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HAMPTON CONNECTICUT
Located in Northeastern Connecticut,
 securely nestled in Connecticut's "Last Green Valley,"
Hampton retains
its character as a special New England Town. Each season provides its
own unique beauty. There are places to hike, bike, fish, cross-country
ski, paint, photograph or just walk to replenish your spirit. Hampton is
the perfect place to gather family and friends together to experience
the very best of Northeast Connecticut.
Within its borders, you will find
friendly people, knowledgeable farmers, skilled tradesmen, talented
artists and writers as well as dedicated Town Officials, teachers and
volunteers.
Settled in the early years of the 18th
century as Windham Village, the first settlers were primarily
farmers, whose immediate work was to clear and plow the land, plant
crops, dig root cellars, and build houses, barns, and sheds. They also
harnessed water power to run the grist and saw mills.
Cattle were crucial for survival. The
settlers needed oxen to plow and cows for milk, butter, cheese, and
meat. Their diet also included fish, turkey, deer, rabbit, duck, and dove as
well as fruits, vegetables, and nuts.
Work on the farm was hard. The entire
family worked day and night. In addition, some time had to be set aside
to home school the children. But none of this discouraged more people
from moving to the new settlement.
Years passed...the settlement grew. And
when the call came to declare independence from England, the finest men
went to fight in the Revolutionary War - among them were Peter Foster
and his 12 sons (a united service that was unsurpassed by any other
Colonial family). Local farm families generously supplied food for
Washington's' men.
In 1786, when the Town of Hampton was
incorporated; its citizens were farmers, tradesmen, merchants, teachers, lawyers,
pastors, and doctors. There were mills along the Little River
as early as 1718, making cider, shingles, and cotton. There was a tannery and factories
that made pins, buttons, rakes, spectacles, hats, and silver spoons.
There were one-room schools for the children and inns for travelers. And
in the Winter, local ponds were used to supply ice to everyone who owned
an ice house.
During the Civil War, many brave men
served in the Union Army. Their mothers, wives, sisters, and daughters
stayed at home sewing and knitting for the troops.
The Town experienced a dramatic
transformation in 1872 when a railroad station was built here due to the
efforts of former
Governor,
Chauncey Cleveland. Having the railroad stop in Hampton meant that
farmers could safely transport perishables to places as far away as
Boston and students could now travel to better their education. By the
early 1900's, Summer visitors came and brought a welcome new source of
revenue to the Town.
With the arrival of the Industrial Age,
the men - and later the women - left their Hampton farms and declining
businesses and commuted to work in the large mills in Willimantic.
The Great War, the Depression, and the
invention of the automobile also came after the turn of the century.
Electricity, central heating, and indoor plumbing were becoming
commonplace here.
James L. Goodwin
developed orchards, as well as lumber and stone-cutting businesses, all
were contained within the original 1,723 acres now known as Goodwin
Forest. Pride swelled as Hampton got a Library
and Volunteer Fire Company.
The hurricane of '38 blew through the
Town. Then came the dark days of World War II. Hampton sent 49
outstanding men and women to defend our flag and suffered one
casualty...an important member of a founding family - Technical Sergeant
Leslie L. Jewett.
As the economy of Hampton became less
dependent on farming, people realized the need to focus on preserving as
much of the remaining open land as possible. No one was more qualified
to promote this thinking that the Pulitzer Prize winning naturalist,
Edwin Way Teale. He and his wife, Nellie, called their 168 acre Hampton
property "Trail Wood." The walking trails, their house, and his books
are still available for all to enjoy.
Because so many people cared about land
preservation and the rural lifestyle, the character of Hampton has come
full circle. There are open spaces, woodlands, and farms dotting the
landscape again. And throughout the Town, there are neighborly people
who want to enjoy the benefits of country living.
It is in this exact setting - a blend
of the "old" and the "new" - that Hampton residents will continue to
enjoy a good quality of life for generations to come.
Preserving open space and controlled, responsible development are
2 of the town's goals. To read more, please see the Hampton
Plan of Conservation and Development.
Text from
'Hampton...
a very special place';
written by Barbara Andersen; used with permission. |
FACTS
Population: 2,034
Area: 25.5 square miles
Roads: 39.97 miles of improved
roads
3.28 miles of unimproved roads
Households: 709
Registered Voters: 1,227
(as of 2/19/08)
Democrats:407
Republicans:341
Unaffiliated: 464
Other: 15
For more data about Hampton, see the
CERC.com 2008
profile
or the
2006-2007
Hampton Annual Report
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