Eight Counties, Including Two of Ours, Fairfield and New Haven!

Connecticut - "Qui Transtulit Sustinet" -- "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains" - State Motto

Within its compact borders, Connecticut has forested hills, new urban skylines, shoreline beaches, white-steeple colonial churches and historic village greens. There are classic Ivy League schools, modern expressways, great corporate offices, and small farms. Connecticut is a thriving center of business, as well as a vacationland. It is both a New England state and suburban to New York City.

The original inhabitants of Connecticut were Native Americans. There were members of the Mohegan, Nipmunks, Pequot, Podunk, Pootatuck, Poquonnuc, Quinnipiac, Siwanoy, Tunis, Unocwa, Wangunk and Weawaug Tribes. The first "explorers" were the Dutch who founded several trading posts. Starting in 1633, English Puritans from Massachusetts established the first "settlements" in the State. From those modest beginnings, Connecticut has grown to the wonderful, robust State that it is today.

The origin of the State name is Indian: Quinnehtukqut -- Mohegan for "Long River Place" or "Beside the Long Tidal River."

Connecticut has 30 Municipalities and 149 Townships. There are no county "seats." Hartford has been the sole capital city since 1875.

Seven of Our Towns, Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe,Shelton, Stratford and Trumbull, are in Fairfield County

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Fairfield County - Fairfield County, located in the bustling southwestern corner of the state, is often referred to as the "Gold Coast". This is because Fairfield County is the wealthiest region in our nation's wealthiest state. Much of the wealth in Fairfield County derives from its proximity to New York City, only a short commute away. Other wealth comes from right here at home through businesses such as GE, GTE, and Xerox.

County web sites:

One of our Towns, Milford, is in New Haven County

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New Haven County - One of the largest attractions to New Haven County is Yale University. The beautiful gothic campus is both scenic and rich in cultural activities. Some of the cultural attractions include a symphony orchestra, several theaters, and many museums and historic preservations. The rest of the county is home to many classic New England mill towns. This region once produced many goods such as hats, brass, and shirts. Many of the old mills have been "recycled" and are now producing high-tech items like electronics, aerospace components, and biopharmaceuticals.

County web sites:

One of our towns!

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 22.8%
• Condominiums: 6.6%
• Multi-Unit: 68.4%
• Other: 2.2%

Bridgeport - Home of the Bridgeport Bluefish (baseball) and the Bridgeport Barrage (lacrosse,) both of who play at Harbor Yard, and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers (hockey,) and the Fairfield University Stags (basketball,) both of who play at the Arena at Harbor Yard.

The City of Bridgeport, population 139,529 and covering 16.0 square miles, is located in southwest Connecticut on the Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Pequonnock River. It is Connecticut's largest city.

First settled in 1665, the Town of Bridgeport was incorporated in 1821 with land from nearby Stratford and Fairfield. The City of Bridgeport was chartered in 1836 and the City and Town immediately consolidated.

Bridgeport is known as "Park City" because of its over 1,300 acres of parkland. Along its coast line, one finds the longest public waterfront in the state, sandy beaches, the 1823 Fayerweather Lighthouse, rich river estuaries, a natural harbor with all the maritime activities of marinas, fishing and oyster boats, ocean-going freighters, sight-seeing and charter cruises, the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport Ferry (an hour aboard the ferry and you can be exploring scenic Long Island) and Captain's Cove Seaport, homeport of the tall ship "HMS" Rose. The Rose is the only Class-A size tall ship in the United States to be U.S. Coast Guard certified as a sailing school vessel.

Recreational activities and opportunities are too numerous to mention. The Wonderland of Ice, an indoor skating rink, is a public facility. Many festivals are held throughout the year, including the great Barnum Festival. Bridgeport owns and operates a 36-hole public golf course, Fairchild-Wheeler.

Bridgeport is a blend of yesterday and today. Originally established as an industrial center and a port city, it has more designated historic districts than any other city in Connecticut and several thousand individual buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Like many cities, Bridgeport is restoring its downtown area. Anchoring this re-building is Harbor Yard and the Arena at Harbor Yard.

The City is also home to three outstanding hospitals, Bridgeport City Hospital, St. Vincent's Hospital and Park City Hospital, all of which are affiliated with Yale University Medical Center in New Haven.

Houses, condominiums and apartments of every size and style can be found Bridgeport's many diverse neighborhoods.

Note: On the home page of our web site we have a picture of the Fayerweather Lighthouse that stands guard for Black Rock Harbor. Black Rock Harbor is sheltered by Fayerweather Island, which made the island an ideal place for a lighthouse to mark the harbor entrance. Seven-acre Fayerweather Island, now attached to the mainland by a breakwater, at one time was a much larger island used mainly for the pasturing of sheep. Read more about the history of this historic lighthouse.

Bridgeport web sites:

One of our towns!

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 100.0%
• Condominiums: 0.0%
• Multi-Unit: 0.0%
• Other: 0.0%

Easton - Home of Easton's Volunteer Fire Company #1's carnival which is held every year in July. Folks come from miles around to enjoy the fun.

The Town of Easton, population 7,272 and covering 27.4 square miles, is inland and north of Fairfield.

Easton was first settled in 1757 by men from Fairfield. In 1762 a congregation called the North Fairfield Society was established and it gradually evolved into Easton. In 1787 Weston, then including lands now defined as Easton, was incorporated from Fairfield. The area was slow to develop because of the rough hills along the Aspetuck River and so it was not until 1845 that Easton was incorporated from Weston.

Today, Easton is where you want to be when you want a day in the country to pick raspberries and strawberries or to cut your own Christmas tree.

Approximately one half of the town's property is devoted to reservoirs and wooded open space watershed, all of which is owned by the local hydraulic company.

There are three public parks in Easton, Toth Part, Helen Keller Park and Veteran's Park. Here one can find playgrounds, picnic areas with barbecue grills, horseshoe pits, baseball and softball fields, fishing, tennis courts (some lighted) a lighted basketball court and soccer fields. Hiking trails abound.

Easton allows one-acre and three-acre residential zoning with a minimum lot frontage of 200 feet for all properties. Commercial entities are limited to two general stores, a few gas stations and produce stands, all of which pre-date the 1941 establishment of local zoning laws.

Homes in Easton are a blend of Colonials and comfortable Contemporary homes nestle side-by-side with vintage farmhouses, all surrounded by the prevailing common denominator of a beloved and preserved classic New England landscape.

A note about public school education in Easton: Easton and the adjoining town of Redding each have one elementary school and one middle school. Students from both middle schools then attend Joel Barlow High School in Redding (Regional High School District 09.) The teachers from the five schools have jointly worked together to form a comprehensive curriculum for Grades K-12. Not only does this curriculum provide a common path that elementary and middle school students and teachers from both towns follow in preparation for the students coming together at the high school level, but it also provides the parents with a set of clearly defined educational objectives for their children throughout all of Grades K-12.

Easton web sites:

One of our towns!

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 78.5%
• Condominiums: 4.5%
• Multi-Unit: 15.9%
• Other: 1.1%

Fairfield/Southport - Home of Southport Harbor where during the summer months, masts in the harbor usually outnumber cars on the street.

The Town of Fairfield, population 57,340 and covering 30.0 square miles, enjoys an enviable location on the edge of the Long Island Sound and between Westport and Bridgeport, 50 miles northeast of New York City.

In the fall of 1639, Roger Ludlow, one of the founders of the colony of Connecticut, led a small group of men and a large herd of cattle to the shore of Long Island Sound. At a place known to the local Indians as Unquowa, they established a settlement that became known as Fairfield, named for the hundreds of acres of salt marsh that bordered the coast.

Today, Fairfield is a blend of both the old and the new. It is close enough to New York to commute, yet far enough to retain its New England personality. Fairfield's six-mile coastline and pristine beaches are a summer playground for water sport enthusiasts and sun worshippers alike. The quaint village of Southport is a part of Greater Fairfield. Part of the Southport area has been designated an historic district for its harbor, churches, public buildings and the homesteads of some of the first families. Affluent and culturally exciting Fairfield is ideally positioned for elegant living.

Twenty town parks offer the tranquil pleasures of picnicking, bicycling, walking and nature studying. Swimming can be enjoyed at six town beaches and at Lake Mohegan. In the winter, several small ponds freeze over for ice-skating. Golfers can challenge par at a 9-hole, par-3 public golf course or the public 18-hole Smith-Richardson Golf Course. Fairfield also boasts many public tennis courts as well as private tennis and squash facilities.

An extensive and diverse range of housing suits the most selective tastes and pricing requirements of residents. There are stately Colonials, Greek Revivals, Federal and Victorian homes, as well as striking Contemporary structures and a wide variety of condominiums. Over half the land is zoned for one and two acre residential lots.

Fairfield web sites:

One of our towns!

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 70.8%
• Condominiums: 5.2%
• Multi-Unit: 20.7%
• Other: 3.3%

Milford - Home of the Connecticut Audubon Coastal Center, located at the confluence of the Long Island Sound and the Housatonic River.

The City of Milford, population 48,168 and covering 22.6 square miles is on Western Connecticut's Long Island Sound shoreline. The waters of the Long Island Sound, the Oyster River and the Housatonic River border it on three sides while the Wepawaug and Indian River cut the City in half. With a pond or two thrown in, you're never too far from getting wet!

Milford is one of the oldest cities in the state and one of the original six plantations of the New Haven Colony. It was settled in 1639 by 15 Puritan families from New England and they immediately established a very stern church society. Although incorporated as an original settlement in 1639, the town was refused admission to the New Haven Colony until 1643 because they had granted suffrage to six non-members of the church fellowship.

Milford still retains a traditional New England atmosphere. What is more New England than the City's Friday night concerts during the summer on the town green? Also, from the magnificent town green, the 14 miles of shoreline and the 20 city parks, open space and recreational activities are greatly treasured in Milford.

Housing in Milford is primarily single family (approximately 80%) and condominiums. New homes are still being built, mainly on three-quarter and one-acre lots. Condominiums are both inland and on the water. One development is in a converted school, one is an old factory and another in a former nunnery. Very creative reuses of older structures!

Although Milford is actually located in the southern most portion of New Haven County, most of its home listings are on the Fairfield County MLS and thus it is one of "Our Towns."

Milford web sites:

One of our towns!

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 87.8%
• Condominiums: 5.1%
• Multi-Unit: 5.2%
• Other: 1.9%

Monroe - Home of Wolfe Park, where one can find sports and recreation programs for every member of the family. Whether you enjoy hiking, swimming, tennis, football, soccer, fishing, boating basketball, picnicking, playgrounds or baseball/softball, you can find it all at Wolfe Park.

The Town of Monroe, population 19,247 and covering 26.1 square miles, is bordered on the east by the Housatonic River and on the west, south and southeast by Easton, Trumbull and Shelton/Huntington respectively.

In 1823 the Connecticut State Legislature incorporated the Town of Monroe, naming it after the fifth President of the United States, James Monroe.

Originally an agricultural community, Monroe is increasingly becoming suburban. It also has more than 100 homes dating from both before and during the Revolutionary War. A decidedly yesteryear tranquility, combined with contemporary resources, make Monroe an attractive family community.

In addition to Wolfe Park, other recreational venues include Whitney Farms, an 18-hole public golf course, indoors swimming at Masuk High School, Webb Mountain Park and numerous hiking trails.

The rural feeling is carefully guarded and protected. Forty-five percent of the land is one-acre zoning, 25% is two-acre zoning, while 17% is three-acre zoning.

Monroe web sites:

One of our towns!

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 68.0%
• Condominiums: 7.9%
• Multi-Unit: 20.5%
• Other: 3.6%

Shelton/Huntington - Home of The Jones Family Farms where children of all ages come to pick delicious raspberries and strawberries in the summer, find that perfect pumpkin in the fall and cut the greatest Christmas Tree ever at Christmas time.

The City of Shelton, population 38,101 and covering 30.6 square miles, is located 11 miles from the Long Island Sound at the confluence of the Housatonic and Naugatuck Rivers.

Shelton was first settled before 1700 by residents of nearby Stratford. In 1717, the General Assembly of the Connecticut Colony granted parish privileges to "the northern parts of the Town of Stratford" and the ecclesiastical society subsequently formed was given the name Ripton. The parish was incorporated from Stratford as the Town of Huntington in 1789. In the 1870s, Shelton became the accepted name of an emerging area along the Housatonic River, separate and apart from Huntington. Finally in 1919, Shelton was incorporated and by popular vote, Huntington was included therein. Even today, there is a part of Shelton that most people refer to as Huntington.

Shelton provides the flavor of both rural and urban living. Within its boundaries is the perfect blend of a pleasant residential community and a fertile business environment. The City's traditional products, such as wire goods, tacks and tools remain the foundation of its industrial sector. Shelton is also proud to boast of a long and on-going tradition of agricultural heritage with over 2,000 acres of farmland. Its family owned farm stands offer the best of the region's produce.

Shelton has over 150 acres of developed parks as well as the Shelton Community Center. A few years ago, it acquired an additional 500 acres of open space. The parks contain 12 public playgrounds with supervised programs during the summer months. The Community Center contains a 25-yard, 8-lane indoor swimming pool, an indoor basketball court and two weight rooms. The City's outdoor sport complex offers tennis courts and athletic fields for baseball, softball, basketball, soccer and football. The Housatonic River, Shelton's most precious natural resource, provides recreational activities such as boating, fishing and swimming, as well as hiking and picnicking along the western bank of the River. Local volunteers maintain Shelton's over 20 miles of hiking and walking trails. The State owned Indian Wells State Park, located within Shelton, is a favorite with community residents.

Both new and older homes, apartments and condominiums are available. In the past few years a number of farm acres have been sold and new homes with one to two acres of land have been built.

Shelton web sites:

One of our towns!

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 64.1%
• Condominiums: 9.5%
• Multi-Unit: 25.3%
• Other: 1.1%

Stratford - Birthplace of Igor Sikorsky, father of today's modern helicopter industry, and home town of the company he founded, Sikorsky Aircraft. Helicopters built by Sikorsky, such as the one in the picture being used by the Coast Guard, rescue over 400 persons a year just in the United States. By the way the US Coast Guard Academy is located just up the coast in New London, CT.

The Town of Stratford, population 49,976 and 17.6 square miles, is a coastal community situated on the Long Island Sound and bounded to the east by the Housatonic River. However, it also boasts a typical Connecticut woods and fields interior.

Stratford was founded in 1639 and in its early years, land that was then a part of Stratford was used in the establishment of the Towns of Shelton and Trumbull.

As a coastal town, Stratford has long viewed its waterfront as an important natural resource. The Town's location on the Long Island Sound affords residents and visitors alike with two public beaches, five marinas, several fishing piers and two public boat-launching facilities.

A wonderful seawall where folks come to relax, fish and just glaze at the Sound and all the boating activity thereon is located in the Lordship section of town. A 9-hole par-3 public golf course, tennis and paddleball courts and softball and baseball fields are also located in the Lordship section and they are all just for Town residents.

Stratford boasts several outstanding natural resources including the 250-acre, Town owned Roosevelt Forest to the Great Meadows Salt March, one of the largest "unditched" salt marshes remaining in New England and now a portion of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. There is also Booth Memorial Park, another Town owned location for outdoor fun and relaxation.

Sikorsky Memorial Airport, located in the Lordship section, is a hub of corporate and commuter air service.

In Stratford, there are a variety of homes of interest. The solidly built, predominantly Colonial-style, "old neighborhoods" are within walking distance of shopping, parks and transportation. The more contemporary and spacious Colonials and ranches are in the Putney and Oronoque neighborhoods of town. The waterfront community of Lordship contains capes, ranches and Colonials, while vintage Victorians and Colonials abound in the historic neighborhood surrounding the soon to be revitalized Shakespeare Festival Theater. Throughout the community, there are numerous condominium developments, including some located on the Housatonic River.

Stratford web sites:

One of our towns!

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 93.7%
• Condominiums: 1.7%
• Multi-Unit: 4.1%
• Other: 0.5%

Trumbull - Home of the 1989 Little League World Champions!

The Town of Trumbull, population 34,243 and covering 23.3 square miles, is located in the hill country north of Bridgeport, CT in the watershed of the Pequonnock River.

It was first called Unity, a name that was changed to North Stratford in 1747. It's name changed again in 1797, when the town was incorporated on land from nearby Stratford, to its present name.

A town landmark, Tashua Hill, one of four geodetic stations in the nation used to determine the earth's shape, is easily spotted when one is out sailing on the Long Island Sound. In 1807, a famous meteor, now part of Yale's Meteorological Collection, fell at the foot of the hill.

Over 1,600 acres of town land have been set aside as recreation and open space, thus making a natural landscape a considerable part of Trumbull's quality of life. Outdoor recreational opportunities include the 18-hole Tashua Knoll's public golf course, 22 tennis courts, many of which are lit for night play, four natural swimming areas (two of which are private), one indoor and two outdoor swimming pools, a BMX bike track, hiking trails, picnic sites, ice-skating ponds, (weather permitting), and numerous baseball and soccer fields. Beach permits for the Town of Fairfield beaches are also available to Trumbull residents at a modest cost.

Single-family homes make up 94% of local housing. Property sizes vary from .25 to over one acre. Attractive condominiums and Stern Village, the town's senior housing development, offer other housing alternatives.

Trumbull web sites:

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 42.8%
• Condominiums: 2.4%
• Multi-Unit: 54.0%
• Other: 0.8%

Ansonia web sites:

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 61.5%
• Condominiums: 8.1%
• Multi-Unit: 22.6%
• Other: 7.8%

A note about public school education in Beacon Falls: Beacon Falls and the adjoining Town of Prospect each have their own elementary schools. Students from the elementary schools then attend Long River Middle School in Prospect. From middle school, the students from both towns attend the new (2001) Woodland Regional High School in Beacon Falls. (The three elementary schools, the middle school and the high school collectively form Regional School District 16.)

Beacon Falls web sites:

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 93.7%
• Condominiums: 1.1%
• Multi-Unit: 3.0%
• Other: 2.2%

A note about public school education in Bethany: Bethany and the adjoining towns of Orange and Woodbridge each have their own elementary schools. Students from the elementary schools then attend either Amity Regional Middle School in Bethany or Amity Regional Middle School in Orange. Students from the two middle schools then attend Amity Regional Senior High School in Woodbridge. (Collectively these three regional schools form Regional High School District 05.)

Bethany web sites:

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 66.9%
• Condominiums: 7.7%
• Multi-Unit: 23.8%
• Other: 1.6%

Bethel web sites:

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 49.5%
• Condominiums: 17.0%
• Multi-Unit: 28.5%
• Other: 5.0%

Branford web sites:

Housing Characteristics

• Single Family Detached: 80.4%
• Condominiums: 7.8%
• Multi-Unit: 7.8%
• Other: 0.9%

Brookfield web sites: