Greenwich Connecticut
In 1640 settlers from the New Haven Colony purchased land from the local Siwanoy Indians beginning the establishment of Greenwich. Over the past 370 years it has developed into a large New England town of seven hamlets covering 49 square miles with a diverse population of 62,000+ residents. Greenwich is ideally located just 35 miles from New York City (45min by train to Grand Central station). Greenwich has become an ideal residential location. The community is made up of the unique hamlets of Cos Cob, Old Greenwich, Riverside, Byram, Glenville, Central Greenwich and Banksville.
Conveniently located on Connecticut’s southern border, Greenwich is within easy access of New York City and the many recreational areas of Connecticut, New York and New England. Greenwich offers a landscape of great variety, from the Greenwich Long Island Sound shoreline with its large parks and popular beaches, harbors and the two Greenwich offshore island parks to its woodlands and open, rolling countryside.
Not only has the town’s location contributed to its desirability as both a residential community and business center, but it also has shaped its rich history. During its first two hundred years, farming was the major focus of Greenwich residents, with gristmills bringing the beginnings of industry. Shipping produce to the New York markets began from the Mianus River harbor area of Greenwich from its early days.
During the Revolutionary War Greenwich was a garrison town occupied at different times by British and American forces conducting raids on each others armies.
With the establishment of the railroad in the 1840s many New York City residents took advantage of improved transportation to locate their homes in Greenwich. Irish came to work on the railroad and in the woolen mills of North Mianus. Italian stone masons came to the Byram quarries. Germans and Poles came into the foundry and the felt mills. All established unique neighborhoods with in the Town of Greenwich.
The railroad also developed the Greenwich resort business attracting wealthy New Yorkers for summer escapes to its beaches, harbors and woodlands from the city. They liked what they saw and built summer homes establishing shore neighborhoods such as Belle Haven, Field Park, Byram Shore, Old Greenwich, and Riverside. Great family names such as: Gimble, Rockefeller, Converse, Benedict, Bruce and other prominent wealthy families bought large land holdings in Greenwich building many of the grand estates for which Greenwich is famous.
Road improvements such as the 1938 Merritt Parkway and the 1957 Interstate 95 project expanded easy access into Greenwich brining suburban commuters and corporations out of New York. It is now home to a diverse population consisting of corporate executives, artists, sports personalities, educators, financial services, hedge funds leaders, boaters, horse enthusiasts, students, homemakers, expatriates, diplomats, retirees, and much more.
Greenwich boasts of its community beaches, ferryboats to its island parks, polo fields, golf courses, bicycling, excellent shopping, award wining restaurants, four public libraries and its highly rated public school system.
Greenwich Government
Greenwich was the first town in the state of Connecticut to adopt a Representative Town Meeting (RTM) form of government. Divided into twelve districts Greenwich has elected representatives in proportion to the numbers of registered voters in each district. Though the influx of registered voters in the 1930’s made the traditional open town meeting impractical, the legislative body (RTM) of 229 members is one of the largest in the state.
The other principal governing bodies are a three-person Board of Selectmen and the bipartisan Board of Estimate and Taxation. The First Selectman is the only salaried official among these. There are numerous boards and commissions, which oversee the business of Greenwich consisting of volunteers appointed by the governing units.
The large participation of Greenwich voters in our town’s government brings large amounts of pride, financial oversight and care into town government. Town of Greenwich Web site
Education
Education is a priority in Greenwich. The town has over thirty private preschools and nursery schools, a parochial school, six private day schools and one boarding school in addition to its nationally recognized public school system.
The diverse student population speaks over forty languages. The Greenwich Continuing Education program attracts 6,600 students each year with approximately 480 course offerings.
Colleges and universities in the region, such as The University of Connecticut Stamford campus, Yale University, Sacred Heart University, Fairfield University, and the nearby New York Universities offer a wide selection of post-secondary program options. More than 75% of the Greenwich public school students go on to four-year colleges. Greenwich High School offers a broad selection of AP courses and an extensive list of elective courses. Greenwich Public School System
Cultural Opportunities
Greenwich offers a wide array of cultural opportunities for both the participant and the audience with its own Philharmonic, an Arts Council, several art societies, a choral society, choirs and specialized singing groups, dance groups and active theater associations. The Bruce Museum houses collections of fine art, Indian and colonial relics, and natural history exhibits. The museum has visiting exhibitions, lecture programs and an extensive children’s program. The Greenwich Library provides a well-rounded center with its lectures, films, art gallery exhibits and four lending libraries of books, records, art and films.
Greenwich’s central location near to New York City also encourages travel to all the cultural facilities of the New York Metro area.
Recreation
Recreation facilities are a major attraction for many new Greenwich residents. Town facilities include four boat marinas, five community centers, four beaches (two of them on islands and reached by town-operated ferries).
In addition, various private clubs and associations offer riding, golf, tennis, boating, swimming and skating. The Greenwich Recreation and Parks Department and nonprofit organizations sponsor clinic and competition programs through out town. Greenwich Recreation Facilities
Places of Worship
Under the 1665 township patent provision the Congregational Society of Greenwich was formed as the established church to “procure and maintain an orthodox minister”. Greenwich now has dozens of public places of worship of all faiths and denominations.
Health
Greenwich Hospital, a non-profit association with 296 beds serves Greenwich community health. The hospital offers general and specialized care and is affiliated with Yale University School of Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine
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