South Windsor is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 26,918 at the 2020 census. It is home to two historic districts.
History
In 1659, Thomas Burnham (1617–1688) purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children. Beginning in the middle of the 17th century, a few settlers from Windsor began using land on the east bank of the Connecticut River for grazing and farming purposes. By 1700, a number of families had made their homes in the area. In 1768, the residents of the area were allowed to incorporate as the separate town of East Windsor, though the area was informally referred to as East Windsor before this time. At the time, the town included all of what is now the present-day towns of East Windsor, South Windsor, and Ellington. Known for its agriculture and ship building, the town of East Windsor, including South Windsor, supplied more than 200 volunteers during the American Revolution. In 1786, Ellington became an independent town, and South Windsor was incorporated as a separate town in 1845. Tobacco has been a major crop grown in South Windsor since its founding.
(Old) Main Street, located near the Connecticut River and running north to south from the border of East Windsor to that of East Hartford, is the center of the town's historic district. The Wood Memorial Library & Museum and Ellsworth School are located on the street. Minister Timothy Edwards, the namesake of the town's middle school, is buried in a cemetery located on this street. In 1698, Edwards became the first minister for the settlers on the east side of the river, and his church was built on Main Street (in present-day South Windsor). His son, theologian Jonathan Edwards, was born in South Windsor (at the time still part of Windsor). Ulysses S. Grant stayed at a home on the street.
The town has become less and less agricultural and rural since 1950. This former farming community has been transformed into a suburban town with industrial and commercial districts. The town's population more than tripled between 1950 and 2000. In the early 1990s, residents mobilized a successful campaign against a proposed nuclear waste dump located near the East Windsor town line.
On the National Register of Historic Places
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 28.7 square miles (74.3 km2), of which 28.1 square miles (72.7 km2) is land and 0.62 square miles (1.6 km2), or 2.12%, is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2020, there were 26,918 people and 9,926 families residing in the town. The population density was 944.5 inhabitants per square mile (364.7/km2). There were 10,804 housing units at an average density of 379.1 per square mile (146.4/km2).
The racial makeup of the town was 68.7% White, 18.4% Asian, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 4.4% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.9% from other races, and 6.4% from two or more races.
There were 9,926 households, out of which 20.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.9% were married couples living together, 19.0% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 11.2% had a male householder with no spouse present.
In the town, the population included 25.7% age birth to 19; 5.4% from age 20 to 24; 24.1% from age 25 to 44; 29.0% from age 45 to 64; and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.4 years.
The median household income in the town was $126,996, and the median income for a married-couple family was $153,438. About 4.9% of people were below the poverty line, including 7.0% of those under the age of 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Among residents age 25 or over, 55.0% held a bachelor's degree or higher, and 97.0% held a high school or equivalent degree.
Economy
Top employers
Top employers in South Windsor according to the town's 2024 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
Education
Children attending the public school systems in South Windsor begin at the elementary school level (Kindergarten through Grade 5) at one of four elementary schools: Pleasant Valley, Orchard Hill, Philip R. Smith, and Eli Terry. Wapping Elementary School was transferred to the Parks and Recreation department for several years before being turned over to the high school in 2023 for additional classroom space due to growing school enrollment. After graduating from elementary school, students then move on to Timothy Edwards Middle School, for grades 6–8. They also have the choice to go to a magnet school, Two Rivers Magnet Middle School in East Hartford. They then finish up their schooling at South Windsor High School. Over 140 students in the 2004, 2005, and 2006 classes have been admitted to the University of Connecticut in Storrs.
Government and politics
Town council
South Windsor is governed by a council-manager form of government. The town manager is appointed by the town council and the leader of the council is designated as the mayor, with a deputy mayor also chosen from amongst the council.
The town council holds its elections every two years, on odd-numbered years. Effective in 2025, each party nominates only up to five candidates for the nine town council positions (which are all at-large), and each voter may only vote for up to five candidates from the pool of all candidates nominated by all parties. The top nine vote-getters win seats on the town council; as a result the council always has a 5–4 majority (assuming only two parties are participating), ensuring representation of the minority party.
Notable people
- Israel Bissell (1752–1823), post rider, rode from Lexington to Philadelphia to warn about the British
- Nancy Caffyn (1934–2010), mayor and state legislator
- Marcus Camby (born 1974), National Basketball Association player
- Chris Clark (born 1976), former National Hockey League player
- Michael Donnelly (1959–2005), Gulf War veteran and activist
- Jonathan Edwards (1703–1758), theologian
- Timothy Edwards (1669–1758), clergyman, namesake of Timothy Edwards Middle School
- John Fitch (1743–1798), inventor
- Will Friedle (born 1976), actor, voice actor and comedian
- Alex Grossi (born 1976), guitarist for the rock band Quiet Riot
- Jack Hathaway (born 1982), astronaut, one of the 10 candidates selected as part of NASA Astronaut Group 23
- Romil Hemnani (born 1995), musician, member of hip hop group Brockhampton
- Deborah Dillon Lightfoot (1956–2007), wheelchair athlete; National Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame
- Fraser Metzger (1872–1954), clergyman, politician, college administrator
- Brent Morin (born 1986), actor/comedian (Undateable)
- Paul Pasqualoni (born 1949), former head coach of the University of Connecticut football team
- Jeff Porcaro (1954–1992), member of rock band Toto
- Mike Porcaro (1955–2015), member of rock band Toto
- Steve Porcaro (born 1957), member of rock band Toto
- Abner Reed, engraver and writer who lived at 932 Main Street
- Brian Sullivan, ice hockey player
- Eli Terry (1772–1852), clockmaker, inventor
- Oliver Wolcott (1726–1797), signer of the Declaration of Independence
- Houman Younessi (1963–2016), scientist