Branford, Connecticut

Branford, Connecticut is a town located in New Haven County, Connecticut, on the Shoreline (Connecticut), near New Haven, Connecticut, and Stony Creek, Connecticut. The town is situated on the Long Island Sound, and is bordered by the towns of Guilford, Connecticut, North Branford, Connecticut, and East Haven, Connecticut. Branford is home to Yale University alumni, including William F. Buckley Jr., and is near the University of New Haven and Southern Connecticut State University. The town is also close to the Peabody Museum of Natural History and the Louis' Lunch restaurant, a National Historic Landmark.

Geography

Branford is located on the Connecticut Shoreline, near the Thimble Islands, and is bordered by the Long Island Sound to the south. The town is situated near the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, and the Menunkatuck Trail, which runs through the Twin Lakes Park and the Branford Supply Ponds. The geography of the area is also influenced by the Connecticut River, which flows into the Long Island Sound near Old Saybrook, Connecticut. The town is close to the Gillette Castle State Park and the Chatfield Hollow State Park, which offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, such as hiking and fishing, near the Coginchaug River and the Hammonasset River.

History

The area that is now Branford was originally inhabited by the Tunxis Native American tribe, and was later settled by English colonists in the 17th century, including John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton. The town was named after Branford, England, and was incorporated in 1644. During the American Revolution, the town was a supply point for the Continental Army, and was visited by George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette. The town is also home to the Branford Historical Society, which operates the Branford Museum and the Harrison House Museum, and is near the Mystic Seaport and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center.

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, the population of Branford was approximately 28,000 people, with a mix of Italian-American, Irish-American, and English-American residents. The town is home to a number of Yale University students and faculty, as well as employees of United Illuminating and Pratt & Whitney. The demographics of the area are also influenced by the nearby cities of New Haven, Connecticut, and Hartford, Connecticut, which are home to a number of Fortune 500 companies, including United Technologies and Aetna. The town is close to the University of Connecticut and the Connecticut College, and is near the Mohegan Sun and the Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Economy

The economy of Branford is driven by a mix of industries, including healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. The town is home to a number of companies, including Alexion Pharmaceuticals and Core Informatics, and is near the Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Hartford Hospital. The economy of the area is also influenced by the nearby cities of New Haven, Connecticut, and Stamford, Connecticut, which are home to a number of Fortune 500 companies, including General Electric and Pitney Bowes. The town is close to the Bradley International Airport and the Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, and is near the Port of New Haven and the Port of Bridgeport.

Education

Branford is served by the Branford Public Schools system, which includes Branford High School and Francis Walsh Intermediate School. The town is also home to a number of private schools, including Notre Dame High School and St. Mary School. The education system in the area is influenced by the nearby Yale University, which is one of the top universities in the world, and is near the University of New Haven and the Southern Connecticut State University. The town is close to the Connecticut State Library and the New Haven Free Public Library, and is near the Peabody Museum of Natural History and the Yale Center for British Art.

Transportation

Branford is located near a number of major transportation routes, including Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1. The town is served by the Shore Line East commuter rail line, which connects to New Haven, Connecticut, and New London, Connecticut. The town is also close to the Bradley International Airport and the Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, and is near the Port of New Haven and the Port of Bridgeport. The transportation system in the area is influenced by the nearby cities of New Haven, Connecticut, and Hartford, Connecticut, which are home to a number of major transportation hubs, including Union Station (New Haven) and Hartford Union Station. The town is close to the Merritt Parkway and the Wilbur Cross Parkway, and is near the Connecticut River and the Long Island Sound.