Danbury in Connecticut
Danbury's Official Town Information and Demographics
Nestled in northern Fairfield County and at the foot of the Berkshire Mountains, Danbury lies next to the New York State border and is often referred to as the "Gateway to New England." The hub of the Housatonic Valley Region and its close proximity to metropolitan centers, natural surroundings, many lakes and ponds, excellent school systems, cultural opportunities, health care facilities, low crime rate, quality of life, and real estate values make this a wonderful place to call home.
It's been said that Danbury began when eight families came from the Norwalk and Stamford CT areas in 1685. They came to settle in Danbury which the Indians then called "Pahquioque" or "Paquiaqe" meaning open plain or cleared land. Though the settlers had chosen the name "Swampfield" the general court in October 1687 decreed the name "Danbury" which came from the English word Danebury.
Danbury was known as the Hat City of the world and it is said that the first hat made in U.S. was made in Danbury. Danbury shops led the country in fur hat production and were exporting 20,000 hats annually. All the hats were hand made in small shops. Between 1808 & 1809, there were 56 hat shops in operation selling hats.
In 1849 a machine was introduced, which could form fur hat bodies, nearly eliminating all the small shops which gave away to larger factories increasing production levels to cover 5,000,000.
Danbury is rich in history and while it has become a modern thriving city, it takes great pride in remembering the past. The Danbury Fair was the state's larges fair running from 1869 - ending October 12, 1981. In the late 50's, the stock car races at the Race Arena attracted up to 10,000 fans weekly and lasted till the summer of 1981 as with the Danbury Fair. In order to remember how the "Great Danbury Fair" helped put Danbury on the map, the Danbury Fair Mall was constructed on the grounds that the fair was once held on. The mall opened in the mid-80's with Wayne Newton on hand to celebrate its opening. It boasted 250 stores and was the largest mall in Connecticut at the time.
Today, it hosts numerous special events including antique, home, boat, car, college fairs, and bridal shows.
History lives on in Danbury High School, Home of the Hatters, which is one of the state's largest high schools and proudly displays the Danbury Mad Hatter as its mascot. Danbury High School offers one of the newest and finest multi-purpose stadium complex in the area. The school newspaper is The Hatter's Herald and the school cafe is Hatter's Cafe.
The Charles Ives Center for the Arts. Inc. is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1974 and incorporated in 1976 to honor the memory of Danbury native Charles Edward Ives, who is one of America's greatest music composers.
The Ives Center produces the highest quality music and other arts-related programming at Ives Concert Park, a unique outdoor amphitheater situated on a beautiful area of state-owned land which includes 40 wooded acres, a pond, breathtaking gardens and public hiking trails.
Danbury's long tradition as a cultural and education center makes it a desirable place to live and raise a family. It continues to attract new residents with the quality of life it offers through its natural attributes of the Housatonic Valley, location, museums, performing arts, and shopping.
Parks
* Danbury Candlewood Park overlooks Candlewood Lake. Swimming, picnicking, and a boat launch are available in the 11.1 acre (45,000 m2) park.
* Hatters Community Park - 32 acres with a bowling alley, recreation building, picnic pavilion, 3 softball fields (field permit required from Parks & Recreation Dept), pond, banquet hall, and playground.
* Kenosia Park - 25 acre park with 100 yards of beach front, benches, playground, 3 soccer fields, non-motorized boating, and tables.
* Richter Park - Connecticuts Hidden Jewel. Situated in the heart of Fairfield County, Richter Park Golf Course encompasses over 180 acres of gentle rolling terrain.
* Rogers Park - is a baseball field in Danbury, Connecticut, at the end of Main Street and South Street.[1] The field is home to the Danbury Westerners of the New England Collegiate Baseball League
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