Chester, Connecticut
Chester, Connecticut Location within the state of Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°24′08″N 72°28′57″W / 41.40222, -72.4825
NECTA	New Haven
Region	Connecticut River Estuary
Incorporated	1836
Government
- Type	Selectman-town meeting
- First selectman	Thomas E. Marsh
Area
- Total	43.5 km² (16.8 sq mi)
- Land	41.5 km² (16.0 sq mi)
- Water	2.1 km² (0.8 sq mi)
Elevation	110 m (361 ft)
Population (2005)
- Total	3,832
- Density	92/km² (240/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	06412
Area code(s)	860
FIPS code	09-14300
GNIS feature ID	0213407
Website: http://www.chesterct.com/

Chester is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,743 at the 2000 census. The town center is also defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP).

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 16.8 square miles (43.6 km²), of which, 16.0 square miles (41.5 km²) of it is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it (4.75%) is water. The CDP has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.3 km²) of which 1.46% is water.

The popular YMCA Camp Hazen[1] is located in Chester, on Cedar Lake.

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 3,743 people, 1,510 households, and 1,005 families residing in the town. The population density was 233.5 people per square mile (90.2/km²). There were 1,613 housing units at an average density of 100.6/sq mi (38.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.79% White, 0.85% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.83% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.24% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.

Memorial Day ceremony in Chester, 1990

There were 1,510 households out of which 29.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.9% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 4.4% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $65,156, and the median income for a family was $79,941. Males had a median income of $45,515 versus $40,444 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,191. None of the families and 1.3% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and 2.6% of those over 64.

CDP

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,546 people, 632 households, and 401 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 294.0/km² (762.1/sq mi). There were 669 housing units at an average density of 329.8/sq mi (127.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 96.31% White, 1.29% African American, 0.06% Native American, 1.36% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.

There were 632 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.9% under the age of 18, 4.9% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 26.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $64,236, and the median income for a family was $71,250. Males had a median income of $38,900 versus $46,354 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $32,087. None of the families and 0.5% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no under eighteens and none of those over 64.

Education

Chester, like the other two towns in the "tri-town area" (Essex and Deep River), is a member of Regional School District #4. John Winthrop Junior High School and Valley Regional High School, which are both on Warsaw Street in Deep River, serve students for grades 7-8 and 9-12, respectively.

Notable residents, past and present

• Paul Hopkins (1904-2004) relief pitcher who played for the Washington Senators (1927, 1929) and St. Louis Browns (1929), born in town
• Sol LeWitt (b. 1928-2007), artist
• Morley Safer (b. 1931), CBS news correspondent and anchor on "60 Minutes"
• Max Showalter (1917-2000), film and television actor.
• Tyler Johnson (b. 1980), professional cyclist, and triathlete. Four time US national team member.

Pictures of Chester

Chester High School, circa 1906-1916

Oldest house in Chester, built 1649 (picture circa 1906-1916)

Old Stone Store, circa 1901-1907

Main Street, looking east, circa 1901-1907

References

External links

• Town government Web site
• Central Regional Tourism District

	v â€¢ d â€¢ e State of Connecticut Hartford (capital)
Topics	Culture | Geography | Government | History | Images | People
Regions	Gold Coast | Greater Bridgeport | Greater Danbury | Greater Hartford | Greater New Haven | Litchfield Hills | Lower Connecticut River Valley | Naugatuck River Valley | Quiet Corner | Southeastern Connecticut | Southwestern Connecticut
Counties	Fairfield | Hartford | Litchfield | Middlesex | New Haven | New London | Tolland | Windham
Cities	Ansonia | Bridgeport | Bristol | Danbury | Derby | Groton | Hartford | Meriden | Middletown | Milford | New Britain | New Haven | New London | Norwalk | Norwich | Shelton | Stamford | Torrington | Waterbury | West Haven
Places	Towns | Boroughs | Villages | Historic Places | Geography

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Middlesex County, Connecticut City Middletown Towns Chester | Clinton | Cromwell | Deep River | Durham | East Haddam | East Hampton | Essex | Haddam | Killingworth | Middlefield | Old Saybrook | Portland | Westbrook Borough Fenwick Communities Centerbrook | Essex Village | Higganum | Ivoryton | Lake Pocotopaug | Moodus | Old Saybrook Center | Rockfall | Saybrook Manor