Ledyard, Connecticut

Ledyard, Connecticut
Town

Seal

Location in New London County, Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°26′23″N 72°00′54″W / 41.43972°N 72.01500°W / 41.43972; -72.01500Coordinates: 41°26′23″N 72°00′54″W / 41.43972°N 72.01500°W / 41.43972; -72.01500
Country United States
State Connecticut
NECTA Norwich-New London
Region Southeastern Connecticut
Incorporated 1836
Government
 • Type Mayor-council
 • Mayor Michael Finkelstein[1]
Area
 • Total 40.0 sq mi (103.6 km2)
 • Land 38.1 sq mi (98.8 km2)
 • Water 1.9 sq mi (4.8 km2)
Elevation 295 ft (90 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 15,051
 • Density 380/sq mi (150/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06335, 06339
Area code(s) 860
FIPS code 09-42600
GNIS feature ID 0213450
Website www.town.ledyard.ct.us

Ledyard /ˈlɛdʒərd/ is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States, located along the Thames River. The town is named after Colonel William Ledyard, a Revolutionary War soldier who was killed with his own saber after surrendering to the British at the end of the Battle of Groton Heights.[3] The population was 15,051 at the 2010 census.[2] The Foxwoods Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, was located in the northeastern section of Ledyard, until the land was annexed by the tribe. Ledyard's zip code is 06339. Within the southwestern area of Ledyard is the district known as Gales Ferry, which has the postal code 06335.

Geography

Bill Library and the Ledyard Congregational Church in Ledyard Center

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 40.0 square miles (104 km2), of which 38.1 square miles (99 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2), or 4.62%, is water. Ledyard is situated north of Groton, and borders the east bank of the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut. The northern half of the Naval Submarine Base New London is located in the southwest corner of the town.

Ledyard is among the areas of the United States that was covered by a continental ice sheet during the last Ice Age. Therefore, Ledyard has its share of interesting glacial geology. The glaciers that covered Ledyard carried the many large boulders that litter the town. The town has set aside land designated as a "Glacial Park" which consists of a section of end moraine and outwash deposits (containing kettles). This area encompasses a segment of the "Ledyard Moraine"—a clast-supported boulder deposit that is anomalous in nature.

The principal communities of Ledyard are Ledyard Center (also known as Ledyard Village) and the Gales Ferry section (including Christy Hill Estates, Devonshire Estates, Ferry View Heights, Glenwoods, Birdland, Sherwood Forest, and Woodridge Estates). Other minor communities and geographic areas are Aljen Heights, Barrett Park, Colonial Manor, Cranwood Homestead, Highlands, Lakeside, Lantern Hill, Long Pond, Parsonage Hill Manor, Presidential Estates, Quaker Town, and Stonehenge. The town also contains the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation, in the northeastern corner of the town.

Notable people

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18401,871—
18501,558−16.7%
18601,6153.7%
18701,392−13.8%
18801,373−1.4%
18901,183−13.8%
19001,2364.5%
19101,079−12.7%
19201,1617.6%
19301,144−1.5%
19401,42624.7%
19501,74922.7%
19605,395208.5%
197014,837175.0%
198013,735−7.4%
199014,9138.6%
200014,687−1.5%
201015,0512.5%
Est. 201415,121[5]0.5%
Population 1840 - 2000[6]
Population 2010[2]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 14,687 people, 5,286 households, and 4,101 families residing in the town. The population density was 385.1 people per square mile (148.7/km²). There were 5,486 housing units at an average density of 143.8 per square mile (55.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was:

There were 5,286 households out of which 39.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.2% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.4% were non-families. 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.12.

The ages of Ledyard's population were spread out with:

The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,647, and the median income for a family was $69,214. Males had a median income of $46,582 versus $32,339 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,953. About 2.9% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[8]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Republican 2,350 104 2,454 27.07%
Democratic 1,879 85 1,964 21.66%
Unaffiliated 4,404 245 4,649 51.27%
Minor Parties 0 0 0 0.0%
Total 8,633 434 9,067 100%

Schools

Ledyard High School in 2014

Ledyard has four elementary schools, a middle school and a high school. The Superintendent of Schools is Cathy Patterson who had recently served as the Assistant Superintendent of Schools. The Assistant Superintendent of Schools is Dr. Jennifer Byars, who previously served as Principal and Assistant Principal of many of the town's schools. The Superintendent is appointed by the Board of Education.

Elementary schools:

Middle school:

High school:

Government & Emergency Services

The Town of Ledyard is governed by the Mayor-Council form of government. The mayor is elected by registered voters and serves as the Town's Full-time Administrator and Chief Executive; elected mayors serve for a term of 4 years and there are no term-limits. The mayor, with advice from the town council and voters appoints officials to positions such as: Town Clerk, Town Attorney, Director of Finance, Director of Public Works, and many of the other administrative positions. The Town Council has the power to appoint officials to Boards and Commissions, as Fire Marshals and Town Clerks. Registered Voters also elect the members of the Board of Education.

Police

The Town of Ledyard operates an independent police force, administered by Chief of Police John Rich. The town previously had provided Police Services through the Resident State Trooper Program. The department employs 22 highly trained personnel including the chief, an administrative assistant, and one detective.

The Town of Ledyard Police Department is also tasked with operating the Ledyard Animal Control Division.

Fire & EMS Service

The Town of Ledyard operates the Ledyard Fire Company and the Gales Ferry Volunteer Fire Company.

Employers

The Naval Submarine Base New London, located immediately south of Ledyard in Groton, is a significant employer of Ledyard residents. Other major employers include Foxwoods Resort Casino, Electric Boat, and Pfizer.

Media

Radio

Radio stations licensed in Ledyard include WCSE-LP.

Television

Ledyard was featured on an episode of the MTV show MADE, in which Katherine, a shy, book-loving teenager, is made into Miss Congeniality in her town's beauty pageant for Miss Ledyard Fair.

Points of interest

National Register of Historic Places

Panorama of Ledyard Center, including the fire department, town hall, Ledyard Center School, and Ledyard Congregational Church plus several businesses

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Mayor's Office". Town of Ledyard, CT. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Ledyard town, New London County, Connecticut". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Retrieved October 25, 2012.
  3. ↑ Zug, James (6 March 2009). American Traveler: The Life and Adventures of John Ledyard, the Man Who Dreamed of Walking the World. Basic Books. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-7867-3941-7.
  4. ↑ Hammer, Doc (2005-05-16). "50 Questions (from MySpace)". DeviantArt. Retrieved 2010-12-07.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ Accessed April 21, 2010.
  7. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  8. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-09-23. Retrieved 2006-10-02.
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