Glastonbury

Glastonbury is on the banks of the Connecticut River, 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Hartford. The town center is defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 35,159 at the 2020 census. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Glastenbury was a shipbuilding town. The J.B. Williams Soap Factory started in 1840 in James B. Williams's drugstore in Manchester, where he experimented with chemical formulas for shaving soap. It is believed to be the world's first commercial soap manufacturing business. During the World Wars, Glastonbury factories supplied leather and woolen goods to the military of France, Italy, and the United States. It also had a cotton mills, paper mills, and airplane plate factories. It became known as the Peach King for developing a peach industry that could withstand New England winters and disease-resistant, as well as for his large operations in Georgia and Georgia. The first branch of A.H. Hale's Peach Orchards started with 1,000 acres in 1866 and grew to more than 1,200 acres (4,000 m2) in 1872. The Peach King was the first branch to establish a branch outside the state of Connecticut. It was also the first peach-growing town in the state outside of New England. In 1803, the town organized its first library in 1803. It organized the first hospital shortly after the Revolution to combat and treat smallpox.

History

In 1636, 30 families settled in Pyaug, a tract of land belonging to Wethersfield on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River. By 1690, Pyaug residents were permitted to form a separate town and, the town of Glassenbury was created in 1693. The J.B. Williams Soap Factory started in 1840 in James B. Williams's drugstore in Manchester, where he experimented with chemical formulas for shaving soap. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Glastonbury was a shipbuilding town. The town organized its first library in 1803. It organized the first hospital shortly after the Revolution to combat and treat smallpox. The oldest continuously operating ferry in the U.S. still runs between South Glastbury and Rocky Hill, as it did as far back as 1655. J.H. Hale Orchards began operations in 1866. John Howard Hale became known as the Peach King for developing a peach that could withstand New England winters and was disease-resistant, as well as for his operations' large, national scale. He also shipped peaches over the country to markets all over the state. The first Glastenbury industry to establish a branch outside the state was a marketing, marketing, and advertising business that went on to become the Storrs Agricultural College, now the University of Connecticut. A pioneering effort to breed white pinfeathers began in the 20th century for use as a restaurant and more recently, for offices.

Geography

The town begins on the banks of the Connecticut River and extends up into foothills, many of which provide a view of Hartford's skyline. The town center experiences a humid continental climate (Dfa) However, the rural parts of the town, at an elevation of 800 feet near Bolton and Hebron, experience a colder climate which straddles the Dfa and (Dfb) lines. Glastonbury borders the town and cities of East Hartford, Wethersfield, Rocky Hill, Cromwell, Portland, East Hampton, Marlborough, Hebron, Bolton, and Manchester. It has one of the largest state forests, Meshomasic State Forest, a popular area for hiking, fishing, and hunting. It also has a small private lake, Diamond Lake, surrounded by growing subdivisions of large homes. It is also home to a small population of timber rattlesnakes, which pose little threat to the residents of the area since the area is sparsely developed and mostly in a state forest, the snakes pose no threat. It was the site of the first U.S. Air Force base in the United States, which was established in the early 20th century. The U.N. World Heritage Site is located in the town's Center CDP, which dates back to the 18th century and is the oldest part of the World War II-era National Park Service site in the world. It contains a National Register of Historic Places site, the oldest of which is still standing.

Demographics

There were 31,876 people, 12,257 households, and 8,984 families residing in the town in 2000. The racial makeup of the town was 93.10% White, 1.53% African American, 0.15% Native American, 3.40% Asian and 0.01% Pacific Islander. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.51% of the population. The town's population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For each 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.5 males. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.06. The per capita income for the town is $40,820. About 1.5% of families and 2.1%. of the residents were below the poverty line, including 1.8%, 4.6% of those under age 18, and 1.9%. The median income for a household in the city was $80,660, and $94,978 for a family. The population density was 620.5 inhabitants per square mile (239.6/km²). There were 12,614 housing units at an average density of 245.5 per squaremile (94.8/ km²).

Economy

Top employers in Glastonbury according to the town's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Top employers in the town are based in the towns of Wastonbury and Weston-super-Mare. The town is home to more than 1,000 businesses. The economy is one of the fastest growing in the UK, according to a report by the City University of London. The city's economy is expected to grow by 0.7 per cent in the next three years, the report says. The growth rate is the highest in Britain since the early 1990s, it adds. The report also says the town is on track to meet its economic targets for the next five years. It is the first time the town has achieved this growth rate in more than a decade. The economic growth rate has been above the national average since the mid-1990s, the study says. It was 0.8 per cent from 2004 to 2008, and 0.9 per cent since the late 1990s. In the last five years, it has grown by 1.2 per cent, the city's report says, and 1.3 per cent over the past three years. The unemployment rate has fallen to 0.6 per cent. It has been the lowest since the start of the recession in 2007. The number of new jobs in the city in the past five years has been in the region of 1,200. The average number of jobs per person is up from 1,500 to 1,600.

Arts and culture

Glastonbury has the second-highest number of genuine colonial houses of any U.S. town. There are 154 houses built before 1800; only Marblehead, Massachusetts, has more, with over 200. Four houses in Glastonbury are from the 1600s. The town's oldest house, the John Hollister House, was built around 1675. The most notable town event is the CT River Valley Chamber of Commerce's Apple Harvest & Music Festival, or "Apple Fest" The town is home to several plazas that include shops and restaurants, including Eric Town Square, The Griswold Shopping Center, and Somerset Square. In 1993, to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the town's founding, an exchange of bands was made between Glastbury, England, and Glastonburbury, Connecticut, resulting in the town hosting the Glastonberry Brass Band for several performances. In the winter, some locations sell Christmas trees. There, guests can buy and pick their own freshly and locally grown produce and fruits, such as blueberries and pumpkins. There is also a Strawberry Moon Festival in June and various events held by the local Town Center Initiative. The Glastonbery Youth and Family Services' Creative Experiences puts on annual drama productions and family events. In October, the town holds a three-day festival called Apple Fest, which includes live music, a 5K road race, various rides, attractions, and vendors specializing in handmade crafts. It is a town-wide event lasting three days.

Parks and recreation

The town has four private pool and tennis clubs: Minnechaug, Orchard Hill, Woodledge, and Pinebrook. Public aquatic facilities include the Grange pool, Eastbury Pond, an indoor pool at Glastonbury High School, and a pool at Addison Park. Cotton Hollow Nature Preserve is open to residents for fishing and hiking. The town's other golf course is the nine-hole MinneChaug Golf Course, at the base of Minne chaug Mountain and owned by the town. The park system includes several parks open to the public, including Addison park, Blackledge Falls, Buckingham Park, Butler Field, Center Green, Earle Park, Cotton Hollow Preserve, and J.B. Williams Park. It is spread out across 80 acres and during the 18th and 19th centuries was home to several mills, which no longer stand, except for the ruins of the cotton mill built in 1814. The stream of water that runs through the preserve is known as Roaring Brook and is part of the town's water supply. It's also home to the Great Pond Reserve, Hubbard Green, Riverfront Park, Salmon Brook Park, and Shoddy Mill Preserve. It also has a private country club with a golf course, Glastonburbury Hills Country Club. It has a public pool, Grange Pool, and an indoor swimming pool at the high school, as well as an outdoor swimming pool in the middle of the school grounds.

Government

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that would allow women to run for president. The Senate voted against the bill, which would have meant women could not run for office. The bill was defeated on a vote of no confidence in the Senate. The House voted in favor of the measure, and the Senate voted to approve it. The vote was a no-confidence vote, which meant the Senate could not vote on the measure. The measure passed with a majority of votes, and it was approved by the Senate on a tie-breaking vote. The U.N. passed the bill on a voice vote, with the Senate voting on a second. vote. It was the first time the Senate had voted on a bill in more than 30 years. The decision was made after the House voted on the issue of a bill of rights for women in the House. The senate voted on it and the vote was approved, and now the House will vote on a measure that would have allowed women to stand for president in the 2016 election. The issue was whether or not women could run for the Senate, which was a problem for the GOP. The answer was yes, and they voted to let them run. The next vote will be held on November 6, and then the Senate will vote again on November 13. The result will be a vote on November 14, and that will be the first vote on whether to seat women in Congress. The current Senate vote is scheduled to take place on November 15.

Education

Glastonbury has five elementary schools: Buttonball Lane School, Hebron Avenue School, Hopewell School, Naubuc School, and Nayaug School. A sixth, Eastbury School, closed in 2018. The town's high school, Glastonbury High School, has 2,173 students as of October 2013. The school system was referenced in episode 563, Act 2, of NPR's " This American Life", "My Secret Public Plan". The town also has two middle schools; Gideon Welles School has just over 500 students in 6th grade, and Smith Middle School has 1,035 students in 7th and 8th grades. The high school was mentioned in an episode of "This American Life" in which the school system is described as a "secret public plan" for the town's future. It was also mentioned in the episode of the same name, which was aired on October 25, 2013. It is the first episode of a two-part series to be aired on the PBS station, which airs on weekdays from 9-11 a.m. ET. The series is called "MySecret Public Plan" and airs on PBS stations in the U.S. and Canada. The first episode airs on October 26, 2013, and the second on October 27, 2013 at 9:30 a.M. ET and 10:30 p.m., and is available on PBS.org and PBS.com in the United States and the UK.

Infrastructure

Glastonbury's major highway is Connecticut Route 2, serving the town with six exits. Route 17 has two exits in Glastonbury: the New London Turnpike and Hubbard Street. The Rocky HillGlastbury ferry operates between May 1 and October 31. It is the nation's oldest continually operating ferry, dating to 1655. Fees are $5 for a vehicle and $1 for pedestrians and bicyclists. The trip across the Connecticut River takes about four minutes. The 904-Glastonburbury Express route conveniently operates into Putnam Bridge, St. Paul's, and St. Augustine's Park & Ride lots. The 91 (formerly X) route travels between Wethersfield and the Buckland Hills area in Manchester via the Somerset Square Shopping Center. The 95 (formerly O) route of Connecticut Transit (CT Transit) buses runs between downtown Hartford and Glastonburry, usually terminating at the corner of Main Street and Hebron Avenue. There is no public library in the town, but there is a post office and a postmaster. The town is home to the Connecticut Museum of Art and Science, which was established in 1858. The museum is located in the former home of the former mayor of Glastonburg, William "Bill" O'Neill, who was killed in a car accident in 1969. The Museum is now the home of a museum of art and science, which is located on the grounds of the Connecticut State Library. The library is also home to a museum and museum of history, which dates back to 1854.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut = 17.8. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 52. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 11. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Glastonbury = 3.3 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 35,159 individuals with a median age of 41.6 age the population grows by 4.56% in Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 670 residents per square mile of area (260/km²). There are average 2.56 people per household in the 12,872 households with an average household income of $97,557 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 6.30% of the available work force and has dropped -3.68% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 26.34%. The number of physicians in Glastonbury per 100,000 population = 291.3.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Glastonbury = 42.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 31.6 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 118. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 190. 83 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 18.3 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 52, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Glastonbury, Hartford County, Connecticut which are owned by the occupant = 79.64%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 34 years with median home cost = $320,260 and home appreciation of -11.07%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $19.40 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $6,882 per student. There are 15.7 students for each teacher in the school, 332 students for each Librarian and 423 students for each Counselor. 7.70% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 30.96% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 23.88% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).