Westchester, Connecticut
| Colchester, Connecticut | ||
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| Town | ||
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 Location in New London County, Connecticut |
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| Coordinates: 41°34′N 72°21′W / 41.567°N 72.350°WCoordinates: 41°34′N 72°21′W / 41.567°N 72.350°W | ||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Connecticut | |
| NECTA | Hartford | |
| Region | Southeastern Connecticut | |
| Incorporated | 1698 / 1699 | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | Selectman–town meeting | |
| • First Selectman | Art Shilosky (elected 11/2015) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 49.8 sq mi (129.0 km2) | |
| • Land | 49.1 sq mi (127.1 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (1.9 km2) | |
| Elevation | 551 ft (168 m) | |
| Population (2010) | ||
| • Total | 16,068 | |
| • Density | 320/sq mi (120/km2) | |
| Time zone | Eastern (UTC-5) | |
| • Summer (DST) | Eastern (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP code | 06415, 06420 | |
| Area code(s) | 860 | |
| FIPS code | 09-15910 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 0213409 | |
| Website | www |
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Colchester is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 16,068 at the 2010 census. In 2010 Colchester became the first town in Connecticut, and the 36th in the country, to be certified with the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat.
Colchester is one of the fastest growing towns in Connecticut. The villages of Westchester and North Westchester are located within Colchester. The town center village, which was previously incorporated as a borough, is a census-designated place, with a population of 4,781 at the 2010 census.
The Colchester Historical Society operates a local history museum in town.
The history of the town begins on October 1, 1692 when the area known as "Jerimiah's Farme" is confirmed unto Danial Mason, son of Major John Mason, acting on behalf of the Hartford Colony, by Owaneco. The original settlement known as Jerimiah's Farm was land given unto Jerimiah Adams, of Hartford, by Uncas, sachem of the Mohegan tribe.
On October 13, 1698, Michael Taintor, Samuel Northam and Nathaniel Foote III applied to go forth and settle the Town. Jerimiah's Farm was selected as the main point of reference for the town, with its north boundary as the Twenty Mile River. The southern side is bordered by Lyme. The west boundary meets the east bounds of Middletown and Haddam. The east and northeast boundary run to the bounds of Lebanon and Norwich. During the initial settlement, the area was also referred to as the Plantation of the Twenty-mile River.
On May 11, 1699, the town's principal founders, Nathaniel Foote, Samuel Northam and Michael Taintor asked the general court of Hartford for assistance with persons hindering the advancement of the settlement, to be transferred under the jurisdiction of the New London colony, and for the Town to be recognized as Colchester. On May 11, 1699 the town name was so named and incorporated into the colony of New London. The town is said to be named after Colchester, a borough and port in Essex, England, where many colonists had emigrated from.
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Wikipedia