Middletown

History

The land on the western bank of the Connecticut River where Middletown now lies was home to a village of the Wangunk, a tribe of Algonquian-speaking Native Americans. The village was named Mattabesset (also spelled Mattabesett, Mattabesec, Mattabeseck, and Mattabesek); the area they inhabited—now Middletown and the surrounding area—was named after it. When the primarily English European settlers arrived in the region the Mattabesset were a part of the Wangunk, a large tribe in the Connecticut Valley, at the time under a sachem named Sowheag.

Plans for the colonial settlement were drawn up by the General Court in 1646; the first migrants came from nearby Connecticut colonies in 1650. On September 11, 1651, the General Court of Connecticut established the town of "Mattabesett". A couple of years later in November 1653, the settlement was renamed as Middletown. This name was chosen because the site was approximately halfway between Windsor and Saybrook on the Great River. Life was not easy for these early colonial Puritans; clearing the land and building houses, and tending farms in the rocky soil of New England was a labor-intensive ordeal. They had a strict society; offenses legally punishable by death in the Connecticut colonies included "witchcraft, blasphemy, cursing or smiting of parents, and incorrigible stubbornness of children."

The Pequot and Mohegan tribes, at that time traditional allies of the English colonists and enemies of the Wangunk, arrived in the Middletown area in the latter half of the 17th century; conflict between them and local Native American tribes ensued. The inhabitants of Mattabesett and others referred to the Mohegan as "destroyers of men." Sowheag hoped that the colonists would intervene. They did not. Smallpox epidemics caused high mortality, reducing their ability to resist and disrupting their cohesion as a tribe. Records show that, over time, Sowheag was forced to sell off most of Mattabesett to the local colonists; by 1676 the Puritans owned all but 300 acres (1.2 km2) of the former territory. Native Americans suffered similar fates of illness and dispossession at other colonial sites in 17th-century New England.

During the 18th century, Middletown became the largest and most prosperous settlement in Connecticut. By the time of the American Revolution, Middletown was a thriving port, where one-third of its residents were involved in merchant and maritime activities. Some settlers held enslaved Africans as workers in the early economy of Middletown; they worked as domestic servants, laborers, and in shipping. African slaves were imported by the English in 1661 from Barbados in the Caribbean. By 1756 Middletown had the third-largest African slave population in the state of Connecticut—218 slaves to 5,446 whites.

21st century

In recent decades, Middletown has focused on balancing the needs and comforts of its residents with the commercial development required to help fund services. These efforts date at least from 1931, when the city was one of the first in America to establish a planning board. Progress continued under the leadership of Democratic mayor, Domenique S. Thornton, who served a record eight years (four terms) as mayor. The city attracted a 12-screen movie theater and numerous restaurants and other businesses to the downtown area, the city provided free Wi-Fi service along Main Street and the historic Inn at Middletown a luxury four and half star boutique hotel transformed the former vacant National Guard Armory. On November 8, 2005, Republican Sebastian Giuliano won the mayor's office, replacing Thornton, whom he criticized for raising taxes and for the awarding of a contract for the construction of a new high school to Tomasso Brothers, Inc., a firm that had been the target of a federal corruption probe. During Giuliano's three terms in office, Middletown's Main Street became a hub for small businesses, and the city began investing heavily in the arts. Democrat Daniel T. Drew defeated Giuliano in 2011. Drew has pushed for increased development in the city's North End, an area that has been plagued by poverty and crime in recent decades. In November 2012, voters approved a $37 (~$49.8 million in 2024) Million initiative to move Middletown's wastewater to the Mattabassett Sewer District treatment plant in nearby Cromwell. Previously, the city had operated its own sewage treatment plant on the banks of the Connecticut River. The city has made plans to tear down this older plant and develop the riverfront property on which it sits. Middletown continues to support manufacturing and small business.

Middletown has remained an important government administrative center. From the creation of Middlesex County in 1798 until the elimination of county government in 1965 Middletown was the county seat. Middletown today retains Middlesex Superior Court, and the Judicial District remains that of the former county court. Other county functions were either centralized to the state or transferred to the towns. The former county building has been removed, but there are other state agency buildings elsewhere in the city, such as the Dept. of Social Services on Main Street Ext. Middletown's Probate Court district includes the towns of Cromwell, Portland, Middlefield and Haddam. The city is also the site of the controversial State Juvenile Training Center.

Culturally and politically, Middletown is in the midst of an effort to revitalize its historically disadvantaged North End. Economic development projects recently completed in the North End include Wharfside Commons, a 96-unit mixed income apartment block, and the new Community Health Center (completed in 2012 at the corner of Main and Grand Streets). The Green Street Arts Center, founded by Wesleyan and a coalition of community groups in 2000, is a pioneering attempt to attract residents and businesses to the neighborhood by promoting arts education and outreach. For decades, the famous O'Rourke's Diner has done much to bring some stability to the North End. A fire on August 31, 2006, gutted much of the historic structure. The Middletown community held many fundraising events to raise money for the diner's rebuilding. Reconstruction began in September 2007, and O'Rourke's Diner re-opened in February 2008. Mayor Daniel Drew (2011–2019) supported citizen-oriented efforts to revitalize the North End, such as the local nonprofit NEAT (North End Action Team). In 2012, the City of Middletown and NEAT partnered to form the "I Heart the North End" initiative, which plans to raise public awareness of the economic and cultural opportunities available in the area.

Geography

Middletown sits on the west bank of the Connecticut River, in the south-central portion of the state. Running alongside the river, Route 9 bisects the city. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.3 square miles (109.6 km2), of which 40.9 square miles (105.9 km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.7 km2) is water. The total area is 3.36% water. Middletown shares borders with the neighboring towns of Cromwell, Portland, East Hampton, Haddam, Durham, Middlefield, Berlin, and Meriden. Of all the neighboring towns, Portland and East Hampton are the only ones that do not have any land boundaries, as they are located on the eastern side of the Connecticut River.

The west side of Middletown is flanked by the Metacomet Ridge—a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border. Notable mountains of the Metacomet Ridge in Middletown include Higby Mountain and the north side of Lamentation Mountain. The 50-mile (80 km) Mattabesett Trail traverses the ridge. The Nature Conservancy manages the summit and ledges of Higby Mountain. Major bodies of water include the Connecticut River along the towns eastern boundary, the Mattabesset River along its northern boundary, Crystal Lake in the southern end of town, and Pameacha Pond along South Main Street. The Mount Higby and Adder reservoirs also fall along its western boundary with Middlefield.

Principal communities

Highland – The westernmost neighborhood of Middletown. It is the only section of the city that Interstate 91 passes through within its total distance through Middletown.

Westfield – Formerly a village, now a mostly residential neighborhood located in the northwestern corner of the city, lying just south of the border with Cromwell.

Miramichi – A mostly residential neighborhood located in the southwest corner of the city, lying just north of the border with Middlefield.

Newfield Heights – A commercial neighborhood with many businesses and restaurants located to the north of the city center.

Bretton Heights – A mostly residential neighborhood located a few miles west of the city center.

Lakeridge Heights – A semi-industrial neighborhood located just below the South Farms area, and just above the Durham town line.

South Farms – A mostly residential area lying just to the south of the city center.

Maromas – A largely industrial and mostly uninhabited neighborhood, located in the southeastern part of the city. Pratt & Whitney has one of its offices located in this area.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Middletown had a population of 47,717. The median age was 38.2 years. 16.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.4 males age 18 and over.

94.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 5.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 20,081 households in Middletown, of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 35.3% were married-couple households, 22.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 32.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14.

There were 21,671 housing units, of which 7.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%. Owner-occupied housing made up 54% of the units.

Income

The median income for a household in the city was $62,022. Males had a median income of $49,846 versus $37,412 for females. The per capita income for the city was $39,845. 12.3% of the population was below the poverty line.

Infrastructure

The headquarters of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, previously the Connecticut Department of Public Safety,[24][25][26] is located in Middletown.[27]

The United States Postal Service operates the Middletown Post Office.[28]

Economy

Top employers

Top employers in Middletown according to the town's 2023 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Education

Middletown operates public schools, including Middletown High School.

The city has one Roman Catholic elementary school, Saint John Paul II Regional Catholic School, and two Roman Catholic high schools, Xavier High School (for boys) and Mercy High School (for girls).

Middletown also has one technical high school, Vinal Technical High School.

Post-secondary institutions include Wesleyan University and Middlesex Community College.

Russell Library is the public library of Middletown. It provides books, periodicals, full-text databases, classes, computer training, workshops, concerts, and meeting spaces.

Media

Middletown has three regular news outlets.

The Middletown Press is a daily broadsheet that covers news in the Middletown area.

The Hartford Courant is a daily broadsheet which includes a Middletown story in every issue.

Three radio stations are licensed to Middletown: WMRD 1150 AM (variety), WESU 88.1 FM (Wesleyan University), and WIHS 104.9 FM (religious).

Transportation

River Valley Transit provides public transportation services throughout Middletown as well as service between Middletown and Old Saybrook, which, along with New Haven, provides connections to Amtrak intercity trains and Shore Line East commuter rail service. The New Britain Transportation Company provides connecting service to New Britain and the surrounding area; and Connecticut Transit provides local and express service to Hartford as well as express service to New Haven.

Bradley International Airport (BDL) in Windsor Locks and Tweed New Haven Airport (HVN) in East Haven are the closest commercial airports to Middletown.

Meriden Markham Municipal Airport, in Meriden, and Goodspeed Airport, in East Haddam, each offer general aviation services as well and are open to the public.

In popular culture

Middletown's riverfront and bridges were featured extensively in the music video for Billy Joel's hit song "The River of Dreams". TLC's reality series 90 Day Fiancé documented Darcey Silva's relationships. On June 29, 2020, Entertainment Weekly announced that Silva and her sister Stacey are getting their own reality show called Darcey & Stacey. Three seasons of Darcey & Stacey have been filmed in Middletown.

Notable organizations

Artists For World Peace, Nonprofit International Peace Organization

Notable people

This notable people list is divided into three sections: people born in Middletown, people who currently live in Middletown, and people who once lived in Middletown at some point in their lives.

The following notable people were born in Middletown:

Dean Acheson (1893–1971), 51st United States Secretary of State

Charles Richard Alsop, lawyer, politician and Mayor of Middletown

Joseph Wright Alsop IV, politician and insurance executive; father of Joseph Alsop

Jules Dassin, film director

Reginald De Koven, music critic and composer

Bill Denehy, Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher

Samantha Johnson, soccer player

Joey Logano, NASCAR driver, 2018, 2022, and 2024 NASCAR Cup Series champion

Mark MacDonald, member of the Vermont House of Representatives and Vermont Senate

Samuel Mattocks, officer in the American Revolution and Vermont State Treasurer

Peter Parcek, blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter

Tony Pastor, band leader, singer

Eli Pemberton (born 1997), basketball player in the Israeli Basketball Premier League

Sister City

Melilli, Italy