Coventry, Connecticut

Coventry is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 11,504 at the 2000 census. The birthplace of Capt. Nathan Hale, Coventry is home to the Nathan Hale Homestead, which is now a museum open to the public.

Coventry was incorporated in May, 1712.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 99.4 km² (38.4 mi²). 97.7 km² (37.7 mi²) of it is land and 1.7 km² (0.6 mi²) of it (1.67%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 11,504 people, 4,261 households, and 3,191 families residing in the town. The population density was 117.8/km² (305.0/mi²). There were 4,486 housing units at an average density of 45.9/km² (118.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.95% White, 0.57% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.72% of the population.

There were 4,261 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.0% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.1% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $64,680, and the median income for a family was $72,674. Males had a median income of $48,164 versus $36,514 for females. The per capita income for the town was $27,143. About 2.0% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Miscellaneous Information

The old center of the town is in South Coventry, near the intersection of State Route 31 (Main Street) and State Route 275 (Stonehouse Road). In the 19th century, there was a small industrial center including mills powered by the water from Coventry Lake Brook as it flowed towards the Willimantic River. South Coventry Village, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, also includes several Victorian houses, a museum, the main branch of the public library, and the Bidwell Tavern, a bar/restaurant established in 1822. A few doors down is the (no longer functioning) W.L Wellwood General Store. The general store was originally built in 1787 making it one of, if not the oldest General Store in America (current owner claims to have not found one older). In all, the area has over 100 historical buildings on the national register.

North Coventry's settlement is less dense, and its housing and businesses are of more recent construction. In the 18th century, this section of the town was largely used for dairy and vegetable farming. As the United States expanded westward, many farming families left the rocky fields of Connecticut for the more fertile land of the Ohio River valley. Most of the farms in North Coventry were abandoned, and the land reclaimed by second-growth forest. In the 1960s and 1970s, tract housing developments were built on some of this land, mainly raised ranch or split-level houses on one acre (4,000 m²) lots. Development slowed from the mid-1970s through the 1990s, but several new developments were constructed in North Coventry after 1990. These tend to feature larger houses on two acre (8,000 m²) lots. Construction has now increased in the new millennium with the purchase of large parcels of old farm land by developers interested in building large and somewhat luxurious homes starting in the $300,000-400,000 range.

The center of North Coventry is at the intersection of Main Street and US Route 44 (officially Boston Turnpike, but usually referred to simply as "Route 44" by the residents). Near this intersection are two shopping plazas. The first one contains a large "Highland Park" market. One can buy most any types of common foodstuffs here, as well as freshly baked bread in the morning. This plaza also contains a package store, a coffee shop, a movie rental, and a bank. The second plaza also has a bank, as well as a CVS and a Dunkin' Doughnuts.

• Coventry Lake (also known as Wangumbaug lake) is a fairly large lake with multiple beaches, mainly private. Patriots Park provides an excellent area for retreats, with a guarded beach for swimming, a playground, a picnic area, lodge facilities, a new Community Center, and band shell for summer concerts. The Park is also the home of the Coventry Lake Water Ski Team and the UConn Women’s Crew Team. Next door is a boat launch run by the State of Connecticut. The lake is fed by springs, and has one natural outlet, known as Coventry Lake Brook. The brook flows towards South Coventry center and ultimately into the Willimantic River. The lake tends to be on the clear clean side. Occasionally during the winter months the lake will freeze over and the residents on the lake will ice fish or skate around on the ice.

Once a year is an event entitled 'Coventryfest' which occurs in the southern regions of coventry on the lake.

Coventry is one of the many "Twin Cities" of Coventry, England, the city it was named for. Some of the other twin cities of the original Coventry include Coventry, New York and Coventry, Rhode Island.

Notable people, past and present

• Lorenzo Dow (1777–1834), an eccentric, itinerant minister whose infamy, influence and travels throughout the country led to many thousands of U.S. children of the early 19th century to be named after him, was born in town.
• Nathan Hale (1755–1776) was born in town.

External link

• Coventry, CT - official website