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Area History
Stamford, Greenwich and Darien share much of their history. Each town began as a small farming and fishing
community, and each began to grow explosively in the 1840's with the construction of the New York New Haven railroad.
But though the three villages followed paralell paths for a time, each was ultimately shaped by unique
historical events and pressures and developed its own distinct character and style.
Stamford was settled in the summer of 1641 when a group of Puritans, having quarrelled with the Church of
Christ in Wethersfield, moved west along the shore of the Long Island Sound to start their own community on
the banks of the Rippowam river. They were able to easily purchase the land they settled on from
the New Haven Colony. The Puritan town meeting style of government
was established, and the small community grew and flourished.
For the first 200 years of Stamford history, the town changed little. The economy was primarily agricultural. Residents farmed, fished and oystered. Crops included wheat, rye, potatoes and corn. The revolutionary war brought a period of conflict however, when the pirates of Westchester, "the skinners", stole food and other goods from the community to sell to the British.
In 1848, Stamford became a stop on the New York to New Haven railroad line, and the sleepy community began to change and grow. Irish refugees, fleeing the potato famine began to arrive. The population increased from approximately 3500 in 1840 to 7200 in 1860. The town was also caught up in the industrial revolution during this time. With it's proximity to New York City and it's waterfront location, the town was a convenient spot for manufacturing firms. In 1868, The Yale and Towne Key company, the most important of a number of new manufacturing companies, was founded.
For the first 200 years of Stamford history, the town changed little. The economy was primarily agricultural. Residents farmed, fished and oystered. Crops included wheat, rye, potatoes and corn. The revolutionary war brought a period of conflict however, when the pirates of Westchester, "the skinners", stole food and other goods from the community to sell to the British.
In 1848, Stamford became a stop on the New York to New Haven railroad line, and the sleepy community began to change and grow. Irish refugees, fleeing the potato famine began to arrive. The population increased from approximately 3500 in 1840 to 7200 in 1860. The town was also caught up in the industrial revolution during this time. With it's proximity to New York City and it's waterfront location, the town was a convenient spot for manufacturing firms. In 1868, The Yale and Towne Key company, the most important of a number of new manufacturing companies, was founded.
The Lowe-Haywood school in Shippan Point, Stamford in 1883
Visit these local historical societies for more information:
Stamford Historical Society
Greenwich Historical Society
Darien Historical Society
Immigrants, providing the labor the factories needed, continued to arrive.
The newcomers were mostly Irish, Italians, and Russian Jews, but people also came from Germany,
Greece, Poland and the rest of Europe. The population swelled to 15,700 by 1890 and 19,000 by 1900.
As the city grew, the Puritan style of government began to break down, and the City of Stamford was created in 1893.
At the turn of the 20th century, Stamford was a growing and prosperous city. Immigrant families began to move into the middle class and industries grew. By 1916, the Yale and Towne company employed 6500 people. This time period also saw the development of the African American population of Stamford, as after the civil war, African Americans moved to the northeast from the south to work in the factories. By 1930, the population of Stamford was 56,000 and the city was home to 118 industrial firms which produced $40 million of goods per year.
1929 marked the beginning of the great depression. This was as bleak period for Stamford as it was for the rest of the nation. By 1934, the number of firms in the city had dropped by one third, and the amount of goods manufactured had dropped by one half. Yale and Towne moved it's corporate headquarters to New York City in 1937 and cut a number of Stamford jobs. However, a few crucial public works projects were started during this time. Most importantly, construction on the Merritt parkway began in 1934. Also, in 1933, the city developed a new charter that allowed for a full time salaried mayor and a seven seat city council. With the onset of World War Two, the city began to thrive again. Among other important businesses, the Schick razor company, founded durning the depression, began to turn a profit by 1940.
The important movements of the 40s and 50s effected Stamford like the rest of the country. Unions gained strength, and in 1945 an important strike occurred at Yale and Towne. 2500 of the 3500 workers left work for 21 weeks. Despite the union's stand, Stamford gradually lost manufacturing jobs, and became more and more of a white collar town. During the 1970s, the city evolved into a corporate center as many Fortune 500 firms moved their headquarters to Stamford.
Today, Stamford is a vibrant medium sized city still benefitting from the two main influences that have shaped it's history - its proximity to New York City and its New England heritage.
At the turn of the 20th century, Stamford was a growing and prosperous city. Immigrant families began to move into the middle class and industries grew. By 1916, the Yale and Towne company employed 6500 people. This time period also saw the development of the African American population of Stamford, as after the civil war, African Americans moved to the northeast from the south to work in the factories. By 1930, the population of Stamford was 56,000 and the city was home to 118 industrial firms which produced $40 million of goods per year.
1929 marked the beginning of the great depression. This was as bleak period for Stamford as it was for the rest of the nation. By 1934, the number of firms in the city had dropped by one third, and the amount of goods manufactured had dropped by one half. Yale and Towne moved it's corporate headquarters to New York City in 1937 and cut a number of Stamford jobs. However, a few crucial public works projects were started during this time. Most importantly, construction on the Merritt parkway began in 1934. Also, in 1933, the city developed a new charter that allowed for a full time salaried mayor and a seven seat city council. With the onset of World War Two, the city began to thrive again. Among other important businesses, the Schick razor company, founded durning the depression, began to turn a profit by 1940.
The important movements of the 40s and 50s effected Stamford like the rest of the country. Unions gained strength, and in 1945 an important strike occurred at Yale and Towne. 2500 of the 3500 workers left work for 21 weeks. Despite the union's stand, Stamford gradually lost manufacturing jobs, and became more and more of a white collar town. During the 1970s, the city evolved into a corporate center as many Fortune 500 firms moved their headquarters to Stamford.
Today, Stamford is a vibrant medium sized city still benefitting from the two main influences that have shaped it's history - its proximity to New York City and its New England heritage.
In 1640, settlers from the New Haven Colony purchased land from the Siwanoy Indians in the area now known
as Old Greenwich. Shortly thereafter the English joined the Dutch in a dispute with the Siwanoys which
resulted in their massacre. After the disappearance of most of the Indians the industrious newcomers carved
out larger and larger land holdings on which to raise potatoes, grain, and fruit. Settlements grew along
the shore from Stamford on the east to the Byram River on the west and north to the border with New York
State. By 1730 the 50 square miles which comprise present day Greenwich were laid out. For its first 200
years the acquisition and cultivation of farm land was the major enterprise of residents, although grist
mills signaled the beginnings of local industry and active shipping was conducted from the Mianus River.
The relative calm of these years was broken by the Revolutionary War. Greenwich was a garrison Town which
experienced occupation by both British and American armies as well as raids from irregulars. The seven-year
long war was fought on the roads and farms of Greenwich destroying homes, crops, and human lives.
The coming of the railroad in 1848 marked a significant improvement in transportation and brought increasing numbers of new residents to Greenwich. The Irish came to work on the railroad and settled close to Greenwich Avenue, the Town center. In an adjacent neighborhood called Chickahominy, Italian stonemasons congregated to be near the Byram quarries. Other Italians settled further east in North Mianus where they worked in the Mianus Woolen Mill. The Germans went to Byram, then know as East Port Chester, and found work in the Abendroth Foundry. Glenville, on the Byram River, attracted Poles who worked in the felt mill and Russell Burdsall & Ward, manufacturers of nuts and bolts. Each of these areas developed as distinct neighborhoods which have continued to be home to second and third generation descendants.
Greenwich also developed as a resort catering to New Yorkers wishing to escape the noxious city for the summer. Along the shore, hotels were erected to house, feed, and entertain these visitors. Many decided to build homes in Greenwich, creating such areas as Belle Haven, Field Point Park, Byram Shore and Rock Ridge. People with easily recognizable names - Benedict, Bruce, Converse, Gimble, Havemeyer, Mallory, Milbank, Rockefeller, and Teagle - amassed large land holdings upon which to build the estates for which Greenwich is famous. These families became great benefactors to the new community.
The 20th century burst upon Greenwich with yet another improvement in transportation. The trolley from Rye to Stamford connected Greenwich from west to east with a convenient, in-Town service. The automobile then took precedence after the First World War. In 1938 the Merritt Parkway cut through the northern section of Greenwich, followed in 1957 by I-95 on the south. Once again new arrivals swelled the population of Greenwich. This time the newcomers were the employees of corporations leaving New York City for suburban headquarters. While the beginning of the century saw the creation of great landed estates, the post World War II period witnessed their dissolution into smaller building lots which accommodated the new residents. Growth and development brought about the reorganization of Town government, the consolidation of the school system, and the establishment of a network of independent, non-profit organizations which supply the Town with its social services and cultural institutions. The second half of the century saw a growing concern in Greenwich for protecting its heritage, resulting in the creation of two local historic districts, twenty-three buildings and areas listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the acquisition of undeveloped land as park and conservation areas. Greenwich is a special place to its residents who work hard as volunteers on its behalf.
* History from the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce website.
Darien
Darien was originally part of the Stamford settlement, and residents originally commuted to Stamford for all community services. In 1730, because of an unusually harsh winter, a number of Darien residents died while commuting to Stamford to attend church services there. So, in 1732, Darien began to establish a new parish, which by 1737 was known as Middlesex. In 1820, Darien finally separated from Stamford and became its own town.
At the time it became a town, Darien was a small community supported primarily by farming and fishing. The development of the New York New Haven Railroad in 1848 brought growth and change to Darien in the same way it did to Stamford and Greenwich as immigrants from Ireland and later Italy and other areas arrived.
After a period of turmoil during the Civil War, Darien began to develop into a haven for prosperous local businessmen and wealthy New Yorkers who began to build summer homes here. In 1897, the Stamford Street Railway was built, providing trolley service from Darien to Stamford for local commuters.
The 1940s ushered in the next growth spurt for Darien. During the period from the 1940s to the 1970s, the town developed into the prosperous vibrant community it is today.
The coming of the railroad in 1848 marked a significant improvement in transportation and brought increasing numbers of new residents to Greenwich. The Irish came to work on the railroad and settled close to Greenwich Avenue, the Town center. In an adjacent neighborhood called Chickahominy, Italian stonemasons congregated to be near the Byram quarries. Other Italians settled further east in North Mianus where they worked in the Mianus Woolen Mill. The Germans went to Byram, then know as East Port Chester, and found work in the Abendroth Foundry. Glenville, on the Byram River, attracted Poles who worked in the felt mill and Russell Burdsall & Ward, manufacturers of nuts and bolts. Each of these areas developed as distinct neighborhoods which have continued to be home to second and third generation descendants.
Greenwich also developed as a resort catering to New Yorkers wishing to escape the noxious city for the summer. Along the shore, hotels were erected to house, feed, and entertain these visitors. Many decided to build homes in Greenwich, creating such areas as Belle Haven, Field Point Park, Byram Shore and Rock Ridge. People with easily recognizable names - Benedict, Bruce, Converse, Gimble, Havemeyer, Mallory, Milbank, Rockefeller, and Teagle - amassed large land holdings upon which to build the estates for which Greenwich is famous. These families became great benefactors to the new community.
The 20th century burst upon Greenwich with yet another improvement in transportation. The trolley from Rye to Stamford connected Greenwich from west to east with a convenient, in-Town service. The automobile then took precedence after the First World War. In 1938 the Merritt Parkway cut through the northern section of Greenwich, followed in 1957 by I-95 on the south. Once again new arrivals swelled the population of Greenwich. This time the newcomers were the employees of corporations leaving New York City for suburban headquarters. While the beginning of the century saw the creation of great landed estates, the post World War II period witnessed their dissolution into smaller building lots which accommodated the new residents. Growth and development brought about the reorganization of Town government, the consolidation of the school system, and the establishment of a network of independent, non-profit organizations which supply the Town with its social services and cultural institutions. The second half of the century saw a growing concern in Greenwich for protecting its heritage, resulting in the creation of two local historic districts, twenty-three buildings and areas listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the acquisition of undeveloped land as park and conservation areas. Greenwich is a special place to its residents who work hard as volunteers on its behalf.
* History from the Greenwich Chamber of Commerce website.
Darien
Darien was originally part of the Stamford settlement, and residents originally commuted to Stamford for all community services. In 1730, because of an unusually harsh winter, a number of Darien residents died while commuting to Stamford to attend church services there. So, in 1732, Darien began to establish a new parish, which by 1737 was known as Middlesex. In 1820, Darien finally separated from Stamford and became its own town.
At the time it became a town, Darien was a small community supported primarily by farming and fishing. The development of the New York New Haven Railroad in 1848 brought growth and change to Darien in the same way it did to Stamford and Greenwich as immigrants from Ireland and later Italy and other areas arrived.
After a period of turmoil during the Civil War, Darien began to develop into a haven for prosperous local businessmen and wealthy New Yorkers who began to build summer homes here. In 1897, the Stamford Street Railway was built, providing trolley service from Darien to Stamford for local commuters.
The 1940s ushered in the next growth spurt for Darien. During the period from the 1940s to the 1970s, the town developed into the prosperous vibrant community it is today.
Mimika Blanc - GRI
Coldwell Banker
925 Long Ridge Road
Stamford, CT 06902
(203) 979-8146
Email: mblancm@aol.com
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