Roxbury, Connecticut

Roxbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,260 at the 2020 census.[1] The town is located 65 miles (105 km) northeast of New York City, and is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region.

Roxbury
Town
Town of Roxbury
Town Hall
Town Hall
Official seal of Roxbury
Seal
Roxbury's location within Litchfield County and Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°33′07″N 73°18′09″W
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyLitchfield
RegionNorthwest Hills
Incorporated1796
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanPatrick Roy (D)
 • SelectmanRussell Dirienzo (R)
 • SelectwomanKim Tester (D)
Area
 • Total26.4 sq mi (68.3 km2)
 • Land26.3 sq mi (68.1 km2)
 • Water0.04 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
541 ft (165 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,260
 • Density86/sq mi (33/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP code
06783
Area code(s)203/475, 860/959
FIPS code09-65930
GNIS feature ID0213498
Websitewww.roxburyct.com

History
Roxbury Station, c. 1905

Roxbury, whose Native name was Shepaug, a Mahican word signifying "rocky water", was settled about 1713. Originally a part of Woodbury, the town was incorporated in October 1796. Roxbury is either descriptively named, or the name is a transfer from Roxbury, Massachusetts.[2]

Mine Hill and its minerals have been associated with Roxbury since the middle of the 18th century. A silver mine was opened here and was later found to contain spathic iron, specially adapted to steel making, and a small smelting furnace was built. The abundance of granite found in many of Mine Hill's quarries provided the building material for the ore roaster and blast furnace, as well as for such world wonders as the Brooklyn Bridge and Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

Geography

Roxbury is in southern Litchfield County and is bordered to the south by New Haven County. It is 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Danbury and the same distance west of Waterbury. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.4 square miles (68.3 km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 0.21%, are water.[3]

Principal communities
  • Judd's Bridge
  • Roxbury Center
  • Roxbury Falls
  • Roxbury Station

On the National Register of Historic Places

Three places in Roxbury are included on the National Register of Historic Places.[4] They are:

  • Roxbury Center (CT 67, Weller's Bridge Rd., South and Church streets); 32 buildings in designated local historic district.
  • Roxbury Iron Mine and Furnace Complex
  • Roxbury Station Historic District (added 2009) (CT 67, Botsford Hill, Hodge, and Mine Hill Roads)

Demographics
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income
Historical population
YearPop.±%
1830 1,122—    
1840 971−13.5%
1850 1,114+14.7%
1860 992−11.0%
1870 919−7.4%
1880 950+3.4%
1890 936−1.5%
1900 1,087+16.1%
1910 837−23.0%
1920 647−22.7%
1930 553−14.5%
1940 660+19.3%
1950 740+12.1%
1960 912+23.2%
1970 1,238+35.7%
1980 1,468+18.6%
1990 1,825+24.3%
2000 2,136+17.0%
2010 2,262+5.9%
2020 2,260−0.1%
Source: [5][6][7]

As of the census[8] of 2000, there were 2,136 people, 848 households, and 620 families residing in the town. The population density was 81.4 inhabitants per square mile (31.4/km2). There were 1,018 housing units at an average density of 38.8 per square mile (15.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.24% White, 0.23% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.66% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

There were 848 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.5% were married couples living together, 4.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.8% were non-families. 20.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 3.7% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 34.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $87,794, and the median income for a family was $97,672. Males had a median income of $61,477 versus $45,417 for females. The per capita income for the town was $56,769. About 3.0% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Connecticut Route 67 is the main thoroughfare in the town, leading west 7 miles (11 km) to New Milford and southeast 8 miles (13 km) to Southbury. The town is also served by secondary highways Route 199 (leading north 5 miles (8 km) to Washington) and Route 317 (leading east 6 miles (10 km) to Woodbury).

Roads in Roxbury on the List of Connecticut State Scenic Highways

The following roads are Connecticut State Scenic Highways:[9]

  • Connecticut Route 317; 0.40 from Painter Hill Road, west to Route 67. (added November 14, 1990)
  • Connecticut Route 67; 0.87 mile from Ranny Hill Road, south to 0.30 mile south of Route 317. (added November 14, 1990)
  • Connecticut Route 67; 2.90 miles from the Roxbury/Bridgewater Town line, east to Ranny Hill Road. (added August 23, 1996)

Local media
  • Waterbury Republican-American, a Waterbury-based independent daily newspaper
  • The Danbury News-Times, a Danbury-based daily newspaper
  • The Greater New Milford Spectrum, a MediaNews Group-owned weekly paper
  • Voices, a local newspaper serving Southbury, Middlebury, Oxford, Seymour, Naugatuck, Woodbury, Bethlehem, New Preston, Washington, Washington Depot, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Monroe, Sandy Hook and Newtown.

Education

Regional School District 12 operates the Booth Free School in Roxbury,[10] as well as the Shepaug Valley School (secondary) in Washington.

Notable people

References
  1. "Census - Geography Profile: Roxbury town, Litchfield County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 334.
  3. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Roxbury town, Litchfield County, Connecticut". American FactFinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  4. National Register of Historic Places listings in Litchfield County, Connecticut
  5. Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  6. Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Archived February 28, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  8. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  9. Criteria For Designation Of
  10. "STRATEGIC SCHOOL PROFILE 2012-13 Elementary School K-6 Edition Booth Free School." Regional School District 12. Retrieved on January 20, 2017.
  11. Dodge, Annie. "'Sex and the City' Writer Candace Bushnell lists Victorian farmhouse in Connecticut for $1.4M". 6sqft. CityRealty. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
  12. "Beverly Hills of the East".
  13. Life with Father | Vanity Fair
  14. Whittle, Andrea. "Why Gay Talese Never Wears Jeans, Even in the Country". Conde Nast Traveller. Conde Nast. Retrieved January 23, 2022.
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