Editing Goshen, Connecticut

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Goshen, Connecticut
| official_name            = Town of Goshen
| settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline            = GoshenAcademy 557.jpg
| image_caption            = Goshen Academy building
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = GoshenCTseal.JPG
| image_map                = {{switcher|[[File:Litchfield County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Goshen Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Goshen's location within Litchfield County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Northwest Hills incorporated and unincorporated areas Goshen highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Goshen's location within the Northwest Hills Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills Planning Region]] and Connecticut|default=1}}
| image_map1               = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=280|frame-height=200|frame-coord=SWITCH:{{coord|qid=Q2447509}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|51|05|N|73|14|09|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2447509;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=Goshen;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates              = {{coord|41|51|05|N|73|14|09|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2        = [[County (United States)|County]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills]]
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = 1739
| government_type          = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title             = First selectman
| leader_name              = Todd Q. Carusillo (R)
| leader_title1            = Selectman
| leader_name1             = Mark S. Harris (R)
| leader_title2            = Selectman
| leader_name2             = Dexter Kinsella (D)
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_total_km2           = 117.0
| area_total_sq_mi         = 
| area_land_km2            = 113.0
| area_land_sq_mi          = 
| area_water_km2           = 4.0
| area_water_sq_mi         = 
| elevation_m              = 402
| elevation_ft             = 1319
| population_total         = 3150
| population_as_of         = 2020
| population_density_km2   = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| 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
| postal_code              = 06756
| area_code                = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 09-32290
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 0213433
| website                  = {{URL|www.goshenct.gov}}
}}
'''Goshen''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]], [[Connecticut]], United States. The population was 3,150 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900532290| title=Census - Geography Profile: Goshen town, Litchfield County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=December 16, 2021}}</ref> The town is part of the [[Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut|Northwest Hills Planning Region]].

==Geography==
Goshen is in central Litchfield County and is bordered to the east by the city of [[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]]. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town of Goshen has a total area of {{convert|117.0|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|113.0|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|4.0|km2|order=flip}}, or 3.44%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US0900532290| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Goshen town, Litchfield County, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=American FactFinder| access-date=October 7, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213123422/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US0900532290| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> A large portion of the [[Mohawk State Forest]] is located in the town. The [[Appalachian Trail]] formerly passed through the town until it was re-routed west of the [[Housatonic River]].

===Principal communities===
*[[Goshen Historic District (Goshen, Connecticut)|Goshen Center]]
*[[West Goshen Historic District|West Goshen]]

Other minor communities and geographic areas in the town are Hall Meadow, North Goshen, Tyler Lake, West Side, and Woodridge Lake. Woodridge Lake is private. It is only available to residents (it is not a gated community). They have access to the clubhouse, and all of the lake's beaches.

==History==
The town was incorporated in 1739, one year after settlement of the town center began. The community was named after the [[Land of Goshen]], in Ancient Egypt.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA332 |year=1903 |publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company |page=332}}</ref> The [[Congregational church]] was founded the following year.<ref>[http://www.mocavo.com/History-of-the-Town-of-Goshen-Connecticut-With-Genealogies-and-Biographies-Based-Upon-the-Records-of-Deacon-Lewis-Mills-Norton-1897/104838/90 "History of the Town of Goshen, Connecticut," Page 72, 1897]</ref> During the 18th century, Goshen was a farming, and later, prosperous business community. Gunmakers from the town such as the Medad Hills manufactured guns during the [[French and Indian War]] and [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]].

The first school in Goshen was built in 1753. A seminary for young women was established in 1819. The [[Goshen Academy]] was established several years later and became a well-regarded preparatory school during the 19th century.

Settlers from Goshen were the first to settle [[Hudson Township, Summit County, Ohio]], in the [[Connecticut Western Reserve]].

==Notable locations==

Historic sites in the town include:
* [[Hervey Brooks Pottery Shop and Kiln Site]], an archeological site listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (NRHP)
* [[Goshen Historic District (Goshen, Connecticut)|Goshen Historic District]] (Goshen Center) – CT 63 and 4 and Gifford Rd., NRHP-listed
* [[West Goshen Historic District]] – roughly bounded by CT 4, Beach, Mill and Milton Sts., and Thompson Rd., NRHP-listed

==Transportation==
[[Connecticut Route 4]] is the principal east–west through route in the town, while [[Connecticut Route 63]] serves as the main north–south road. Route 4 leads east into Torrington and west into [[Cornwall, Connecticut|Cornwall]], while Route 63 leads northwest to [[South Canaan, Connecticut|South Canaan]] and southeast to [[Litchfield, Connecticut|Litchfield]].

==Demographics==

{{US Census population
|1820= 1585
|1850= 1457
|1860= 1381
|1870= 1223
|1880= 1093
|1890= 972
|1900= 835
|1910= 675
|1920= 675
|1930= 683
|1940= 778
|1950= 940
|1960= 1288
|1970= 1351
|1980= 1706
|1990= 2329
|2000= 2697
|2010= 2976
|2020= 3150
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015 }}</ref>
}}
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
As of 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 2,697 people, 1,066 households, and 814 families residing in the town.  The population density was {{convert|61.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 1,482 housing units at an average density of {{convert|33.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the town was 98.26% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.48% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.74% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.37% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.22% of the population.

There were 1,066 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.6% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.9% 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 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.7% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 31.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.2% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $64,432, and the median income for a family was $72,452. Males had a median income of $48,125 versus $30,464 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $33,925.  About 2.9% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 25, 2005<ref>{{cite web|title=Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005 |publisher=Connecticut Secretary of State |access-date=October 2, 2006 |url=http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/lists/2005OctRegEnrollStats.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923151511/http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/lists/2005OctRegEnrollStats.pdf |archive-date=September 23, 2006 }}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active voters
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 745
| style="text-align:center;"| 16
| style="text-align:center;"| 761
| style="text-align:center;"| 37.29%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 413
| style="text-align:center;"| 6
| style="text-align:center;"| 419
| style="text-align:center;"| 20.53%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 827
| style="text-align:center;"| 33
| style="text-align:center;"| 860
| style="text-align:center;"| 42.14%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| [[Third Party (United States)|Minor Parties]]
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0
| style="text-align:center;"| 1
| style="text-align:center;"| 0.05%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;"| 1,986
! style="text-align:center;"| 55
! style="text-align:center;"| 2,041
! style="text-align:center;"| 100%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Presidential Election Results<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|access-date=December 16, 2021|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref>
|-
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.0% ''902''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.3%''' ''1,161''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.7% ''37''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.9% ''673''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.4%''' ''1,064''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.7% ''86''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.0% ''751''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.9%''' ''1,017''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.1% ''19''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|47.4% ''856''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''51.3%''' ''927''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.3% ''24''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.2% ''715''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.3%''' ''954''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.5% ''27''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.7% ''585''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.5%''' ''788''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.8% ''100''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.6% ''518''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''45.6%''' ''597''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|14.8% ''194''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.0% ''447''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''41.0%''' ''591''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|28.0% ''404''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.9% ''403''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.7%''' ''769''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.4% ''16''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|29.3% ''318''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''70.1%''' ''761''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.6% ''7''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|29.8% ''286''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.0%''' ''538''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|14.2% ''137''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.4% ''279''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.7%''' ''525''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.9% ''8''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.5% ''225''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''67.9%''' ''501''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.6% ''12''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.4% ''240''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.3%''' ''428''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.3% ''30''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''51.6%''' ''329''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|48.4% ''309''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.5% ''214''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''68.5%''' ''465''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|20.2% ''123''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''79.8%''' ''485''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}

==Arts and culture==
Multiple events are hosted at the Goshen Fairgrounds each year, located on Route 63 south just outside the center of town. One such event is the Goshen Stampede, a festival held annually on [[Father's Day]] weekend that hosts a [[rodeo]], [[demolition derby]], music festival, and truck pull. Later in the summer on [[Labor Day]] weekend is the annual Goshen Fair. As the county's largest [[Agricultural show|agricultural fair]], it features farm animal judgement shows, competition and contest in log chopping, log sawing, hay-bale throwing and the like. There are food, art, photography, baked goods, and craft contests, as well as rides for children, carnival games, and craft and food vendors. Attendance over the three days can range up to 50,000 people.

Traditionally at the beginning of August, and usually the first Saturday, the Church of Christ presents an Annual Blueberry Festival where they sell blueberry pies, blueberries and host a blueberry breakfast. It is very well known and people from all around the area come to enjoy the festival and the pies. The blueberry pies are available for sale all year long, as well as other flavors made by hand by the congregation (apple, peach, and blueberry-peach). Mini pies are also sold by the church at the Goshen Fair.

The town is also home to the [[Goshen players|Goshen Players]].

==Notable people==

* [[William R. Brewster]], American Civil War general
* [[David Darling (musician)|David Darling]], cellist and composer
* [[Daniel S. Dickinson]], U.S. senator
* [[Ezra Foot]], Wisconsin state senator
* [[Eunice Newton Foote]], scientist, inventor and woman's rights campaigner
* [[Asaph Hall]], astronomer credited with discovering the moons of [[Mars]]
* [[Madeleine L'Engle]], author
* [[Frederick Miles]], [[United States House of Representatives|congressman]]
* [[Ebenezer F. Norton]], congressman
* [[Mary Pope Osborne]], author
* [[Kevin Phillips (political commentator)|Kevin Phillips]], author and political analyst
* [[Isaac Williams, Jr.]], congressman

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
*[http://www.goshenct.gov/ Town of Goshen official website]
*[http://www.goshengardenclub.org Goshen Garden Club]
*[http://www.goshenchurch.com Church of Christ Congregational]

{{Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Litchfield County, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{New England}}
{{National Register of Historic Places}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Goshen, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Litchfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Federal architecture in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Historic districts in Litchfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Northwest Hills Planning Region, Connecticut]]