Bozrah, Connecticut
Town
Town of Bozrah
Town Hall
Town Hall
Official seal of Bozrah, Connecticut
Seal
Bozrah's location within New London County and Connecticut
Coordinates: 41°33′N 72°11′W / 41.550°N 72.183°W / 41.550; -72.183
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyNew London
RegionSoutheastern CT
Incorporated1786
Government
 • TypeSelectman-town meeting
 • First selectmanGlenn Pianka (D)
 • SelectmenWilliam Ballinger (D)
Jeremy Tarasevich (R)
Area
 • Total20.2 sq mi (52.4 km2)
 • Land20.0 sq mi (51.7 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.7 km2)
Elevation
180 ft (55 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,429
 • Density120/sq mi (46/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
06334, 06336
Area code(s)860/959
FIPS code09-06820
GNIS feature ID0213394
Websitewww.townofbozrah.org

Bozrah is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region. The population was 2,429 at the 2020 census.[1] Bozrah contains three villages: Fitchville, the town center; Leffingwell, a crossroads on Route 82; and Gilman, a mill village along Fitchville Road.

History

The area that became Bozrah was first settled as part of the original "nine-miles-square" of Norwich as well as part of the Parish of West Farms. The area became its own parish, called "New Concord" or the "Fourth Society of Norwich", in 1737.

A legend about the origin of the town's name

Bozrah is the name of a pastoral community mentioned several times in the Old Testament, sometimes with pleasing connotations, sometimes not. The town name may have resulted from the happy connotations connected with Micah chapter 2, verse 12: "I will surely gather the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the flock in the midst of their fold; they shall make a great noise by reason of the multitude of men."[2] In Hebrew, the name Bozrah signifies "an enclosure".[3]

According to a persistent legend, the name "Bozrah" was derived from another Biblical text, which came to someone's mind under the particular circumstances surrounding the community's petition to the Connecticut General Assembly for township status. Whether or not the story is true, the informal, early name "New Concord" was dropped when the town was incorporated.[2]

The community, according to the legend, really wanted to call itself "Bath" after the famous spa in England. The local man chosen to carry the parish's request to Hartford had a somewhat eccentric manner of dress, however, and when he appeared before the Legislature he was dressed in loud, parti-colored homespun so odd as to bring to the mind of one amused legislator the query of Isaiah 63:1: "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah?" Overcome by the humorous appropriateness of this verse, the Assembly decided to name the town "Bozrah" when it incorporated the place.[2]

Points of interest

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 20.2 square miles (52.4 km2), of which 20.0 square miles (51.7 km2) is land and 0.27 square miles (0.7 km2), or 1.38%, is water. The town is bordered by the city of Norwich to the east and by the town of Montville to the south, Salem to the southwest, Colchester to the west, Lebanon to the northwest, and Franklin to the north. 529-acre (2.14 km2) Gardner Lake, a popular recreational destination, occupies the southwestern corner of the town and extends into Salem and Montville.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18201,085—
18301,079−0.6%
18401,067−1.1%
1850867−18.7%
18601,21640.3%
1870984−19.1%
18801,15517.4%
18901,005−13.0%
1900799−20.5%
19108617.8%
1920858−0.3%
19308590.1%
19409045.2%
19501,15427.7%
19601,59037.8%
19702,03628.1%
19802,1354.9%
19902,2977.6%
20002,3572.6%
20102,62711.5%
20202,429−7.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 2,357 people, 883 households, and 662 families residing in the town. The population density was 118.0 inhabitants per square mile (45.6/km2). There were 917 housing units at an average density of 45.9 per square mile (17.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 96.39% White, 0.55% African American, 0.85% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.78% of the population.

There were 883 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.0% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 26.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $57,059, and the median income for a family was $65,481. Males had a median income of $45,291 versus $27,361 for females. The per capita income for the town was $26,569. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

As of 2015, the median household income in Bozrah was estimated to be $77,045, compared to $70,331 for the State of Connecticut as a whole. The low income rate, defined as all persons whose annual household income is less than 200 percent of the poverty threshold, was 22%, compared to 30% statewide.[6]

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 29, 2019[7]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
Democratic 608 24 632 33.02%
Republican 403 11 414 21.63%
Unaffiliated 783 34 817 42.69%
Minor Parties 49 2 51 2.66%
Total 1,843 71 1,914 100%
Presidential Election Results[8][9]
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 45.4% 703 52.8% 817 1.8% 28
2016 38.6% 536 55.0% 764 6.4% 89
2012 50.4% 648 47.0% 606 2.6% 34
2008 52.1% 723 45.6% 633 2.3% 32
2004 51.4% 723 45.9% 646 2.7% 38
2000 51.5% 687 41.9% 561 6.6% 89
1996 47.3% 574 32.7% 398 20.0% 243
1992 35.9% 471 30.7% 404 33.4% 439
1988 42.1% 479 56.1% 639 1.8% 21
1984 34.2% 387 65.7% 745 0.1% 2
1980 38.4% 414 50.0% 540 11.6% 126
1976 47.3% 452 52.4% 502 0.3% 3
1972 35.5% 331 63.9% 599 0.6% 6
1968 46.6% 398 47.7% 408 5.7% 49
1964 66.3% 549 33.7% 279 0.00% 0
1960 47.0% 367 53.0% 415 0.00% 0
1956 41.2% 393 58.8% 668 0.00% 0

Education

The town's educational center, Fields Memorial School, serves grades Preschool to 8, and is located in Fitchville. While there is no high school in Bozrah, the town pays tuition for students attending Norwich Free Academy or Lyman Memorial; the state pays for students' tuition at Norwich Technical High School and Waterford High School.[10]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "Census - Geography Profile: Bozrah town, New London County, Connecticut". Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Bozrah Web page on Curbstone Press Web site, which itself cites the book Legendary Connecticut, by David E. Philips / ISBN 1-880684-05-5 Web page accessed July 23, 2006
  3. ↑ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 331.
  4. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Bozrah Town Profile". Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 29, 2019" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  8. ↑ "General Election Statements of Vote, 1922 – Current". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Election Night Reporting". CT Secretary of State. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  10. ↑ Town of Bozrah Board of Education. "Our Schools". Retrieved January 12, 2022.
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