Branford is a shoreline town located on Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States, about east of downtown New Haven. The town is part of the South Central Connecticut Planning Region. Branford borders East Haven to the west, Guilford to the east, and North Branford to the north. The population was 28,273 in the 2020 census.
Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of ; are land and (21.5%) are water, including the Branford River, Queach Brook and the Branford Supply Ponds. There are two harbors, the more central Branford Harbor and Stony Creek Harbor on the east end, and one town beach at Branford Point. Much of the town's border with East Haven to the west is dominated by Lake Saltonstall, a reservoir owned by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, and Saltonstall Mountain, part of the Metacomet Ridge, a mountainous trap rock ridgeline that stretches from Long Island Sound to nearly the Vermont border. The southern terminus of the Metacomet Ridge, Beacon Hill, is located in Branford.
The town of Branford includes the Thimble Islands. Neighboring towns are North Branford to the north, Guilford to the east, and East Haven to the west.
History An area called Totoket, which became Branford, was part of the land bought from the Mattabesech Indians in 1638 by the first English settlers of New Haven. Previously, the Dutch in the New Netherland settlements set up a trading post at the mouth of the Branford River in the 17th century, the source of the name "Dutch Wharf", also known as "Dutch House Wharf" and the Dutch House Quarter. Branford Chamber of Commerce web site accessed June 26, 2006 The area was also described by Ezra Stiles as containing a "Dutch Fort", as hinted at by archaeological excavations completed in the 1990s.
The town's name is said to be derived from the town of Brentford, England. The town in early maps was called Brentford before being shortened to Branford. Established in 1644, Branford grew during the 18th and 19th centuries. In the late 18th century, the first shoreline community, Stony Creek, was settled. Indian Neck and Pine Orchard were also settled, but neither of those settlements was permanent until the mid-19th century.
In 1852, the railroad helped bring new business, including Branford Lockworks, Malleable Iron Fittings Company, and the Atlantic Wire Company. The Stony Creek granite quarries also rose to prominence as a direct consequence of railroad construction.
During the mid-19th century, Branford became a popular resort area. Approximately twenty hotels opened, including Indian Point House in Stony Creek, Montowese House in Indian Neck, and Sheldon House in Pine Orchard. During the mid-20th century, Branford shed its resort image. It developed with many characteristics typically associated with northeastern suburbs.
Climate
Landmarks and attractions
Branford has six historic districts that are listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). These include buildings in Federal, Arts and Crafts, and Queen Anne styles of architecture. Five NRHP-listed districts are Branford Center Historic District, Branford Point Historic District, Canoe Brook Historic District, Route 146 Historic District, and Stony Creek-Thimble Islands Historic District.
More than 20 historic homes and other properties are separately listed on the National Register. In total, 30 properties or districts in Branford appear in New Haven County's NRHP listings. One example is Harrison House and Museum, a 1724 structure, which has period furnishings, local historical items, archives, a barn and an herb garden."AAA Connecticut, Massachusetts & Rhode Island Tour Book", 2007, published by the American Automobile Association, page 38
Cruises of the Thimble Islands depart from the Stony Creek dock, and seal-watch cruises take place in March.
Branford's recreational facilities include several town-maintained parks and beaches owned by private foundations, hiking trails along Lake Saltonstall and a stretch of the Shoreline Greenway Trail, and of coastline with more than 12 marinas.
Branford is home to two breweries named after local landmarks, Thimble Island Brewing Company and Stony Creek Brewery.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,683 people, 12,543 households, and 7,663 families residing in the town. The population density was . There were 13,342 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the town was 94.05% white, 1.35% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.57% of the population.
There were 12,543 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.9% were non-families. 32.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 20.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $58,009, and the median income for a family was $69,510. Males had a median income of $46,927 versus $35,947 for females. The per capita income for the town was $32,301. About 3.3% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under the age of 18 and 4.0% of those 65 and older.
Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 31, 2024 Party Active voters Inactive voters Total voters Percentage Democratic 7,119 733 7,852 33.47% Republican 4,150 369 4,519 19.26% Unaffiliated 9,263 1,495 10,758 45.85% Minor parties 288 46 334 1.42% Total 20,820 2,643 23,463 100% Presidential Election ResultsYearDemocraticRepublicanThird Parties202456.8% 9,89841.6% 7,2511.5% 276202059.0% 10,56239.6% 7,0981.4% 253201654.2% 8,45342.3% 6,5853.5% 545201258.2% 8,30140.8% 5,8171.0% 144200859.8% 9,06238.9% 5,9061.3% 176200456.2% 8,33842.3% 6,2861.5% 221200057.8% 8,30235.7% 5,1336.5% 930199653.9% 7,07733.2% 4,35612.9% 1,704199243.1% 6,57536.8% 5,62220.1% 3,066198845.3% 6,00753.3% 7,0681.4% 178198436.4% 4,67963.2% 8,1180.4% 51198032.7% 3,82754.9% 6,43212.4% 1,447197642.6% 4,88656.5% 6,4870.9% 92197234.1% 3,77564.7% 7,1741.2% 134196843.6% 4,28049.9% 4,9076.5% 632196461.7% 5,66438.3% 3,5200.00% 0196046.8% 4,16153.2% 4,7310.00% 0195634.2% 2,60465.8% 5,0090.00% 0
Principal communities in Branford
Branford Center
Branford Center is home to many small stores, restaurants, and coffee houses, which line Main Street, with the Green at the center. The Branford Green has churches as well as the town hall and other government facilities and hosts concerts and other events, such as the annual Branford Festival. Traditionally, the graduating class from Branford High School graduates in front of the Town Hall, weather permitting.
Branford Hill
Branford Hill sits on the western end of town and centers on the heavily commercialized strip of U.S. Route 1. Fast-food and sit-down restaurants, auto dealers, grocery stores, and several strip malls are located there. The southern section is less dense, with woodlands and farm featuring trails preserved by the Branford Land Trust. These trails connect the Shoreline Greenway Trail from New Haven to Madison. The northern section also features a less dense area, with woodlands that surround Lake Saltonstall. These woodlands feature trail systems maintained by the Regional Water Authority, as the Lake is a reservoir for Branford.
Branford Hill features many condominium and apartment complexes. The original site of Connecticut Hospice (now the Monastery of the Glorious Cross—a semi-cloistered community of Benedictine nuns) is located in this area, on Burban Drive. Also on Burban Drive is St. Elizabeth of Hungary Roman Catholic Church, which was originally located in Short Beach.
Indian Neck
Indian Neck is in the south-central section of Branford, dominated by a peninsula bordering Branford Harbor. Both Foote Park and John B. Sliney Memorial Park are located within Indian Neck.
In the early to mid 20th century Indian Neck was a tourist destination. Trolley service came down to Sybil and Limewood avenues, which had its own commercial area. These included Harry's General Store, Bud's Bait Box, and on Limewood Avenue the Waverly Inn, Madelyn's Restaurant, Surfside Restaurant, a news, comics, candy, variety store named Lounsberry's, and Dairy Joy Ice Cream. Much of the area contained second homes, so the beach was an active place. As the area became more year-round the commercial business slowly shut down. The Montasco Inn, owned and operated for many years by the Poirots was torn down in the 1960s. The landmark Waverly Inn was destroyed by a fire in the early 1970s.
Indian Neck – Pine Orchard Volunteer Fire Company 9 is located here.
In February 2015, Stony Creek Brewery, named after the Stony Creek area of Branford, opened its doors here.
Pine Orchard
Pine Orchard is situated between Indian Neck and Stony Creek. It is home to the Pine Orchard Yacht and Country Club and Francis Walsh Intermediate School. Notable residents include Dr. Nicholas Perricone and Edward M. Kennedy, Jr.
Stony Creek
Stony Creek is a shore front neighborhood in the southeastern section of Branford, centered on a harbor on Long Island Sound. An eclectic community, Stony Creek has the ambiance of a small seaside village with a blend of various architectural style buildings and a few small retail establishments, sandwich shops, galleries, and an antique shop.
Just offshore from Stony Creek is an archipelago of islands known as the Thimble Islands. The Thimbles are a jumble of glacial rocks, ranging from down to stepping-stone size, at the mouth of the harbor. Despite their small size, they possess a wealth of history and local lore, as well as providing pleasant scenery for a summer cruise.
Stony Creek is home to the all-male Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps, and the only all-female fife and drum corps, Totoket Ancient Fife & Drum Corps.
A large quarry is still working and supplied the distinctive pink/orange Stony Creek granite for the Brooklyn Bridge (Although this contradicts linked page "The granite blocks were quarried and shaped on Vinalhaven Island, Maine, under a contract with the Bodwell Granite Company, and delivered from Maine to New York by schooner.McLane, Charles B.; McLane, Carol Evarts (1997). Islands of the Mid-Maine Coast. I. Tilbury House & Island Institute. p. 134. . ), the base of the Statue of Liberty, and the newest House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Granite from Stony Creek was chosen to be used in New York City's Statue of Liberty museum, which opened in May 2019.
Stony Creek Fire and Rescue Company 5 is located here.
Short Beach