Historical United States Census totals for New Haven County, Connecticut
This article shows U.S. Census totals for New Haven County, Connecticut, broken down by municipality, from 1900 to 2000.
Like most areas of New England, New Haven County is (and has been at all times since well before the 20th century) entirely divided into incorporated municipalities. There is no unincorporated territory.
There are three types of municipalities in Connecticut: towns, boroughs and cities. As in the other New England states, towns are the basic unit of municipal government.
Boroughs overlay towns and assume responsibility for some municipal services within their boundaries. Boroughs are not found in any of the other New England states, and are not very common in Connecticut today, although they were somewhat more numerous in the past. A number of boroughs have disincorporated over the years, choosing to revert to full town control.
Cities also overlay towns. This is different from the other New England states, where cities are a different type of municipality equivalent to a town (this difference is related to cities having originally developed in Connecticut from the borough model). Most current cities are coextensive with their parent town, however, such that the entire municipality functions as a city. In practice, these cities are really no different from cities in the other New England states.
It is also possible for a city in Connecticut to overlay part, but not all, of a town. There are currently only one or two examples, but it was a more common arrangement in the past. Many of today’s coextensive cities were non-coextensive at one time. As with boroughs, a number of non-coextensive cities have also disincorporated over the years, choosing to revert to full town control.
The main tables below show municipalities at the town level. For any census, adding up the totals for each town should yield the county total. In cases where a community encompassed a coextensive city, the tables in the New England Historical U.S. Census Totals series mark the community as a city. In cases where a town included a non-coextensive city, the total shown below represents the entire town, including but not limited to the city. A separate section follows with population totals for boroughs and non-coextensive cities.
For more information on the New England municipal system, see New England town.
Corporate changes since 1900
- 1902 – Waterbury became a coextensive city (Note: before this time, there had been a city of Waterbury within, but not coextensive with, the town of Waterbury)
- 1921 – New town of West Haven formed from Orange
- 1922 – Meriden became a coextensive city (Note: before this time, there had been a city of Meriden within, but not coextensive with, the town of Meriden)
- 1957 – Milford became a coextensive city (Note: there was no predecessor city or borough of Milford within the town)
- 1961 – West Haven became a coextensive city (Note: there was no predecessor city or borough of West Haven within the town)
1900
County Total: 269,163
- New Haven (city) 108,027
- Waterbury (*) 51,139
- Meriden (*) 28,695
- Ansonia (city) 12,681
- Naugatuck 10,541
- Wallingford 9,001
- Derby (city) 7,930
- Orange 6,995
- Branford 5,706
- Hamden 4,626
- Milford 3,783
- Seymour 3,541
- Guilford 2,785
- North Haven 2,164
- Cheshire 1,989
- East Haven 1,167
- Madison 1,518
- Southbury 1,238
- Oxford 952
- Woodbridge 852
- North Branford 814
- Middlebury 736
- Beacon Falls 623
- Wolcott 581
- Prospect 562
- Bethany 517
(*) not a city in its entirety, but includes a non-coextensive city that encompasses a significant percentage of the town's overall population.
1910
County Total: 337,282
- New Haven (city) 133,605
- Waterbury (city) 73,141
- Meriden (*) 32,066
- Ansonia (city) 15,152
- Naugatuck 12,722
- Orange 11,272
- Wallingford 11,155
- Derby (city) 8,991
- Branford 6,047
- Hamden 5,850
- Seymour 4,786
- Milford 4,366
- Guilford 3,001
- North Haven 2,254
- Cheshire 1,988
- East Haven 1,795
- Madison 1,534
- Southbury 1,233
- Beacon Falls 1,160
- Oxford 1,020
- Woodbridge 878
- Middlebury 836
- North Branford 833
- Wolcott 563
- Prospect 539
- Bethany 495
(*) not a city in its entirety, but includes a non-coextensive city that encompasses a significant percentage of the town's overall population.
1920
County Total: 415,214
- New Haven (city) 162,537
- Waterbury (city) 91,715
- Meriden (*) 34,764
- Ansonia (city) 17,643
- Orange 16,614
- Naugatuck 15,051
- Wallingford 12,010
- Derby (city) 11,238
- Milford 10,193
- Hamden 8,611
- Seymour 6,781
- Branford 6,627
- East Haven 3,520
- Cheshire 2,855
- Guilford 2,803
- North Haven 1,968
- Madison 1,857
- Beacon Falls 1.593
- Woodbridge 1,170
- North Branford 1,110
- Southbury 1,093
- Middlebury 1,067
- Oxford 998
- Wolcott 719
- Bethany 411
- Prospect 266
(*) not a city in its entirety, but includes a non-coextensive city that encompasses a significant percentage of the town's overall population.
1930
County Total: 463,449
- New Haven (city) 162,655
- Waterbury (city) 99,902
- Meriden (city) 38,481
- West Haven 25,808
- Ansonia (city) 19,898
- Hamden 19,020
- Naugatuck 14,315
- Wallingford 14,278
- Milford 12,660
- Derby (city) 10,788
- East Haven 7,815
- Branford 7,022
- Seymour 6,890
- North Haven 3,730
- Cheshire 3,263
- Guilford 3,117
- Madison 1,918
- Beacon Falls 1,693
- Woodbridge 1,630
- Orange 1,530
- Middlebury 1,449
- North Branford 1,329
- Oxford 1,141
- Southbury 1,134
- Wolcott 972
- Prospect 531
- Bethany 480
1940
County Total: 484,316
- New Haven (city) 160,605
- Waterbury (city) 99,314
- Meriden (city) 39,494
- West Haven 30,021
- Hamden 23,373
- Ansonia (city) 19,210
- Milford 16,439
- Naugatuck 15,388
- Wallingford 14,788
- Derby (city) 10,287
- East Haven 9,094
- Branford 8,060
- Seymour 6,754
- North Haven 5,326
- Cheshire 4,352
- Guilford 3,544
- Woodbridge 2,262
- Madison 2,245
- Middlebury 2,173
- Orange 2,009
- Wolcott 1,765
- Beacon Falls 1,756
- Southbury 1,532
- North Branford 1,438
- Oxford 1,375
- Prospect 1,006
- Bethany 706
1950
County Total: 545,784
- New Haven (city) 164,443
- Waterbury (city) 104,477
- Meriden (city) 44,088
- West Haven 32,010
- Hamden 29,715
- Milford 26,870
- Ansonia (city) 18,706
- Naugatuck 17,455
- Wallingford 16,976
- East Haven 12,212
- Branford 10,944
- Derby (city) 10,259
- North Haven 9,444
- Seymour 7,832
- Cheshire 6,295
- Guilford 5,092
- Southbury 3,828
- Wolcott 3,553
- Middlebury 3,318
- Madison 3,078
- Orange 3,032
- Woodbridge 2,822
- Beacon Falls 2,067
- Oxford 2,037
- North Branford 2,017
- Prospect 1,896
- Bethany 1,318
1960
County Total: 660,315
- New Haven (city) 152,048
- Waterbury (city) 107,130
- Meriden (city) 51,850
- West Haven 43,002
- Milford (city) 41,662
- Hamden 41,056
- Wallingford 29,920
- East Haven 21,388
- Ansonia (city) 19,819
- Naugatuck 19,511
- Branford 16,610
- North Haven 15,935
- Cheshire 13,383
- Derby (city) 12,132
- Seymour 10,100
- Wolcott 8,889
- Orange 8,547
- Guilford 7,913
- North Branford 6,771
- Southbury 5,186
- Woodbridge 5,182
- Middlebury 4,785
- Madison 4,567
- Prospect 4,367
- Oxford 3,292
- Beacon Falls 2,886
- Bethany 2,384
1970
County Total: 744,948
- New Haven (city) 137,707
- Waterbury (city) 108,033
- Meriden (city) 55,959
- West Haven (city) 52,851
- Milford (city) 50,858
- Hamden 49,357
- Wallingford 35,714
- East Haven 25,120
- Naugatuck 23,034
- North Haven 22,194
- Ansonia (city) 21,160
- Branford 20,444
- Cheshire 19,051
- Orange 13,524
- Seymour 12,776
- Derby (city) 12,599
- Wolcott 12,495
- Guilford 12,033
- North Branford 10,778
- Madison 9,768
- Southbury 7,852
- Woodbridge 7,673
- Prospect 6,543
- Middlebury 5,542
- Oxford 4,480
- Bethany 3,857
- Beacon Falls 3,546
1980
County Total: 761,325
- New Haven (city) 126,089
- Waterbury (city) 103,266
- Meriden (city) 57,118
- West Haven (city) 53,184
- Hamden 51,071
- Milford (city) 50,898
- Wallingford 37,274
- Naugatuck 26,456
- East Haven 25,036
- Branford 23,363
- North Haven 22,080
- Cheshire 21,788
- Ansonia (city) 19,039
- Guilford 17,375
- Southbury 14,156
- Madison 14,031
- Seymour 13,434
- Orange 13,237
- Wolcott 13,008
- Derby (city) 12,346
- North Branford 11,554
- Woodbridge 7,761
- Prospect 6,807
- Oxford 6,634
- Middlebury 5,995
- Bethany 4,330
- Beacon Falls 3,995
1990
County Total: 804,219
- New Haven (city) 130,474
- Waterbury (city) 108,961
- Meriden (city) 59,479
- West Haven (city) 54,021
- Hamden 52,434
- Milford (city) 49,938
- Wallingford 40,822
- Naugatuck 30,625
- Branford 27,603
- East Haven 26,144
- Cheshire 25,684
- North Haven 22,247
- Guilford 19,848
- Ansonia (city) 18,403
- Southbury 15,818
- Madison 15,485
- Seymour 14,288
- Wolcott 13,700
- Orange 12,830
- North Branford 12,996
- Derby (city) 12,199
- Oxford 8,685
- Woodbridge 7,924
- Prospect 7,775
- Middlebury 6,145
- Beacon Falls 5,083
- Bethany 4,608
2000
County Total: 824,008
- New Haven (city) 123,776
- Waterbury (city) 107,271
- Meriden (city) 58,244
- Hamden 56,763
- West Haven (city) 52,360
- Milford (city) 52,305
- Wallingford 43,026
- Naugatuck 30,989
- Branford 28,683
- Cheshire 28,543
- East Haven 28,189
- North Haven 23,035
- Guilford 21,398
- Southbury 18,567
- Ansonia (city) 18,554
- Madison 17,858
- Seymour 15,454
- Wolcott 15,215
- North Branford 13,906
- Orange 13,233
- Derby (city) 12,391
- Oxford 9,821
- Woodbridge 8,983
- Prospect 8,707
- Middlebury 6,451
- Beacon Falls 5,246
- Bethany 5,040
Boroughs and Non-coextensive Cities
As of 1900, New Haven County contained five boroughs and two non-coextensive cities:
- The borough of Branford, within the town of the same name
- The borough of Guilford, within the town of the same name
- The borough of Naugatuck, coextensive with the town of the same name
- The borough of Wallingford, within the town of the same name
- The borough of West Haven, within the town of Orange
- The city of Meriden, within the town of the same name
- The city of Waterbury, within the town of the same name
In addition to the above, there were three more cities in the county which had already been made coextensive with their parent town (New Haven, Ansonia and Derby). In 1902, Waterbury, which at the time was by far the largest non-coextensive city in the state, finally became coextensive with its parent town.
The borough and town of Naugatuck have been coextensive since at or shortly after the borough's incorporation. Naugutuck is the only borough in Connecticut which has ever been coextensive with its parent town. A sixth borough, Woodmont (within the town of Milford), was incorporated in 1903. The following changes have occurred since then:
- 1911 – The borough of West Haven disincorporated
- 1922 – The city of Meriden became coextensive with its parent town
- 1941 – The borough of Guilford disincorporated
- 1958 – The borough of Wallingford disincorporated
- The borough of Branford disincorporated sometime between 1970 and 1980
The 1910 and 1920 Census reports make reference to a borough called Fair Haven East, which is stated to be within the city of New Haven in 1910, and within the city of New Haven and town of East Haven in 1920. Its population was not tabulated in either census, apparently because boroughs and cities both fall within the same census category (incorporated places), and Census methodology of the time would not allow one to be within another. Fair Haven East is not mentioned in the 1900 or 1930 reports, and no details are provided on how or when it was created or ceased to exist.
1900
- Waterbury (city) 45,859
- Meriden (city) 24,296
- Naugatuck (borough) 10,541
- Wallingford (borough) 6,737
- West Haven (borough) 5,247
- Branford (borough) 2,473
- Guilford (borough) 1,512
1910
- Meriden (city) 27,265
- Naugatuck (borough) 12,722
- Wallingford (borough) 8,690
- West Haven (borough) 8,543
- Branford (borough) 2,560
- Guilford (borough) 1,608
- Woodmont (borough) 194
1920
- Meriden (city) 29,867
- Naugatuck (borough) 15,051
- Wallingford (borough) 9,648
- Branford (borough) 2,619
- Guilford (borough) 1,612
- Woodmont (borough) 220
1930
- Naugatuck (borough) 14,315
- Wallingford (borough) 11,170
- Branford (borough) 2,365
- Guilford (borough) 1,880
- Woodmont (borough) 531
1940
- Naugatuck (borough) 15,388
- Wallingford (borough) 11,425
- Branford (borough) 2,235
- Guilford (borough) 1,986
- Woodmont (borough) 748
1950
- Naugatuck (borough) 17,455
- Wallingford (borough) 11,994
- Branford (borough) 2,552
- Woodmont (borough) not reported
1960
- Naugatuck (borough) 19,511
- Branford (borough) 2,371
- Woodmont (borough) not reported
1970
- Naugatuck (borough) 23,034
- Woodmont (borough) 2,114
- Branford (borough) 2,080
1980
- Naugatuck (borough) 26,456
- Woodmont (borough) 1,797
1990
- Naugatuck (borough) 30,625
- Woodmont (borough) 1,770
2000
- Naugatuck (borough) 30,989
- Woodmont (borough) 1,711
Note: The population of the borough of Woodmont was not reported separately from the town of Milford in the 1950 and 1960 Censuses. It is not clear why.
Notes
1970 Census
The Census Bureau made a number of revisions to 1970 census totals subsequent to their initial release. The 1970 total for New Haven County was originally reported as 761,337; and for the town of East Haven, 25,028. The totals were later revised to those shown in the list above. In addition, as had been the case with the 1950 and 1960 Censuses, the 1970 Census did not initially report the population for the borough of Woodmont separately from the city of Milford. The revision included a separate total for Woodmont. (The villages of Jericho, Vermont and Newbury, Vermont display a similar pattern.)
2000 Census
The Census Bureau made a number of revisions to 2000 census totals subsequent to their initial release. The 2000 total for the city of New Haven was originally reported as 123,626; and for the town of Hamden, 56,913. The totals were later revised to those shown in the list above. This was apparently done to correct assignment errors between these municipalities; the collective population of the two is the same using either set of figures, so the county total was not affected.
See also
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