Content deleted Content added
Added links to racial definitions. Fixed poverty stat wording. |
GreenC bot (talk | contribs) Move 1 url. Wayback Medic 2.5 per WP:URLREQ#ct.gov |
||
| (299 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Bethlehem, Connecticut
| settlement_type = [[New England town|Town]]
| image_skyline = BethlehemCT BethlehemGreenHD 2.jpg
| image_caption = Main Street South, [[Bethlehem Green Historic District]]
| image_flag =
| image_seal = BethlehemCTseal.JPG
| nickname = <!-- "The Christmas Town" -->
| image_map = {{switcher|[[File:Litchfield County Connecticut Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bethlehem Highlighted 2010.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Bethlehem's ___location within Litchfield County and Connecticut]]| [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]] and Connecticut|[[File:Naugatuck Valley incorporated and unincorporated areas Bethlehem highlighted.svg|250px|frameless|alt=Bethlehem's ___location within the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region and the state of Connecticut]]| [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley 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=Q755397}}###{{coord|qid=Q779}}###{{coord|41|38|21|N|73|12|31|W}}|zoom=SWITCH:11;6;3|type=SWITCH:shape-inverse;point;point|marker=city|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|id2=SWITCH:Q755397;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=Bethlehem;Connecticut;the United States}}
| coordinates = {{coord|41|38|21|N|73|12|31|W|region:US-CT|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Connecticut}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Connecticut|County]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Region]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley]]
| established_title = Incorporated
| established_date = 1787
| government_type = [[Board of selectmen|Selectman-town meeting]]
| leader_title = First selectman
| leader_name = Stephen F. Sordi (R)
| leader_title1 = Selectman
| leader_name1 = George J. Rehkamp (R)
| leader_title2 = Selectman
| leader_name2 = Raymond Butkus (D)
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 50.9
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_km2 = 50.2
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_km2 = 0.7
| area_water_sq_mi =
| elevation_m = 262
| elevation_ft = 860
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census 2020"/>
| population_total = 3385
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_density_km2 = 72
| population_density_sq_mi =
| timezone = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset = -5
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|Eastern]]
| utc_offset_DST = -4
| postal_code_type = ZIP code
| postal_code = 06751
| area_codes = [[Area codes 203 and 475|203/475]]
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 09-04930
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 0213391
| website = {{URL|www.bethlehemct.org}}
}}
'''Bethlehem''' is a town in [[Litchfield County, Connecticut|Litchfield County]], [[Connecticut]], [[United States]]. The population was 3,385 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020">{{cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US0900504930| title=Census - Geography Profile: Bethlehem town, Litchfield County, Connecticut| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=November 26, 2021}}</ref> down from 3,607 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. The town is part of the [[Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut|Naugatuck Valley Planning Region]]. The town center is a [[Bethlehem Green Historic District|historic district]] and a [[Bethlehem Village, Connecticut|census-designated place]] (CDP).
The town's name has prompted thousands of visitors each December to mail their [[Christmas card]]s at the renowned local post office, situated at 34 East Street, in order to get a "Bethlehem" postmark. The post office also has nearly 100 Christmas-related stamps for customers to decorate their envelopes during the holiday season.<ref name=aaa07>"AAA Connecticut, Massachusetts & Rhode Island Tour Book", 2007, published by the American Automobile Association, page 38</ref>
Bethlehem is one of the two towns in Litchfield County served by the [[area code 203]]/[[area code 475]] overlay. The other is the town of [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]].
==
* Since 1970, elementary education has been handled by Regional School District 14, including Bethlehem Elementary School.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ctreg14.org/|title=Region 14 - Bethlehem & Woodbury Connecticut|website=www.ctreg14.org}}</ref>
* [[Nonnewaug High School]] in neighboring Woodbury is the primary regional high school.
* [[The Woodhall School]] is a private high school located in town.
==Geography==
Bethlehem is in southern Litchfield County and is bordered by [[Morris, Connecticut|Morris]] to the north, [[Watertown, Connecticut|Watertown]] to the east, [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]] to the south, and [[Washington, Connecticut|Washington]] to the west. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Bethlehem has a total area of {{convert|19.7|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|19.4|sqmi|km2}} are land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2|1}}, or 1.45%, is water.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US0900504930| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Bethlehem town, Litchfield County, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=American FactFinder| access-date=October 4, 2019| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213132253/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/0600000US0900504930| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Bethlehem Village, Connecticut|Bethlehem Village census-designated place]] (CDP) corresponding to the center portion of the town has a total area of {{convert|20.9|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|20.2|km2|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.7|km2|order=flip|1}}, or 3.30%, are water.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0904945| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213042141/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US0904945| url-status=dead| archive-date=February 13, 2020| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001), Bethlehem Village CDP, Connecticut| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| website=American FactFinder| access-date=October 4, 2019}}</ref> The two largest water bodies in the town are Long Meadow Pond and the Bronson E. Lockwood Reservoir, both in the northern part of town.
[[Connecticut Route 61]] passes through the town center, leading north to Morris and [[Litchfield, Connecticut|Litchfield]], and south to [[U.S. Route 6 in Connecticut|US 6]] in Woodbury. [[Connecticut Route 132]] takes a winding route through the town, leading south to Woodbury and east into Watertown.
On the eastern side of town is a ridge called "the Devil's Backbone", one of more than 30 Connecticut places named after the devil.<ref name=aaa07/>
===Principal community===
*[[Bethlehem Green Historic District|Bethlehem Village]]
==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 932
|1860= 815
|1870= 750
|1880= 655
|1890= 543
|1900= 576
|1910= 550
|1920= 536
|1930= 644
|1940= 715
|1950= 1015
|1960= 1486
|1970= 1923
|1980= 2573
|1990= 3071
|2000= 3422
|2010= 3607
|2020= 3385
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.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}}
At the 2010 census Bethlehem had a population of 3,607. The racial composition of the population was 97.9% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from some other race and 0.9% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref>2010 population by race and Hispanic or Latino by place chart for Connecticut from the US Census</ref>
At the 2000 [[census]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 3,422 people, 1,246 households and 935 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|176.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,388 housing units at an average density of {{convert|71.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 97.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.26% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.06% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.79% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.03% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.38% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]] and 0.99% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.64% of the population.
There were 1,246 households, of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.11.
25.2% of the population were under the age of 18, 4.5% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 30.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The [[median household income]] was $68,542 and the median family income was $78,863. Males had a median income of $51,623 compared with $37,500 for females. The [[per capita income]] was $29,672. About 0.5% of families and 2.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including none of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 29, 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/registration_and_enrollment_stats/nov19re.pdf?la=en|title=Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 29, 2019|publisher=Connecticut Secretary of State|format=PDF|access-date=February 17, 2020}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Active voters
! Inactive voters
! Total voters
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| align = center | 942
| align = center | 7
| align = center | 949
| align = center | 33.32%
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| align = center | 687
| align = center | 10
| align = center | 697
| align = center | 24.47%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent Party (United States)}}
| [[Independent voter|Unaffiliated]]
| align = center | 1,143
| align = center | 6
| align = center | 1,149
| align = center | 40.34%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| Minor Parties
| align = center | 51
| align = center | 2
| align = center | 53
| align = center | 1.86%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! align = center | 2,823
! align = center | 25
! align = center | 2,848
! align = center | 100%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="4" |Presidential Election Results<ref>{{Cite web|title=General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current|url=https://authoring.ct.gov//SOTS/Election-Services/Statement-Of-Vote-PDFs/General-Elections-Statement-of-Vote-1922|access-date=July 10, 2020|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Election Night Reporting|url=https://ctemspublic.pcctg.net/#/selectTown|access-date=December 16, 2020|website=CT Secretary of State}}</ref>
|-
!Year
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Third party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|39.6% ''937''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.9%''' ''1,393''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.5% ''37''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2016 United States presidential election|2016]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.7% ''801''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''60.7%''' ''1,405''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|4.6% ''106''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2012 United States presidential election|2012]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.0% ''894''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.3%''' ''1,272''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.7% ''16''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2008 United States presidential election|2008]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|45.2% ''1,027''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.3%''' ''1,214''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.5% ''34''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2004 United States presidential election|2004]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.0% ''922''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.8%''' ''1,337''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|2.2% ''52''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[2000 United States presidential election|2000]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.2% ''817''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''52.3%''' ''1,064''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|7.5% ''153''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1996 United States presidential election|1996]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|37.1% ''711''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''45.1%''' ''867''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|17.8% ''342''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|30.7% ''620''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''40.5%''' ''822''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|28.8% ''585''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1988 United States presidential election|1988]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|36.9% ''643''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.7%''' ''1,078''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|1.4% ''26''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1984 United States presidential election|1984]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.2% ''467''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''68.6%''' ''1,026''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.2% ''3''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1980 United States presidential election|1980]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|31.0% ''452''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''56.0%''' ''816''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|13.0% ''189''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1976 United States presidential election|1976]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|41.8% ''542''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''57.9%''' ''755''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.3% ''5''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1972 United States presidential election|1972]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.9% ''408''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''64.5%''' ''755''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.6% ''8''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1968 United States presidential election|1968]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.2% ''377''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''53.4%''' ''502''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|6.4% ''60''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|[[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|'''61.6%''' ''507''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|39.4% ''330''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1960 United States presidential election|1960]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|34.0% ''282''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''66.0%''' ''548''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|[[1956 United States presidential election|1956]]
|align="center" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|22.5% ''159''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''77.5%''' ''548''
|align="center" {{Party shading/Independent}}|0.00% ''0''
|}
==Transportation==
[[Route 61 (Connecticut)|Route 61]] is the main north-south road while [[Route 132 (Connecticut)|Route 132]] is the main east-west road through the town. There is no access to public transportation. The nearest rail station (Metro North) is Waterbury, CT.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://new.mta.info/agency/metro-north-railroad|title=Metro-North Railroad|website=MTA}}</ref> The nearest passenger commercial airports are [[Tweed New Haven Airport]] (40 miles) and [[Bradley International Airport]] (50 miles).
==Local media==
*''[[Waterbury Republican-American]]'', an independent daily newspaper
*''[https://www.primepublishers.com/voicesnews/ Voices]'', a local newspaper serving Southbury, Middlebury, Oxford, Seymour, Naugatuck, Woodbury, Bethelhem, New Preston, Washington, Washington Depot, Roxbury, Bridgewater, Monroe, Sandy Hook and Newtown
==Points of interest==
*[[Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden]], built in 1760 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
*The [[Bethlehem Green Historic District]] contains 63 properties and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
*[[Old Bethlehem Historical Society Museum]]
*[[Christ Episcopal Church (Bethlehem, Connecticut)]]
===Abbey of Regina Laudis===
The town is home to the Benedictine [[Abbey of Regina Laudis]], founded in 1947, one of the first houses of contemplative [[Benedictine]] nuns in the United States. Robert Leather, a [[Protestant]] industrialist, donated {{convert|400|acre|km2}} of land on which the convent is located. The convent now has 37 nuns.
The abbey is known for its commitment to the arts, especially the performance of [[Gregorian chant]]. The acting background of Mother [[Dolores Hart]], [[O.S.B.]], has prompted the convent to sponsor annual summer theatre productions.
Hart has worked with fellow artists, including James and Dawn Douglas, to found the Act Association, a group that performs at The Gary-The Olivia Theater, an open-air venue which seats about 200 people. Built in 1982 with the help of actress [[Patricia Neal]], this open-air theater seats about 200 people. Productions have included plays by Shakespeare, Sartre, opera and musical reviews. Patricia Neal and James Douglas appeared in ''[[She Stoops to Conquer]]'' in 1999.
==Events==
*Bethlehem Fair<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE BETHLEHEM FAIR |url=http://www.bethlehemfair.com/ |access-date=April 3, 2023 |website=Community Event |language=en}}</ref> is held the weekend after Labor Day in September on the picturesque fairgrounds located at 384 Main St N.
*Connecticut Garlic and Harvest Festival<ref name=cult>{{cite news |title=The Cult of the Cloves |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/30/garden/30garden.html?hpw=&pagewanted=all |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 29, 2010 |access-date=October 5, 2010 }}</ref> is held in October at the town fairgrounds.
*Christmas Town Festival<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://christmastownfestival.com/index.html|title = Annual Bethlehem Christmas Town Festival}}</ref> is held the first weekend of December on the town green.
==Notable people==
[[Image:BarberJohnWarnerBethlehemCT.jpg|thumb|right|350px|''View of the center of Bethlehem'' by [[John Warner Barber]] (published 1836), said to be the earliest depiction of the town]]
* [[Christine Baranski]], actress, and her husband, the actor and playwright [[Matthew Cowles]]
* [[Joseph Bellamy]] (1719–1790), influential [[Congregationalist]] theologian in the 18th century, was pastor at the Congregational church in town for 50 years, until his death
* [[Jess Davis (modern pentathlete)|Jess Davis]], U.S. Olympian, [[modern pentathlon]]
* [[James Douglas (actor)|James Douglas]], died there in 2016
* [[Dolores Hart]], former actress who appeared with [[Elvis Presley]], became a Roman Catholic nun at the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in town, ultimately becoming head (or "prioress") of the convent. Her formal title now is the Reverend Mother Dolores Hart
* [[David Leavitt (banker)|David Leavitt]] (1791–1879), New York City banker, financier and art collector, born at Bethlehem to the Connecticut legislator and businessman David Leavitt Sr.
* [[Noella Marcellino]], Benedictine nun who earned a doctorate in [[microbiology]] from the University of Connecticut and became a Roman Catholic nun at the Benedictine Abbey of Regina Laudis in town. She won a Fulbright scholarship to France to collect and examine native strains of fungi from traditional [[cheese caves]], with an emphasis on ''[[Geotrichum candidum]]'', and stayed an additional three years on a grant from the French government in order to analyze the samples
* Peter Saccio, Shakespeare scholar<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dartmouth mourns Peter Saccio |date=August 28, 2024 |url=https://english.dartmouth.edu/news/2024/08/mourning-loss-peter-saccio-celebrated-shakespearean-scholar}}</ref>
*[[Dani Shapiro]] Author and podcaster.
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website|http://www.bethlehemct.org}}
*[http://www.ci.bethlehem.ct.us/obhsi.htm Old Bethlehem Historical Society Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405182354/http://www.ci.bethlehem.ct.us/obhsi.htm |date=April 5, 2009 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070713133845/http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/85bellamy/85bellamy.htm ''The Joseph Bellamy House: The Great Awakening in Puritan New England,''] a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan
{{Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut}}
{{Litchfield County, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}
{{New England}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Bethlehem, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Litchfield County, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1787]]
[[Category:Towns in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Towns in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Towns in Naugatuck Valley Planning Region, Connecticut]]
| |||