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Milford is a city, formerly part of a town of the same name, in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 50,594 at the 2000 census. The municipality is subdivided into the City of Milford, the Village of Devon, and the Borough of Woodmont. The current mayor of Milford is James L. Richetelli, Jr.
The city has grown noticeably over the years, including rapid revitalization of the downtown and retail growth along Route 1, and today Milford faces the typical modern issue of deciding how much land to develop and how much to keep natural, especially in light of the city's location at the mouth of the Housatonic River.
Further information: Economic development of Milford, Connecticut
History
Early history
The land which today comprises Milford, Orange and West Haven, Connecticut was purchased on February 1, 1639 from Ansantawae, chief of the local Paugusset tribe by English settlers affiliated with the contemporary New Haven Colony. Originally, the area was known as "Wepawaug", after the small river which runs through the town, and which has given its name to several streets in both Milford and Orange.During the Revolutionary War the Milford section of the Boston Post Road, a vital route connecting Boston, New York and other major coastal cities, was blockaded by Continental forces and Fort Trumbull was constructed to protect the town. The site of the blockade is commemorated by the Liberty Rock monument.
By 1822, the town had grown large enough that residents in the northern and eastern sections of Milford chartered their own independent course as the town of Orange. During the next century and a half, the remaining section of Milford was known for shipbuilding, farming and oystering, although a small subset of industrial facilities also developed in town. During this time, Milford also became known as a beach resort for residents of New Haven and Bridgeport.
In 1915 a portion of the town was incorporated as the borough of Woodmont. In 1959, the remainder of the town of Milford was incorporated as the City of Milford.
Post-World War II development
In the post-World War II period, Milford -- like many other New England towns -- underwent significant suburbanization. Interstate 95 was routed through town and the Milford section was completed by 1960.The 1960s and '70s witnessed the construction of the Westfield Connecticut Post Mall, one of the state's largest shopping malls, and the extensive commercial development of the town's stretch of the Boston Post Road. Milford will soon be home to a Wal-Mart.
The city also became host to several headquarters of multinational corporations, including the Subway fast-food corporation. The town also hosts the headquarters of the BIC Corporation, which has in recent years moved most of its operation outside of the city.
Culture
Every year in August, Milford celebrates its annual Oyster Festival, which serves as a combination of a typical town fair with a culinary celebration of the town's location on historically shellfish-rich Long Island Sound. This festival is held on the Milford Green, in the center of town. The Milford Cultural Center, operated by the Miflord Council for the Arts, offers various events throughout the year. The Firehouse Art Gallery was recently opened in Devon.
Geography and the environment
According to the United States Census Bureau, the balance has a total area of 61.5 km² (23.7 mi²). 57.7 km² (22.3 mi²) of it is land and 3.8 km² (1.5 mi²) of it (6.15%) is water.
Milford's Devon neighborhood is located at the mouth of the Housatonic River near Stratford, and is possesed of an Audubon Center overlooking the estuary.
A large portion of Milford's shoreline forms the Silver Sands State Park. Charles Island, also a part of the park, is a protected nesting ground.
Demographics
| Historical population of Milford** | |
| 1756 | 1,633 |
| 1774 | 2,127 |
| 1782 | 2,195 |
| 1790 | 2,098 |
| 1800 | 2,417 |
| 1810 | 2,674 |
| 1820 | 2,785 |
| 1830 | 2,256 |
| 1840 | 2,455 |
| 1850 | 2,465 |
| 1860 | 2,828 |
| 1870 | 3,405 |
| 1880 | 3,347 |
| 1890 | 3,811 |
| 1900 | 3,783 |
| 1910 | 4,366 |
| 1920 | 10,193 |
| 1930 | 12,660 |
| 1940 | 16,439 |
| 1950 | 26,870 |
| 1960 | 41,662 |
| 1970 | 50,858 |
| 1980 | 50,898 |
| 1990 | 49,938 |
| 2000 | 52,212 |
| 2002 | 53,472 (estimate) |
There were 20,138 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.4% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the balance the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.0 males.
The median income for a household in the balance was $51,167, and the median income for a family was $61,175. Males had a median income of $48,368 versus $36,770 for females. The per capita income for the balance was $28,773. About 2.4% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.
Milford Celebrities
- Milford was the home and final resting place of Peter Pond, the first explorer of the Athabasca region of North America in the 1780s.
- Local legend has it that Captain Kidd buried treasure on Charles Island. No treasure has ever been found. The island does contain the ruins of an abandoned Catholic monastery.
- Milford is also the birthplace of American actress Christy Carlson Romano.
- Milford is home to Nick Oldack, the creator of the famous "sour face" (accented by his abnormally small eyes and fat cheeks). He spends most of his time in Milford watching re-runs of American Idol and enjoying his diverse and eclectic music collection.
- Milford is also home to its own Jazz musician, Jay Rowe
Movies filmed in Milford
Full-length feature and documentary movies filmed at least in part in Milford, in reverse chronological order:
- The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
- BlackMale (2000)
- The Case of the Cosmic Comic (1976)
- Daylight (1996)
- Gone with the Wind (1939)
- Psychoanalysis Changed My Life (2003)
- Retribution (2006/II)
- Save the Forest (2005)
- Seepage! (2005)
Source: Internet Movie DataBase Web site's page for Milford, Connecticut
External links
- City of Milford official Web site
- History of Milford, CT
- Milford Oyster Festival official site
- http://www.woodmontucc.org/
- Cities and boroughs of Connecticut with dates of incorporation
- 1646 Map of Milford, CT
"Milford, Connecticut"