], panelist on [[VH1]]'s Celebrity Fit Club
* [[Lee Smith (baseball)|Lee Smith]], Member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Relief Pitcher <ref>{{cite web|last1=Gregory|first1=Richard|title=Pitching great Lee Smith shares words of wisdom with local ballplayers|url=http://www.newstimes.com/sports/article/Pitching-great-Lee-Smith-shares-words-of-wisdom-8333217.php|website=newstimes.com|date=June 30, 2016|publisher=The News-Times|access-date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=July 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701111629/http://www.newstimes.com/sports/article/Pitching-great-Lee-Smith-shares-words-of-wisdom-8333217.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Ronnie Spector]], singer<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hardaway |first1=Liz |title=Ronnie Spector, lead of The Ronnettes, Danbury resident dies at 78 |url=https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Ronnie-Spector-lead-of-The-Ronnettes-Danbury-16771326.php?src=nthpdesecp |website=News Times |date=January 13, 2022 |publisher=Hearst Connecticut Media |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113142002/https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Ronnie-Spector-lead-of-The-Ronnettes-Danbury-16771326.php?src=nthpdesecp |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Roy M. Terry]], Chief of Chaplains of the [[U.S. Air Force]]
* [[John Toland (historian)|John Toland]] (1912–2004), [[1971 Pulitzer Prize]]-winning historian<ref>{{cite news |last=Saxton |first=B. |date=January 5, 2004 |title=Renowned 'Rising Sun' author Toland dies in Danbury |url=https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Renowned-Rising-Sun-author-Toland-dies-in-263734.php |work=The News-Times |location=Danbury, Connecticut |access-date=June 28, 2022 |archive-date=July 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723103315/https://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Renowned-Rising-Sun-author-Toland-dies-in-263734.php |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[TJR (musician)|TJR]] (birth name Thomas Joseph Rozdilsky), musician
* [[John Hubbard Tweedy]], U.S. Congressional Delegate from the [[Wisconsin Territory]]<ref>[http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/tuttrop-tye.html#RQ004X593 Index to Politicians: Tutton to Tylee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090703204904/http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/tuttrop-tye.html#RQ004X593 |date=July 3, 2009 }}. The Political Graveyard. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref>
* [[Samuel Tweedy]] (1776–1868), [[U.S. Representative]] from Connecticut
* [[Jenna von Oÿ]], actress
* [[William A. Whittlesey]], former U.S. Congressman
* [[Zalmon Wildman]] (1775–1835), U.S. Representative from Connecticut
{{div col end}}

==Cultural references==
* Danbury's sewage plant has been named the "John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant" in honor of comedian [[John Oliver]] after a lighthearted social media exchange between Oliver and mayor [[Mark Boughton]] following Oliver's satirical criticism of Danbury on ''[[Last Week Tonight with John Oliver]]'' in August 2020. Oliver donated $55,000 to local charities in exchange for the renaming.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McCarthy|first1=Tyler|title=Danbury, Connecticut officially naming sewage plant after John Oliver following feud|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/danbury-ct-sewage-plant-john-oliver-feud|website=foxbusiness.com|date=October 11, 2020|access-date=October 13, 2020|archive-date=October 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014070632/https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/danbury-ct-sewage-plant-john-oliver-feud|url-status=live}}</ref> In October 2020, Oliver visited Danbury for the official unveiling of the renamed plant.
* In [[Robert Lawson (author)|Robert Lawson]]'s children's novel ''[[Rabbit Hill]]'', the story's anthropomorphic rabbit characters preserve by oral tradition the memory of Danbury being burned by the British during the [[American War of Independence]] and later of the town's young men going off to fight in the [[American Civil War]] and many of them not coming back.<ref>{{Cite web|last=CARY|first=BILL|title=1930s Connecticut Mansion That Was Home to Children's Book Illustrator Robert Lawson|url=https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/1930s-connecticut-mansion-that-was-home-to-children-s-book-illustrator-robert-lawson-131686|access-date=March 7, 2021|website=www.mansionglobal.com|language=en-US|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930230112/https://www.mansionglobal.com/articles/1930s-connecticut-mansion-that-was-home-to-children-s-book-illustrator-robert-lawson-131686|url-status=live}}</ref>
* The Netflix series [[Orange Is the New Black]] was based on the Federal Women's Prison located in Danbury.

== Sister cities ==
*{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Decollatura|Decollatura, Italy]]
*{{flagicon|Portugal}} [[Gouveia, Portugal]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Connecticut|New England|Cities}}
* [[CityCenter Danbury]], a redevelopment project in the city's downtown
* [[Greater Danbury]], the metropolitan area centered on the city

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Danbury|Danbury, Connecticut}}
* {{official website|http://www.danbury-ct.gov}}
* [https://danburymuseum.org/ Danbury Museum]

{{Danbury, Connecticut}}
{{Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Fairfield County, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{New England}}
{{Northeast Megalopolis}}
{{Housatonic River Watershed}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Danbury, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Cities in Fairfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Cities in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Hatmaking]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1685]]
[[Category:Cities in Western Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut]]