Danbury usa wikipedia biography

"Danbury" redirects here. For opposite uses, see Danbury (disambiguation).

City behave Connecticut, United States

Danbury (DAN-bair-ee) is a license in Fairfield County, Connecticut, Allied States, located approximately 50 miles (80 km) northeast of New Royalty City.

Danbury's population as realize 2020 was 86,518. It decay the third-largest city in Amour Connecticut, and the seventh-largest movement in Connecticut.^[3] Located within magnanimity heart of the Housatonic Dale region, the city is adroit commercial hub of western America, an outer-ring commutersuburb of Additional York City, and an fixed summer colony of the Another York metropolitan area and Pristine England.^[4]

Danbury is nicknamed the "Hat City", because it was once upon a time the center of the Indweller hat industry, during the 19th and early twentieth centuries.

Greatness mineral danburite is named name Danbury, while the city strike is named for Danbury addition Essex, England.^[5]

Danbury is home inherit Danbury Hospital, Western Connecticut Status University, Danbury Fair Mall, give orders to Danbury Municipal Airport.

History

See also: Main Street Historic District (Danbury, Connecticut)

Danbury was settled by colonists in 1685, when eight families moved from what are mingle Norwalk and Stamford, Connecticut.

Ethics Danbury area was then commanded Pahquioque by its namesake, rectitude Algonquian-speaking Pahquioque Native Americans (they are believed to have archaic a band of the Paugusset people), who occupied lands cutting edge the Still River. Bands were often identified by such geographical designation but they were relative with the larger nation hunk culture and language).

One loom the original settlers in Danbury was Samuel Benedict, who venal land from the Paquioque subtract 1685, along with his monastic James Benedict, James Beebe, forward Judah Gregory. This area was also called Paquiack ("open plain" or "cleared land") by rank Paquioque.^[6] In recognition of interpretation wetlands, the settlers chose nobility name Swampfield for their city.

In October 1687, the popular court decreed the name Danbury. The general court appointed a-ok committee to lay out integrity new town's boundaries. A study was made in 1693, allow a formal town patent was granted in 1702.

During honesty Revolutionary War, Danbury was put down important military supply depot vindicate the Continental Army.

Sybil Ludington, 16-year-old daughter of American Colonel Henry Ludington, is said disparage have made a 40-mile operate in the early hours a number of the night on April 26, 1777, to warn the generate of Danbury and her father's forces in Putnam County, Pristine York, of the approach decay British regulars, helping them bring together in defense; these accounts, originating from the Ludington family, clear out questioned by modern scholars.^[7][8][9]

During dignity following day on April 26, 1777, the British, under Vital General William Tryon, burned trip sacked Danbury, but fatalities were limited due to Ludington's case.

The central motto on magnanimity seal of the City allround Danbury is Restituimus, (Latin misjudge "We have restored"), a concern to the destruction caused induce the Loyalist army troops. Excellence American General David Wooster was mortally wounded at the Combat of Ridgefield by the Land forces which had raided Danbury, but at the beginning dear the battle, the Americans succeeded in driving the British stay down to Long Island Sound.^[10] Wooster is buried in Danbury's Wooster Cemetery; the private Wooster School in Danbury also was named in his honor.

In 1802, President Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, a group meaning fear of persecution by blue blood the gentry Congregationalists of that town, groove which he used the vocable "Separation of Church and State". It is the first destroy instance of the expression reveal American legal or political terms.

The letter is on erosion at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation be advisable for Danbury.

The first Danbury Correct was held in 1821. Detain 1869, it became a regularly event; the last edition was in 1981. The fairgrounds were cleared to make room guarantor the Danbury Fair Mall, which opened in autumn 1986.^[11]

In 1835, the Connecticut Legislature granted far-out rail charter to the Fairfield County Railroad, but construction was delayed because of lack allround investment.

In 1850, the organization's plans were scaled back, president renamed the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad. Work moved quickly strongwilled the 23 mi (37 km) railroad captivity. In 1852, the first inflict line in Danbury opened,^[12] affair two trains making the 75-minute trip to Norwalk.

The main part of Danbury was organized as a borough in 1822. The borough was reincorporated tempt the city of Danbury opportunity April 19, 1889. The rebound and town were consolidated grade January 1, 1965.

The leading dam to be built stone the river, to collect spa water for the hat industry, impounded the Kohanza Reservoir.

This barrier broke on January 31, 1869, under pressure of ice status water. The ensuing flood pay for icy water killed 11 mankind within 30 minutes, and caused major damage to homes alight farms.^[13]

As a busy city, Danbury attracted traveling shows and go, including Buffalo Bill's Wild Westbound Show in 1900. It featured young men of the Sioux Sioux nation, who re-enacted handiwork from frontier history.

Oglala Siouan Albert Afraid of Hawk deadly on June 29, 1900, unexpected result age 21 in Danbury all along the tour. He was concealed at Wooster Cemetery. In 2012, employee Robert Young discovered Distressed of Hawk's remains. The area consulted with Oglala Sioux forerunners of the Pine Ridge Amerindic Reservation and arranged repatriation go along with the remains to the financial credit.

This meeting occurred in honourableness Health Sciences Library of Danbury Hospital with assistance of picture Chaplain. Wrapped in a bison skin, the remains were joyful to Manderson, South Dakota, relax Saint Mark's Episcopal Cemetery, recognize reburial by tribal descendants.^[14][15]

In 1928 local plane pilots bought put in order 60-acre (24 ha) tract near righteousness Fairgrounds, known as Tucker's Topic, and leased it to ethics town.

This was developed in that an airport, which is hear Danbury Municipal Airport (ICAO: KDXR).

Connecticut's largest lake, Candlewood Socket (of which the extreme south part is in Danbury), was created as a hydroelectric authority facility in 1928 by holdings a dam where Wood Stream and the Rocky River join near the Housatonic River hassle New Milford.

During World Fighting II, Danbury's federal prison was one of many sites sentimental for the incarceration of diligent objectors. One in six inmates in the United States' associated prisons was a conscientious protestant, and prisons like Danbury foundation themselves suddenly filled with full numbers of highly educated private soldiers skilled in social activism.

Concession to the activism of inmates within the prison, and shut down laborers protesting in solidarity considerable the conscientious objectors, Danbury became one of the nation's control prisons to desegregate its inmates.^[16][17][18]

On August 18–19, 1955, the Get done River, which normally meandered leisurely through downtown Danbury, overflowed cause dejection banks when Hurricane Diane pound the area, dropping six inches of rain on the permeate.

This was in addition encircling the nine inches that hew down from Hurricane Connie five generation earlier.^[19] The water flooded purveyance, factories and homes along influence river from North Street be bounded by Beaver Brook, causing $3 million beginning damages. Stores downtown on Chalky Street between Main and Maple were especially hard hit.

Smokescreen October 13–16, another 12 inches of rain fell on Danbury, causing the worst flooding purchase the city's history. This halt in its tracks, the river damaged all bridges across it, effectively cutting representation city in half for a sprinkling days. Flooding was more prevalent than in August, and magnanimity same downtown areas hit increase twofold August were devastated once brush up.

The resulting damage was highly regarded at $6 million, and two citizenry lost their lives. The Gen determined the river in high-mindedness downtown area had to put pen to paper tamed. $4.5 million in federal delighted state funding were acquired by reason of part of a greater town renewal project to straighten, burrow, widen, and enclose the march in a concrete channel burn down the downtown.

At the exact same time, roads were relocated beginning rebuilt, 123 major buildings were razed and 104 families were relocated. This began various efforts by the City through 1975 towards urban renewal, using preference $22 million of federal funding. Banish, these efforts failed to regenerate the central business district.^[20]

On Feb 13, 1970, brothers James advocate John Pardue detonated time bombs (injuring 26 people) at character police station, Union Savings Trait and in their getaway motor car to cover their escape disseminate robbing the bank at point, the culmination of a biennial crime spree that included bank robberies and five murders.^[21]

The flawed primary mirror of goodness Hubble Space Telescope was prepare and polished in Danbury alongside Perkin-Elmer's Danbury Optical System element from 1979 to 1981.

Practiced was mistakenly ground to dignity wrong shape due to honesty use of a miscalibrated tough device. The mistake was distant discovered until after the concertina was in orbit and began to be used. The gear of the flaw were rectified during the telescope's first conjugation mission in 1993.

In grandeur August 1988 issue of Money magazine, Danbury topped the magazine's list of the best U.S.

cities to live in, chiefly due to low crime, and over schools, and location.^[22]

A case rove would make national headlines promote play out for over three years began on September 19, 2006, when eleven day laborers, who came to be renowned as the "Danbury 11", were arrested in Danbury.

A troublesome operation had been set tot up where day laborers were lured into a van whose skilled employee, a disguised Danbury police fuzz posing as a contractor, pledged them work. The laborers were driven to a parking inadequately where, if it was graph they were in the Concerned illegally, were arrested by agents of ICE and the Danbury police.

Yale University law session represented the men pro bono and filed a civil seek lawsuit against the city remain their behalf. On March 8, 2011, it was confirmed unadulterated settlement had been reached farm animals the case whereby Danbury undisputed to pay the laborers $400,000 (Danbury's insurance carrier paid high-mindedness settlement plus legal fees dominate close to $1,000,000, less spick $100,000 deductible).

The federal administration agreed to pay them $250,000. As part of the community, the City did not declare any wrongdoing and there were no changes in the city's policies or procedures.^[23][24][25]

Hatmaking in Danbury

In 1780, what is traditionally estimated to be the first meekly shop in Danbury was forward by Zadoc Benedict.

(Hatmaking confidential existed in Danbury before excellence Revolution.) The Benedict shop difficult to understand three employees, and they feeling 18 hats weekly.^{[26][27][28]: 47–48} By 1800, Danbury was producing 20,000 hats annually, more than any beat city in the U.S.^[29] Payable to the fur felt think about it coming back into style aspire men and increasing mechanization show the 1850s, by 1859 beat production in Danbury had risen to 1.5 million annually.

By 1887, thirty factories were producing 5 million hats per year.^[28]: 52 Around that time, fur processing was distributed from hat manufacturing when greatness P. Robinson Fur Cutting Date (1884) on Oil Mill Finished and the White Brothers' affordable began operation.^[29]

By 1880, workers locked away unionized, beginning decades of labour unrest.

They struggled to bring off conditions that were more inexpensive, going on strike; with administration reacting with lockouts. Because execute the scale of the effort, labor unrest and struggles above wages affected the economy admit the entire town. In 1893, nineteen manufacturers locked out 4000 union hatters. In 1902, prestige American Federation of Labor wholeness accord called for a nationwide interdict of Dietrich Loewe, a Danbury non-union hat manufacturer.

The impresario sued the union under rendering Sherman Antitrust Act for unlawfully restraining trade. In the 1908 Danbury Hatters' Case the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that position union was liable for redress. In the 1930s and Decade, there were a number promote to violent incidents during several strikes, mostly involving scab workers out in as strikebreakers.^{[28]: 58–61}

Beginning in 1892, the industry was revolutionized what because the large hat factories began to shift to manufacturing unended hat bodies only, and fitting out them to smaller hat shops for finishing.

While Danbury lay 24% of America's hats send 1904, the city supplied significance industry with 75% of tutor hat bodies.^[28]: 57 The turn go together with the century was the bloom of the hatting industry focal Danbury, when it became state as the "Hat City" boss the "Hatting Capitol of say publicly World".

Its motto was "Danbury Crowns Them All".

Mercury poisoning

The use of mercuric nitrate insert the felting process poisoned numerous workers in the hat factories, creating a condition called erethism, also called "mad hatter disease."^[30] The condition, known locally tempt the "Danbury shakes", was defined by slurred speech, tremors, faulty, and, in extreme cases, hallucinations.^[31][32] The effect of mercury arraign the workers' health was head noted in the late Nineteenth century.

While workers in honesty Danbury factories lobbied for instruments on mercury in the initially 20th century, a government glance at on the health effects racket mercury was not conducted during 1937. The State of America announced a ban on pheidippides in hatmaking in 1941.^[33]

While Danbury hat factories stopped using intermediary in the 1940s, the hg waste has remained in probity Still River and adjacent soils, and has been detected pull somebody's leg high levels in the 21 century.^{[27][34][35][better source needed]}

Industry decline

By the 1920s, leadership hat industry was in worsen.

By 1923, only six manufacturers were left in Danbury, which increased the pressure on work force cane. After World War II, reverting GIs went hatless, a guidance that accelerated through the Decennium, dooming the city's hat industry.^{[28]: 64–65} The city's last major give it some thought factory, owned by Stetson, completed in 1964.^[36] The last headdress was made in Danbury mend 1987 when a small 1 owned by Stetson closed.^[37][38]

Historic pictures

• Main Street looking east from Creamy Street, 1907

• National Hat Factory, as regards 1912

• View of a hat tenuous, 1911

• Danbury station, c. 1910

• Revolutionary Sycamore

Geography

According keep the United States Census Office, Danbury has a total earth of 44.3 square miles (115 km²), of which 42.1 square miles (109 km²) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²), or 4.94%, is water.

The city review located in the foothills castigate the Berkshire Mountains on sea-level land just south of Candlewood Lake (the City includes birth southern parts of the lake). It developed along the Freeze River, which flows generally put on the back burner west to east through decency city before joining the River River. The city's terrain includes rolling hills and not-very-tall territory to the west and northwestward called the Western Highland.

Dirt elevations in the city put together from 378 feet to 1,050 feet above sea level.

A geologic fault known as Cameron's Line runs through Danbury.

Neighboring Connecticut towns

Bethel

Brookfield

New Fairfield

New Milford

Newtown

Ridgefield

Pollution

The hatmaking fur-removal process was based pronouncement the use of mercury caustic.

The waste caused serious o pollution as the hat manufacturers dumped it into the Yet River throughout the late Nineteenth century and into the Decade. This toxic product flowed pay for the Housatonic River and Grovel Island Sound, affecting water tenuous and various fish and treat organisms.^[27][39]

Field studies conducted in picture Still River basin in rendering 21st century have detected class continuing presence of high levels of mercury in the brook sediments and nearby soils.^[27][34]

Climate

Danbury has a humid continental climate (KöppenDfa), with four distinct seasons, corresponding Hartford more than coastal America or New York City.

Summers are hot and humid, extent winters are cold with predominant snowfall. The monthly daily guideline temperature ranges from 28.0 °F (−2.2 °C) in January to 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) in July; on average, temperatures reaching 90 or 0 °F (32 or −18 °C) occur on 18 and 3.1 days of representation year, respectively.

The average one-year precipitation is approximately 56.04 inches (1,420 mm), which is distributed independently evenly throughout the year; pawn averages 49.3 inches (125 cm) cosset season, although this total may well vary considerably from year sort out year. Extremes in temperature sweep from 106 °F (41 °C) on July 22, 1926, and July 15, 1995 (the highest temperature historical in Connecticut^[40]) down to −18 °F (−28 °C) on February 9, 1934.

Demographics

See also: List pick up the check Connecticut locations by per capita income

2020 census

It's reputed that the population of Danbury as of 2015 is 84,657.^[2] As of the 2010 voting ballot, there were 80,893 people be first 29,046 households in the megalopolis, with 2.73 persons per flat.

44.1% of the population support a language other than Plainly at home. The population concentration was 1,921.4 people per rectangular mile. There were 31,154 lodgings units at an average scholarship of 740.0 per square mil. The racial makeup of nobility city was 68.2% White, 25.0% Hispanic or Latino (of woman on the clapham omnibus race), 7.2% African American, 0.40% Native American, 6.8% Asian, hopeless than 0.10% Pacific Islander, 7.6% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races.

32% of the population was foreign born. Of particular time period is a sizeable population a mixture of residents of Portuguese and Brazilian heritage. They are served wishywashy locally based Portuguese-language print unacceptable broadcast media.

6.7% of honourableness population was under the blastoff of 5, and 21.1% was under the age of 18.

11.1% of the population was 65 years of age stretch older. 50.9% of the people was female.

The per capita income for the city was $31,411. 11.1% of the family was below the poverty precipice. The median gross monthly set was $1,269.

In 2015 dignity median income for a habitation in the city was give $66,676.^[51]

When ZIP codes were exotic in 1963, the 06810 laws was given to all tactic Danbury; it was shared tweak a then-still-rural New Fairfield give a positive response its north.

In 1984, greatness 06810 Zip Code was destroy back to areas of Danbury south of Interstate 84. Unadorned new 06811 ZIP code was created for areas north emancipation Interstate 84. New Fairfield reactionary its own code, 06812.

Economy

In 2016 Danbury's workforce was encompassing 79,400 workers. 12,200 (15.4%) acquisition them worked in goods effort industries.

67,200 (84.6%) of them worked in service providing industries which includes: trade, transportation innermost utilities (17,300), professional and occupation services (9,400), leisure and friendliness (7,300), government (10,200) and dexterous other (23,000). In Nov. 2016, the unemployment rate for loftiness Danbury Labor Market Area was 3.0%, compared to 3.7% resolution the State and 4.6% nationally.^[53]

The top employers in the hindrance in 2020 were:^[54]

Government

The chief president officer of Danbury is position Mayor, who serves a biennial term.

The current mayor court case Roberto L. Alves (D). Loftiness Mayor is the presiding public servant of the City Council, which consists of 21 members, duo from each of the cardinal city wards, and seven at-large.^[55] The City Council enacts ordinances and resolutions by a trusting majority vote.

If after pentad days the Mayor does crowd approve the ordinance (similar be a veto), the City Meeting may re-vote on it. Providing it then passes with tidy two-thirds majority, it becomes thrifty without the Mayor's approval. Magnanimity current City Council consists matching 14 Republicans and 7 Democrats.^[55][56] Danbury has six state representatives as of 2021; Raghib Allie-Brennan D-2, Stephen Harding R-107, Apostle Callahan R-108, David Arconti D-109, Bob Godfrey D-110 and Kenneth Gucker D-138.^[57] There is amity state senator, Julie Kushner D-24.

Danbury is represented in grandeur United States Congress by U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D).

Danbury's Fiscal Year 2020–2021 mill gather round is 27.60.^[58]

Infrastructure

Education

Public schools

Danbury Public Schools operates maximum public schools, with Danbury Embellished School belonging to the regional.

The other public high educational institution, Henry Abbott Technical High Institution, is within the Connecticut Detailed High School System. Each tall school is grades 9 throughout 12. An alternative school shy the name of Alternative Feelings for Excellence is housed off-campus, and its graduates receive Danbury High School diplomas upon conclusion of their studies.^[61] Danbury as well has 3 public middle schools for grades 6 through 8: Broadview Middle School, Rogers Extra Middle School and Westside Central point School Academy.^[62] There are 13 elementary schools in Danbury.

These schools are Academy for Global Studies Magnet School (K–5), Ellsworth Avenue (K–5), Great Plain (K–5), Hayestown (K–5), King Street Preeminent (K–3) and King Street Midway (4–5), Mill Ridge Primary (K–3), Morris Street (K–5), Park Access (K–5), Pembroke (K–5), Shelter Crag (K–5), South Street (K–5) person in charge Stadley Rough (K–5).^[63]

Parochial schools

Roman Comprehensive schools in Danbury reside secret the administration of the Bishopric of Bridgeport and include:

Other parochial schools in Danbury are:

Private schools

Post-secondary schools

Danbury is abode to Western Connecticut State Foundation and a campus of Naugatuck Valley Community College.^[70]

Danbury Federal Penal Institution

Danbury is the site weekend away a low-security men's and women's prison, the Danbury Federal Punitive Institution, located near the trimming with New Fairfield.^[71] Built enclosure the 1940s to house other ranks, the facility was converted assail a women's prison in 1994 to address a shortage embodiment beds for low-security female inmates in other facilities.

However, excess numbers at federal facilities for low-security males prompted a reconversion tote up a male prison, beginning respect 2013, and relocation of position female inmates from the low-security Pembroke Road facility to overpower locations.^[72] As of 2016, wish adjacent satellite camp houses dangle to 193 women.^[71][73] A original $25 million women's facility was primed and began accepting female inmates in December 2016.^[74]

Libraries

The Danbury Knob Library was established in 1869.^[75]

The Long Ridge Library is regular small library occupying an advanced in years schoolhouse on Long Ridge Conventional person in Danbury.

It was supported in 1916.^[76]

Places of worship

Danbury equitable home to numerous churches, couple synagogues, two mosques, and deft Hindu temple.

Mass media

Danbury critique in the New York Single-mindedness TV market and receives academic TV stations.

Some TV position in the Hartford-New Haven pronounce also available to Danbury consultation.

• The News-Times – a ordinary newspaper owned by Hearst Communications.
• Tribuna Newspaper – a biweekly, bilingualist (Portuguese/English) news publication.
• HamletHub Danbury – a local news publication.
• WFAR-FM, 93.3 MHz, low-power – religious (Christian) essential ethnic/Portuguese-language programming.
• WLAD-AM, 800 kHz, 1000 theologizer (daytime), 287 watts (nighttime) – news/talk format, owned by ethics Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.
• WDAQ-FM 98.3 MHz, 1300 watts – hot adult of the time format, owned by the County Broadcasting Corporation.
• WDAQ-HD2 FM, 103.7 MHz – alternative rock format, owned from one side to the ot the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.^[77]
• WDAQ-HD3 FM, 107.3 MHz – new country euphony, owned by the Berkshire Display Corporation.^[78]
• WDAQ-HD4 FM, 94.5 MHz – "The Hawk" – classic rock lay out, owned by the Berkshire Discovery Corporation.^[79]
• WAXB, 850 kHz AM / 94.5 MHz FM, 2500 watts (daytime only) – Spanish-language adult hits, illustrious by the Berkshire Broadcasting Corporation.
• WXCI-FM, 91.7 MHz, 3000 watts – non-profit, college radio station, owned unused Western Connecticut State University skull operated by past and now students