Bloomfield, Connecticut

Bloomfield is a suburb of Hartford in the Capitol Planning Region, Connecticut, United States. The town's population was 21,535 at the 2020 census.[2] Bloomfield is best known as the headquarters of healthcare services company Cigna.

Bloomfield, Connecticut
Town
Town of Bloomfield
Capt. Oliver Filley House
Capt. Oliver Filley House
Official seal of Bloomfield, Connecticut
Seal
Bloomfield's location within Hartford County and Connecticut
Bloomfield's location within the Capitol Planning Region and the state of Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°51′N 72°44′W
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyHartford
RegionCapitol Region
Settled1660
IncorporatedMay 28, 1835
CommunitiesBloomfield
Blue Hills
Cottage Grove
North Bloomfield
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • Town managerRobert E. Smith
 • Town CouncilDanielle Wong (D), Mayor
Gregory C. Davis (D), Deputy Mayor
Anthony C. Harrington (D)
Kenneth McClary (D)
Suzette DeBeatham-Brown (D)
Rickford Kirton (D)
Joe Merritt (R)
Shamar Mahon (R)
C. Francis Politis (R)
Area
 • Total26.3 sq mi (68.0 km2)
 • Land26.1 sq mi (67.6 km2)
 • Water0.2 sq mi (0.4 km2)
Elevation
[1]
125 ft (38 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,535
 • Density825.1/sq mi (318.6/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
06002
Area code(s)860/959
FIPS code09-05910
GNIS feature ID0213392[1]
Highways
Websitewww.bloomfieldct.org

History

Originally land of the Poquonock Native Americans, the area was first settled in 1660 as part of Windsor, organized as the Parish of Wintonbury in 1736. Wintonbury comes from three names from neighboring towns Windsor, Farmington, and Simsbury. It was finally incorporated as the town of Bloomfield by the Connecticut General Assembly on May 28, 1835.[3] Initially, the town's local economy was agriculturally based, mostly in shade tobacco, remaining as such until it developed as a postwar suburb of Hartford starting in the 1950s. Today, Bloomfield's local character varies. While the town's southern and eastern fringes are more densely populated and developed, the northern and western sections maintain a more rural feel with meadows, woods, and some remaining farmland.

Geography
Tariffville Gorge

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68.0 km2), of which 26.1 square miles (67.6 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.4 km2), or 0.63%, is water.[4]

Bloomfield is bordered by Windsor to the northeast, East Granby to the north, Simsbury and Avon to the west, and West Hartford and Hartford to the south.

The northern border of Bloomfield is formed by the Farmington River. The west side of the town is flanked by Talcott Mountain, part of the Metacomet Ridge, a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border. Notable features of the Metacomet Ridge in Bloomfield include Penwood State Park and the Tariffville Gorge of the Farmington River, on the borders of East Granby, Simsbury, and Bloomfield. The 51-mile (82 km) Metacomet Trail traverses the ridge.

Transportation

The major east–west throughway in Bloomfield is Route 218, which starts at the Simsbury Road/Hall Boulevard split at the West Hartford line and inches north toward Cottage Grove Road before heading eastbound. Bloomfield also has two major north–south highways: Blue Hills Avenue (Route 187) and Bloomfield/Tunxis Avenues (Route 189). These highways merge when approaching the Windsor line but before returning to Bloomfield.

Eleven bus routes in Connecticut Transit's Hartford Division serve Bloomfield: 36, 46, 50, 52, 54, 56, 72, 74, 76, 92, and 153.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18501,412—
18601,401−0.8%
18701,4735.1%
18801,346−8.6%
18901,308−2.8%
19001,51315.7%
19101,82120.4%
19202,39431.5%
19303,24735.6%
19404,30932.7%
19505,74633.3%
196013,613136.9%
197018,30134.4%
198018,6081.7%
199019,4834.7%
200019,5870.5%
201020,4864.6%
202021,5355.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
2010[6] 2020[7]
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

2020 census
Bloomfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut – Racial and Ethnic Composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[6] Pop 2020[7] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 6,863 6,927 33.50% 32.17%
Black or African American alone (NH) 11,518 11,434 56.22% 53.09%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 38 41 0.19% 0.19%
Asian alone (NH) 382 476 1.86% 2.21%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 8 3 0.04% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 49 144 0.24% 0.67%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 479 813 2.34% 3.78%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,149 1,697 5.61% 7.88%
Total 20,486 21,535 100.00% 100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 20,486 people, 8,554 households, and 5,343 families residing in the town. The population density was 753.0 inhabitants per square mile (290.7/km2). There were 8,195 housing units at an average density of 315.0 per square mile (121.6/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 35.7% White, 57.5% African American, 0.03% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.70% from other races, and 3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.6% of the population.

There were 8,554 households, out of which 19.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 16.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.9 years. For every 122 females there were 100 males. For every 130 females age 18 and over, there were 100 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $73,519, and the median income for a family was $84,735.

As of the census[8] of 2000. Males had a median income of $42,860 versus $36,778 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,843.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010-2014 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, About 5.8% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

Bloomfield has a Town council government. The Town Council elects a Chair, who is designated as Mayor, two weeks after the election. Mayor Danielle Wong began her first term as Mayor in November 2022.

Bloomfield is reliably Democratic in presidential elections, having last voted Republican in 1956.[9]

Bloomfield town vote
by party in presidential elections[10][11]
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 85.85% 11,007 13.24% 1,698 0.91% 116
2016 82.80% 9,637 14.46% 1,683 2.74% 319
2012 83.41% 9,921 16.18% 1,925 0.41% 49
2008 84.96% 10,384 14.55% 1,778 0.49% 60
2004 76.58% 8,156 21.94% 2,337 1.47% 157
2000 78.20% 7,907 18.29% 1,849 3.51% 355
1996 74.15% 6,930 19.26% 1,800 6.59% 616
1992 65.40% 6,914 22.14% 2,341 12.46% 1,317
1988 65.36% 6,648 33.53% 3,410 1.11% 113
1984 57.56% 5,803 42.07% 4,241 0.37% 37
1980 51.99% 5,119 32.59% 3,209 15.42% 1,518
1976 55.73% 5,511 43.95% 4,346 0.32% 32
1972 52.83% 5,212 46.48% 4,585 0.69% 68
1968 60.17% 5,246 36.56% 3,187 3.27% 285
1964 70.59% 5,318 29.41% 2,216 0.00% 0
1960 54.64% 3,777 45.36% 3,136 0.00% 0
1956 37.45% 1,851 62.55% 3,091 0.00% 0
Voter registration and party enrollment as of November 1, 2022[12]
Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage
Democratic 9,521 646 10,167 59.93%
Republican 1,253 113 1,366 8.05%
Unaffiliated 4,817 418 5,235 30.86%
Minor parties 171 24 195 1.14%
Total 15,762 1,201 16,963 100%

Economy

Top employers

According to Bloomfield's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[13] the top employers in the town are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Cigna 4,100
2 Kaman Corporation 1,570
3 Trader Joe's 951
4 Town of Bloomfield 621
5 HomeGoods 500
6 Duncaster Retirement Community 470
7 Jacobs Vehicle Systems 450
8 Hartford Healthcare at Home 450
9 Seabury Active Life Plan Community 400
10 Otis Worldwide 350

Schools

Bloomfield is home to three secondary schools: the public Bloomfield High School, the inter-district Global Experience Magnet School (serving grades 6–12), and the Metropolitan Learning Center, a CREC school serving grades 6–12.

Bloomfield Public Schools (Connecticut) also has:

  • Pre-K3–K The Wintonbury Early Childhood Magnet School
  • K–2 Laurel Elementary
  • 3–4 Metacomet Elementary
  • 5–6 Carmen Arace Intermediate
  • 7–8 Carmen Arace Middle School

Notable people

On the National Register of Historic Places
  • Cigna Headquarters
    Cigna Headquarters
  • Francis Gillette House
    Francis Gillette House
  • Old Farm Schoolhouse
    Old Farm Schoolhouse
  • Southwest School District
    Southwest School District

Places of interest
  • The New England Muscle Bicycle Museum, with 120 bicycles from the 1960s and 1970s, is open by appointment
  • The First Cathedral, the largest non-denominational church in New England

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Bloomfield, Connecticut
  2. "Census - Geography Profile: Bloomfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  3. The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 331.
  4. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Bloomfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 26, 2012.
  5. "Decennial Census of Population and Housing by Decades". US Census Bureau.
  6. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bloomfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau.
  7. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Bloomfield town, Hartford County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau.
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. "General Elections Statement of Vote 1922".
  10. "General Elections Statement of Vote 1922".
  11. "Election Night Reporting". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  12. "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of November 1, 2022" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 22, 2023. Retrieved October 22, 2023. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch (help)
  13. "Town of Bloomfield, Connecticut Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2020" (PDF). Town of Bloomfield. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
  14. Riley, Lori (January 3, 2021). "Lori Riley: K.C. Jones may have been part of Boston sports lore, but he left his mark in Hartford, too". Hartford Courant. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
  15. "Weekly List of Actions Taken On Properties". National Park Service. Retrieved September 20, 2010.
  16. "Filley House". Wintonbury Historical Society, Inc. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
  17. National Register of Historic Places listings in Hartford County, Connecticut
  18. "Francis Gillette House". bloomfieldct.org. Archived from the original on January 27, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
  19. "Old Farm Schoolhouse". bloomfieldct.org. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
  20. "SW District School". Wintonbury Historical Society, Inc. Retrieved September 19, 2010.
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