Norwalk (pronounced nôr?wôk?), is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located in the New York metropolitan area. The estimated population of the city was 85,853 in 2012. Norwalk ranks sixth on the List of municipalities of Connecticut by population.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Toponymy
- "Norwalk,settled 1649; incorporated Sept., 1651, "Norwaukee shall bee a townee,"[sic] Algonkin noyank, point of land, or more probably from the Indian name, "Naramauke."
- "Norwalk originally included part of the present town of New Canaan, Wilton, and part of Westport. In the ancient records the bounds are stated to be "from Norwalk river to Sauhatuck river, from sea, Indian one day walk into the country." For this tract the following articles were given, viz. "8 fathom wampum, 6 coats, 10 hatchets, 10 hoes, 10 knives, 10 scizers, 10 juseharps, 10 fathom tobacco, 3 kettles, 3 hands-about, and 10 lookine glasses." The following articles were given to the Indians for the tract " from Norwalk river to Five mile river, from sea, Indian one day in country," viz. " 10 fathom wampum, 3 hatchets, 3 hoes when ships come, 6 glasses, 12 tobacco pipes, 3 knives, 10 drillers, 10 needles." The name of Norwalk is derived from the above bargain, viz. the northern bounds of the lands purchased were to extend from the sea one day's " north walk" into the country."
- "The common tradition concerning the name, is the account given by Barber (John Warner Barber) in his [Connecticut] Historical Collections, that the name Norwalk is derived from the one day's "North-walk" that limited the northern extent of the purchase from the Indians. It is wonderful that so awkward and improbable a fancy ever gained credit. Norwalk is the old Indian name. The Indians were called "the Norwake Indians'" and the river bore the name of "Norwake River," when the English first came to these shores. Mr. Ludlowe's purchase in 1640 was from "The Indians of Norwalke," and the land is described as lying between "the twoe rivers, the one called the Norwalke, the other Soakatuck." In the earliest town records the name is written Norwalke (the w probably silent, as in Warwick). Our aged people retain the ancient (and probably true) pronunciation, Norruck. Bradley's [Connecticut] Register says that the early Colony Records call it Norrwake."
- [Norwalk was also] "Once nicknamed "Oyster Town"." "Since the 19th century, oystering has been an important source of income for local watermen. Norwalk Harbor with its sheltering Islands, accessible beds and proximity to New York has been an ideal place to harvest oysters as a local food source and a commercial product to be sent to market. Oyster shell middens (piles of discarded shells) along the Connecticut coast tell the story of Native American life and how important oysters were to pre-Columbian culture as well."
Topography
Norwalk's topography is dominated by its coastline along Long Island Sound, the Norwalk River and its eastern and western banks, and multiple islands just offshore. The highest elevation is 282 feet above sea level, at the summit of Middle Clapboard Hill in West Norwalk; and the low elevation is sea level on Long Island Sound.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 36.3 square miles (94 km2), of which, 22.8 square miles (59 km2) of it is land and 13.5 square miles (35 km2) of it (37.24%) is water.
Neighborhoods
Source: City-Data.com
Bordering municipalities
Source: ct.gov
Climate
"Norwalk, Connecticut, gets 45 inches of rain per year. The US average is 37. Snowfall is 24 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation is 100. On average, there are 179 sunny days per year in Norwalk, Connecticut. The July high is around 83 degrees. The January low is 18."
History
Government
Voters
[note: Percentages rounded off to the nearest decimal]
Source: Connecticut Secretary of State
Municipal
The city of Norwalk exists by authority of a municipal charter, granted by the Connecticut General Assembly, which is the legal document that defines the organization, powers, functions, and essential procedures of the city government. Norwalk's municipal government is a Weak-mayor form of a Mayor-Council government with the mayor of Norwalk elected by its voters. The city's charter gives certain administrative powers exclusively to the Council and others jointly to the Council and Mayor. The Common Council is the law-writing body of the City of Norwalk. Norwalk's common council consists of fifteen council members, five elected at-large and ten elected by district, two from each district. Administration offices are located at 125 East Avenue in Norwalk City Hall.
State representatives
Norwalk is represented in the Connecticut General Assembly by five House Representatives corresponding to five Connecticut legislative districts and one senator from one Connecticut Senate district.
Congressional representatives
Norwalk, which lies within Connecticut's 4th congressional district is represented in The United States Congress by one congressional representative in the United States House of Representatives and, along with the rest of Connecticut, by two Senators in the United States Senate.
Demographics
Population
According to the office of Connecticut's Secretary of the State 85,603 people resided in Norwalk in 2010. A population estimation indicates 88,483 people resided in Norwalk as of 2015, an approximate population growth of one percent. The estimate indicates a racially diverse population of 42,768 males (49%) and 44,446 females (51%).
The racial makeup of Norwalk was 55.7% White, 13.4% Black, 0.1% Native American, 4.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3 from some other race and 1.4% from two or more races. 24.3% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Economy
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT Economy at a Glance
- Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Town Profile 2014
Culture and religion
Events
- St. George Greek Orthodox Festival, held in late August, the festival features Greek delicacies, Pontic Greek dance exhibitions and a large carnival.
- Round Hill Highland Games, a festival of Scottish culture and athletic events, was started in 1923 in Greenwich, CT but interrupted during World War II, then restarted in 1952, and has been held in Norwalk's Cranbury Park on or around July 4 for a number of years. In 2006, the 83rd annual event attracted 4,000 people to hear bagpipes and watch the caber toss, the hammer throw, and other events; with athletes often wearing wool kilts. Games for children are also offered. Food and Scottish items are offered for sale. Organizers say the event is the third-oldest Scottish games festival in the United States.
- SoNo Arts Celebration, held in mid-summer
Places of worship
Attractions
- Kayak for a Cause, a fund-raising event held every summer since 2000 at Calf Pasture Beach.
- The Norwalk Oyster Festival, held first weekend after Labor Day
- Norwalk Boat Show, held in late September
- The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum has hosted an annual antique show since 1978. In 2006 the show was held the last weekend in October and attracted dealers from Ohio and Pennsylvania as well as Connecticut.
- Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum This 62-room mansion is considered one of the oldest and finest surviving Second Empire style country houses ever built in the United States. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1971. Recently, it was used for interior shots in the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives.
- Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, a major aquarium that specializes in displaying the marine life and ecology of Long Island Sound.
- The Mill Hill Historic Park and Museum, a collection of historic buildings open to visitors on weekends from May through September and by appointment year round, and is maintained by the Norwalk Historical Society.
- The Norwalk Islands are used by powerboaters, fishers, kayakers and canoeists as well as birdwatchers and campers for day trips and sometimes overnight camping stays.
- Norwalk Historical Society Museum, 141 East Avenue.
- Norwalk Symphony Orchestra performs five concerts annually in the Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Avenue
- Norwalk Youth Symphony performs at concerts held in the Norwalk City Hall on East Avenue.
- Sheffield Island Lighthouse is open to the public seasonally.
- SoNo Switchtower Museum
- The Silvermine Tavern in a historic riverside mill complex of buildings in the Silvermine section of the city, closed its popular restaurant in 2009, though the inn remains open as a bed and breakfast and for special functions.
- Stepping Stones Museum for Children at Mathews Park, near the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum. For children ages 10 and under.
- Seaside Depths
Notable sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Norwalk Green Historic District. The district contains examples of Federal Style, Greek Revival, and Late Victorian architecture.
- Joseph Loth Company Building, since renovated as an apartment building and renamed "Clocktower Close" in the mid-1980s.
- Lockwood-Mathews Mansion
- Rock Ledge
- Norwalk's Former City Hall
- Sheffield Island Light
- Peck Ledge Lighthouse
- Greens Ledge Light
- Beth Israel Synagogue (Norwalk, Connecticut)
- Village Creek
Athletics
Baseball and softball are popular amateur sports with active leagues across many age groups in Norwalk. There are 4 baseball fields and 16 Little League fields in the city. Several of the fields are illuminated for nighttime play. The Norwalk Little League team won the Little League World Series in 1952. The 14-year-old Babe Ruth League team won the championship in 2008. In 2010, the cal Ripken 12-year-old Norwalk all star team made to the Cal Ripken league World Series and placed 3rd in the country. In 2011, the Norwalk American Senior Legion baseball team won the Connecticut State Championship. This had not been accomplished by any other Norwalk Legion team in the storied 83-year history. The team defeated Branford, CT in the championship game. The girls Norwalk Pride fast pitch softball team won the Connecticut State Championship in 2005, 2006, and 2007.
The Norwalk Biddy Basketball All Star team Won the State and Regional titles and then went on to the World Championships in New Orleans, LA in 1986 and placed 7th in the world.
Being a coastal city Norwalk is home to a great many water sports including competitive swimming, recreational boating and fishing, sailing, windsurfing, and kayaking. The Norwalk River and inner Norwalk Harbor host rowing events and organizations. Norwalk resident Daniel Walsh won a bronze medal in Beijing with the U.S. Olympic rowing team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
There are three golf courses in the city of Norwalk.
The cross town rivalry between the city's two largest high schools' sports teams can be rather fierce, particularly for the football, soccer and field hockey teams in the fall; as well as lacrosse, baseball, and softball teams in the spring. Brien McMahon high school's football team won the FCIAC (Fairfield County InterAthletic Conference) and Class M State Football championship in 1994. McMahon high school's boys lacrosse team went on to win the state division 2 lacrosse championship in 2000.
In professional team sports, Norwalk is represented by the Connecticut Wildcats in the American National Rugby League.
Infrastructure
Public buses
Public transport bus service within Norwalk is provided by Norwalk Transit District, also known as Wheels. Norwalk Transit District operates fixed route public bus service in Norwalk and Westport with Evening and Sunday shuttles (serving South Norwalk, Main Avenue and Connecticut Avenue), Services for the Elderly & People with Disabilities and Commuter Shuttles. Access to regional bus services include Coastal Link (Norwalk-Milford), 7 Link (Norwalk-Danbury) and Rt 41 (Norwalk-Stamford). All fixed route buses meet at the Wheels Hub located on Burnell Boulevard, between Main St and Belden Ave.
Commuter rail
Metro-North's New Haven Line runs through and stops in Norwalk. The Danbury Branch runs from South Norwalk to Danbury, CT. There are four stations in Norwalk, three of them on the main line which is: Rowayton, South Norwalk and East Norwalk. The fourth station, Merritt 7, is on the Danbury Branch. Metro-North provides commuter service for all four stations. A fare to any station on the New Haven line from South Norwalk cost less than $15 USD per adult.
Roads and highways
Interstate 95 in Connecticut and Merritt Parkway lead through Norwalk, and there are several exits within the Norwalk city limits. Both of these roads are designated to be north/south routes, although both lead east/west in Connecticut. The major north-south corridor in Norwalk is U.S. Route 7 in Connecticut which can be accessed via Interstate 95 in Connecticut, both northbound and southbound, via Exit 15. Traveling north on the U.S. Route 7 expressway, exit 3 leads to Merritt Parkway southbound only and access to northbound Merritt Parkway can be made via Route 123 and Norwalk's Main Ave/Street from exit 2. Traveling south, the half-built exit 3 also leads to the Merritt Parkway southbound only. There is no direct northbound access to the Merritt Parkway, traveling south, from this expressway. Northbound the expressway section ends at Grist Mill Road in Norwalk from where Route 7 resumes northbound along Norwalk's Main Avenue. Traveling south, access to Interstate 95, both north and south, can be accomplished via their respective exits. Other state highways in Norwalk are Route 53, Route 123, and Route 136.
Utilities
Electric power and natural gas in most of Norwalk is provided by Eversource Energy. The First Taxing District provides water to the Third, Fourth and Fifth Taxing Districts. The Second Taxing District serves sections of South Norwalk, East Norwalk, West Norwalk, Rowayton and Silvermine. and also owns and operates South Norwalk Electric and Water. The Third Taxing District provides electric power for East Norwalk. The districts purchase wholesale power and arrange for its delivery to, and distribution within, their respective districts. Power lines and meters in East Norwalk, South Norwalk, and parts of Rowayton are maintained by the districts. Both the second (SNEW) and third (TTD) district electric departments belong to the six member Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative which pools their wholesale power purchasing to obtain lower rates for their customers.
Connecticut Light and Power [now: Eversource Energy] operated a power plant, Norwalk Harbor Station on Manresa Island, from 1960 to 1999 when it was acquired by NRG Energy, which then began its deactivation in 2013.
In 2004 the third taxing district installed 3 diesel powered generators at the Norden complex on Norden Place that were initially licensed only for emergency power supply. By summer 2008 the generators, with a combined capacity of 6 Megawatts, had been upgraded to allow licensed operation as regular power providers for the grid (not just emergency power).
In 2007 and 2008 the construction of the Middletown-Norwalk transmission line disrupted traffic along the Boston Post Road, but the completion of the line is hoped to help provide additional power to lower Fairfield County. In addition a high-voltage undersea line runs from Manressa Island to Long Island to help provide electric power to Long Island Power Authority customers. In 2008 the city government of Norwalk started initial investigations of whether the city might resume generating power for sale to electricity customers in the city.
Emergency services
Police
Norwalk Police Department serves the city of Norwalk.
Fire
Norwalk Fire Department serves Norwalk's fire protection district.
Medical
Norwalk is served 24/7 by Norwalk Hospital and Norwalk Hospital EMS, a progressive 911 paramedic service. The service consists of hospital based paramedics and EMT-Is who serve Norwalk as well as New Canaan, Wilton, Weston, and Westport. The service responded to over 9,500 medical emergencies in 2008 in the city of Norwalk and 6,000 in the neighboring communities. Norwalk Hospital EMS is widely known as one of the top services in the state and region. Typically the ambulances respond out of Norwalk Hospital as the paramedics and EMT-I assist in the Emergency Department while not in the field. Norwalk Hospital EMS works closely with other Norwalk first responders (Norwalk Fire and Police Departments).
Education
Public schools
High Schools:
·Norwalk High School and The Norwalk Early College Academy 55 County St, Norwalk, CT 06851
·Brien McMahon High School and The Center for Global Studies, 300 Highland Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854
·Norwalk Pathways Academy, 350 Main Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851
Middle schools:
·Nathan Hale Middle School, 176 Strawberry Hill Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06851
·Ponus Ridge Middle School, 21 Hunters Ln, Norwalk CT 06850
·West Rocks Middle School,81 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT 06851
·Roton Middle School, 201 Highland Ave, CT 06854
Elementary schools:
·Brookside Elementary School, 382 Highland Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06854
·Columbus Magnet School, 46 Concord Street, Norwalk, CT 06854
·Cranbury Elementary School, 10 Knowalot Lane, Norwalk, CT 06851
·Fox Run Elementary School, 228 Fillow Street, Norwalk, CT 06850
·Jefferson Science Magnet School, 75 Van Buren Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06850
·Kendall Elementary School, 57 Fillow Street, Norwalk, CT 06850
·Marvin Elementary School, 15 Calf Pasture Beach Rd, Norwalk, CT 06855
·Naramake Elementary School, 16 King Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
·Rowayton ELementary School, 1 Roton Avenue, Norwalk, CT 06853
·Silvermine Elementary School, 157 Perry Ave, Norwalk, CT 06850
·Tracy Elementary School, 20 Camp Street Norwalk, CT 06851
·Wolfpit Elementary School, 1 Starlight Dr, Norwalk, CT 06851
Charter schools
Side by Side Community School, 10 Chestnut St, Norwalk, CT 06854
Private schools
All Saints Catholic School, 139 West Rocks Road Norwalk, CT 06851
Montessori Middle School, 24 Lois Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
Winston Preparatory School, 57 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT 06851 Parkway Academy, 260 New Canaan, Ave
Post-secondary education
- Norwalk Community College
Media
Several publications regularly cover news in Norwalk, including one daily newspaper, two professional news websites affiliated with large companies and one independent professional news website. The Hour was an independent daily newspaper based in Norwalk and founded in 1871, but was bought by Hearst Corporation on April 12, 2016. The Advocate (Stamford), a unit of Hearst Corp., had a Norwalk edition with a bureau in the city, but both have since closed down; the Advocate provided occasional coverage, much of which also appeared in the Norwalk Citizen-News, a weekly also owned by Hearst, which went defunct in 2013. Norwalk Patch is part of a news division owned by AOL. The Norwalk Daily Voice (owned by The Daily Voice, which is headquartered in New York City). NancyOnNorwalk.com focuses on local government, schools, social services and other taxpayer-relevant issues. It is owned by Chapman Hyperlocal Media Inc., a 501(c)(3), headquartered in Norwalk. News 12 Connecticut, a 24-hour regional news channel covering events in southwestern Connecticut is based in Norwalk. News 12 Connecticut is owned and operated by Cablevision, a unit of Rainbow Media Holdings, Inc. and is available to subscribers of that cable television service. Rowayton is also covered by New Canaan-Darien & Rowayton magazine, a glossy monthly is owned by Moffly Publications. NorwalkPlus is a publication of Canaiden, LLC of Stamford.
Notable people
Notable people from Norwalk include the late Andy Rooney, commentator on 60 Minutes, who lived in Rowayton. Author Philip Caputo. A. Scott Berg, an award-winning biographer of celebrities was born in Norwalk. Johnny Gruelle, artist and author, creator of Raggedy Ann, before moving to Wilton. Big Band composer Arthur (Artie) Shaw lived in Norwalk in the 1950s. Jazz-piano great Horace Silver was also born in Norwalk. Cartoonist B. Kliban was born and raised in Norwalk. Rapper Chris Webby also hails from Norwalk. Nano Biologist and physician Andrew Borocan was also born in Norwalk; who has made contributions to the medical and nano fieldsBio-MEMS Multi-Grammy award winner Vince Mendoza was born and raised in Norwalk. NBA Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy, and former Major League Baseball player (1995 American League MVP) Mo Vaughn both hail from Norwalk. The late Bob Miller was born in the city. Two Medal of Honor recipients came from Norwalk: John D. Magrath in World War II and Daniel J. Shea in the Vietnam War.
Also, D.J. Caruso, director of upcoming movie xXx: Return of Xander Cage, starring Vin Diesel and Deepika Padukone, was born in Norwalk, and graduated from Norwalk Highschool in 1983. Vin Diesel had announced Caruso himself to act as director for this film.
Movies filmed in Norwalk
Full-length features and documentary movies, partially filmed or completely taking place in Norwalk, listed in reverse chronological order:
- Hope Springs (2012).
- Best Laid Plans (2009).
- Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009). -- filmed along Washington Street in SoNo.
- Old Dogs (2009).
- Birds of America (film) (2008).
- College Road Trip (2008). -- scenes filmed in town in mid-July 2007; shooting locations were the former Norwalk police headquarters building in Matthews Park, on the Merritt Parkway and along the Route 7 connector.
- Pistol Whipped (2008).
- Revolutionary Road (2008).
- Righteous Kill (2008).
- The Six Wives of Henry LeFay (2008). - Filmed in 2007 on Wall Street in Norwalk Center.
- Wetlands Preserved: The Story of an Activist Nightclub (2008).
- Freezer Burn (2007).
- The Life Before Her Eyes (2007). Uma Thurman filmed a scene at Norwalk Community College in August, 2006.
- Henry May Long (2006) -- filmed at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion.
- Satan's Little Helper (2004).
- The Stepford Wives (2004).
- The Object of My Affection (1998).
- The Stepford Wives (1975).
Television
- For One More Day (television movie, ABC, December 2007). -- filmed in July 2007 on Broad Street.
- To All My Friends On Shore (1972, made-for-TV movie).
- House of Dark Shadows (1970, TV series). -- "Abandoned Monastery" portions filmed at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion.
In popular culture
- In J. D. Salinger's novel, The Catcher in the Rye, Holden's parents are attending a party in Norwalk the night he sneaks into his apartment to visit his sister, Phoebe.
- In Jonathan Franzen's novel, The Corrections, Chip Lambert holds a "twelve-hour vigil" at a Dunkin' Donuts in Norwalk (stalking Melissa Paquette in neighboring Westport).
- In the 20th-Century-Fox film noir classic Laura, Gene Tierney as Laura Hunt says: "Then I got off the train at Norwalk"
Sister cities
- Nagarote (Nicaragua) since 1986 (see Norwalk/Nagarote Sister City Project)
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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