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Relocation |
Anderson Associates
GUIDE TO RELOCATION |
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Redding
Redding is a quiet country village, that has resisted giving up its
tranquillity . It is largely residential, serving as a bedroom community for
cities such as Danbury and Norwalk. Approximately 2/3 of the land area is
beautiful open countryside. Redding has an attractive town green. The
Mark Twain Library
is very good. Shopping in Redding is limited to basics, although it does
have some fine restaurants. Larger stores are available in nearby Ridgefield
and Danbury. Among the 38 Connecticut towns with a population between 4,700
and 10,000, Redding ranked #1.
History
Redding was settled by John Read, an 18th
century land speculator. One of Redding=s
most prominent residents was Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens).
Government
Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting
Town Facilities
Redding has over 3,000 acres of open space and park lands. Nearby Putnam
State Park, offers picnicking and winter skating. The nearby YMCAs in
Danbury and Wilton provide a variety of recreational programs.
Education
1 elementary, 1 middle and 1 regional high school (with Easton).
No parochial and private schools
Clubs
The Redding Country Club has a 9-hole golf course.
Houses of Worship
6 churches, 1 synagogue
Hospitals
Residents use the nearby Danbury Hospital.
Transportation
Redding is on the Danbury spur of Metro-North. There are train stations in
West Redding, Branchville, Wesport and Katonah. The train commuting time to
NYC is about 60 minutes. Redding has access to the Merritt parkway, I-95,
I-84 and I-684. The drive by Route 7 to Stamford is 35 minutes. It takes 15
minutes to drive to Danbury and 60 minutes to drive to White Plains.
Areas and Villages
Georgetown
West Redding
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Ridgefield
Ridgefield has often been rated by Connecticut Magazine as one of the best
small cities in Connecticut. Although primarily residential, Ridgefield has
some light industry and corporate headquarters. It has terrific schools and
a vibrant economy. Ridgefield has charming boutiques and large shopping
centers. Many of the state=s
top-rated restaurants are in Ridgefield.
History
Ridgefield was settled in 1708 by a scouting party who happened to camp at
Settler=s
Rock on North Salem Road. In 1777 the city was the site of a major
Revolutionary War battle. Ridgefield is home to many historically
significant sites such as the Keeler Tavern, a former stagecoach stop on the
New York City - Boston run.
Government
Board of Selectmen
Town Facilities
Ridgefield has 1500 acres of park lands and preserves. There is boating and
a town beach at Lake Mamanasco. There are 3 tennis court complexes and an
ice skating rink. There are several performing arts groups. The Aldrich
Museum is devoted to the works of living artists.
Education
5 elementary, 1 middle and 1 high school. No Parochial or private Schools
Clubs
Ridgefield has two country clubs with golf courses, and a tennis club.
Houses of Worship
Christian, Jewish and Bahai.
Hospitals
Ridgefield is served by the Norwalk and Danbury hospitals, as well as by the
Ridgefield Medical Center which provides out-patient care.
Transportation
NYC is 75 minutes away by Metro-North train, using the Branchville station
on the border of Redding, Wilton and Ridgefield. Driving time to Stamford is
30 minutes; Danbury 10 minutes; White Plains 40 minutes. Interstate 684,
Interstate 84 and the Sawmill Parkway are only a few miles away, making
access to Westchester County easy.
Areas and Villages
Georgetown, North Ridgefield, South Ridgefield
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Shelton
Shelton is one of the faster growing communities in the State. It has an
blend of urban, rural and suburban environments. Shelton has a policy of
seeking our commercial and industrial growth. It has attracted a number of
large companies such as I.T.T. and Tetley. In addition to its commercial
development, Shelton has some rather run down areas as well as attractive
residential areas. The original colonial village of Huntington which
includes lovely historic homes, stately churches and a handsome town green.
History
Huntington was governed in the early 1700's by the Stratford Congregational
Church. In 1789 Ripton Parish, now known as Huntington and Monroe and the
New Stratford parish, broke away and formed the town of Huntington, named
for Governor Samuel Huntington. In May 1823, New Stratford was incorporated
as the town of Monroe. In 1919, Huntington was incorporated and its name
changed to Shelton, in honor of the town=s
leading industrialist, Edward Nelson Shelton.
Government
Mayor and Board of Alderman
Town Facilities
Recreation is a part of the town=s
comprehensive plan for continued growth. The town has 15 recreational areas
in addition to the Indian Well State Park and Housatonic River. The town
maintains excellent facilities for a multitude of activities, including boat
yards on the Housatonic River. The Shelton-Derby Boy=s
Club provides organized recreation programs.
Education
Two parochial schools (K-8), and a regional voc-ed high school. No private
Schools. Five elementary, one middle and one high school. The high school is
on a 50 acre site and has some of the state=s
finest sports facilities. Numerous colleges, universities and community
colleges are within 30 minutes.
Clubs
Shelton has two private golf clubs.
Houses of Worship
15 churches
Hospitals
Shelton is served by the nearby hospitals in Bridgeport and Derby (on
Shelton=s
north-east border).
Transportation
Route 8, with its connections to the Merritt Parkway provides easy access to
New Haven and Bridgeport (10 miles). Driving time to NYC is 110 minutes;
White Plains is 75 minutes; Hartford is 90 minutes. Train time from the
Shelton/Derby station to Grand Central in NYC is about 108 minutes. Shelton
is served by the New Haven, Bridgeport and Oxford Airports.
Areas and Villages
Huntington, Shelton Center, Trap Falls, White Hills
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Sherman
Sherman is essentially a rural town and its residents are determined to keep
it that way. Land use and growth are controlled, though the population
increases during the summer as vacationers come to enjoy the beaches along
Candlewood Lake. Among the 40 small towns in Connecticut with a population
between 4,700 and 10,000, Sherman ranked #10.
History
Sherman was named for the 18th
century shoemaker, Roger Sherman, one of the signers of the Declaration of
Independence and the Constitution.
Government
Board of Selectman, Town Meeting
Town Facilities
The town has several parks as well as public lake-front beaches on Candle
Wood lake.
Education
Sherman is part of a regional school district. High school students attend
either New Milford High School (just to the east of Sherman) or Brookfield
High School. There are no parochial or private Schools.
Clubs
No major private golf clubs.
Houses of Worship
2 churches
Hospitals
Both Danbury and New Milford Hospitals serve Sherman.
Transportation (trains, highways,
airports)
The train station for Metro-North is in Danbury; the t rip to NYC takes 80
minutes. Interstate 84 and 684 are only a few miles away, making access to
Westchester county easy. Danbury Municipal Airport, about 30 minutes away,
is one of the busiest general aviation fields in Connecticut. It books
domestic flights to and from Danbury via either JFK or La Guardia. The
airport is also a center for limousine service to the NYC airports.
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Stamford
Stamford has attracted a large number of corporate headquarters and has
become a truly modern city. Stamford contains more that 1 million square
feet of retail shopping, with some of the finest stores having locations in
town. The Town Center is a center for shopping as well as movie theaters.
The Performing Arts Center and Palace Theater provide a wealth of cultural
offerings. Stamford has a great range of housing, from moderately priced
condominiums and houses
to castles.
History
Stamford was settled in 1641 by Puritans who selected the site of the Native
American village of Rippowam. Like most New England towns, it was a
self-sufficient agricultural community governed by the church fathers. In
1642 it was renamed from Rippowam to Stamford after a town in England.
Because of its location, during the 17th
and 18th
centuries it was one of the largest seaports on the Sound. The arrival of
the railroad brought major changes. Besides commuters and summer residents,
a large number of manufacturers began to locate in Stamford. In 1892 the
Board of Burgesses incorporated the city; however the outlying communities
of Glenbrook, Belltown, Springdale and Shippan choose not to join and
remained autonomous for some time. These communities–as well as Cove,
Westover and North Stamford–still retain their own identities. By the 1950’s
the city’s
population was well over 70,000, but its industry was on the decline.
However, with the help of government funding and some good planning, the
downtown area was transformed into an vibrant area. Today many major
companies maintain there corporate headquarters in
Stamford, and gentrification still continues as a fast pace.
Government
Mayor and a 20-member City Council.
Town Facilities
Stamford has a great number of town parks (offering tennis, bocci, paddle
tennis and handball courts), a YMCA and YWCA, beaches and two public
marinas, as well as an indoor skating rink, and two town golf courses.
Education
Seven parochial schools, including one middle and one high school. Five
private schools. Fifteen elementary schools, three middle schools and two
high schools. The Stamford branch of the University of Connecticut is
expanding and offers advanced degrees.
Clubs
Two private golf clubs.
Houses of Worship
Many denominations are represented, conducting services in a number of
languages. There are approximately 70 churches and 7 synagogues.
Hospitals
Stamford has two excellent hospitals and a rehabilitation center.
Transportation
NYC is 48 minutes by train. Stamford has three train stations. In addition,
Stamford is serviced by Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway, providing
easy access to lower Fairfield and Westchester counties. Drive time to White
Plains airport is 25 minutes.
Areas and Villages
Waterside, South End, Cove, Belltown, Simsburg, Shippan, West Side, Mid
City, Glenbrook, Springdale, Westover, Newfield, and North Stamford.
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Stratford
Stratford is a balanced community of residential, waterfront, retail and
major industrial plants (including Sikorsky Aircraft and Avco Lycoming). The
town has done a good job of planning, preserving its historical buildings
and locating most of its 700+ acres of industrial-zoned property away from
residential areas. Downtown is a lovely place to shop or stroll. Most needs
are catered to by the charming in-town stores, but the Trumbull shopping
mall, the Dock Shopping Center and the New Haven shopping centers are easily
accessible from Stratford.
History
Stratford was founded in 1639 by 25 families who settled along the
Housatonic River. It was named for England=s
Stratford-on-Avon. Because of its strategic location, the town rapidly
became a center of manufacturing and commercial development.
Government
Town Manager and 11-member Town Council
Town Facilities
Stratford is located along the shores of the Housatonic River and Long
Island Sound. The town has a community center, 5 parks, two golf courses and
public beaches. The town has three beaches on the Sound and 5 marinas. At
the mouth of the river lies Short Beach Park, it is the recreational hub of
the town. It is the site of a 9 hold, par three golf course, as well as
having baseball diamonds, tennis courts, basketball courts and a soccer
field.
Education
Stratford has two parochial schools (K-8) and one private school. 13
elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 2 high schools. There are number of
nearby colleges including Fairfield University and the University of
Bridgeport. Yale University in New Haven is only 15 minutes away.
Clubs
Two country clubs
Houses of Worship
31 churches, 1 synagogue
Hospitals
The area is serviced by hospitals in
Bridgeport and New Haven.
Transportation
Stratford is at a major confluence of highways: Interstate 95, the Merritt
Parkway and Routes 8 and 25, giving the town easy access to a large part of
Connecticut as well as New England. The main line of Metro-North stops in
Stratford. Commute time to NYC by train is about 100 minutes. Driving time
to White Plains is 75 minutes.
Areas and Villages
Bunnell, Lordship, North End, Oronoque, Paradise Green, Putney, South End,
Stonybrook, West Side
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Trumbull
Trumbull’s
strategic location gives it easy access to the major cities of Hartford, New
Haven, and Bridgeport, making it a good bedroom community for these cities.
Although over 200 acres of land has been approved for commercial
development, the town is still very country and has retained much of its
colonial New England charm. Its an attractive community for family living.
Ninety-Four percent of the homes in Trumbull are single-family, most on
2
acre or more. There are approximately 100 business units located in 5
shopping centers. The Trumbull Shopping Park has over 180 shops and contains
many of the town=s
finest shops.
History
Originally the home of several Native American tribes - the Paugassets,
Pequonnocks and the Tamtashuas - Trumbull was founded by Abraham Nichols in
the early 1700s. The town was originally called
“Unity”
and was under the jurisdiction of the Stratford Parish. The Old
Congregational Church was the parish=s
center. The town was incorporated in 1797 and named for Jonathan Trumbull, a
British Governor who supported the efforts of the American Revolution.
Government
First Selectman, 21-member Town Council
Town Facilities
Over one thousand acres are preserved, comprising 18 recreational and
conservation parks. Facilities include tennis courts, an 18-hole public golf
course and indoor and outdoor swimming. Fishing and boating are available at
the three area lakes. There are three skating ponds build by the town.
Education
4 parochial schools, including one parochial high school. 5 elementary, 2
middle and 1 high school. No private schools. Colleges in the immediate
area: Bridgeport universities, Fairfield University and Yale.
Clubs
Three private clubs provide indoor and outdoor tennis courts as well as
swimming.
Houses of Worship
34 churches, 1 synagogue
Hospitals
Trumbull is served by the three major hospitals in Bridgeport.
Transportation
Trumbull has a good strategic location with Routes 25 and 8 as well as the
Merritt Parkway traversing it. Interstate 95 is only a short distance away.
White Plains is 55 minutes by car; Stamford 40 minutes; La Guardia Airport
is about one hour. Hartford (40 minutes), New Haven (20 minutes) and
Bridgeport (15 minutes) are within easy commuting distance. Providence and
Boston are about two hours away. The nearest Metro-North Railroad Stations
are in Bridgeport and Stratford(15 minutes away). The train time to NYC is
about 70 minutes.
Areas and Villages
Hillandale, Long Hill, Nichols, St. Teresas, Tashua, Town Hall, Trumbull
Center
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Weston
Weston consists mainly of business people who work in neighboring Fairfield
County areas, as well as New York-oriented artists, writers and advertising
executives. It is a wooded, tranquil enclave primarily zoned for two-acre
residential lots. This small, rather elegant town, with its rural charm has
lovely properties scattered across its 21square miles of pretty country
roads and streams. Its many stables and trails, make it particularly
attractive for those who like horses. The town shopping facilities are small
but very quaint. The large department stores and upscale restaurants are in
nearby towns such as Westport, Stamford and Norwalk. Among towns in
Connecticut with a population between 4,700 and 10,000, Weston ranked #5.
History
Originally part of the town of Fairfield, Weston became a separate church
parish in 1757 when the Norfield Congregational Church was organized. Soon
however, church leaders felt they did not have adequate representation at
the Fairfield Town meetings, and in 1787 the Norfield Parish joined with the
Parish of North Fairfield to become Weston, the
“West
Town.”
In 1845 the town decided to split into two separate towns; Easton and
Weston.
Government
Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting
Town Facilities
Weston maintains many miles of riding trails. There are 3 private riding
schools in Weston. Devil=s
Den, Weston’s
1,500-acre nature preserve, provides an abundance of hiking and walking
trails. Residents swim in the indoor pool at the town=s
Educational Campus or at the Westport beaches. The town residents have
recreational privileges in Westport, including the use of the Westport
Beach.
Education
There are no parochial or private schools. The Weston school system (one
elementary, one middle and one high school) is located on an attractive
120-acre Educational Campus. 1994 average SAT scores: Math 584, Verbal 482,
almost all of its graduates go on to higher education.
Clubs
Private clubs include a country club, two tennis clubs and a gun club.
Houses of Worship
3 churches
Hospitals
The town is served by the Norwalk Hospital.
Transportation
Weston is just north of the Merritt Parkway. NYC commuters can use one of
the Metro-North Railroad stations in Westport. The train takes about an hour
to reach Grand Central Station. Stamford can be reached by car in 25
minutes; Danbury in 35 minutes. Airport limousine service is available in
Westport.
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Westport
Westport is one of the traditional Connecticut Gold Coast towns, the others
being Darien, New Canaan and Greenwich. It is a very cosmopolitan, small
city with strong schools, great amenities and wonderful beaches. Its
downtown shopping retains much of its New England flavor, while providing a
quiet sophistication including high fashion apparel and first class
restaurants. Its picturesque shoreline has served as the setting for many
movies, novels and plays. As a result, it is very attractive to young,
relaxed professionals, although many famous actors, writers, lawyers as well
as corporate executives call Westport their home.
History
In 1835 the town was incorporated. At that time it included parts of Weston,
Norwalk, Fairfield and Old Saugatuck. In 1848 the railroad opened service to
the town, changing what had been a predominantly shipping and farming
community into a community of factories and mills. By the beginning of the
20th
century, the seaside town had become a popular vacation spot for wealthy New
Yorkers, gradually turning into a town rich in culture as well as real
estate.
Government
Board of Selectmen and Representative Town Meeting.
Town Facilities
Westport has an extensive coast line on Long Island Sound, as well as lying
at the mouth of the Saugatuck River, offering a great variety of swimming
and boating opportunities. There are 3 town beaches, 2 marinas, 26 indoor
and outdoor tennis courts and an active YMCA. Westport has over 200 acres of
parkland with bike paths and nature trails. The Westport Playhouse and
Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts are renowned.
Education
One parochial school (K-8), two private schools (K-8). Five elementary,
three middle and one high school on a nice campus.
Clubs
2 yacht clubs, 2 golf clubs
Houses of Worship
21 churches, 4 synagogues
Hospitals
The town is served by the Norwalk Hospital as well as the 3 hospitals in
Bridgeport.
Transportation
Westport has three stations on the main line of Metro-North. Commuting time
to Grand Central Station in NYC is about 65 minutes. Interstate 95 and the
Merritt Parkway provide easy connection up and down the Connecticut Coast.
Nearby Route 7 provides good access to northern Fairfield County. The drive
time to Stamford is about 20 minutes; Danbury can be reached in about 40
minutes; White Plains Airport in 40 minutes.
Areas and Villages
Compo Beach, Greens Farms, Saugatuck, Saugatuck Shores, Stony Brook
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Wilton
Wilton is a rural, residential town with real New England charm. The town
maintains its style with carefully zoning and attention to its older
colonial landmarks. Wilton homes are mainly in two-acre wooded settings.
Shopping is mainly in Wilton Center, which is the town=s
hub, although Cannondale Village has a small shopping area. Wilton has been
consistently rated by Connecticut Magazine as the best small town
(population under 20,000) in the state. Although many people commute to jobs
elsewhere, there are several large corporations and research centers located
along Route 7 as well as a number of banks and financial operations located
in the town. Among towns with a population between 10,000 and 20,000, Wilton
ranked #2 overall.
History
The written history of the area dates back to 1640 when Roger Ludlow bought
the land between the Norwalk and Saugatuck Rivers. In 1726, the Wilton
Parish was created and the first meeting house was built. Wilton obtained
its town charter in 1802 and thrived as an agricultural town until the
beginning of the early 1900s. The second surge of growth came about 1952, as
the railroad opened up the town for summer residents and commuters. Many of
the town=s
pre-Revolutionary homes have been preserved.
Government
Board of Selectmen and a Town Meeting
Town Facilities
The town has 497 acres of public parks and over 100 miles of riding and
hiking trails. There are two swimming facilities and many ponds for skating
as well as 12 tennis courts. The YMCA is very active. The Wilton Playshop
provides several major productions each year.
Education
One parochial school (K-8), two private schools (K-4, K-8). Three
elementary, two middle and one high school.
Clubs
Two country clubs and one tennis club
Houses of Worship
1 synagogue, numerous churches
Hospitals
Norwalk Hospital, about 15 minutes away, serves Wilton.
Transportation
Wilton lies right at the intersection of Route 7 and the Merritt Parkway.
Wilton has three train stations on the Danbury Spur of the Metro-North
Railroad. The commute to Grand Central Station by train takes about 85
minutes. The drives to Stamford or Danbury take 25 minutes. White Plains
Airport is 40 minutes away. Limousine service to NYC airports is also
available.
Areas and Villages
Cannondale, Georgetown, Silvermine, Branchville
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