Bolton, Connecticut

Bolton is a small rural town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. It is primarily residential, with an economy made up primarily of small businesses. The high school typically has between fifty and one hundred students per class. The population is 4,986 as of the 2010 census. Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting.

History
On November 11, 1723, Jonathan Edwards was installed as the pastor of Bolton.

It is widely speculated that in 1781, George Washington stayed at a home in Bolton. Later that year, the French army is confirmed to have passed through the town. On Rose's Farm, Rochambeau most likely stayed the night with his troops. Archaeological evidence proves that they were in Rose's field; and possibly also across the street (because of the current modern houses there this was not proven). Archaeologists believe that the officers of the troops stayed there, since they usually stayed away from the troops due to the fact that they considered themselves higher in status. The artifacts that would have been found if the grounds had been correctly excavated would have been very useful for the history of Bolton and therefore the statements above cannot be confirmed with full accuracy.

Education
Bolton High School is a public school with about three-to-four-hundred students. It under went major renovations and expansion during 2011. Which included a new outdoor seating area for the cafeteria, a larger and more technologically advanced library, computer labs and media center as well as a new science wing and larger administrative offices. Several other improvements where made including parking, bus lanes and the Board of Education offices being moved to the location. The school has a student-teacher ratio of about 12:1 and combined math and reading proficiency level of 92.5%. US News and World Report ranked it as #27 in Connecticut and #1030 in the United States earning a Silver Award in 2012 Bolton High is affiliated with the NCCC athletic conference.

Sports
In Bolton High School's first year of participation, it won the boys conference tennis championship and placed as the runner up in the boys Class S state championship in cross country. The boys cross country team also won the conference championship in 2007, going undefeated with a record of 27-0. They went on to win the Connecticut Class S State Cross Country Championship in 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012 under the direction of Coach Paul T. Smith. The boys tennis team has won the NCCC conference three years in a row finishing the 2009 season with a record of 17-0.

The school's mascot is the bulldog, and the school's colors are blue and white.

Notable residents

 * Ralph Earl, artist and portrait painter, died in Bolton in 1801.
 * Ron Hainsey, NHL defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes.
 * Simeon Olcott, US Senator from New Hampshire was born in Bolton in 1735.
 * George G. Sumner, (politician) Connecticut House of Representative for Bolton, Mayor of Hartford and Lieutenant Governor & Governor of Connecticut was a native.
 * William Williams, was born in Bolton on September 6, 1815.

Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.7 sqmi, of which, 14.4 sqmi of it is land and 0.3 sqmi of it (1.91%) is water. It includes the Bolton Green Historic District.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there are 4,986 people, 1,918 households, and 1,441 families residing in the town. The town consists primarily of upper-middle-class families with some working-class families/individuals and small businesses. There are also a few larger commercial entities; notably the Simoniz corporation, specializing in automotive and carwash cleaning supplies.

The population density is 348.2 people per square mile (134.4/km²). There are 2,018 housing units at an average density of 136.6 per square mile (52.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.70% White, 1.10% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.40% Asian, 3.00% identified as Latino or Hispanic Latino/Hispanic.

The median age is 45.4. 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

95% of housing units are occupied, 86.7% of which are owned and 13.3% rented, including apartments and condominiums.

The median household income is $93,348 including joint-households. Poverty levels are low, with about 1.3% living at or below the poverty line.

About 475 military veterans reside in Bolton.

As of 2013, there are 903 Republicans, 1,001 Democrats, 1,393 Independent or Unaffiliated and 40 registered voters belonging to other parties.