Editing Enfield, Connecticut

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Enfield, Connecticut
| official_name            = Town of Enfield
| settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline            = Thompsonville Village.jpg
| image_caption            = Thompsonville Village of Enfield, Connecticut
| image_flag               = Flag of Enfield, Connecticut.png
| image_seal               = EnfieldCTseal.jpg
| image_map                = {{switcher|[[File:Enfield CT lg.PNG|230px|frameless|alt=Enfield's location within Hartford County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Capitol Region incorporated and unincorporated areas Enfield highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Enfield's location within the Capitol Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol 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=Q2323139}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|58|48|N|72|33|0|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2323139;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=Enfield;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates              = {{coord|41|58|48|N|72|33|0|W|region:US-CT|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Region]]
| established_title        = Settled
| established_date         = 1679
| established_title2       = Incorporated (Massachusetts)
| established_date2        = May 16, 1683
| established_title3       = Annexed by Connecticut
| established_date3        = 1749
| government_type          = [[Council-manager]]
| leader_title             = Town Manager
| leader_name              = Christopher Bromson
| leader_title1            = Town Council
| leader_name1             = '''Mayor'''<br>Ken Nelson Jr. (R) <br>'''Deputy Mayor'''<br>Marie Pyznar (R) <br>'''District Councilors'''<br>Ken Nelson Jr. (R), Dist 1<br>John Santanella (D), Dist 2<br>Jeff Rousseau (R), Dist 3 <br>Bob Hendrickson (R), Dist 4 <br>'''Council At-Large'''<br>Cynthia Mangini (D)<br>Gena Cekala (D)<br>Robert Cressoti (D)<br>Lori Unghire (R)<br>Mike Ludwick (R)<br>Jim Nasuta (R)<br>Marie Pyznar (R)
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_total_km2           = 88.6
| area_land_km2            = 86.2
| area_water_km2           = 2.4
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 138
| population_total         = 42141
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_density_km2   = auto
| timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset               = &minus;5
| timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code              = 06082
| area_code                = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 09-25990
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0212332<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|212332}}</ref>
| blank3_name              = Interstates
| blank3_info              = [[File:I-91.svg|25px|link=Interstate 91 in Connecticut]]
| blank4_name              = U.S. Highways
| blank4_info              = [[File:US 5.svg|25px|link=U.S. Route 5 in Connecticut]]
| blank5_name              = State Routes
| blank5_info              = [[File:Connecticut Highway 190.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 190]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 191.svg|25px|link=Connecticut Route 191]] [[File:Connecticut Highway 220.svg|25px|link=Route 220 (Connecticut–Massachusetts)]]
| website                  = {{URL|www.enfield-ct.gov}}
| named_for                = [[Enfield, London|Enfield]], [[England]]
}}

'''Enfield''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Hartford County]], [[Connecticut]], United States, first settled by John and Robert Pease of Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Enfield Historical Society|url=https://www.enfieldhistoricalsociety.org/EHSGhostWalk.html|access-date=March 22, 2021|website=www.enfieldhistoricalsociety.org}}</ref> The town is part of the [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]]. The population was 42,141 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900325990| title=Census - Geography Profile: Enfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 15, 2021}}</ref> It is bordered by [[Longmeadow, Massachusetts]], and [[East Longmeadow, Massachusetts]], to the north, [[Somers, Connecticut|Somers]] to the east, [[East Windsor, Connecticut|East Windsor]] and [[Ellington, Connecticut|Ellington]] to the south, and the [[Connecticut River]] (towns of [[Suffield, Connecticut|Suffield]] and [[Windsor Locks, Connecticut|Windsor Locks]]) to the west.

==History==
Enfield was originally inhabited by the [[Podunk people]], and contained their two villages of Scitico and Nameroke. Though land grants were first granted in 1674, no one attempted to settle what is known as Enfield until 1679 when the Pease Brothers of Robert and John II, settlers from [[Salem, Massachusetts]] came in to settle the fertile lands. They dug a shelter into a hill and camped there for the winter until their families came to help them build houses. In 1675, a sawmill owned by William Pynchon II was burned in the wake of [[King Phillip's War]]. The first town meeting was held on August 14, 1679, and a committee of five were appointed by men from [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]] as it was the parent town at the time. Enfield was incorporated in Massachusetts on May 16, 1683, as the Freshwater Plantation, the same day as the town of [[Stow, Massachusetts]], making them the 52nd/53rd towns in the Colony. The namesake is the Freshwater Brook (Also known as the Asnuntuck Brook) that traverses the town. Five years later, on March 16, 1688, the townspeople purchased Enfield from a Podunk named Notatuck for 25 pounds Sterling.  It is unclear what claim Notatuck actually had to the land, or whether he was selling the land or the rights to use it. Shortly around 1700, the town changed its name to Enfield after [[Enfield Town|Enfield]] in [[Middlesex]], and to go with the other "fields" in the area such as [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], [[Westfield, Massachusetts|Westfield]], and [[Suffield, Connecticut|Suffield]].

In 1734, the eastern part of town separated into the town of [[Somers, Connecticut|Somers]].<ref>{{cite book|author=John Chauncey Pease|title=The History of Enfield, Connecticut|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=byBEAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA18|access-date=May 21, 2018|date=1900|publisher=Wickersham Printing Company|page=18}}</ref> In 1749, following the settlement of a lawsuit in which it was determined that a surveyor's error placed a section of present-day Hartford County (including Enfield) within the boundaries of Massachusetts, the town [[secession|seceded]] and became part of Connecticut.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bob Clark|title=Enfield Connecticut: Stories Carved in Stone|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKAm2Eu8mJYC&pg=PA14|access-date=September 22, 2010|date=December 18, 2006|publisher=Dog Pond Press|isbn=978-0-9755362-5-4|pages=14–15}}</ref>

[[Jonathan Edwards (theologian)|Jonathan Edwards]] preached his famous sermon, "[[Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God]]", in Enfield. It was part of the [[First Great Awakening|Great Awakening]] revival that struck New England in the mid-18th century and spread throughout Western North American civilization.

The modern town of Enfield was formed through the merging of Enfield, [[Thompsonville, Connecticut|Thompsonville]], and [[Hazardville, Connecticut|Hazardville]], named for Colonel [[Augustus George Hazard]] (1802–1868), whose company manufactured [[gunpowder]] in the Powder Hollow area of the town from the 1830s to the 1910s. In the 1989 film ''[[Glory (1989 film)|Glory]]'', boxes of gunpowder can be seen with the words ''Enfield, CT'' printed on the sides. In an episode in the 1970s police drama ''[[Hawaii Five-O (1968 TV series)|Hawaii Five-O]]'', Jack Lord's character Steve McGarrett traces explosives back to "The Hazard Gunpowder Company- Enfield, CT".  The capacity of the mill at the time of the Civil War was {{convert|1200|lb}} per day.<ref>{{cite book| author=Bob Clark| title=Enfield Connecticut: Stories Carved in Stone| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZKAm2Eu8mJYC&pg=PA5| access-date=September 22, 2010| date=December 18, 2006| publisher=Dog Pond Press| isbn=978-0-9755362-5-4| pages=26}}</ref> Over 60 people died in explosions in Powder Hollow during the years when gunpowder was manufactured there. The mill blew up several times, but was set up so that if one building blew up, the rest would not follow in a chain reaction. The ruins of these buildings and the dams are open to the public. Powder Hollow is now home to baseball fields and hiking trails.

{{anchor|King's Island|Terry Island|Terry's Island|Great Island}}King's Island in the Connecticut River, previously known as Terry Island (or Terry's Island, or Great Island),<ref>"Public Act No. 09-203", ''State of Connecticut'', July 7, 2009, [http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/ACT/PA/2009PA-00203-R00HB-06695-PA.htm As Retrieved 2010-03-12]</ref> was the location of pivotal meetings of [[Adventism|Adventist]] Christians in 1872 and 1873.<ref name="query.nytimes.com">"The Adventists at Terry Island", ''The New York Times'', November 28, 1873, [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1873/11/28/79057474.pdf As Retrieved 2010-03-12]</ref>

In 1972, [[Asnuntuck Community College]] was established in Enfield as the twelfth institution in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (CSCU). Classes began in 1972 with an initial enrollment of 251, and 12 Associate in Science degrees and 20 Associate of Art degrees were awarded to the first graduating class in 1974.

There are five sections of the town of Enfield: Enfield Village, Thompsonville, Hazardville, Scitico, and Sherwood Village.

===Enfield Shaker village===

[[File:Enfield CT Shakers.jpg|thumb|left|[[Enfield Shaker Historic District (Connecticut)|Enfield Shaker village]] {{circa|1910}}]]
In 1793, a historic [[Shakers|Shaker]] village, [[Enfield Shaker Historic District (Connecticut)|Enfield Shaker village]], one of nineteen scattered from [[Maine]] to [[Kentucky]], was established in the town. The [[Utopia]]n religious [[sect]] practiced [[celibacy|celibate]], [[Intentional community|communal]] living, and is today renowned for its simple [[architecture]] and [[furniture]].  Membership eventually dwindled, however, and the village disbanded.  The property has since been redeveloped by the Enfield Correctional Institution, still located on Shaker Road.
[[File:Enfield, CT Shakers.jpg|thumb|right|Enfield Shaker village]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1820 = 2065
| 1850 = 4460
| 1860 = 4997
| 1870 = 6322
| 1880 = 6755
| 1890 = 7199
| 1900 = 6699
| 1910 = 9719
| 1920 = 11719
| 1930 = 13404
| 1940 = 13561
| 1950 = 15464
| 1960 = 31464
| 1970 = 46189
| 1980 = 42695
| 1990 = 45532
| 2000 = 45212
| 2010 = 44654
| 2020 = 42141
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|88.6|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|86.2|km2|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|2.4|km2|order=flip}}, or 2.76%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US0900325990| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212143045/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/G001/0600000US0900325990| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 12, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Enfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder| access-date=November 26, 2012}}</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 45,212 people, 16,418 households, and 11,394 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|1,354.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 17,043 housing units at an average density of {{convert|510.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 89.74% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 5.61% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.20% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.34% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.57% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.54% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.74% of the population.

There were 16,418 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.6% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 34.2% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.2 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $67,402, and the median income for a family was $77,554. Males had a median income of $42,335 versus $31,082 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $29,340.  About 2.8% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and politics==

{| class="wikitable"  style="float:right; margin:1em; font-size:95%;"
|+ Enfield town 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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=May 2, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State}}</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}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''53.82%''' ''11,263''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|44.43% ''9,298''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.75% ''368''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.60% ''8,646''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''48.70%''' ''9,233''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.70% ''1,080''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''55.92%''' ''10,152''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|42.46% ''7,709''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.62% ''295''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.23%''' ''11,584''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.15% ''7,656''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.62% ''317''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.69%''' ''10,826''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|43.79% ''8,669''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.53% ''302''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''56.99%''' ''10,403''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|37.91% ''6,920''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|5.11% ''932''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''54.37%''' ''9,893''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|30.88% ''5,620''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|14.75% ''2,684''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''41.97%''' ''9,248''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|31.96% ''7,043''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|26.07% ''5,745''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.34%''' ''9,356''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.65% ''9,041''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.01% ''188''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.37% ''7,343''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.25%''' ''10,339''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.37% ''66''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''44.53%''' ''8,023''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.11% ''7,227''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|15.37% ''2,769''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''59.29%''' ''10,845''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|40.15% ''7,344''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.56% ''102''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|49.25% ''9,176''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''49.74%''' ''9,267''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.01% ''189''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.40%''' ''9,625''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.56% ''5,104''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.04% ''947''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''77.79%''' ''11,425''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|22.21% ''3,262''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''67.73%''' ''9,033''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|32.27% ''4,304''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''50.70%''' ''4,876''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|49.30% ''4,742''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2022}}

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 |Voter Registration and Party Affiliation as of October 29, 2019
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
!
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center |8,598
| align = center |730
| align = center |8,598
| align = center |32.24%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center |5,845
| align = center |437
| align = center |5,845
| align = center |21.91%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align = center |11,518
| align = center |1,087
| align = center |11,518
| align = center |43.18%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
| align = center |582
| align = center |81
| align = center |710
| align = center |2.66%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center |26,671
! align = center |2,335
! align = center |26,671
! align = center | 100%
|}

==Economy==
Enfield was once home to several national and regional headquarters, including the U.S. headquarters of Danish plastic building toy manufacturer [[Lego]], which was also the town's largest employer. The company announced it would move its North American headquarters to Boston, with the final phase completed by 2026. [[Hallmark Cards]] was the town's second-largest employer, having sent all distribution to Kansas City in 2016. The [[Casual Corner]] clothing company once had operations in Enfield. [[MassMutual]] also had a large office complex in Enfield, having closed in 2018. Today, Enfield is currently the headquarters of Precision Camera and Video Repair as well as Control Module Industries. The [[Enfield Square Mall]] was once a popular retail destination for the region, experiencing decline in the online retail age. Efforts are underway to replace the mall with a mixed-use development. 

Enfield once had booming [[carpet]] and [[gunpowder]] industries in the 19th century. Orrin Thompson set up shop for the [[Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co.]] in the Thompsonville section of town, employing many [[Scottish people|Scottish]] immigrants and building housing for them, which still stand today. The town's [[gunpowder]] industry was founded by Colonel Augustus Hazard.  Hazard was instrumental in implementing water power and other technologies to allow his business to prosper.  Hazard's company was among the biggest gunpowder suppliers for the [[American Civil War]].

Enfield was also the headquarters of Pilch Meat Breeders, which was once the second-largest [[broiler]] [[broiler industry|breeder]] in the world. The company was founded by Chester Pilch in 1936, and sold in 1969 to [[DeKalb Genetics Corporation|DeKalb Agricultural Research Corp]]. At its peak, Pilch owned 230 acres in Enfield, had farms in four countries, and produced about 24 million chickens a year. DeKalb moved the operation to North Carolina, taking 365 jobs from Enfield.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.courant.com/1997/12/13/chester-pilch-dies-breeder-of-poultry/ | title=Chester Pilch Dies | publisher=Hartford Courant | date=December 13, 1997 | access-date=December 31, 2013 | author=Navarro Alejandra}}</ref>

===Top employers===
According to Enfield's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.enfield-ct.gov/DocumentCenter/View/23081/2022-ACFR-PDF |title=Town of Enfield, Connecticut Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2022|publisher=Town of Enfield|access-date=August 13, 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
|[[Empower (financial services)|Empower Retirement LLC]]
| 1,500
|-
|2
|Town of Enfield/Board of Education
|1,406
|-
|3
|[[The Lego Group|Lego Building Corp.]]
|600
|-
|4
| Advance Auto Parts Distribution Center
|415
|-
|5
|[[Eppendorf (company)|Eppendorf Manufacturing]]
|323
|-
|6
| Martin Brower
|265
|-
|7
| [[Target Corporation|Target]]
|142
|-
|8
|[[Stop & Shop]]
|142
|-
|9
|[[Kohl’s]]
|100
|-
|}

==Neighborhoods==

The neighborhoods of Enfield are:

"Crescent Lake" – Borders scenic farmland.  It is in close proximity to both the minimum and maximum correctional facilities.  This small friendly neighborhood holds an annual July 4 parade.

'''Enfield Historical District''' – Listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]], the [[Enfield Historic District]] runs along Enfield Street/King Street ([[U.S. Route 5]]).  Many old homes dating back to the mid-18th century were built from 1106 to 1492 Enfield Street.  Varying [[styles of architecture]] are noted including [[Victorian Architecture|Late Victorian]], [[Georgian Architecture|Georgian]] and [[Colonial Revival|19th Century Revival]].  The [[Enfield Town Meetinghouse|Enfield Town Hall museum]] as well as a fine Greek Revival [[Congregational church|Congregational Church]] can be found here.

'''[[Hazardville, Connecticut|Hazardville]]''' – Named after Colonel Augustus Hazard, this neighborhood encompasses a few smaller burbs, including Powder Hollow, and more recently, the center of Enfield began to encroach on this historical area.  The center of Hazardville is located between the streets of Park Street and North Street on Hazard Avenue. Notable small shops include The Connecticut Valley Tobacconist, Gayle's Thyme Herbal Apothecary, The Cranberry Scoop Gift Shop, Smoke n' Leather, and numerous pizzerias. The Powder Hollow Park is located in the Hazardville neighborhood district. Hazardville has a park next to the Enfield Public Library along with baseball fields.

'''The Laurels''' – A wooded area with residential condos.

'''North Thompsonville''' – Contains mostly residential and partially commercial areas of Enfield with many parks and schools.

'''Presidential Section''' – This entirely residential area contain streets that are all named after former presidents of the United States. Houses are mid-sized to large in this area.
[[File:Clinton rd.jpg|thumb|right|Presidential Section]]
'''Scitico''' – located in the eastern end of town.  Green Manor is considered part of Scitico.  This is a suburb in the purest sense, with winding roads, sidewalks, a park, and cul-de-sacs. Green Manor is approximately {{convert|4.5|mi}} from the main highway Interstate 91 and borders the town of [[Somers, Connecticut|Somers]].  Across from Nathan Hale Elementary School is a residential park with tennis court, skate boarding ramps, and a playground for younger kids.  Green Manor Park contained a pool at one time but was removed due to the lack of maintenance by the town.

'''Shaker Pines''' – This neighborhood consists mostly of quaint lakeside houses with tall pine trees towering overhead.  Shaker Pines was originally part of the Shaker settlement in Enfield.  The lake was built by the Shakers to power a mill.  The mill stood vacant by the dam at the end of the lake, until it was dismantled in the 1980s.  This mill provided shelter for Frederick Merrill in 1987 after he escaped from the local high security prison.  He was dubbed "The Peanut Butter Bandit" after his mother sneaked him supplies for his first prison escape in 1968 in a jar of [[peanut butter]].

'''[[Sherwood Manor, Connecticut|Sherwood Manor]]'''

[[File:Thompsonville Village, Connecticut.jpg|thumb|right|Thompsonville Village]]
'''[[Southwood Acres]]''' – A residential neighborhood in the south part of town.

'''[[Thompsonville, Connecticut|Thompsonville]]''' – Named after Orrin Thompson, Thompsonville is the town center of Enfield with a more urban environment.  In the past few years, there has been an attempt to revitalize the downtown area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constituents Make A Pitch |author=Lightman, David and Larry Smith |date=April 14, 2007 |publisher=The Hartford Courant |url=http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-dclobbyists0414.artapr14,0,732726.story?coll=hc-big-headlines-breaking |access-date=April 21, 2007 }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  On the southbound portion of Pearl Street there are many old [[Victorian Architecture|Victorian]] houses.  There are also many boat launches onto the bordering [[Connecticut River]]. [[Commuter rail]] service is expected to begin in 2025, and planning has started for renovating an old building into [[Enfield station (Connecticut)]], a transportation hub on the proposed [[Hartford Line]], previously in operation until 1986. Enfield and Thompsonville are currently served by the [[Connecticut Transit]] commuter bus services for easy access to and from Hartford, with a 4x daily connection to the [[Pioneer Valley Transit Authority]] Bus services, serving Springfield MA, and its surrounding areas.

==Parks and recreation==
*Brainerd Park: on Brainard Road, features softball fields, children's swing sets.
*[[Connecticut River]]
*Green Manor Recreational Area: off Taylor Road, features playscape, skate park
*Hazardville Park: off Hazard Avenue, features playscapes, basketball courts, covered picnic area
*Mark Twain Recreational Area: off South Road, features tennis courts, ball fields
*[[Scantic River State Park]]: near South Maple Street Bridge, rapids for canoeing and kayaking, fishing

Enfield is home to the New England Lightning girls AAU basketball program.

==Government and infrastructure==
[[Connecticut Department of Correction]] prisons are located in Enfield.<ref>"[http://www.enfield-ct.gov/filestorage/91/12798/797/Zoning_11_30_09_mid.pdf Zoning Map] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725052418/https://www.enfield-ct.gov/filestorage/91/12798/797/Zoning_11_30_09_mid.pdf |date=2010-07-25 }}." Enfield, Connecticut. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref> Enfield Correctional Institution,<ref>"[http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1499&q=265406 Enfield Correctional Institution]." Connecticut Department of Correction. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref> Robinson Correctional Institution,<ref>"[http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1499&Q=265444&docNav=  Robinson Correctional Institution]." Connecticut Department of Correction. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref> and Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution are in Enfield.<ref>"[http://www.ct.gov/doc/cwp/view.asp?a=1499&Q=265450&docNav=  Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution]." Connecticut Department of Correction. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref>

In January 2013, the town began running the Magic Carpet public bus service. The in-town bus provides service to Thompsonville, Hazard Avenue, and Elm Street.

=== Police brutality lawsuit settlements ===
In 2017, the Associated Press reported that nearly $800,000 was paid to settle lawsuits filed against the Enfield Police Department and former officer Matthew Worden, who was accused in several brutality cases; 10 lawsuits were settled for a total of $792,500.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/connecticut/articles/2017-12-22/nearly-800-000-paid-to-settle-police-brutality-lawsuits|title=Nearly $800,000 Paid to Settle Police Brutality Lawsuits|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005829/https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/connecticut/articles/2017-12-22/nearly-800-000-paid-to-settle-police-brutality-lawsuits|archive-date=August 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Enfield High School Rendering.png|thumb|[[Enfield High School]]]]
[[Asnuntuck Community College]] is a two-year college in Enfield.<ref>"[http://www.acc.commnet.edu/ Welcome] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808145056/http://www.acc.commnet.edu/ |date=August 8, 2010 }}." [[Asnuntuck Community College]]. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.</ref>

[[Enfield Public Schools]] operates the town's public schools.

[[Enfield High School]] is the town's sole high school. [[John F. Kennedy]] Middle School is the town's middle school. The Enfield [[primary schools]] educate students in [[kindergarten]] through grade 2, the [[intermediate schools]] educate students from grade 3 through grade 5, the middle school grades 6 through grade 8, and the [[High school (North America)|high school]] runs from grade 9 through grade 12.

Thomas G. Alcorn School was originally a high school until it was converted to an elementary school when the current high school ([[Enfield High School]]) was built in the 1960s. Alcorn School was closed in 2011 and its building is now used as government office space and now operates as one of the Family Resource Centers in Enfield. 
Enfield High School was later extensively renovated in 1993. [[Enrico Fermi High School]] was one of two high schools in town, which opened in 1972, but closed in 2016 as a result of the town's high school consolidation into Enfield High School. The Fermi high school mascot was a falcon. The Fermi high school logo included an image of an atom and a distillation flask.

As of 2016, Enfield Public Schools educates approximately 5,000 students.

[[Capitol Region Education Council]] has its own magnet school in Enfield. The Public Safety Academy ranges from grade 6 through 12

One [[Catholic parochial school]] (Kindergarten through grade 8) serves the Enfield community, known as St. Bernard School.  Typically, this school operates on the same academic calendar as the public schools.

There were formerly five Catholic parochial schools in Enfield (St. Bernard's, St. Adalbert's, St. Joeseph's, St. Martha's and Our Lady of the Angels [OLA]).  St. Martha’s School was closed in June 2020 due to financial difficulties and [[COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.journalinquirer.com/towns/enfield/it-s-a-tragedy-for-everybody-st-martha-school-to-close-after-55-years-due/article_34e5607e-7f14-11ea-af3a-6f63e01e8aef.html | title='It's a tragedy for everybody' : St. Martha School to close after 55 years due to declining enrollment, factors related to COVID-19 }}</ref> St Martha’s School is now only a Catholic church (the only Catholic church in Enfield that offers a Traditional Latin Mass and a Spanish Mass).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.saintmarthaparish.org/|title=St. Martha Church|website=St. Martha Church}}</ref>

==Notable people==

* [[Johnny April]], bassist for the alternative metal/hard rock band Staind
* [[John Ashton (actor)|John Ashton]], actor, attended Enfield High School
* [[Elijah Churchill]], soldier in the [[American Revolutionary War]] and recipient of the medal later known as the [[Purple Heart]]
* [[James Dixon]] (1814–1873), U.S. Congressman and Senator
* [[Kevin Foxe]], film producer, writer, executive producer of ''[[The Blair Witch Project]]''; born and raised in Enfield, graduated Enfield High School
* [[Obed Hale]], Wisconsin farmer and politician, born in Enfield
* [[Craig Janney]], Olympian and professional ice hockey center (former resident)
* [[Peter King (sportswriter)|Peter King]], football columnist for ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' and author
* [[Elisha M. Pease]], politician and two-term governor of Texas (elected in 1853 and 1855).  Renamed 15th Street in [[Austin, Texas]], Enfield Road after the town where he was born<ref>"[http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc/streets/names.htm Austin Streets: Street Name Origins] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207201126/http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc/streets/names.htm |date=February 7, 2009 }}." Retrieved on May 10, 2011.</ref>
* [[Paul Robeson]], singer and actor (former resident)
* [[Karen Scavotto]], Olympic archer
* [[Sadah Shuchari]], violinist
* [[Bill Spanswick]], pitcher for the [[Boston Red Sox all-time roster#S|Boston Red Sox]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://marian.creighton.edu/~besser/baseball/nsl1958.html |title=Nebraska State League 1958 |access-date=September 17, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060913114039/http://marian.creighton.edu/~besser/baseball/nsl1958.html |archive-date=September 13, 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Helen Steele]], composer
* [[Blaine Stoughton]], former [[NHL]] player with the [[Hartford Whalers]]
* [[Nathaniel Terry]], Congressman from Connecticut (served 1817–1819)

==Notable historical sites==

* The Strand Theatre (Enfield Cinema), most prominently active in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1970s the Strand had to resort to X-rated films to remain afloat until finally closing doors in the 1980s. Locals have many ideas for the future of the theater, but it is in great disrepair.
* Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co., now Bigelow Commons, a renovated apartment complex. These buildings were the site of a large carpet company that employed many in the town.  Listed in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].
* The [[Enfield Town Meetinghouse]] was built in 1773 and was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
* The Wallop School House

==Sister cities==
Enfield has two official [[town twinning|sister cities]] as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/CT |title=Sister Cities International |access-date=March 21, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061002205742/http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/USA/CT |archive-date=October 2, 2006 }}</ref>
* [[Zhongli District]], [[Taoyuan City]], [[Taiwan|Taiwan (Republic of China)]]
* [[Ronneby]], Sweden

== See also ==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Enfield (Connecticut)}}
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website|http://www.enfield-ct.gov }}
* [http://www.enfieldhistoricalsociety.org/EHSaboutUs.html Enfield Historical Society]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130112034223/http://www.enfieldhistoricalsociety.org/EHSaboutUs.html |date=January 12, 2013 }}

{{Connecticut}}
{{Hartford County, Connecticut}}
{{Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut River}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Enfield, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:1679 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Connecticut placenames of Native American origin]]
[[Category:Connecticut populated places on the Connecticut River]]
[[Category:Greater Hartford]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1679]]
[[Category:Towns in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Hartford County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Utopian communities in the United States]]