Editing Stafford, Connecticut

{{distinguish|Stamford, Connecticut|Stratford, Connecticut}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Stafford, Connecticut
| official_name                   = Town of Stafford
| settlement_type                 = [[New England town|Town]]
| nickname                        = 
| motto                           = 
| image_skyline                   = StaffordCT StaffordHollowHD 2.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = Mill Pond Country Store in [[Stafford Hollow Historic District]]
| image_flag                      = StaffordCTflag.PNG
| image_seal                      = StaffordCTseal.PNG
| image_map                       = {{switcher|[[File:Tolland County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Stafford Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Stafford's location within Tolland County and Connecticut]]|&nbsp;[[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Capitol Region incorporated and unincorporated areas Stafford highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Stafford'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=Q2305713}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|59|N|72|19|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:10;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q2305713;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=Stafford;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               = [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland]]
| subdivision_type3               = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3               = [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Region]]
| government_type                 = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title                    = [[First Selectman]]
| leader_name                     = William "Bill" Morrison ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title2                   = [[Selectman]]
| leader_name2                    = Richard F. Hartenstein, Jr. ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])
| leader_title3                   = [[Selectman]]
| leader_name3                    = Kurt Vail ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]])
| established_title               = Settled
| established_date                = 1719
| area_magnitude                  = 
| area_total_sq_mi                = 58.8
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_total_km2                  = 152.2
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 58.0
| area_land_km2                   = 150.2
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.8
| area_water_km2                  = 2.1
| area_urban_sq_mi                = 
| area_urban_km2                  = 
| area_metro_sq_mi                = 
| area_metro_km2                  = 
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_note                 = 
| population_total                = 11,472
| population_metro                = 
| population_urban                = 
| population_density_km2          = auto
| population_density_sq_mi        = 
| timezone                        = Eastern
| utc_offset                      = &minus;5
| timezone_DST                    = Eastern
| utc_offset_DST                  = &minus;4
| coordinates                     = {{coord|41|59|N|72|19|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m                     = 191
| elevation_ft                    = 627
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code                     = 06076
| website                         = 
| area_code                       = [[Area codes 860 and 959|860/959]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 09-72090
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 0212349
| footnotes                       = 
| population_est                  = 
| pop_est_as_of                   = 
}}
[[File:Staffordville Lake.JPG|thumb|200px|Staffordville Lake]]

'''Stafford''' is a [[New England town|town]] in [[Tolland County, Connecticut|Tolland County]], [[Connecticut]], United States, settled in 1719. The town is part of the [[Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut|Capitol Planning Region]]. The population was 11,472 at the [[2020 United States census]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0901372090|title=Census - Geography Profile: Stafford town, Tolland County, Connecticut|access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref> The community consists of the downtown area of [[Stafford Springs, Connecticut|Stafford Springs]] and the more rural villages of Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, [[Hydeville, Connecticut|Hydeville]], Orcuttsville, Staffordville, [[Stafford Hollow, Connecticut|Stafford Hollow]], Village Hill, and West Stafford.

==Etymology==

The town most likely derives its name from [[Staffordshire]], in England.<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>

==History==
The Colonial Town of Stafford began as a [[rural]] agricultural community in the eastern part of [[Hartford County]]. It became part of [[Tolland County]] upon the latter's formation on 13 October 1785. The easy availability of water power from the tributaries of the [[Willimantic River]] led to [[industrialization]], and this abundance of power helped generate local population growth. By the mid-19th century, Stafford was connected by [[railroad]] to markets across [[New England]], and before the State Highway projects of the 1920s and 1930s, the town had a [[Tram|trolley]] connection to [[Rockville, Connecticut|Rockville]].

During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], factories in Stafford made cannonballs and other war supplies for the northern forces.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|152.2|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|150.1|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}}  is land and {{convert|2.1|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}}  (1.38%) is water; it is the fourth largest town in Connecticut based on area.

[[Stafford Springs, Connecticut|Stafford Springs]] is located at the intersection of Routes [[Route 190 (Connecticut)|190]] and [[Route 32 (Connecticut)|32]], in the northeastern region of the state. The community consists of the downtown area of [[Stafford Springs, Connecticut|Stafford Springs]] and the more rural villages of Crystal Lake, Ellithorpe, [[Hydeville, Connecticut|Hydeville]], Orcuttsville, Staffordville, [[Stafford Hollow, Connecticut|Stafford Hollow]], Village Hill, and West Stafford.

While the town has managed to maintain its [[New England]] mill-town charm and culture, it is also a bedroom commuter town feeding into larger area communities. Many residents drive into [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], [[Manchester, Connecticut|Manchester]], and [[Enfield, Connecticut|Enfield]], [[Connecticut]], as well as [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], [[Massachusetts]], all of which can be reached in roughly a 30-mile auto commute. It is also about a half-hour drive to the [[University of Connecticut]]'s<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uconn.edu/|title=University of Connecticut|website=uconn.edu}}</ref> main campus in [[Storrs, Connecticut|Storrs]].

The highest point in town is the western slope of Burley Hill at 1,300'. [[Burley Hill, Connecticut|Burley Hill's]] "summit" is 1,315'.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://docs.unh.edu/MA/wale52sw.jpg | title=Map around Lake George |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514174350/http://docs.unh.edu/MA/wale52sw.jpg |archive-date=May 14, 2011 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 2269
|1850= 2940
|1860= 3397
|1870= 3405
|1880= 4455
|1890= 4535
|1900= 4297
|1910= 5233
|1920= 5407
|1930= 5949
|1940= 5835
|1950= 6471
|1960= 7476
|1970= 8680
|1980= 9268
|1990= 11091
|2000= 11307
|2010= 12087
|2020= 11472
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.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}}
In 2011, there were 12,192 people, 4,819 households, and 3,086 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|210.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 4,956 housing units at an average density of {{convert|85.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.51% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.69% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.16% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.10% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 2.53% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]] or from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.04% of the population.<ref name="CERN 2012 Town Profile: Stafford">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cerc.com/TownProfiles/getPDF.asp?Town=Stafford|title=Site Unavailable}}</ref>

In 2019, there were 11,893 people and 4,707 households residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|208.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 94.7% [[White people|White]], 0.9% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.1% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian and Alaska Native]], 1.0% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander]], 3.0% [[Multiracial Americans|Two or More Races]], 3.5% [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]], 92.4% [[European Americans|White alone, not Hispanic or Latino]].

The age population was evenly spread out, with 18.2% under the age of 18, 64.4% from 18 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.1 males.

The [[median income]] for a household in the town was $74,386. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $37,359. About 6.2% of the population was below the [[poverty line]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=QuickFacts Stafford town, Tolland County, Connecticut|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/staffordtowntollandcountyconnecticut/PST045219|access-date=April 15, 2021|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Most of the town's population is located in seven villages, with nearly half in [[Stafford Springs, Connecticut|Stafford Springs]].  The rest of the town, particularly the northern third, is rural and forested.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.staffordct.org/history.php|title = Town of Stafford - CT - About Stafford}}</ref>

==Education==

[[Image:PostcardStaffordCTPinneyGrmrSch1909.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Pinney Grammar School, {{circa|1909}}]]
At the present time there are one primary, one elementary, one middle and one high school in Stafford.

The primary school, West Stafford, serves children in Pre-K and kindergarten. Stafford Elementary school serves children in grades one through five.  The middle school is for grades 6–8, and the high school is grades 9–12.

[[Stafford High School (Stafford, Connecticut)|Stafford High School]] fields competitive teams in football, [[basketball]], cross country, track, [[soccer]], [[field hockey]], [[baseball]] and [[softball]] and in more recent years wrestling, as well as offering an active intramural sports program. Each spring the music, arts, and drama departments of the high and middle schools put on plays and musical productions. A variety of [[extracurricular activities]] rounds out the school program.<ref>[http://www.stafford.ctschool.net/Shs/ Stafford High School]</ref>

==Medical==
Johnson Memorial Medical Center is a 90-bed acute care facility, located on Route 190 in Stafford, The Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient services, including medical and surgical, [[obstetrics]] and [[gynecology]], [[pediatrics]], mental health, intensive/coronary care, oncology, [[physical rehabilitation]] and emergency care. The facility was built in 1975. It has an adjoining professional building which houses the practices of area doctors.<ref name="Johnson Memorial Medical Center">{{Cite web|url=http://www.johnsonhealthnetwork.com/jmhinc.htm|title=johnsonhealthnetwork.com - johnsonhealthnetwork Resources and Information.}}</ref>

Evergreen Health Care Center opened in 1989, is a nursing facility located on the hospital campus consisting of 120 long term care beds and a 30-bed sub-acute rehabilitation unit and a 30-bed Memory Support Unit for residents with [[Alzheimer's disease]]. Evergreen and JMH serve several area towns.<ref name="Johnson Memorial Medical Center"/>

Family Birth Suites at the Nirenberg Center is a state of the art birthing center featuring six private birthing suites designed to accommodate patients throughout their stay, for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum care.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.johnsonhealthnetwork.com/fbs.htm|title=johnsonhealthnetwork.com - johnsonhealthnetwork Resources and Information.}}</ref>

Evergreen, JMH, and the Nirenberg Center serve several area towns.

Stafford hosts offices of a number of [[physician]]s, dentists, [[optometrist]]s, [[chiropractor]]s, [[physical therapist]]s and other health professionals. The Stafford Veterinary Center serves the needs of large and small animals.

==Recreation==
The town has several tennis courts, ball fields, soccer fields, and several parks. In addition, there are private hunting and fishing clubs, as well as recreational swimming and tennis clubs. During the spring and summer there is an active [[Little League]] program, youth softball, adult softball for men and women, and a summer recreational program offering swimming lessons and martial arts instruction for children. There are programs for youth football, basketball, soccer and hockey.

The [[Stafford Motor Speedway]] attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year and is a fixture of spring and summer. There is a small public beach on Staffordville Lake which is a summertime destination for many residents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.staffordvillelake.com|title=Home|website=www.staffordvillelake.com}}</ref> Stafford also has (limited) access to Sandy Beach on Crystal Lake in Ellington. Plans are being developed to provide hiking and multi-use trails within Stafford. There are two [[bed and breakfast]]s as well as a few campgrounds (Sun Valley,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sunvalleyresortct.com/|title=三亿体育·(中国)官方网站}}</ref> Roaring Brook<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.roaringbrookcampground.com/|title=Roaring Brook Camp Ground | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625225654/http://www.roaringbrookcampground.com/ | archive-date=2017-06-25}}</ref> and Mineral Springs<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mineralspringscampground.com/|title=Connecticut Camping at Mineral Springs Family Campground, Stafford Springs, CT|website=www.mineralspringscampground.com}}</ref>) that provide accommodation for visitors.

==Government==
Stafford is governed by a three-member Board of Selectmen, elected by voters in odd-numbered years for two-year terms.  The Town has no charter but is governed under the general statutes of the State of Connecticut, and under ordinances specific to the Town which have been adopted by popular vote at town meetings.

Stafford is served by the [[Connecticut State Police]] through the Resident State Trooper program.  The town has both CSP Uniformed troopers, as well as Stafford uniformed officers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.staffordct.org/police.php|title = Town of Stafford - CT - Resident Troopers Office}}</ref> The barracks of Troop C of the State Police are located nearby, just off [[Interstate Highway 84]] in [[Tolland, Connecticut|Tolland]].  Full-time and part-time constables also serve with resident troopers.

Two volunteer fire departments cover Stafford with strategically located firehouses (West Stafford Fire,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wsfd44.org/|title=Home|website=wsfd44.bravesites.com}}</ref> Stafford Fire #1<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://staffordfire.org/|title=staffordfire.org|website=Stafford fire}}</ref>).  The Stafford Fire Department has two locations, one in the Staffordville district (Station 145) and the second in the Stafford Springs District (Station 245). The Town also has a volunteer ambulance organization<ref>[http://www.staffordambulance.com/ Welcome to the new homepage of the Stafford Ambulance Association]</ref> which serves the area.

The Stafford Public Library continually offers public service programs and special events for the community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.staffordct.org/departments/library/index.php|title=Town of Stafford, CT|date=April 16, 2022|website=www.staffordct.org}}</ref>

A modern sewer plant, constructed in 1972, serves about a third of the Town; the commercial and industrial areas of the Town lie largely in the Service District.  Curbside pick-up of municipal refuse and recyclable materials is available within the Stafford Springs Service District.

In the [[Connecticut General Assembly]], Stafford is represented by State Representative [[Kurt Vail]] and State Senator [[Dan Champagne]].

==Notable people==

* [[Alvin Alden]] (1818–1882), Wisconsin state legislator; born in town
* [[Jack Arute]] (born 1950), [[sports commentator]] and president [[Stafford Motor Speedway]]
* [[Penny Bacchiochi]] (born {{circa|1961}}), former [[Connecticut House of Representatives]] [[legislator]]; raised in town
* [[Matt Bessette]] (born 1984), American mixed martial artist
* [[John Buckley (attorney)|John Buckley]] (1885–1959), Connecticut state legislator and US district attorney; born in town
* [[Ernest Cady]] (1842–1908), 45th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut
* [[Attilio R. Frassinelli]] (1907–1976), 78th [[Lieutenant Governor]] of [[Connecticut]] from 1967 to 1971
* [[Moses G. Leonard]] (1809–1899), [[US Congressman]] for [[New York (state)|New York]]; born in town
* [[Charles Lewandoski]] (born 1985), former [[NASCAR]] driver
* [[Erasmus D. Peck]] (1808–1876), [[US Congressman]] for [[Ohio]]; born in town

==Climate==

{{Weather box
|location = Stafford Springs, Connecticut
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 66
|Feb record high F = 70
|Mar record high F = 81
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 95
|Jul record high F = 100
|Aug record high F = 99
|Sep record high F = 93
|Oct record high F = 84
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 72
|year record high F = 100
|Jan high F = 34
|Feb high F = 37
|Mar high F = 46
|Apr high F = 57
|May high F = 68
|Jun high F = 77
|Jul high F = 81
|Aug high F = 79
|Sep high F = 75
|Oct high F = 61
|Nov high F = 49
|Dec high F = 39
|year high F = 58
|Jan low F = 15
|Feb low F = 15
|Mar low F = 23
|Apr low F = 34
|May low F = 45
|Jun low F = 54
|Jul low F = 58
|Aug low F = 57
|Sep low F = 50
|Oct low F = 38
|Nov low F = 26
|Dec low F = 21
|year low F = 37
|Jan record low F = −20
|Feb record low F = −17
|Mar record low F = −8
|Apr record low F = -4
|May record low F = 19
|Jun record low F = 28
|Jul record low F = 37
|Aug record low F = 32
|Sep record low F = 25
|Oct record low F = 14
|Nov record low F = −3
|Dec record low F = −15
|year record low F = −20
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.47
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.15
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.13
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.96
|May precipitation inch = 3.52
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.20
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.12
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.29
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.92
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.77
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.84
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.04
|year precipitation inch = 47.40
|Jan snow inch = 16.6
|Feb snow inch = 14.7
|Mar snow inch = 11.0
|Apr snow inch = 2.8
|May snow inch = 0
|Jun snow inch = 0
|Jul snow inch = 0
|Aug snow inch = 0
|Sep snow inch = 0
|Oct snow inch = 0.6
|Nov snow inch = 2.9
|Dec snow inch = 11.6
|year snow inch = 60.2
|source 1 = NCDC - Stafford Springs COOP Record
|date=June 2021
}}

==References==

<references/>

==External links==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
{{Commons category-inline|Stafford, Connecticut}}
* [http://www.staffordct.org/ Town government Web site]
* [http://www.stafford.k12.ct.us/pages/Stafford_School_District/ Stafford Public Schools Website]
* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3784s.pm000971 View of Stafford Springs in 1878]

{{Connecticut}}
{{Tolland County, Connecticut}}
{{Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Greater Hartford}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Stafford, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Tolland County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Greater Hartford]]
[[Category:1719 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies]]
[[Category:Towns in Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut]]