Our Hometown: Waterbury, Connecticut
Waterbury is known as the “Brass City” because of its long history as the center of the nation’s brass industry. It is the fifth-largest city in Connecticut, located in the west-central portion of the state, at the junction of Interstate 84 and Route 8. Waterbury is the metropolitan center of the 13-town Central Naugatuck Valley Region, an area with nearly 300,000 residents.
Although the brass mills that gave Waterbury its nickname are gone, the region features educational, recreational, and cultural destinations such as shopping malls, museums, nature trails, and amusement parks. Waterbury’s proximity to the ski resorts of northern New England and the beaches and boating of Long Island Sound to the south means that residents have easy access to a wide range of year-round, world-class recreational activities.
Connecticut’s three largest cities – Bridgeport, Hartford, and New Haven – are each within a 30-minute drive of Waterbury. In addition, New York, Boston, and Providence are less than two hours away.
History
Waterbury was settled in 1674 as a farming community, as an extension of the town of Farmington. Waterbury was formally established as a town in 1686, and incorporated as a city in 1853.
The city is situated on the banks of the Naugatuck River, which together with several tributaries provided abundant water to power industrial applications in the 19th and 20th centuries. The first brass in America was rolled by Abel Porter & Co. in Waterbury. They were the first to make brass by direct fusion of copper and zinc in 1802 and to commercially make gilt buttons. Hiram Washington Hayden invented the first brass spinning machine in 1851. The brass mills produced military supplies from the Civil War through World War II.
Waterbury is known for the beautiful architecture of its public buildings and stately residences, befitting its former grandeur as a center of manufacturing. City Hall is one of several Waterbury buildings designed by renowned architect Cass Gilbert. Originally completed in 1918, City Hall was once slated for demolition, but reopened in 2011 after a $36 million restoration.
Downtown development projects in the early 2000s included a regional campus of the University of Connecticut, a performing arts inter-district magnet high school, and a fully restored, 2,800-seat Palace Theater.
Waterbury’s neighborhoods each have long histories, distinct characters, strong ethnic identities, and active civic associations. The Downtown, Hillside, and Overlook neighborhoods – along with many landmarks and buildings, including St. John’s Church – are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Waterbury remains a “livable” city with excellent public services and a low crime rate compared to Connecticut’s other cities. The city maintains a network of parks facilities, ranging from neighborhood playgrounds to a small, multipurpose stadium.
Government
Waterbury has a “strong mayor” form of government with a 15-member Board of Alderman who are elected to two-year terms.
Waterbury has a well-earned reputation for rough and tumble politics. Since the 1930s, three mayors have served time in prison for corruption and other misdeeds resulting from the strong mayor system. Despite this, Waterburians are proud of their city and view their resiliency as a sign of character.
Employment & Income
Waterbury’s largest employers are the city itself, Waterbury Hospital, and Saint Mary’s Hospital. A variety of private enterprises such as banks, light manufacturing facilities, and retail centers contribute to the local economy.
Education & Youth
Waterbury is home to three colleges: CT State Community College-Naugatuck Valley Campus, Post University, and a branch campus of the University of Connecticut. Together, they enroll nearly 10,000 students in credit-bearing programs and many others in non-credit workforce training and lifelong learning courses.
The city has a variety of options for families with school-age children. Nearly 19,000 children (90% of whom are students of color) attend the Waterbury Public Schools: 18 elementary schools, three inter-district magnet schools, three middle schools, three high schools, one alternative education school, and one learning center. Waterbury is also served by a parochial school network of K-8 schools and one high schools. Unique among the states, Connecticut operates a system of regional technical high schools: Kaynor Technical High School is located in Waterbury.
Waterbury established the first Girls Club in the United States, has a vibrant YMCA facility, and is home to a nationally-recognized Police Athletic League.
Media
The independently-owned Waterbury Republican-American is the daily newspaper with both print and online circulation. The Observer is an alternative, free monthly newspaper. Two local radio stations provide a voice for community politics, in addition to statewide radio and TV.