Editing Pomfret, Connecticut

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Pomfret, Connecticut
 | official_name            = Town of Pomfret
 | image_skyline            = Town Office, Pomfret CT.jpg
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_caption            = Pomfret Town Office
 | settlement_type          = [[New England town|Town]]
 | motto                    = Picturesque Pomfret
 | image_flag               = 
 | image_seal               = PomfretCTseal.jpg
 | image_map                = {{switcher|[[File:Windham County Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Pomfret highlighted.svg|230px|frameless|alt=Pomfret's location within Windham County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Northeastern Connecticut incorporated and unincorporated areas Pomfret highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Pomfret's location within the Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern 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=Q2572436}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|52|N|71|59|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2572436;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=Pomfret;Connecticut;the United States}}
 | 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        = [[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham]]
 | subdivision_type3        = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
 | subdivision_name3        = [[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern CT]]
 | established_title        = Incorporated
 | established_date         = 1713
 | leader_title             = First selectman
 | leader_name              = Maureen A. Nicholson ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
 | leader_title1            = [[Connecticut Senate|State Senator]]
 | leader_name1             = Mae Flexer <br />([[Republican Party (United States)|D]]-29th District)
 | leader_title2            = [[Connecticut House of Representatives|State Rep.]]
 | leader_name2             = [[Pat Boyd|Patrick Boyd]] <br />([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]-50th District)
 | government_type          = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-Town Meeting]]
 | area_magnitude           = 
 | area_total_km2           = 105.2
 | area_land_km2            = 104.4
 | area_water_km2           = 0.7
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 40.6
 | unit_pref                = Imperial
 | population_as_of         = 2020
 | population_total         = 4266
 | population_density_km2   = 40.9
 | population_density_sq_mi = 
 | timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
 | utc_offset               = &minus;5
 | timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
 | utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 40.3
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.3
 | elevation_m              = 131
 | elevation_ft             = 430
 | coordinates              = {{coord|41|52|N|71|59|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
 | postal_code_type         = ZIP code
 | postal_code              = 06259, 06258
 | website                  = https://www.pomfretct.gov/
 | area_code                = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 09-61030
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 0213490
 | blank2_name              = Major highways
 | blank2_info              = [[File:US 44.svg|25px|link = U.S. Route 44]]
 | footnotes                = 
}}

'''Pomfret''' is a town located in [[Windham County, Connecticut|Windham County]], [[Connecticut]], United States, with a population of 4,266 according to the 2020 United States Census. The town is part of the [[Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut|Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region]]. The town was incorporated in 1713 and was named after [[Pontefract]] in [[West Yorkshire]], [[England]]. The land on which Pomfret stands today was purchased from Native Americans in 1686 in a deal known as the "Mashmuket Purchase" or "Mashamoquet Purchase".<ref>{{cite book|title=The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qoEyAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA334|year=1903|publisher=Connecticut Magazine Company|page=334}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|40.6|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|40.3|sqmi|km2}}  is land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}}  (0.64%) is water. Pomfret is bordered on the north by [[Woodstock, Connecticut|Woodstock]], on the east by [[Putnam, Connecticut|Putnam]] and [[Killingly, Connecticut|Killingly]], on the west by [[Eastford, Connecticut|Eastford]], and on the south by [[Brooklyn, Connecticut|Brooklyn]] and [[Hampton, Connecticut|Hampton]].

===Villages===
Pomfret includes several [[Administrative divisions of Connecticut#Village, neighborhood, section of town|villages, neighborhoods, or sections]]:
* Abington
* Elliotts
* Pomfret
* Pomfret Center
* Pomfret Landing

===Other geographic features===
[[Image:Angel Road, Pomfret, Connecticut.jpg|thumb|left|Angel Road]]
The principal roads through the town are [[U.S. Route 44#Connecticut|U.S. Route 44]] (running east–west) and Routes [[Route 169 (Connecticut)|169]] (running north–south), and [[Route 101 (Connecticut)|101]] (running east–west).

Mashamoquet State Park and [[Israel Putnam Wolf Den|Wolf Den State Park]] are both located in Pomfret, near the intersection of US 44 and CT 101. Wolf Den State Park is the alleged site of General [[Israel Putnam]]'s slaying of the last wolf in Connecticut. Rocky paths connect the small cave, which is the actual wolf den with a glacially positioned boulder called the Indian Chair. Camping and cook-out facilities are available for a nominal fee.

The [[Air Line State Park Trail|Air Line Trail]], a former railroad bed, joins the town of Pomfret with its neighbor to the east, Putnam. The Airline Trail runs {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}}, much of it through an [[Audubon Society]] property named the Bafflin Sanctuary, a {{convert|700|acre|km2|adj=on}} nature preserve.
[[Image:Route 244 Connecticut 1064.JPG|thumb|Brayman Hollow]]
Pomfret has no formal town center due to the town's significant southward expansion after its establishment, first around [[Mortlake, Connecticut|Mortlake]], later absorbing that town. The town office is located on US Route 44. The Congregational Church, until its destruction by fire on December 7, 2013, stood on the eastern edge of the old town green on Pomfret Hill, across from the [[Pomfret School]], a college preparatory school founded in 1894. Approximately one mile north of the [[Congregational church|Congregational Church]] site is Christ [[Episcopal Church in the United States of America|Episcopal Church]], which contains several windows designed and constructed by [[Louis Comfort Tiffany]]. Across from Christ Church on the west side of Route 44 is the Rectory School,<ref>[http://www.rectoryschool.org/ Rectory School]</ref> founded in 1920. At the divergence point of US 44 and CT 169 is Most Holy Trinity [[Roman Catholic Church]].

Town House Road is the location of the historic [[Pomfret Town House]], built in 1841 at a location chosen by a committee of Selectmen from neighboring towns when Pomfret citizens could not agree on a location; it is listed on the National Register. Pomfret First Church was established in today's Pomfret Hill area; Pomfret Second Church covered what is largely today's Town of Brooklyn; while Pomfret Third Church was established in today's Abington area.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 2042
|1850= 1805
|1860= 1673
|1870= 1488
|1880= 1470
|1890= 1471
|1900= 1831
|1910= 1857
|1920= 1454
|1930= 1617
|1940= 1710
|1950= 2018
|1960= 2136
|1970= 2529
|1980= 2775
|1990= 3102
|2000= 3798
|2010= 4247
|2020= 4266
|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|newspaper=The United States Census Bureau|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 2010, there were 4,247 people, 1,582 households, and 1,123 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|105.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,684 housing units at an average density of {{convert|41.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.7% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.1% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.6% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.3% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.6% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.9% of the population.

Of the 1,582 households: 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 7.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 22.8% 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 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 32.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $82,661, and the median income for a family was $96,641. Males had a median income of $54,042 versus $45,526 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $39,712. About 3.8% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.5% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
Major firms in Pomfret include: 
* [[Loos & Co.]]

==Education==
Pomfret residents are zoned to the [[Pomfret Community School]] for grades Kindergarten through 8. Pomfret students are eligible to attend [[Woodstock Academy]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pomfretct.com/board_education.html |title=Pomfret Connecticut : Board of Education |website=www.pomfretct.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040202070516/http://pomfretct.com/board_education.html |archive-date=February 2, 2004}}</ref> which became Pomfret's zoned high school in 1987<ref>[http://www.woodstockacademy.org/alumni/brochure.pdf#search=%22Woodstock%20Academy%20Pomfret%22] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050531205448/http://www.woodstockacademy.org/alumni/brochure.pdf#search=%22Woodstock%20Academy%20Pomfret%22|date=May 31, 2005}}.</ref>

Two private schools, the [[Pomfret School]] and the [[Rectory School]], are also located in Pomfret.

==Historic sites==
A {{convert|380|acre|km2|adj=on}} portion of the town, along Pomfret Street, is listed as a [[historic district]] on the U.S. [[National Register of Historic Places]]. The [[Pomfret Street Historic District]] comprises properties along [[Route 169 (Connecticut)|Route 169]], from Bradley Road to Woodstock Road. The district was added to the National Register in 1998.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>

Other properties listed on the National Register in the town are:
* [[Brayton Grist Mill]] – US 44 (added 1986)
* [[Gwyn Careg]] US 44 (added 1994)
* [[Israel Putnam Wolf Den]] – Off Wolf Den Road (added 1985)
* [[Pomfret Town House]] – Town House Road (added 1989)

==Notable people==

* [[Jim Calhoun]] (born 1942), former head coach of the University of Connecticut's men's basketball team, lives in the town
* [[Effingham Capron]] (1791–1859), born in Pomfret, anti-slavery champion at [[Uxbridge, MA]], state and national anti-slavery leader
* [[John Capron]] (1756–1834), "clothier" at Pomfret, built first woolen power looms at [[Uxbridge, MA]]
* [[Augustus Sabin Chase]] (1827–1896), industrialist of Waterbury, Connecticut 
* [[Rivers Cuomo]] (born 1970), member of American rock band [[Weezer]], lived in the town
* [[Ernest Flagg]] (1857–1947), designer of the [[Singer Building]] designed the main buildings of the [[Pomfret School]] Campus
* [[Wawa Gatheru]] (born ca. 1999), climate activist and [[Rhodes Scholarship|Rhodes Scholar]]
* [[Lemuel Goodell]] (1800–1897), Wisconsin politician
* [[Nathan Goodell]] (1798–1883), Mayor of [[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]
* [[Roswell Eaton Goodell]] (1825–1903), politician and businessman<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ferril |first1=William Columbus |title=Sketches of Colorado: being an analytical summary and biographical history of the State of Colorado as portrayed in the lives of the pioneers, the founders, the builders, the statesmen, and the prominent and progressive citizens who helped in the development and history making of Colorado |date=1911 |publisher=Western Press Bureau Company |pages=268–269 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yylRAAAAYAAJ |access-date=June 1, 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Bertram Goodhue]] (1869–1924), an architect renowned for his work in the neo-Gothic style and the designer of notable typefaces, was born in town<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctgenweb.org/county/cowindham/records/cemetery/pomfret/pomfretpomfretstreetcem.htm|title=Pomfret Street Cemetery, Pomfret Ct}}</ref>
* [[Robert Hillyer]] (1895–1961), poet, novelist, and critic, lived in the town
* [[Asa Lyon]] (1763–1841) a [[United States representative]] from Vermont was born in town
* [[Louise Chandler Moulton]] (1835–1908), poet, story-writer, and critic, was born in town
* [[Israel Putnam]] (1718–1790), a major general serving George Washington, lived in the town
* [[Swami Satchidananda]] (1914–2002), Indian religious figure, lived in the town
* [[Solomon Spalding]] (1761–1816), is believed to have authored the Manuscript Story while staying at the Post Road Tavern in the town
* [[Warren L. Wheaton]] (1812–1903) philanthropist and co-founder and namesake of [[Wheaton College (Illinois)|Wheaton College]] and [[Wheaton, Illinois]], was born in Pomfret
* [[James Abbott McNeill Whistler]] (1834–1903), a painter and printmaker, lived in the town
* [[Renée Zellweger]] (born 1969), [[Academy Award]]-winning actress, owned a home in the town

==See also==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
* [[Abington Congregational Church, Pomfret Center, Connecticut|Abington Congregational Church]]

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Pomfret, Connecticut}}
* [http://www.pomfretct.com/pomfret.html Town government Web site]

{{Connecticut}}
{{Windham County, Connecticut}}
{{Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Pomfret, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Windham County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:1713 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1713]]
[[Category:Towns in Northeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut]]