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Darien, Connecticut

Coordinates: 41°03′04″N 73°28′45″W / 41.05111°N 73.47917°W / 41.05111; -73.47917
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Darien, Connecticut
Town
Boston Post Road in Darien's retail district
Boston Post Road in Darien's retail district
Flag of Darien, Connecticut
Flag
Official seal of Darien, Connecticut
Seal
Darien's location within Fairfield County and Connecticut
Map
Map
Map
Coordinates: 41°03′04″N 73°28′45″W / 41.05111°N 73.47917°W / 41.05111; -73.47917
CountryUnited States
U.S. stateConnecticut
CountyFairfield
RegionWestern CT
Incorporated1820
Government
 • TypeRepresentative town meeting
 • First selectmanJon Zagrodzky (R)
 • SelectmenMichael Burke (D)
Marcy Minnick (R)
Monica McNally (R)
Sarah Neumann (D)
[1]
Area
 • Total
23.4 sq mi (60.6 km2)
 • Land12.9 sq mi (33.4 km2)
 • Water10.6 sq mi (27.4 km2)
Elevation
52 ft (16 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
21,499
 • Density1,666.6/sq mi (643.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
06820
Area code(s)203/475
FIPS code09-18850
GNIS feature ID0213416
Websitewww.darienct.gov

Darien (/ˌdɛəriˈæn/ DAIR-ee-AN) is a coastal town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. With a population of 21,499 and a land area of just under 13 square miles (34 km2), it is the smallest town on Connecticut's Gold Coast.[2]

Situated on the Long Island Sound between the cities of Stamford and Norwalk, the town of Darien is a bedroom community of New York City in the New York metropolitan area (the town has relatively few office buildings), as many residents commute to New York via Metro-North.[3] There are two railroad stations in Darien, Noroton Heights and Darien, linking the town to Grand Central Terminal. There are eleven parks,[4] public beaches, and the Noroton Yacht Club.

History

[edit]
Main article: History of Darien, Connecticut

According to early records, the first clearings of land were made by men from the New Haven and Wethersfield colonies and from Norwalk in about 1641. It was not until 1739, however, that the Middlesex Society of the Town of Stamford built the first community church, now the First Congregational Church of Darien, which stands on the original site at the corner of Brookside Road and the Boston Post Road.[5]

Tories raided the town several times during the American Revolution; at one point, they took 26 men in the parish prisoner for five months, including the Reverend Moses Mather, pastor of the parish. The Loyalist-Patriot conflict in Darien is the setting for the novel Tory Hole, the first book by children's author Louise Hall Tharp. Middlesex Parish was incorporated as the Town of Darien in 1820.

Contentment Island, c. 1914

According to the Darien Historical Society,[6] the name Darien was decided upon when the residents of the town could not agree on a name to replace Middlesex Parish, many families wanting it to be named after themselves. Some proposed naming the town "Belleville" in honor of Thaddeus Bell, a veteran of the revolutionary war. He apparently rejected the honor while supporting the Darien option.[7] A sailor who had traveled to Isthmus of Darien,[8] then part of the Spanish Empire, suggested the name Darien, which was eventually adopted by the people of the town. The town name is pronounced /dɛəriˈæn/ (like "Dairy-Ann"), with stress on the last syllable, and has been referred to as such at least as far back as 1913.[9]

It is a common misconception to pronounce the town name as "Dairy-Anne", which many non-residents and non-long-term residents use. The village of Darien, Wisconsin shares this pronunciation; Residents say this is still the proper pronunciation. "You can always tell when someone is not from here, because they do pronounce it the way it's spelled," Louise Berry, director of the town library, said in a 2006 interview.[10]

Darien was mostly white Protestant through the middle of the twentieth century,[11] but by the twenty-first century it had become a multi-ethnic town with residents of many religions and backgrounds. One of seven households report speaking a language other than English at home. The town's exclusive policies in the early 20th century were similar to other segregated suburbs of the time, including Beverly Hills, California, and Tuxedo Park, New York.[12] There were events involving anti-Black racism and anti-Semitism in the 1930s and 1940s, with Darien being a prototypical sundown town.[13][12]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.8 square miles (38 km2), of which 12.9 square miles (33 km2) is land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km2), or 13.41%, is water.

Darien is bordered on the west by Stamford, on the north by New Canaan, and on the east by Norwalk. On the south it faces Long Island Sound and the North Shore of Long Island. It is part of the Connecticut panhandle jutting into New York state. Highways include Interstate 95. It also has two Metro-North Railroad stations for commuter trains into New York City, Noroton Heights and Darien.

Sections of Darien

[edit]
Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien
  • Downtown Darien
  • Ox Ridge
  • Noroton Heights, a neighborhood that historically "housed the European immigrants who serviced the old estates".[14] Noroton Heights' densely populated streets contain "modest Capes and colonials" along with other house styles.[14]
  • Springdale
  • Long Neck Point
  • Tokeneke

Climate

[edit]

Darien has a humid continental climate, similar to that of New York City, with warm to hot summers and cold winters. The highest recorded temperature was 103 °F (39 °C) in July 1966, while the lowest recorded temperature was −15 °F (−26 °C) in 1968.[15] Snowfall is generally frequent in winter while average precipitation is most common in September.

Demographics

[edit]
See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18201,126—
18501,454—
18601,70517.3%
18701,8086.0%
18801,9497.8%
18902,27616.8%
19003,11636.9%
19103,94626.6%
19204,1846.0%
19306,95166.1%
19409,22232.7%
195011,76727.6%
196018,43756.7%
197020,33610.3%
198018,892−7.1%
199018,196−3.7%
200019,6077.8%
201020,7525.8%
202021,4993.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]

As of the census of 2000, there were 19,607 people, 6,592 households, and 5,385 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,525.2 inhabitants per square mile (588.9/km2). There were 6,792 housing units at an average density of 203.9 inhabitants/km2 (528.3 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 95.97% White, 0.45% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.42% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.19% of the population.

There were 6,592 households, out of which 46.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.5% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a woman whose husband did not live with her, and 18.3% were non-families. Of all households 15.6% were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.31. In the town, the population was spread out, with 32.5% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

In 2019, the median household income was $232,523 and the per capita income for the town was $116,564.[17]

Arts and culture

[edit]

Annual events

[edit]
  • May – Memorial Day Parade.[18]
  • June – Weed Beach Fest.[19]
  • October – Downtown Halloween Parade.[20]

Library

[edit]

Darien's library was founded in 1894. Andrew Carnegie offered funds for a library, and was rejected.[21] The Darien Library is the most heavily utilized library in Connecticut.[22]

Landmarks

[edit]
Autumn in Stony Brook Park

Parks and recreation

[edit]
Floral decorations

Parks and beaches

[edit]

Darien maintain 11 parks comprising 203 acres (82 ha) of land.[23] Approximately 30 acres (12 ha) of parkland is shoreline beaches on Long Island Sound.[23] Weed Beach features a beach and swimming area, clubhouse, playground, picnic area, concession stand, and tennis and paddle courts.[24]

In 2022, the town purchased a 60-acre (24 ha) island, Great Island, from the estate William Ziegler.[25]

Recreation

[edit]

The Darien Ice House is an ice rink.[26]

Founded in 1928,[citation needed] Noroton Yacht Club runs the largest junior sailing program in the United States.[14]

Government

[edit]
Main article: Government and politics of Darien, Connecticut

Elected bodies in the town government are a five-member Board of Selectmen, a nine-member Board of Education, a seven-member Board of Finance, a six-member Planning and Zoning Commission, three-member Board of Assessment Appeals, and a 100-member, nonpartisan Representative Town Meeting. The town has several elective offices as well: the town clerk, probate judge, registrar of voters, tax collector and treasurer.[27] The Board of Finance approves financial measures, including the town budget; the Board of Education controls the town's public schools; the Representative Town Meeting is the main legislative body of the town.

United States Congress

[edit]
Senators Name Party Assumed office Level
  Senate Class 1 Richard Blumenthal Democratic 2011 Senior Senator
  Senate Class 3 Chris Murphy Democratic 2013 Junior Senator
Representatives Name Party Assumed office
  District 4 Jim Himes Democratic 2009

Connecticut General Assembly

[edit]

Connecticut State Senate

[edit]
District Name Party Assumed office
  25 Bob Duff Democratic 2001
  26 Ceci Maher Democratic 2023
  27 Patricia Billie Miller Democratic 2021

Connecticut House of Representatives

[edit]
District Name Party Assumed office
  125 Tom O'Dea Republican 2013
  141 Tracy Marra Republican 2023

Taxes

[edit]

Darien has the lowest property taxes of the Fairfield County suburbs of its size, with a mill rate of 15.35 being consistently lower than New Canaan at 15.985 and Westport at 18.09 (rates as of 2016).[28][29]

Education

[edit]

Darien is served by the Darien Public Schools, and Darien High School was ranked No. 1 in the "U.S. News Best High Schools in Connecticut" in 2019. The school also ranked in the top 150 in the national rankings, and in the top 50 in STEM high schools in the United States.[30] Darien has five elementary schools: Hindley School, Holmes School, Ox Ridge School, Royle School, and Tokeneke School. A $27 million addition was completed in 2000 to the town's middle school, Middlesex Middle School, and a new $73 million campus for Darien High School was completed in the fall of 2005.[14] Darien sports teams go by the name of the "Blue Wave".

Pear Tree Point School, originally named Plumfield School, was a private school on Long Neck, educating students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 5. The school was closed in summer 2018.[31][32]

Media

[edit]

Darien is served by a local print/online weeklies, the Darien Times, four exclusively online local news websites, Darienite,[33] HamletHub Darien,[34] the Darien Patch,[35] and The Daily Voice, Darien.[36] A monthly magazine known as New Canaan and Darien Magazine is also published covering Darien, New Canaan, and Rowayton (a section of the city of Norwalk).[37] Sound Watch Magazine.[38] is another monthly publication, founded in 2019, dedicated to local news and history of the area. Most public meetings are filmed and broadcast live, and recorded for later broadcast by Cablevision's Channel 79 Government Access.[39]

Film

[edit]

Films at least partially filmed in Darien with release date include:

Infrastructure

[edit]

Emergency services

[edit]

Ambulance service

[edit]
Post 53 headquarters

An ambulance service, known as "Darien EMS – Post 53" is the only ambulance service in the nation staffed and run entirely by high school student volunteers, covers one of the deadliest stretches of Interstate 95, and responds to over 1,500 emergency calls annually.[43] The Explorer post is chartered under the Connecticut Yankee Council, and is considered a scouting unit. The service provides emergency care at no cost to the patient, funded entirely by private donations from town residents. Teenagers are allowed to perform patient care due to the fact that Connecticut is one of the few states in the nation which allows emergency medical technicians to be certified at age 16.[44]

Students start training while they are in their freshman year of high school. They are elected by current members of Post and then they continue their training supervised by trained adults, Post 53 lets in 20 teenagers a year to join the crew, and includes boys and girls.

Fire departments

[edit]

The town of Darien is protected by three independent all-volunteer fire departments in three fire districts.[45]

Police department

[edit]

The Darien Police Department is composed of 51 sworn officers, 18 traffic agents, 12 civilian employees and is headquartered at 25 Hecker Avenue in Darien, CT. The Department maintains a fleet of 30 vehicles which includes 13 marked patrol units, a motorcycle, a 27-foot (8.2 m) SAFEboat, a special services vehicle, undercover vehicles and administrative vehicles. The Department acts as the Public Safety Answering Point for all 911 and non-emergency Police, Fire and medical-related calls within the Town of Darien, CT.[46]

Transportation

[edit]
Darien station
Noroton Heights station
Darien has two stations on Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line

The town is served by two train stations, Noroton Heights and Darien station.

The Connecticut Turnpike (Interstate 95) and Post Road (U.S. Route 1.) pass through Darien. Interstate 95 has rest stops in Darien for the southbound and northbound lanes.[47]

Notable people

[edit]
Main article: List of people from Darien, Connecticut
[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Hersh, Mollie (November 8, 2023). "Zagrodzky Elected As Darien's First Selectman After Running Unopposed, Unofficial Results Show". The Darien Times. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Darien Town, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Capuzzo, Jill P. (December 5, 2018). "Living in Darien, Conn.: Darien, Conn.: An Old New England Town with a Busy Social Life". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  4. ^ "Welcome to the Town of Darien, Connecticut – Beach/Park Permits". DarienCT.gov. Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Adapted from: Case & Cooper 1935
  6. ^ "The Darien Historical Society, Inc". Historical.Darien.org. Archived from the original on July 20, 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2006.
  7. ^ "Darien Historical Society 2016 Membership Brochure". Issuu. December 6, 2016. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  8. ^ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 331. Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2024 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ Jenkins, Stephen. "Darien: Stephen Jenkins". USGenWeb Project. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. Retrieved March 28, 2007.
  10. ^ "The Grapevine - The Town Name That Sounds Like a Milk Maid". The Fairfield County Business Journal. Westfair Communications. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  11. ^ Prevost, Lisa (July 20, 2013). "Snob Zones: Fear, Money and Real Estate". Salon.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Loewen, James W. (2005). Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism. New York: The New Press. p. 218. ISBN 156584887X. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ Loewen, James W. (1999). Lies Across America: What Our Historic Sites Get Wrong. The New Press. pp. 408–413. ISBN 1-56584-344-4. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved September 30, 2024 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ a b c d Prevost, Lisa (December 14, 2003). "A Haven for Both Sailors and Commuters". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  15. ^ "Average Weather for Darien, CT". Weather.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  16. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  17. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Darien CDP, Connecticut". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 21, 2024. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  18. ^ Hersh, Mollie (May 30, 2023). "In Photos: Darien's Annual Memorial Day Parade Marches to Spring Grove Veteran's Cemetery". The Darien Times. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "Weed Beach Festival Is Saturday". The Darien Times. June 17, 2017. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  20. ^ "Annual Easter Egg Hunt: Friday, April 7 at 10 AM – Sold Out". Darien Community Association. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2020.}
  21. ^ "Library History". DarienLibrary.org. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  22. ^ Lyons, Ray; Lance, Keith Curry (November 8, 2012). "LJ Index 2012: The Star Libraries". Lj.LibraryJournal.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2012. Retrieved November 17, 2012.
  23. ^ a b "Beaches & Parks". Town of Darien, Connecticut. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  24. ^ "Weed Beach". Town of Darien, Connecticut. Archived from the original on September 30, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "The Final Vote Is In: Darien Will Buy Great Island for $103M". The Darien Times. June 28, 2022. Archived from the original on October 19, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  26. ^ "Darien Ice House". DarienIceHouse.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  27. ^ "Darien Government Guide: 2006", a brochure published by the League of Women Voters of Darien
  28. ^ "OPM: Mill Rates". CT.gov. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  29. ^ "16 Lowest Mill Rates in Connecticut | Patch". Brookfield, CT Patch. January 17, 2014. Archived from the original on January 29, 2016. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
  30. ^ Shultz, Susan (May 1, 2019). "Darien Named Top High School in Connecticut by U.S. News & World Report". The Darien Times. Archived from the original on July 22, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  31. ^ "Updated: Pear Tree Point School to Close at End of This Academic Year – DarieniteDarienite". darienite.com. September 27, 2017. Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  32. ^ "Pear Tree Point School, Darien, CT – Home". PTPSchool.org. Archived from the original on April 2, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2007.
  33. ^ "About Us". Darienite. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  34. ^ Satin, Nate. "Darien's HamletHub Team". HamletHub.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  35. ^ "Darien, CT Patch - Breaking News, Local News, Events, Schools, Weather, Sports and Shopping". Darien, CT Patch. Archived from the original on September 6, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  36. ^ "Darien Daily Voice - Community News and Information for Darien, CT". dailyvoice.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  37. ^ "New Canaan-Darien & Rowayton Magazine – New Canaan, Darien, Rowayton CT Luxury Lifestyle: Community, Real Estate & Travel – New Canaan-Darien Magazine". newcanaandarienmag.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  38. ^ "Current Events | Sound Watch News | Darien | Rowayton |United States". Sound Watch News. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  39. ^ "Welcome to the Town of Darien, Connecticut – Darien Government Access Television". DarienCT.gov. Archived from the original on September 26, 2008. Retrieved May 8, 2007.
  40. ^ Getz, Dana. "Who's Diane Hart on 'Gypsy'? Jean's Alias Is an Unsolved Mystery". Bustle. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  41. ^ Barone, Meg (August 30, 2012). "Westport Showcased in Town Native's Film, 'Hello I Must Be Going'". Westport News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2024. One of the big houses used for filming was in Darien, 'a beautiful part of Darien on the water,' Koskoff said.
  42. ^ "Darien, CT Home Transformed for "Revolutionary Road" Movie". Zillow. April 20, 2009. Archived from the original on December 23, 2019. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  43. ^ "Post 53". Post53.org. Archived from the original on August 27, 2005. Retrieved October 2, 2005.
  44. ^ "Connecticut Department of Health Emergency Medical Technician Application Form" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 19, 2007. Retrieved May 2, 2007.
  45. ^ "Welcome to the Town of Darien, Connecticut – Fire Departments". DarienCT.gov. Archived from the original on March 29, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  46. ^ "About Us - Darien Connecticut Police Department". DarienPolice.org. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2024.
  47. ^ Ginocchio, Mark. "I-95 Ramp in Darien May Close for Work". The Advocate. pp. 1, A4.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Case, Henry J.; Cooper, Simon W. (1935). Town of Darien: Founded 1641, Incorporated 1820. Darien Community Association.
[edit]
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