East Haddam, Connecticut

East Haddam is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 8,333 at the 2000 census.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 56.6 sqmi, of which, 54.3 sqmi of it is land and 2.2 sqmi of it (3.96%) is water.

Principal communities

 * Bashan
 * East Haddam Center
 * Leesville
 * Little Haddam
 * Millington
 * Moodus
 * North Plain

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 8,333 people, 3,174 households, and 2,285 families residing in the town. The population density was 153.4 people per square mile (59.2/km²). There were 4,015 housing units at an average density of 73.9 per square mile (28.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.26% White, 0.84% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 3,174 households out of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.0% were non-families. 21.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the town the population was spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 4.8% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.2 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $62,304, and the median income for a family was $70,091. Males had a median income of $45,500 versus $36,055 for females. The per capita income for the town was $28,112. About 1.0% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.5% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Public
The East Haddam Public School System has about 1,420 students in grades PreK–12; about 121 certified teachers, 70 support staff and 8 administrators. Dr. Ellen Solek is superintendent of schools. Located in Moodus, Connecticut, the three schools in the public school system are:
 * Nathan Hale-Ray High School (grades 9–12) - about 418 students
 * Nathan Hale-Ray Middle School (Grades 4–8) - about 573 students
 * East Haddam Elementary School (Grades Pre–K3) - about 430 students

Private

 * Franklin Academy – "A Boarding and Day School for Students with Nonverbal Learning Differences in grades 8-12", according to the school's Web site. The private, nonprofit school was opened in 2003 and has a campus of 75 acre.

Cultural

 * East Haddam Historical Society Museum – local history exhibits, including pictures of the construction of the East Haddam swing bridge, the world's largest.
 * Gillette Castle State Park, on Route 82
 * Goodspeed Opera House, on Route 82 near the East Haddam Bridge
 * Nathan Hale School House, one of two Nathan Hale School Houses in Connecticut, at 149 Devil's Hopyard State Park, on Hopyard Road off Route 82

Natural

 * Eagle viewing sites:
 * Along the Connecticut River at the Town Office parking lot
 * Near Riverhouse, overlooking the north side of the East Haddam Bridge
 * Devil's Hopyard State Park
 * Lake Hayward, 1.5 mi long, 0.5 mi wide spring-fed lake in northern section of East Haddam. Originally called Long Pond.

Notable residents

 * George Comer (1858–1937), polar explorer and whaler who called East Haddam his home for most of his life. The Comer Strait of northern Southampton Island and the almost flightless Gallinula comeri were named in his honor.
 * Christopher Dodd, a former United States Senator for Connecticut, lives in East Haddam.
 * Bill Griffith (*1944) famous cartoonist.
 * Uriel Holmes (1764–1827), United States Representative from Connecticut was born in East Haddam.
 * Joseph Spencer, lawyer, soldier, and statesman during the Revolutionary War, was born and died in East Haddam.