Norwich, Connecticut

Norwich is a city in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The Yantic, Shetucket, and Quinebaug Rivers flow into the city and form its harbor, from which the Thames River flows south to Long Island Sound. It is part of the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region.

In the year 2020, the city had a population of 40,125 people, according to the 2020 United States Census. The Norwich–New London metropolitan area includes 21 towns and is home to 274,055 people. The city's location near important rivers and its growing community make it an interesting place to learn about.

History

The town of Norwich was founded in 1659 by settlers from Saybrook Colony. They bought land from Mohegan Sachem Uncas and started a community called Norwichtown. Over time, Norwich grew from a farming town into a busy port. By the late 1700s, shipping became more important than farming, especially when mills began operating along the rivers.

Norwich played an important role during the American Revolution, helping supply soldiers and goods. In the 1800s, railroads and steamships helped the city grow even more. The city’s first electric trolleys began running in 1892, connecting Norwich to nearby towns.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, Norwich, Connecticut, has a total area of 29.5 square miles (76.4 km²). Most of this area, 28.3 square miles (73.4 km²), is land, with the rest being water.

Neighborhoods

Main article: Neighborhoods of Norwich, Connecticut

Norwich has several neighborhoods with their own names and signs showing their borders. These neighborhoods include Norwichtown, Bean Hill, Yantic, Taftville, Greeneville, Occum, East Great Plains, Thamesville, Laurel Hill, and Chelsea (the original downtown area).

Demographics

See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

2020 census

In the 2020 census, Norwich had a population of 40,125 people. The middle age was 39.1 years. About 21% of the residents were younger than 18, and 16% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

Most people, 97.1%, lived in urban areas, while a small part, 2.9%, lived in rural areas.

There were 16,816 homes in Norwich. About 28% of these homes had children under 18 living in them. Many homes were led by single parents—about 23% had a male parent alone and 34% had a female parent alone. Around 33% of homes were made up of single people, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

There were 18,769 places to live, but 10.4% of them were empty. The rate of empty homes for people who owned them was 2.5%, and for homes that people rented, it was 7.6%.

2000 census

In the year 2000, Norwich had 36,117 people living there. There were 15,091 homes and 9,069 families. The number of people per square mile was 1,274.7. There were 16,600 places to live, with an average of 585.9 per square mile.

About 29% of homes had children under 18. Almost 41% were homes with married couples, 15% had a female parent without a husband, and almost 40% were not families. Over 32% of homes had just one person, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. On average, each home had 2.34 people, and each family had 2.96 people.

The ages of people in Norwich were spread out: 24% were under 18, about 9% were between 18 and 24, 30% were between 25 and 44, 21.5% were between 45 and 64, and 15% were 65 or older. The middle age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.

2012 estimates

In 2012, the middle income for a home in Norwich was $51,300. About 15% of the people lived below the poverty line.

Arts and culture

The Slater Memorial Museum is on the campus of the Norwich Free Academy. It is named for John Fox Slater, who helped support the school for twenty years. The museum has many artworks from all over the world, including North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Special collections include Asian art, African and Oceanic art, and 19th-century American paintings. One part of the museum shows items collected by the Slater family during their trip around the world.

Sports

The Norwich Navigators, a team linked to the San Francisco Giants, played at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium from 1995 until they moved to Richmond, Virginia in 2010. After that, the stadium became home to the Norwich Sea Unicorns, who are part of the New York–Penn League. The TV show The Bronx Is Burning was also filmed at Dodd Stadium.

Parks and recreation

Mohegan Park

This large forested area is Norwich's biggest park. It has many hiking and biking trails, picnic tables, grills, and places to rent for events. You can also find a beach, basketball courts, a special garden for roses, and playgrounds here. The park is a nice place for outdoor activities and special events like summer runs.

The Park Center includes a pond called Spaulding Pond, a square area, a fountain, playgrounds, and a place for dogs. Some parts of the park have changed over time, but many efforts have been made to keep it looking nice.

Ice rink

The Norwich Municipal Ice Rink has a big ice surface for hockey, four locker rooms, and other helpful features. It was built in 1995 and is used by local ice hockey teams, including the Rose City Warriors, Norwich's Senior Women's Ice Hockey Team.

Government

Norwich elects a Mayor to lead the City Council, which has six other members. The Mayor can serve up to two terms of four years, while council members serve terms of two years. The council chooses important roles such as the Town and City Clerk and a City Manager who helps run the city's daily tasks.

Education

Students in Norwich go to schools run by Norwich Public Schools. The middle schools include Teachers' Memorial Global Studies Middle School and Kelly STEAM Magnet Middle School. There is also an alternative school called the Integrated Day Charter School.

The main high school for students in Norwich and nearby towns is the Norwich Free Academy. It opened in 1855 and is supported by donations, local taxes, and state funds. In 2006, a person named Sidney Frank gave $12 million, and a building was named after him: the Sidney E. Frank Center for Visual and Performing Arts.

Another option is Norwich Technical High School, which helps students learn job skills. Many towns around Norwich send their students there.

Nearby, Three Rivers Community College offers higher education to people in the area.

Economy

Top employers

Norwich has many important jobs that help the city run. The top employers there were listed in a report from 2022.

Infrastructure

Norwich has several ways to get around. The main bus stop is at the Norwich Transportation Center on Holly Hock Island, close to downtown. Buses from there go to places like Willimantic and Putnam. In the past, Norwich had a railroad station, but today only freight trains run through the area.

The closest train station for passengers is in New London. For air travel, the nearest airports are Bradley International Airport and Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport, both about an hour away by car. There have been ideas to bring passenger trains back to Norwich in the future.

The city provides its own electricity, natural gas, water, and sewage services through Norwich Public Utilities. This is special because Norwich is the only city in Connecticut that owns its own gas system and one of only five that runs its own electricity system. Each year, Norwich Public Utilities gives back 10% of its money to the city.

Notable people

Norwich, Connecticut, has been home to many interesting people throughout history. Some well-known individuals born or raised there include photographer Richard Albertine, science fiction author Christopher Anvil, and American Revolutionary War general Benedict Arnold.

Other notable figures from Norwich include writers like Wally Lamb, creator of She's Come Undone, and E. Annie Proulx, journalist and author. The city has also seen its share of political leaders, such as William Alfred Buckingham, who served as both Mayor of Norwich and Governor of Connecticut.

Athletes like Major League Baseball outfielder Rajai Davis and football player Matt Shaughnessy also call Norwich their hometown. The city has contributed to many fields, from politics and literature to science and sports.