Woodbridge, Connecticut

Woodbridge is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,983 at the 2000 census.

History

Woodbridge was originally called "Amity", having been carved out of land originally belonging to New Haven and Milford as an independent parish in 1739. In 1742, the Rev. Benjamin Woodbridge was ordained in Amity, and it is after him that the modern town was named.

In 1661, the town was the location of one of the hideouts of the "Regicides" -- judges who had signed the death warrant for King Charles I of England. The ruins of their hideout can be found nearby the West Rock hills, which run along the town's eastern border.

In the modern era, Woodbridge has undergone significant suburbanization, although the majority of homes in town are located on large plots of land. The town also serves as the location of Amity High School, which it shares under a tri-partite school system arrangement with the neighboring towns of Bethany and Orange. It is also home to Ezra Academy, a Jewish day school, and Beecher Road School, an elementary school for grades k-6.

Woodbridge is one of the wealthiest towns in Connecticut, ranking 15th in the state in terms of per capita income.

Government

Woodbridge is governed by a 6-member Board of Selectmen. Until roughly 1990, the First Selectman had been a member of the Republican party.

In April 2006, Edward Sheehey (Democrat) became First Selectman. Sheehey served on the Board of Selectmen for 27 years as a regular selectman. The Board of Selectmen elected Sheehey First Selectman by a 3 to 2 vote, along party lines, to replace Amey Marella (Republican), who stepped down to accept a job as Deputy Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection. Before becoming First Selectwoman in 2001, Marella she was an attorney with the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Past First Selectmen elections

2006: Edward Sheehey (Democrat) elected by Board of Selectmen, 3 to 2; 2005: Amey Marrella (Republican) defeated Lawrence Grotheer; 2003: Amey Marrella (Republican) defeated Janice Horowitz; 2001: Amey Marrella (Republican) defeated Susan Jacobs;

Education

Grammar School

Beecher Road School is the town's pre Kindergarten - Grade 6 school. In 2001, the Board of Education split the school into two schools (one preK-2 and multi-age; and one 3-6).

Kevin Brennan was Beecher Road School principal from 1992-1999. Since the Board of Education declined to renew Brennan's contract, Beecher Road School has gone through nine principals in seven years.

Middle School

As part of the Amity school system, Woodbridge shares a middle school with the town of Bethany, which is located north of Woodbridge. When the middle school was formerly known as Amity Junior High School - Bethany, the junior high school housed grades 7 to 9 for both towns. Neighboring Orange has its own middle school.

High School

Woodbridge also shares a high school with the neighboring towns of Bethany and Orange. The high school is located in Woodbridge's town center.

Private Schools

Woodbridge is also home to Ezra Academy, a Jewish day school. Natalie Portman attended Ezra Academy, as noted by a Spring 2005 Ezra pamphlet.

Geography

Woodbridge is informally divided into two distinct parts -- central Woodbridge, which occupies the western hilly side of town, and the area known as The Flats, which occupies the eastern slice of town bordering the less wealthy West Rock and the New Haven neighborhood of Westville.

Interesting facts

The sulfur match was invented in Woodbridge by Samuel Beecher and Thomas Sanford in 1835.

External links

New Haven County, Connecticut | Towns in Connecticut

Woodbridge (Connecticut) | Woodbridge

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