Rocky Hill, Connecticut

Coordinates: 41°39′26″N 72°39′36″W / 41.65722°N 72.66000°W / 41.65722; -72.66000
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Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Town of Rocky Hill
Dinosaur State Park and Arboretum
Official seal of Rocky Hill, Connecticut
Rocky Hill's location within Hartford County and Connecticut
Rocky Hill's location within the Capitol Planning Region and the state of Connecticut
Map
Map
Map
Coordinates: 41°39′26″N 72°39′36″W / 41.65722°N 72.66000°W / 41.65722; -72.66000
Country United States
U.S. state Connecticut
CountyHartford
RegionCapitol Region
Incorporated1843
Government
 • TypeCouncil-manager
 • Town managerRaymond Carpentino
 • Town CouncilMayor:
Lisa Marotta (R)
Deputy Mayor:
Allan Greenspan (R)
Town Councilors:
David Sevigny (R)
Jeffrey Levine (R)
Pankaj Prakash (R)
Francis Whelan III (R)
John Emmanuel (D)
William O'Sullivan (D)
Mimi Lifshitz-Theroux (D)
Area
 • Total13.8 sq mi (35.8 km2)
 • Land13.4 sq mi (34.8 km2)
 • Water0.4 sq mi (1.0 km2)
Elevation
223 ft (68 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total20,845
 • Density1,500/sq mi (580/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
06067
Area code(s)860/959
FIPS code09-65370
GNIS feature ID0213497
Interstates
U.S. Routes
Websitewww.rockyhillct.gov

Rocky Hill is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Capitol Planning Region. The population was 20,845 at the 2020 census.[1] It was originally land of the Wangunks (a tribe of Native Americans). Europeans began to settle the area of Rocky Hill in 1650, as part of Wethersfield, the neighboring town to the north. In 1722, the area became known as Stepney Parish, until it was independently incorporated in 1843.[2] Rocky Hill’s location on the Connecticut River made it a natural port for Wethersfield and an early center for shipbuilding, agriculture, and trade.

Rocky Hill is a typical bedroom community as many residents commute to work in the larger urban centers of Hartford to the north and New Haven to the south.

Rocky Hill is the home to the Dinosaur State Park. Rocky Hill also was once the headquarters of Ames Department Stores, which ceased business operations in 2002.

Geography[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 13.8 square miles (35.8 km2). 13.4 square miles (34.8 km2) is land and 0.39 square miles (1.0 km2) (2.78%) is water.[3]

Bordering Rocky Hill to the north is Wethersfield, with Newington to the northwest, Berlin to the southwest, and Cromwell to the south. The Connecticut River forms the eastern border. Interstate 91 runs through the town with exits at the two main local highways, Route 3 at exit 23 and Route 99 at exit 24. Route 3 travels from Cromwell through Rocky Hill into Wethersfield, eventually crossing the Connecticut River into Glastonbury. The north-south Route 99 parallels the Connecticut River for the length of town.

The town of Rocky Hill is named after the ridge along the Connecticut River in the northeast section that is now Rocky Hill Quarry Park.

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±%
18501,042—    
18601,102+5.8%
1870971−11.9%
18801,108+14.1%
18901,069−3.5%
19001,026−4.0%
19101,187+15.7%
19201,633+37.6%
19302,021+23.8%
19402,679+32.6%
19505,108+90.7%
19607,404+44.9%
197011,103+50.0%
198014,559+31.1%
199016,554+13.7%
200017,966+8.5%
201019,709+9.7%
202020,845+5.8%
Source: [4]

As of the 2000 Census, Rocky Hill had a population of 17,966 in 7,557 households, with 4,519 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,335.4 inhabitants per square mile (515.6/km2). There were 7,962 housing units at an average density of 591.8 per square mile (228.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 90.20% White, 3.42% African American, 0.11% Native American, 3.97% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.01% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.20% of the population.

There were 7,557 households, out of which 24.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. Of all households 32.5% were made up of individuals, and 9.7% 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 2.93.

In terms of age, 19.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.1% were between 18 and 24, 31.9% were 25 to 44, 25.8% were 45 to 64, and 16.5% were 65 or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.

The median household income in the town was $60,247, and the median income for a family was $72,726. Males had a median income of $48,555 versus $39,625 for females. The per capita income for the town was $29,701. About 1.2% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 3.0% of those age 65 or over.

Education[edit]

Rocky Hill High School has a student body of approximately 800 students. Albert D. Griswold Middle School enrolls about 600 students. Moser Intermediate School enrolls about 500 students. Stevens Elementary School enrolls about 500 students. West Hill Elementary School enrolls around 525 students.

Government[edit]

Rocky Hill is currently governed under the Council-Manager form of government. The Town Council is the legislative body for the Town of Rocky Hill, and eight members are elected to serve two year terms. The Mayor, elected separately, is a member and presiding official of the Council with the power to vote.

Rocky Hill town vote
by party in presidential elections[5]
Year Democratic Republican Third Parties
2020 55.89% 6,115 42.69% 4,670 1.42% 155
2016 51.74% 5,090 44.02% 4,331 4.24% 417
2012 55.57% 5,173 43.29% 4,030 1.14% 106
2008 59.27% 5,957 39.31% 3,951 1.42% 143
2004 56.21% 5,488 42.33% 4,133 1.46% 143
2000 59.96% 5,184 37.51% 3,243 2.53% 219
1996 56.19% 4,640 31.90% 2,634 11.91% 983
1992 43.31% 4,091 34.60% 3,269 22.09% 2,087
1988 50.46% 4,052 48.71% 3,911 0.83% 67
1984 40.10% 3,159 59.47% 4,685 0.43% 34
1980 42.91% 3,187 41.12% 3,054 15.97% 1,186
1976 49.00% 3,352 50.46% 3,452 0.54% 37
1972 43.43% 2,493 55.84% 3,206 0.73% 42
1968 53.53% 2,616 40.64% 1,986 5.83% 285
1964 70.07% 2,657 29.93% 1,135 0.00% 0
1960 54.22% 1,894 45.78% 1,599 0.00% 0
1956 37.16% 1,077 62.84% 1,821 0.00% 0
1952 42.59% 1,126 57.26% 1,514 0.15% 4
1948 48.35% 835 50.55% 873 1.10% 19
1944 47.21% 702 52.79% 785 0.00% 0
1940 46.28% 598 53.72% 694 0.00% 0
1936 45.52% 406 54.48% 486 0.00% 0
1932 35.64% 258 64.36% 466 0.00% 0
1928 30.55% 216 68.74% 486 0.71% 5
1924 30.00% 126 67.38% 283 2.62% 11
1920 30.55% 216 68.74% 486 0.71% 5
1916 42.58% 109 55.47% 142 1.95% 5
1912 38.71% 96 43.55% 108 17.74% 44
1908 31.34% 68 68.20% 148 0.46% 1
1904 35.65% 82 63.48% 146 0.87% 2
1900 38.89% 91 60.26% 141 0.85% 2

Federal[edit]

Congressional Representatives[6] [7]
Representative Chamber Party
Richard Blumenthal Senate Dem
Chris Murphy Senate Dem
John Larson House of Representatives Dem

State[edit]

General Assembly Representatives [7]
Representative Chamber District Party
Matthew Lesser Senate 9th Dem
Kerry Wood House of Representatives 29th Dem

Town Council[edit]

Members of the Rocky Hill Town Council [8]
Name Seat Party
Lisa J. Marotta Mayor Rep
John Emmanuel Seat 1 Dem
Francis Whelan III Seat 2 Rep
Allan Greenspan Seat 3 Rep
Jeffrey Levine Seat 4 Rep
David Sevigny Seat 5 Rep
William O'Sullivan Seat 6 Dem
Pankaj Prakash Seat 7 Rep
Mimi Theroux Seat 8 Dem

Economy[edit]

Top employers[edit]

Top employers in Rocky Hill according to the town's 2022 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report[9]

# Employer # of Employees
1 Town of Rocky Hill 534
2 SYSCO Food Services 500
3 Henkel Corporation 490
4 State Veterans Home and Hospital 422
5 Liberty Mutual 315
6 AECOM Technical Services 305
7 Burris Logistics 300
8 Meredith Corporation 200
9 Walmart 200
10 Sheraton Hotel 180

Points of interest[edit]

  • The Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry to Glastonbury, which is purported to be the nation's oldest continuously running ferry service (though it closes every winter due to ice)
  • Dinosaur State Park, which displays fossilized dinosaur footprints discovered in Rocky Hill in the 1960s
  • Quarry Park, an 84.3-acre (34.1 ha) park on a former trap rock quarry in northeast Rocky Hill that originally was in operation from the 1920s to the 1950s
  • The Connecticut Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
  • The State Veteran's Home and Hospital, located in Rocky Hill since 1940[10]
  • Academy Hall, a museum run by the Rocky Hill Historical Society
  • The John Robbins House
  • Elm Street Historic District
  • Center Cemetery
  • Henkel Corporation's U.S. Headquarters for Adhesive Technologies and R&D [11]
  • The former headquarters of the Connecticut Lottery
  • The studios of CBS-affiliated television station WFSB Channel 3

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Census - Geography Profile: Rocky Hill town, Hartford County, Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 20, 2021.
  2. ^ The Connecticut Magazine: An Illustrated Monthly. Connecticut Magazine Company. 1903. p. 334.
  3. ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Rocky Hill town, Hartford County, Connecticut". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  4. ^ "Connecticut State Register & Manual". Archived from the original on September 13, 2005. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  5. ^ "Connecticut Election Results Archive". Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  6. ^ "Connecticut Senators". United States Senate. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Representative Districts by Town". CT General Assembly. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  8. ^ "List of Rocky Hill Town Council Members". Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  9. ^ "Town of Rocky Hill Comprehensive Annual Financial Report For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2022". Town of Rocky Hill. Retrieved August 13, 2023.
  10. ^ "History of Connecticut Veteran's Home"
  11. ^ "Locations".

External links[edit]