For other places with the same name, see Lebanon (disambiguation).

Lebanon, Connecticut
Location in Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°37′57″N 72°14′24″W / 41.6325, -72.24
NECTA	Hartford
Region	Windham Region
Incorporated	1700
Government
- Type	Selectman-town meeting
- First selectman	Joyce R. Okonuk
Area
- Total	143.0 km² (55.2 sq mi)
- Land	140.2 km² (54.1 sq mi)
- Water	2.9 km² (1.1 sq mi)
Elevation	152 m (499 ft)
Population (2005)[1]
- Total	7,334
- Density	52/km² (136/sq mi)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	06249
Area code(s)	860
FIPS code	09-42390
GNIS feature ID	0213449
Website: http://www.lebanontownhall.org/

Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich and has its origins in the expansion of Norwich residents to land beyond the “nine miles square” they had bought from the Mohegan sachem Uncas. The first grants in the area were given on January 5, 1641 to Maj. John Mason (ca. 1600-1672), deputy governor of the Connecticut colony, and in 1668 to Rev. James Fitch (1622-1702), minister of Norwich. The grants were in the southwestern part of what is now Lebanon, an area the Indians called Pomakuck, and lay between Deep River and Goshen Hill. The next significant grant was a strip of land a mile wide and about six miles long on the Norwich border; this land became known as “Mr. Fitch’s Mile,” “the Fitch and Mason,” or just “The Mile.” Then, in 1692, four Norwich men bought a large tract from Owaneco, one of the sons of Uncas; this area was called the “Five Miles Square” or simply the “Five Mile.” The dashed line represents the Owaneco grant; the solid outer perimeter is the present Lebanon boundary. The Lebanon Historical Society has even located a 1693 corner marker known as the “Five Mile Rock” at the southwest corner of the tract. Various grants, with certain strips and gores purchased at a later date, make up the town of Lebanon. Maj. Mason was undoubtedly the first English proprietor, but not a resident. The distribution into lots, the occupation and actual settlement of the town, began in 1695. The number of grants and allotments bearing date November 1695 is about fifty. In the earliest roll of inhabitants, made soon after 1699, are the names of four sons of the Rev. Mr. Fitch, -Jeremiah, Nathaniel, Joseph, Eleazer.

Among Lebanon’s best known patriots are William Williams, member of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence, and Jonathan Trumbull, the only Colonial governor to become the governor of a state.

Williams was a fiery orator who traveled throughout the state to inspire support for the war and spent much of his personal fortune on supplies for the troops.

History

William Williams

Incorporated in 1700, from the Biblical name Lebanon which “was suggested to Mr. Fitch, by the height of the land, and a large cedar forest.”^[2] Lebanon was home to William Williams, delegate for Connecticut to the Second Continental Congress in 1776, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. Lebanon is also home to Connecticut's first Governor, Jonathan Trumbull. The Revolutionary War Office is located on the town's historic green, along with the William Beaumont home and the Wadsworth Stable. The town was also home to famous American neo-classical painter John Trumbull and his brother Governor Jonathan Trumbull Jr. In 1780-1781, the town had the distinction of being the place in which the Catholic "Mass was first celebrated, continuously and for a long period, within the limits of the State of Connecticut."^[3]

American Revolution

Connecticut’s war effort during the Revolutionary War was directed from the War Office on the Green and the adjacent home of Gov. Jonathan Trumbull Sr.

"During the Revolutionary War, Governor Jonathan Trumbull [Sr.] convened the Council of Safety to deal with the defense of the colony of Connecticut and to supply provisions to the Continental Army. Many of the over 1,100 meetings were held in this building. Among major figures who participated in the work done here were General Knox, Putnam, the Count de Rochambeau, George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette."^[4]

The importance of Governor Trumbull and Lebanon itself to the war effort earned the town the nickname "Heartbeat of the Revolution."

Lauzun's Legion in Lebanon

In the winter and spring of 1781 (from November 1780 to June 21, 1781),^[5] the French Duc de Lauzin's Legion of Horse, comprising 220 soldiers, encamped in Lebanon. The troops were generally well behaved,^[6] which was apparently unusual for them -- they were later known for pillaging. A patrol of hussars, horses and all, did desert into the woods, and two less lucky Frenchmen, corporals Christoph Hand and Joseph Frank, were executed by firing squad in April 1781 for desertion. At this stage, however, the troops and officers were relatively well supervised. (The next winter, according to one officer, a fifth of the officers in the contingent engaged in duels with each other.)^[5]

"The rank and file included subjects of 15 European countries, from Ireland to Russia and from Denmark to Hungary. Just a third of the men were French. ... The officers hailed from Sweden and from France, from England and Ireland, from Poland and from sundry German states. Among them they spoke eight tongues, but by tradition and heritage the unit cursed in Hungarian," according to historian Robert A. Selig.^[5]

Lauzun himself was once described by Rochambeau as the "most amiable man in France." But he added that the duke was "often the most foolish...who never had enough force of character to be successful."^[5]

Residents made a bit of money off of the troops, but not much.^[6] In June, the soldiers rode off toward White Plains, New York. Lauzun later wrote in his memoirs, "Siberia alone can furnish any idea of Lebanon, which consists of a few huts scattered among vast forests." Lauzun was later praised by Rochambeau for his heroism. (He was later guillotined during the French Revolution).^[5]

Lebanon today

Economically, the town has large agricultural and service sectors, the largest employers being farms and the school system. KofKoff Egg Farms, Connecticut's largest egg producer, maintains a farm in the town. The Lebanon Country Fair, seasonally the earliest fair held in Connecticut, is known for its agricultural shows. The Lebanon School District is responsible for the town's three schools, including Lyman Memorial High School, with total enrollment of over 1500 students. The town's historic Common, or Green, is a mile in length and the largest in the nation. It is the site of many of Lebanon's most prominent past citizens' homes, including Gov. Trumbull and William Beaumont. Three churches (First Congregational Church of Lebanon, Lebanon Baptist Church and Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church) are also located on the Lebanon Green. The Redeemer Lutheran Church is located at the "Village Hill" area of town, with the Lebanon Bible Church and Goshen Congregational Church located in the "Goshen" area of town. A town museum was recently constructed as well.

Notable residents, present and past

Gov. Jonathan Trumbull

• Jonathan Trumbull, Sr. (1710–1785), governor of Connecticut, father of Jonathan Trumbull, Jr., and a strong supporter of Washington during the American Revolutionary War, studied theology in Lebanon and later died in the town, where he is buried (portrait at right)
• Eleazar Wheelock (1711-1779), The Rev. Eleazar Wheelock, Congregational minister, orator, educator, and founder of Dartmouth College, was born 22 Apr 1711 in Windham, Connecticut.
• William Williams (1731–1811), merchant and delegate for Connecticut to the Second Continental Congress in 1776, where he signed the Declaration of Independence.
• Joseph Trumbull (1737–1778), a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774 (did not attend sessions), and colonel in the Continental Army. He served as one of the Commissary Generals. Son of Jonathon Trumbull, Sr.
• John Trumbull (1756–1843), famous American artist, born in town. Son of Jonathon Trumbull, Sr.
• Jonathan Trumbull, Jr. (1740-1809), served as General George Washington's secretary during the American Revolution; later eight-term governor of the state. Son of Jonathon Trumbull, Sr.
• Joseph Trumbull (1782–1861), represented Connecticut in the U.S. Congress and served as governor. Grandson of Jonathan Trumbull, Sr.
• William Beaumont (1785-1853), the "Father of Gastric Physiology," whose book describing digestion, published in 1833, became a classical medical study still used today.
• Ralph Gurley (1797-1872), a clergyman, chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, and an influential figure in the American Colonization Society, which offered passage to their colony in west Africa (now Liberia), to free black Americans.
• William Alfred Buckingham (1804-1875) Born in Lebanon, Conn., May 28, 1804, died Feb. 3, 1875. Educated in the public school system and entered the mercantile business at 21, in Norwich. Elected Mayor, 1849, 50,56, and 57. Elected Governor of Connecticut, 1858 for seven terms. Served during the Civil War. Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1868 and died in office.
• Nelson Dewey (1813-1889), first governor of Wisconsin (1848-1852) at the age of 35, born in town.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 55.2 square miles (143.1 km²), of which, 54.1 square miles (140.1 km²) of it is land and 1.1 square miles (2.9 km²) of it (2.05%) is water. Gates Hill, at 660 ft., is the highest point in the town and in New London County.

Demographics

The town seal

As of the census^[7] of 2000, there were 6,907 people, 2,446 households, and 1,934 families residing in the town. The population density was 127.6 people per square mile (49.3/km²). There were 2,820 housing units at an average density of 52.1/sq mi (20.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.89% White, 0.81% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.

There were 2,446 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.4% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 15.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town the population was spread out with 28.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $61,173, and the median income for a family was $63,198. Males had a median income of $45,952 versus $35,594 for females. The per capita income for the town was $25,784. About 1.5% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.0% of those under age 18 and 3.7% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. ^ U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates
2. ^ M.E. Perkins, Old Houses of the Ancient Town of Norwich, 1660-1800 [1895], p. 97
3. ^ Right Rev. Thomas S. Duggan, D.D., The Catholic Church in Connecticut, 1930, p.13-14
4. ^ [1] War Office page of the Trumbull Town Hall Web site, accessed July 22, 2006
5. ^ ^{a b c d e} [2] Selig, Robert A, "The Duc de Lauzun and his Legion: Rochambeau's most troublesome, colorful soldiers," at AmericanRevolution.org Web site, retrieved August 1, 2006
6. ^ ^{a b} Ifkovic, John W., Connecticut's Nationalist Revolutionary: Jonathan Trumbull, Junior, 1977, American Revolution Bicentennial Commission of Connecticut, The New Era Printing Company Inc., Deep River, Connecticut, p. 55; Ifkovic cites Ricketts, Rowland Jr., "The French in Lebanon, 1780-1781," The Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin, XXXVI (January 1971), pp. 23-31
7. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
8. ^ Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005 (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved on 2006-10-02.

External links

• Official town government Web site
• Jonathan Trumbull Library, the town public library
• Jonathan Trumbull, Junior House Museum
• Mystic Country: The Eastern Regional Tourism District
• Lebanon Historical Society
• First Congregational Church of Lebanon (UCC)

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