North Canaan, Connecticut

Template:Distinguish Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement North Canaan is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,211 at the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020">Template:Cite web</ref> The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region. The town center is still called "Canaan", being the main town center of the old town of Canaan prior to North Canaan splitting off as its own town.

Geography

North Canaan is in northwestern Litchfield County and is bordered to the north by Berkshire County, Massachusetts. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.03%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010">Template:Cite web</ref>

Principal communities

Canaan village (not the same as the town of Canaan to the south)
Canaan Valley
East Canaan (has its own post office)
Sodom<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
East Sheffield

Demographics

Template:US Census population Template:See also As of the census<ref name="GR2">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2020, there were 3,211 people, 1,399 households, and 864 families residing in the town. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 1,444 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the town was 86.7% White, 1.1% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 4.9% from other races, and 6.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.3% of the population.

There were 1,399 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.4% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.3% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $39,020, and the median income for a family was $52,292. Males had a median income of $34,135 versus $23,705 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,971. About 3.3% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 5.0% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

The main highways of the town are U.S. Route 7 (north-south) and U.S. Route 44 (east-west). US 7 leads north Template:Convert to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and south Template:Convert to Danbury, while US 44 leads west Template:Convert to Millerton, New York, and east Template:Convert to Hartford, the capital of Connecticut.

The Housatonic Railroad north-south tracks run through the town on their Danbury, to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, line.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

A private airfield, Triumph Air Field, is situated to the northwest of the village.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

Downtown Canaan Village is centered around the intersection of the former Central New England Railroad east-west tracks crossed with the active Housatonic Railroad north-south tracks.<ref name=":0" /> The village contains a variety of retail, restaurant, and other businesses.

The Canaan Union Depot building, a former railroad station built in 1872, is a prominent building in the downtown area. It was heavily damaged by an arson fire in 2001. From 2003 to 2018 it was restored by the Connecticut Railroad Historical Association. It is now the site of the Great Falls Brewing Company<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the New England Accordion Connection and Museum Company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

East Canaan is known for its dairy farm operations and limestone mines.<ref name=":0" /> In 2016, East Canaan dairy farm, Freund's Farm, became the first farm in Connecticut to use robotic milking units for their dairy herd.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The farm also produces CowPots™, a biodegradable plant pot made from composted cow manure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

North Canaan is a member of Regional School District 01, which also includes the towns of Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, Salisbury, and Sharon. Public school students attend North Canaan Elementary School from grades K–8 and Housatonic Valley Regional High School in Falls Village from grades 9–12.