Christianity • Protestantism
153-634: Danbury ( / ˈ d æ n b ɛər i / DAN -bair-ee ) is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut , United States, located approximately 50 miles (80 km) northeast of New York City . Danbury's population as of 2020 was 86,518. It is the third-largest city in Western Connecticut , and the seventh-largest city in Connecticut . Located within the heart of the Housatonic Valley region ,
306-546: A humid continental climate ( Köppen Dfa ), with four distinct seasons, resembling Hartford more than coastal Connecticut or New York City. Summers are hot and humid, while winters are cold with significant snowfall. The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 28.0 °F (−2.2 °C) in January to 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) in July; on average, temperatures reaching 90 or 0 °F (32 or −18 °C) occur on 18 and 3.1 days of
459-401: A humid subtropical climate ( Cfa ) along Long Island Sound . The hardiness zone is 6b in the north and 7a within ten miles of the coast except for areas of Greenwich and Stamford along the coast which are 7b. [1] See or edit raw graph data . As of the census of 2000, there were 882,567 people, 324,232 households, and 228,259 families residing in the county. The population density
612-633: A polity based on the governance of elders ; this commitment to self-governing congregations was codified in the Savoy Declaration. Congregationalism in the United States traces its origins to the Puritans of New England , who wrote the Cambridge Platform of 1648 to describe the autonomy of the church and its association with others. Within the United States, the model of Congregational churches
765-574: A 60-acre (24 ha) tract near the Fairgrounds, known as Tucker's Field, and leased it to the town. This was developed as an airport, which is now Danbury Municipal Airport ( ICAO : KDXR ). Connecticut's largest lake, Candlewood Lake (of which the extreme southern part is in Danbury), was created as a hydroelectric power facility in 1928 by building a dam where Wood Creek and the Rocky River meet near
918-562: A Bible College was opened in Ruse, Bulgaria for people wanting to become pastors. At the 1876 annual conference of missionaries, the beginning of organizational activity in the country was established. The evangelical churches of Bulgaria formed a united association in 1909. The missionaries played a significant role in assisting the Bulgarians throw off "the Turkish Yoke", which included publishing
1071-758: A Higher Biblical Institute that offers an official degree: "Profesorado en Ciencias Sagradas". In 1977, most congregations of the Congregational Union of Australia merged with all Churches of the Methodist Church of Australasia and a majority of Churches of the Presbyterian Church of Australia to form the Uniting Church in Australia . Those congregations that did not join the Uniting Church formed
1224-529: A ban on mercury in hatmaking in 1941. While Danbury hat factories stopped using mercury in the 1940s, the mercury waste has remained in the Still River and adjacent soils, and has been detected at high levels in the 21st century. By the 1920s, the hat industry was in decline. By 1923, only six manufacturers were left in Danbury, which increased the pressure on workers. After World War II, returning GIs went hatless,
1377-502: A band of the Paugusset people), who occupied lands along the Still River . Bands were often identified by such geographic designation but they were associated with the larger nation by culture and language). One of the original settlers in Danbury was Samuel Benedict, who bought land from the Paquioque in 1685, along with his brother James Benedict, James Beebe, and Judah Gregory. This area
1530-513: A church only of genuine, regenerate believers and criticized the Anglicans for including all English people within their church. The congregation should choose its own leaders, and the ministers should be ordained by the congregation itself not by bishops or fellow ministers. Each congregation should be founded on a written church covenant , and the congregation as a whole should govern the church: "The meetings together… of every whole church, and of
1683-406: A family was $ 100,593. Males had a median income of $ 70,187 versus $ 50,038 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 48,295. About 5.6% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. Data is from the 2010 United States Census and the 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Data
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#17328448002601836-458: A formal liturgy contained in the Book of Common Prayer , traditional clerical vestments and episcopal polity (government by bishops ). The Puritans were Calvinists who wanted to further reform the church by abolishing all remaining Catholic practices, such as clerical vestments, wedding rings, organ music in church, kneeling at Holy Communion , using the term priest for a minister, bowing at
1989-587: A group expressing fear of persecution by the Congregationalists of that town, in which he used the expression " Separation of Church and State ". It is the first known instance of the expression in American legal or political writing. The letter is on display at the Unitarian-Universalist Congregation of Danbury. The first Danbury Fair was held in 1821. In 1869, it became a yearly event;
2142-683: A group of these believers adopted the name of "Congregation of Evangelical Brothers" and when they began the process of registration in the National Register of Cults, they became aware of the Evangelical Congregational Church, decided to join it, and in 1935 the North American missionary, Pastor Federico Gross visited them for an Extraordinary Assembly, where they approved their statutes with the name of "Evangelical Lutheran Congregational Church". This consolidated their union with
2295-475: A letter to then-president Thomas Jefferson expressing their concern that as Baptists they may not be able to express full religious liberty in the state of Connecticut whose "ancient charter" was adopted before the establishment of a Baptist church in the state. Jefferson replied in a letter to Dodge and the other members of the Danbury church on January 1, 1802, in which he stated that the First Amendment to
2448-475: A missionary work started in 1995. In the first 100 years, it has spread from Entre Ríos to several provinces: Misiones, Corrientes, Chaco, Formosa, Córdoba, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires and CABA. It has spread to southern Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. It is currently present in more than 150 towns and cities in Argentina. It has a social commitment, working among the most vulnerable, deprived and marginalised. It serves in
2601-796: A primary school for girls in Stara Zagora . In 1871 the two schools were moved to Samokov and merged as the American College, now considered the oldest American educational institution outside the US. In 1928, new facilities were constructed in Sofia, and the Samokov operation transferred to the American College of Sofia (ACS), now operated at a very high level by the Sofia American Schools, Inc. In 1874,
2754-563: A result of the migration of congregational members from the interior of the country, it was started in Rivadavia 6001 in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, in 1937 by the missionary Federico Gross. From that moment on they received pastoral care from Entre Ríos. In 1946 the missionary Otto Tiede organised the first board of directors in the Colegiales neighbourhood, when the congregation met in
2907-559: A result, the number of Congregationalists is small and estimated by Paul Mojzes in 1982 to number about 5,000, in 20 churches. (Total Protestants in Bulgaria were estimated in 1965 to have been between 10,000 and 20,000.) More recent estimates indicate enrollment in Protestant ("Evangelical" or "Gospel") churches of between 100,000 and 200,000, presumably reflecting the success of more recent missionary efforts of evangelical groups. In Canada,
3060-615: A simple majority vote. If after five days the Mayor does not approve the ordinance (similar to a veto), the City Council may re-vote on it. If it then passes with a two-thirds majority, it becomes effective without the Mayor's approval. The current City Council consists of 14 Republicans and 7 Democrats. Danbury has six state representatives as of 2021; Raghib Allie-Brennan D-2, Stephen Harding R-107, Patrick Callahan R-108, David Arconti D-109, Bob Godfrey D-110 and Kenneth Gucker D-138. There
3213-504: A total area of 837 square miles (2,170 km ), of which 625 square miles (1,620 km ) is land and 212 square miles (550 km ) (25.3%) is water. The terrain of the county trends from flat near the coast to hilly and higher near its northern extremity. The highest elevation is 1,290 feet (390 m) above sea level along the New York state line south of Branch Hill in the Town of Sherman;
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#17328448002603366-509: A trend that accelerated through the 1950s, dooming the city's hat industry. The city's last major hat factory, owned by Stetson , closed in 1964. The last hat was made in Danbury in 1987 when a small factory owned by Stetson closed. According to the United States Census Bureau , Danbury has a total area of 44.3 square miles (115 km), of which 42.1 square miles (109 km) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km), or 4.94%,
3519-487: Is a Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity in which churches practice congregational government . Each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs. These principles are enshrined in the Cambridge Platform (1648) and the Savoy Declaration (1658), Congregationalist confessions of faith . The Congregationalist Churches are a continuity of the theological tradition upheld by
3672-553: Is considered the founder of Congregationalism. While studying for ordination , Browne became convinced that the Church of England was a false church. He moved to Norwich and together with Robert Harrison formed an illegal Separatist congregation. In 1581, Browne and his followers moved to Holland in order to worship freely. While in Holland, Browne wrote treatises that laid out the essential features of Congregationalism. Browne argued for
3825-424: Is from the 2007–2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, "Race alone or in combination with one or more other races." In the late 1960s and early 1970s, corporations began moving their headquarters to Fairfield County from Manhattan ; Thomas J. Lueck of The New York Times said that the trend "permanently decentralized big business in the New York region ." During
3978-796: Is grades 9 through 12. An alternative school by the name of Alternative Center for Excellence is housed off-campus, and its graduates receive Danbury High School diplomas upon completion of their studies. Danbury also has 3 public middle schools for grades 6 through 8: Broadview Middle School, Rogers Park Middle School and Westside Middle School Academy . There are 13 elementary schools in Danbury. These schools are Academy for International Studies Magnet School (K–5), Ellsworth Avenue (K–5), Great Plain (K–5), Hayestown (K–5), King Street Primary (K–3) and King Street Intermediate (4–5), Mill Ridge Primary (K–3), Morris Street (K–5), Park Avenue (K–5), Pembroke (K–5), Shelter Rock (K–5), South Street (K–5) and Stadley Rough (K–5). Roman Catholic schools in Danbury reside within
4131-587: Is one state senator, Julie Kushner D-24. Danbury is represented in the United States Congress by U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D). Danbury's Fiscal Year 2020–2021 mill rate is 27.60. Danbury Public Schools operates most public schools, with Danbury High School belonging to the district. The other public high school, Henry Abbott Technical High School , is within the Connecticut Technical High School System . Each high school
4284-412: Is only a geographical point of reference. All municipal services are provided by the towns, who sometimes will share certain resources through regionalization. In order to address issues concerning more than one town, several regional agencies that help coordinate the towns for infrastructure, land use, and economic development concerns have been established. Within the geographical area of Fairfield County,
4437-585: Is primarily provided by the Connecticut State Police . Prior to 2000, a County Sheriff's Department existed for the purpose of executing judicial warrants, prisoner transport, court security, Bailiff , and county and state executions. These responsibilities have now been taken over by the Connecticut State Marshal System . Congregationalists Congregationalism (also Congregationalist churches or Congregational churches )
4590-532: Is residually polluted with Monsanto chemicals called Aroclor, polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs . From c. 1932 until 1977, the river received PCB pollution discharges from the General Electric plant at Pittsfield, Massachusetts . Refer to List of Mountains and Summits in Fairfield County, Connecticut . Fairfield County has a hot-summer humid continental climate ( Dfa ) which borders
4743-402: Is rooted in a foundational tenet of Congregationalism: the priesthood of all believers . According to Congregationalist minister Charles Edward Jefferson , this means that "Every believer is a priest and ... every seeking child of God is given directly wisdom, guidance, power". Consequently, there is an absence of godparents , since the whole congregation is the godparent to all the children in
Danbury, Connecticut - Misplaced Pages Continue
4896-478: Is the case with all eight of Connecticut's counties, there is no county government and no county seat . As an area, it is only a geographical point of reference. In Connecticut, the cities and towns are responsible for all local governmental activities including fire and rescue, schools, and snow removal; in a few cases, neighboring towns will share certain resources. The last county seat was Bridgeport , which had served this role from 1853 until 1960. On June 6, 2022,
5049-580: Is water. The city is located in the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains on low-lying land just south of Candlewood Lake (the City includes the southern parts of the lake). It developed along the Still River , which flows generally from west to east through the city before joining the Housatonic River . The city's terrain includes rolling hills and not-very-tall mountains to the west and northwest called
5202-727: The Mayflower , establishing the Plymouth Colony and bringing the Congregational tradition to America. In 1639 William Wroth , then Rector of the parish church at Llanvaches in Monmouthshire , established the first Independent Church in Wales "according to the New England pattern", i.e. Congregational. The Tabernacle United Reformed Church at Llanvaches survives to this day. During
5355-697: The 06810 code was given to all of Danbury; it was shared with a then-still-rural New Fairfield to its north. In 1984, the 06810 Zip Code was cut back to areas of Danbury south of Interstate 84. A new 06811 ZIP code was created for areas north of Interstate 84. New Fairfield received its own code, 06812 . In 2016 Danbury's workforce was approximately 79,400 workers. 12,200 (15.4%) of them worked in goods producing industries. 67,200 (84.6%) of them worked in service providing industries which includes: trade, transportation and utilities (17,300), professional and business services (9,400), leisure and hospitality (7,300), government (10,200) and all other (23,000). In Nov. 2016,
5508-578: The Appalachian Trail runs through Fairfield County; the trail enters Connecticut in the northernmost and least populous town in the county, Sherman , and moves east into Litchfield County , which encompasses the majority of the Appalachian Trail in Connecticut. The section of the Taconic Mountains range that runs through Greenwich and North Stamford of Fairfield County is also the part of
5661-592: The Cape Colony by British settlers. The Congregational Union of England and Wales was established in 1831. It had no authority over the affiliated churches, but instead aimed to advise and support them. In 1972, about three-quarters of English Congregational churches merged with the Presbyterian Church of England to form the United Reformed Church (URC). However, about 600 Congregational churches have continued in their historic independent tradition. Under
5814-589: The Connecticut Gold Coast , Fairfield County, along with all other Connecticut counties, was abolished as a governmental agency in accord with state legislation that took effect October 1, 1960. The first enclosed shopping malls in Fairfield County were Trumbull Shopping Park (1963), in the bedroom community of Trumbull just outside Bridgeport, the now gone Lafayette Shopping Park (1965) in Bridgeport, replaced downtown blocks that were demolished as part of
5967-590: The English Civil War , those who supported the Parliamentary cause were invited by Parliament to discuss religious matters. The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646) was officially claimed to be the statement of faith for both the Church of England (Anglican/Episcopal) and Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), which was politically expedient for those in the Presbyterian dominated English Parliament who approved of
6120-638: The Evangelical Fellowship of Congregational Churches , which has offices in Beverley, and about 100 Congregational churches that are loosely federated with other congregations in the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches , or are unaffiliated. The unaffiliated churches' share of the assets of the Congregational Union/Church of England and Wales is administered by a registered charity ,
6273-634: The Fellowship of Congregational Churches or continued as Presbyterians. Some more ecumenically minded Congregationalists left the Fellowship of Congregational Churches in 1995 and formed the Congregational Federation of Australia . Congregationalists (called "Evangelicals" in Bulgaria ; the word "Protestant" is not used ) were among the first Protestant missionaries to the Ottoman Empire and to
Danbury, Connecticut - Misplaced Pages Continue
6426-477: The Housatonic River in New Milford . During World War II , Danbury's federal prison was one of many sites used for the incarceration of conscientious objectors . One in six inmates in the United States' federal prisons was a conscientious objector, and prisons like Danbury found themselves suddenly filled with large numbers of highly educated men skilled in social activism. Due to the activism of inmates within
6579-698: The London Missionary Society . A number of evangelical Congregational churches are members of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship . Congregationalism, as defined by the Pew Research Center , is estimated to represent 0.5 percent of the worldwide Protestant population. Congregationalism is a Reformed (Calvinist) tradition of Protestant Christianity that enjoins a church polity in which congregations are self-governing (cf. congregational polity ). Through
6732-597: The Ludington family , are questioned by modern scholars. During the following day on April 26, 1777, the British, under Major General William Tryon , burned and sacked Danbury, but fatalities were limited due to Ludington's warning. The central motto on the seal of the City of Danbury is Restituimus , ( Latin for "We have restored"), a reference to the destruction caused by the Loyalist army troops. The American General David Wooster
6885-483: The Miss Stone Affair when missionary Ellen Maria Stone, of Roxbury, Massachusetts, and her pregnant fellow missionary friend Macedonian-Bulgarian Katerina Stefanova–Tsilka, wife of an Albanian Protestant minister, were kidnapped while traveling between Bansko and Gorna Dzhumaya (now Blagoevgrad ), by an Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Organization detachment led by the voivoda Yane Sandanski and
7038-630: The Paugussetts , Tankiteke, and the Siwanoy . There were also Paquioque and Potatuck inhabitants of Fairfield County. The Dutch explorer Adriaen Block explored coastal Connecticut in the Spring and early Summer of 1614 in the North America-built vessel Onrust . The first European settlers of the county, however, were Puritans and Congregationalists from England . Roger Ludlow (1590–1664), one of
7191-439: The Puritans . Their genesis was through the work of Congregationalist divines Robert Browne , Henry Barrowe , and John Greenwood . In the United Kingdom, the Puritan Reformation of the Church of England laid the foundation for these churches. In England , the early Congregationalists were called Separatists or Independents to distinguish them from the similarly Calvinistic Presbyterians , whose churches embrace
7344-436: The Solemn League and Covenant (1643). After the Second Civil War , the New Model Army which was dominated by Congregationalists (or Independents ) seized control of the parliament with Pride's purge (1648), arranged for the trial and execution of Charles I in January 1649 and subsequently introduced a republican Commonwealth dominated by Independents such as Oliver Cromwell . This government lasted until 1660 when
7497-471: The United Reformed Church Act 1972 (c. xviii), which dealt with the financial and property issues arising from the merger between what had become by then the Congregational Church of England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England , certain assets were divided between the various parties. In England, there are three main groups of continuing Congregationalists. These are the Congregational Federation , which has offices in Nottingham and Manchester,
7650-446: The established church were known as Separatists . Congregationalism may have first developed in the London Underground Church under Richard Fitz in the late 1560s and 1570s. The Congregational historian Albert Peel argued that it was accepted that the evidence for a fully thought out congregational ecclesiology is not overwhelming. Robert Browne (1550–1633) was the first person to set out explicit congregational principles and
7803-411: The monarch was restored and Episcopalism was re-established (see the Penal Laws and Great Ejection ). In 1662, two years after the Restoration, two thousand Independent, Presbyterian, and congregational ministers were evicted from their parishes as dissenters and not being in Holy Orders conferred by bishops. In 1658 (during the interregnum ) the Congregationalists created their own version of
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#17328448002607956-412: The "Danbury 11", were arrested in Danbury. A sting operation had been set up where day laborers were lured into a van whose driver, a disguised Danbury police officer posing as a contractor, promised them work. The laborers were driven to a parking lot where, if it was determined they were in the US illegally, were arrested by agents of ICE and the Danbury police. Yale University law students represented
8109-419: The "Danbury shakes", was characterized by slurred speech, tremors, stumbling, and, in extreme cases, hallucinations. The effect of mercury on the workers' health was first noted in the late 19th century. While workers in the Danbury factories lobbied for controls on mercury in the early 20th century, a government study on the health effects of mercury was not conducted until 1937. The State of Connecticut announced
8262-687: The "Lock City", as the home of the Yale and Towne Lock Manufacturing Company . Bridgeport, nicknamed "Park City" had in 1930 over 500 factories within its borders. Bridgeport Machines, Inc. , a milling machine manufacturer, was founded in Bridgeport in 1938, as well as Hubbell Incorporated in the 1890s, these are two examples, various companies were headquartered in Bridgeport, such as Warnerco , ACME Shear , Westinghouse subsidiary Bryant Electric among others, and others such as Remington Arms , General Electric , Singer Sewing Machines , Sikorsky Aircraft , Carpenter Steel , and countless others, had large scale manufacturing complexes there. Most of
8415-502: The 1908 Danbury Hatters' Case the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the union was liable for damages. In the 1930s and 1940s, there were a number of violent incidents during several strikes, mostly involving scab workers brought in as strikebreakers. Beginning in 1892, the industry was revolutionized when the large hat factories began to shift to manufacturing unfinished hat bodies only, and supplying them to smaller hat shops for finishing. While Danbury produced 24% of America's hats in 1904,
8568-484: The 1980s many buyouts and reorganizations and an economic recession lead to companies vacating much of the suburban office space in Fairfield County. In 1992 Fairfield County had the headquarters of over 25 major multinational corporations, giving it the third largest concentration of those companies in the United States after New York City and Chicago . Fairfield County is home to a large concentration of hedge funds and private equity firms , with many located along
8721-411: The 23 mi (37 km) railroad line. In 1852, the first railroad line in Danbury opened, with two trains making the 75-minute trip to Norwalk . The central part of Danbury was incorporated as a borough in 1822. The borough was reincorporated as the city of Danbury on April 19, 1889. The city and town were consolidated on January 1, 1965. The first dam to be built on the river, to collect water for
8874-439: The Appalachians that is closest to the coast out of the entire Appalachian Mountains . The agreed 1684 territorial limits of the county are defined as 20 miles (32 km) east of New York's Hudson River , which extends into Long Island Sound with a southerly limit of halfway to Long Island, New York. The eastern limit is mostly a natural border defined as the halfway point of the Housatonic River with New Haven County with
9027-428: The City did not admit any wrongdoing and there were no changes in the city's policies or procedures. In 1780, what is traditionally considered to be the first hat shop in Danbury was established by Zadoc Benedict . ( Hatmaking had existed in Danbury before the Revolution.) The Benedict shop had three employees, and they made 18 hats weekly. By 1800, Danbury was producing 20,000 hats annually, more than any other city in
9180-533: The Congregational Federation. Wales traditionally is the part which has the largest share of Congregationalists among the population, most Congregationalists being members of Undeb yr Annibynwyr Cymraeg (the Union of Welsh Independents ), which is particularly important in Carmarthenshire and Brecknockshire . The London Missionary Society was effectively the world mission arm of British Congregationalists, sponsoring missionaries including Eric Liddell and David Livingstone . After mergers and changes of name,
9333-403: The F.D. Rich Company, which was hired by the city to redevelop what was described as the aging, deteriorating downtown, throughout the 60s, 70s and early 80s. Stamford's population grew from 92,713 in 1960 to 135,470 people in 2020, making it the 2nd largest city in Connecticut in 2022 (behind Bridgeport ), surpassing New Haven . According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has
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#17328448002609486-474: The Gold Coast in places like Greenwich , Stamford , and Westport . Major hedge funds headquartered in Fairfield County include Bridgewater Associates , AQR Capital , Point72 Asset Management , Lone Pine Capital , Viking Global Investors , and Tudor Investment Corporation . Fairfield County is the top location for aquaculture in the state. As of 1960, counties in Connecticut do not have any associated county government structure. Thus Fairfield County
9639-434: The IEC of Argentina. In other cities of Misiones the Congregational work began in Oberá in the 1930s, in San Francisco de Asís a work began with believers from Brazil in 1935, in Dos de Mayo since 1945, in Valle Hermoso a group of Lutheran origin joined the Evangelical Congregational Church in 1949, in El Soberbio since 1950, in San Vicente since 1966, in Posadas since 1970 and later many more congregations. In Buenos Aires, as
9792-478: The Methodist Church on the region north of the Balkan Mountains (Stara Planina, or "Old Mountains"). In 1857, Cyrus Hamlin and Charles Morse established three missionary centres in southern Bulgaria – in Odrin ( Edirne , former capital city of the Ottoman Empire, in Turkey), Plovdiv and Stara Zagora . They were joined in 1859 by Russian-born naturalized America Frederic Flocken in 1859. American Presbyterian minister Elias Riggs commissioned, supported and edited
9945-411: The National level. The Congregational Union of Ireland was founded in 1829 and currently has around 26 member churches. In 1899 it absorbed the Irish Evangelical Society. The Congregational Christian Church of Samoa is one of the largest group of churches throughout the Pacific Region. It was founded in 1830 by the London Missionary Society missionary John Williams on the island of Savai'i in
10098-448: The Northwestern part of the European Ottoman Empire which is now Bulgaria, where their work to convert these Orthodox Christians was unhampered by the death penalty imposed by the Ottomans on Muslim converts to Christianity. These missionaries were significant contributors to the Bulgarian National Revival movement. Today, Protestantism in Bulgaria represents the third largest religious group, behind Orthodox and Muslim. Missionaries from
10251-463: The Society was succeeded in 1977 by the worldwide Council for World Mission . In the United States, the Congregational tradition traces its origins mainly to Puritan settlers of colonial New England . Congregational churches have had an important role in the political, religious and cultural history of the United States. Their practices concerning church governance influenced the early development of democratic institutions in New England, and some of
10404-401: The Still River throughout the late 19th century and into the 1940s. This toxic product flowed into the Housatonic River and Long Island Sound , affecting water quality and various fish and other organisms. Field studies conducted in the Still River basin in the 21st century have detected the continuing presence of high levels of mercury in the river sediments and nearby soils. Danbury has
10557-475: The U.S. Census Bureau formally recognized Connecticut's nine councils of governments as county equivalents instead of the state's eight counties. Connecticut's eight historical counties continue to exist in name only, and are no longer considered for statistical purposes. Fairfield County's Gold Coast helped rank it sixth in the U.S. in per-capita personal income by the Bureau of Economic Analysis in 2005, contributing substantially to Connecticut being one of
10710-632: The U.S. Due to the fur felt hat coming back into style for men and increasing mechanization in the 1850s, by 1859 hat production in Danbury had risen to 1.5 million annually. By 1887, thirty factories were producing 5 million hats per year. Around this time, fur processing was separated from hat manufacturing when the P. Robinson Fur Cutting Company (1884) on Oil Mill Road and the White Brothers' factory began operation. By 1880, workers had unionized, beginning decades of labor unrest. They struggled to achieve conditions that were more fair, going on strike; with management reacting with lockouts. Because of
10863-450: The Unaffiliated Congregational Churches Charities, which supports the unaffiliated churches and their retired ministers. In 1981, the United Reformed Church merged with the re-formed Association of Churches of Christ and, in 2000, just over half of the churches in the Congregational Union of Scotland also joined the United Reformed Church (via the United Reformed Church Act 2000 ). The remainder of Congregational churches in Scotland joined
11016-550: The United States Constitution provided "a wall of separation between church and State " that protected them. An agricultural region, the first railroad was the Housatonic Railroad , construction started 1836 and ended 1840, extending from Bridgeport to New Milford originally, connecting Litchfield County crops to the port in Bridgeport, by passing New York City. The New York and New Haven railroad along
11169-558: The United States and in Canada. The South American Germans from Russia had learned about Congregationalism in letters from relatives in the United States. In 1924 general missionary John Hoelzer, while in Argentina for a brief visit, organised six churches. In the province of Entre Ríos , congregations began to join the Evangelical Congregational Church in Crespo . Information indicates that since 1923 there were activities in private homes and in 1928
11322-552: The United States first arrived in 1857–58, sent to Istanbul by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions (ABCFM). The ABCFM was proposed in 1810 by the Congregationalist graduates of Williams College, MA, and was chartered in 1812 to support missions by Congregationalists, Presbyterian (1812–1870), Dutch-Reformed (1819–1857) and other denominational members. The ABCFM focused its efforts on southern Bulgaria and
11475-904: The West and hence more politically dangerous than traditional Orthodox Christianity. This prompted repressive legislation in the form of "Regulations for the Organization and Administration of the Evangelical Churches in the People's Republic of Bulgaria" and resulted in the harshest government repression, possibly the worst in the entire Eastern Bloc , intended to extinguish Protestantism altogether. Mass arrests of pastors (and often their families), torture, long prison sentences (including four life sentences) and even disappearance were common. Similar tactics were used on parishioners. In fifteen highly publicized mock show-trials between 8 February and 8 March 1949, all
11628-476: The Western Highland. Ground elevations in the city range from 378 feet to 1,050 feet above sea level. A geologic fault known as Cameron's Line runs through Danbury. Bethel Brookfield New Fairfield New Milford Newtown Ridgefield The hatmaking fur-removal process was based on the use of mercury nitrate . The waste caused serious water pollution as the hat manufacturers dumped it into
11781-622: The Westminster Confession, called the Savoy Declaration , which remains the principal subordinate standard of Congregationalism. The mission to Argentina was the second foreign field tended by German Congregationalists. The work in South America began in 1921 when four Argentine churches urgently requested that denominational recognition be given to George Geier, serving them. The Illinois Conference licensed Geier, who worked among Germans from Russia who were very similar to their kin in
11934-811: The Wondrous Cross and Hark the Glad Sound . The origins of Congregationalism are found in 16th-century Puritanism , a movement that sought to complete the English Reformation begun with the separation of the Church of England from the Catholic Church during the reign of Henry VIII (1509–47). During the reign of Elizabeth I (1558–1603), the Church of England was considered a Reformed or Calvinist church, but it also preserved certain characteristics of medieval Catholicism, such as cathedrals , church choirs ,
12087-430: The accused pastors confessed to a range of charges against them, including treason, spying (for both the US and Yugoslavia), black marketing, and various immoral acts. State appointed pastors were foisted on surviving congregations. As late as the 1980s, imprisonment and exile were still employed to destroy the remaining Protestant churches. The Congregationalist magazine "Zornitsa" was banned; Bibles became unobtainable. As
12240-483: The administration of the Diocese of Bridgeport and include: Fairfield County, Connecticut Fairfield County is a county in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut . It is the most populous county in the state and was also its fastest-growing from 2010 to 2020. As of the 2020 census , the county's population was 957,419, representing 26.6% of Connecticut's overall population. The closest to
12393-407: The age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.21. The median age was 39.5 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 81,268 and the median income for
12546-428: The age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.18. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under
12699-468: The age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.60 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 65,249, and the median income for a family was $ 77,690. Males had a median income of $ 51,996 versus $ 37,108 for females. The per capita income for
12852-532: The center of the New York metropolitan area , the county contains four of the state's top 7 largest cities— Bridgeport (1st), Stamford (2nd), Norwalk (6th), and Danbury (7th)—whose combined population of 433,368 is nearly half the county's total population. The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Fairfield County as the Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk metropolitan statistical area . The United States Census Bureau ranked
13005-708: The church "El Buen Pastor", which was lent to them by the Disciples of Christ. In 1947, Pastor Ludwig Serfas became the first local pastor, with residence in Olivos, and it was decided to build the first church in Villa Ballester, which was inaugurated in 1950. The Evangelical Congregational Church spread to Córdoba in 1972, with itinerant missionary work from Basavilbaso (Entre Ríos). In the province of Santa Fe from 1980, from Paraná (Entre Ríos). In Corrientes (capital) from 1982 and in CABA
13158-506: The church. Congregationalists have two sacraments: baptism and the Lord's Supper . Congregationalists practise infant baptism , but hold that ".. there is no distinction between "infant baptism" and "believer's baptism"." The Lord's Supper is normally celebrated once or twice a month. Congregationalists do not invoke the intercession of saints . Certain Congregationalist hymns that have become popular across Christendom include When I Survey
13311-400: The city is a commercial hub of western Connecticut, an outer-ring commuter suburb of New York City, and an historic summer colony of the New York metropolitan area and New England . Danbury is nicknamed the "Hat City", because it was once the center of the American hat industry , during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The mineral danburite is named after Danbury, while
13464-607: The city itself is named for Danbury in Essex , England. Danbury is home to Danbury Hospital , Western Connecticut State University , Danbury Fair Mall , and Danbury Municipal Airport . Danbury was settled by colonists in 1685, when eight families moved from what are now Norwalk and Stamford, Connecticut . The Danbury area was then called Pahquioque by its namesake, the Algonquian-speaking Pahquioque Native Americans (they are believed to have been
13617-506: The city supplied the industry with 75% of its hat bodies. The turn of the century was the heyday of the hatting industry in Danbury, when it became known as the "Hat City" and the "Hatting Capitol of the World". Its motto was "Danbury Crowns Them All". The use of mercuric nitrate in the felting process poisoned many workers in the hat factories, creating a condition called erethism , also called "mad hatter disease." The condition, known locally as
13770-564: The city's urban renewal, Danbury Fair Mall (1968) on the former fairgrounds of the annual Danbury Fair , Hawley Lane Mallin Trumbull (1971) and the Stamford Town Center (1982) as part of the urban renewal project in downtown Stamford. Stamford, Connecticut, is an example of edge cityurbanization . Stamford in the 1960s was a residential suburb of New York City, with a few industries and research laboratories, but of Stamford's downtown
13923-543: The containment of families in the most varied contexts. With specific programmes for children, adolescents, young people, married couples and the elderly. With presence in formal and informal education, training and instructing people of all ages, in arts and crafts, in values and principles that make solidarity, human rights, and a better quality of life for all, according to the possibilities and opportunities. With canteens and picnic areas, with an integral pastoral care, which includes accompaniment in hospitals and prisons. It has
14076-589: The country. The city gained a reputation for having an aging industrial image, what New York Times articles described as a smokestack filled, aging view of the city from the highway. The Connecticut Turnpike (Interstate 95) was built in the mid-1950s along the coast, joining the scenic Merrit Parkway , built in the late 1930s to alleviate traffic on the Post Road , and built further inland away from population centers. Towns such as Westport , Darien, New Caanan, Stamford, and Greenwich became New York City suburbs, forming
14229-469: The county remained agricultural. Westport in the 1920s was a bohemian summer artist colony, and was home to famous artists, writers, and painters, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald , who spent a summer in town. The Cos Cob art colony flourished from the late 1800s to the 1920s. At the height of its influence in the 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan had a distinct presence in the county and county politics. The group
14382-504: The county was $ 38,350. About 5.00% of families and 6.90% of the population were below the poverty line , including 8.30% of those under age 18 and 6.60% of those age 65 or over. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 916,829 people, 335,545 households, and 232,896 families residing in the county. The population density was 1,467.2 inhabitants per square mile (566.5/km ). There were 361,221 housing units at an average density of 578.1 per square mile (223.2/km ). The racial makeup of
14535-425: The county was 74.8% white, 10.8% black or African American, 4.6% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 6.8% from other races, and 2.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 18.1% were Italian , 15.9% were Irish , 9.8% were German , 8.7% were English , 5.5% were Polish , and 2.7% were American . Of the 335,545 households, 36.4% had children under
14688-516: The county's coast was constructed in the late 1840s, which started in New York City and ended in New Haven, connecting Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk and all the towns on the coast. In 1851, the county seat of Fairfield County was moved from the town of Fairfield to the newly founded neighboring city of Bridgeport . This was due to its growing population and industry as the old courthouse erected 1794
14841-433: The downtown. At the same time, roads were relocated and rebuilt, 123 major buildings were razed and 104 families were relocated. This began various efforts by the City through 1975 towards urban renewal, using another $ 22 million of federal funding. However, these efforts failed to reinvigorate the central business district. On February 13, 1970, brothers James and John Pardue detonated time bombs (injuring 26 people) at
14994-566: The early 1600s, a Separatist congregation in Scrooby was founded through the efforts of John Smyth (who later rejected infant baptism and became a founder of the Baptist movement). John Robinson was the congregation's pastor and William Brewster was an elder . In 1607, the congregation moved to Holland fleeing persecution. In 1620, the group (known in history as the Pilgrims ) sailed to North America on
15147-912: The elders therein, is above the apostle, above the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor, the teacher, and every particular elder" and "The voice of the whole people, guided by the elders and the forwardest, is said [in Scripture] to be the voice of God". While each church would be independent, separate churches would still come together to discuss matters of common concern. Short lifespans were typical of Separatist churches (also known as Brownist congregations). These were small congregations who met in secret and faced persecution. They were often forced to go into exile in Holland and tended to disintegrate quickly. Notable Separatists who faced exile or death included Henry Barrow ( c. 1550 –1593), John Greenwood (died 1593), John Penry (1559–1593), Francis Johnson (1563–1618), and Henry Ainsworth (1571–1622). In
15300-562: The exception of several islands belonging wholly to Stratford . The depth of the Sound varies between 60 and 120 feet (37 m). The county hosts or contains the rivers Byram , Housatonic , Mianus , Mill , Norwalk , Pequonnock , Rippowam , Saugatuck , and Still . The Still River is polluted with mercury nitrate from the hat industry in Danbury , also thereafter diluting into the Housatonic River and Long Island Sound . The Housatonic
15453-406: The existence of the Evangelical Congregational Church, they contacted and invited the North American missionary Guillermo Strauch to visit them. This took place on August 25, 1928, when the first service was held and as a result of the meeting they decided to join the I. E. C. The following year, their first church was inaugurated. Due to a great drought, in 1945 this church had to close its doors, and
15606-737: The families emigrated to Villa Ángela, Coronel Du Graty or Santa Sylvina, in the province of Chaco, or to El Colorado, in Formosa. In each of these places, new faith communities emerged from the relocation of members of Colonia Palmar. In Villa Ángela, the first church was actually established in Colonia Juan José Paso in 1947, and two years later the first church was inaugurated. In Coronel Du Graty, it originated from prayer meetings in 1947 (with those who came from Colonia Palmar) in "Campo Ugarte" and "Campo Ñandubay". Later they joined together to build their own place for worship, which happened in 1954. In
15759-469: The first 20 months of US involvement during the First World War, producing 50% of Allied ammunition during that time. Bridgeport by 1920 had a population of 143,555 people, then the 44th largest US city. Danbury , in northern Fairfield County, was known as the "Hat City", producing 20% of America's hats, until the industry began to decline in the 1920s. Stamford (population 40,067 in 1920), was known as
15912-611: The first foreign field, thirty-one churches that had been affiliated with the General Conference became part of the United Church of Canada when that denomination was founded in 1925 by the merger of the Canadian Congregationalist and Methodist churches, and two-thirds of the congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Canada . In 1988, a number of UCC congregations separated from the national church, which they felt
16065-690: The first pastoral house was inaugurated, in San Salvador from 1928, in Concordia, from 1929–1930, in Federal from 1934, in Paraná since the 1940's. In Concepción del Uruguay since 1942. Basavilbaso from 1944. Gualeguaychú from 1950. And then many more followed. In the province of Chaco, immigrants from Germany, Russia and neighbouring areas settled in Colonia Palmar, between Charata and General Pinedo. When they heard about
16218-716: The first two weeks. Congregational churches were established in Bansko , Veliko Turnovo , and Svishtov between 1840 and 1878, followed by Sofia in 1899. By 1909, there were 19 Congregational churches, with a total congregation of 1,456 in southern Bulgaria offering normal Sunday services, Sunday schools for children, biblical instruction for adults; as well as women's groups and youth groups. Summer Bible schools were held annually from 1896 to 1948. Congregationalists led by James F. Clarke opened Bulgaria's first Protestant primary school for boys in Plovdiv in 1860, followed three years later by
16371-459: The founders of the Colony of Connecticut , helped to purchase and charter the towns of Fairfield (1639) and Norwalk (purchased 1640, chartered as a town in 1651). Ludlow is credited as having chosen the name Fairfield . Fairfield is a descriptive name referring to the beauty of its fields. The town of Stratford was settled in 1639 as well by Adam Blakeman (1596–1665). William Beardsley (1605–1661)
16524-642: The hat industry, impounded the Kohanza Reservoir . This dam broke on January 31, 1869, under pressure of ice and water. The ensuing flood of icy water killed 11 people within 30 minutes, and caused major damage to homes and farms. As a busy city, Danbury attracted traveling shows and tours, including Buffalo Bill 's Wild West Show in 1900. It featured young men of the Oglala Sioux nation, who re-enacted events from frontier history. Oglala Sioux Albert Afraid of Hawk died on June 29, 1900, at age 21 in Danbury during
16677-490: The largest cities in the county were Bridgeport , Norwalk , Danbury , Stamford and Greenwich . By 1905, Bridgeport had become the principle manufacturing center in the state, and one of the major manufacturers in the New England region behind Boston , Providence , and Worcester , with $ 44,586,519 total worth of products manufactured without adjusting to today's money. Stamford and Greenwich had become popular resort towns for New York City's wealthy. Connecticut in 1905
16830-601: The last edition was in 1981. The fairgrounds were cleared to make room for the Danbury Fair Mall , which opened in autumn 1986. In 1835, the Connecticut Legislature granted a rail charter to the Fairfield County Railroad , but construction was delayed because of lack of investment. In 1850, the organization's plans were scaled back, and renamed the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad . Work moved quickly on
16983-824: The lowest point is sea level itself. The Taconic Mountains and the Berkshire Mountains ranges of the Appalachian Mountains run through Fairfield County. The Taconics begin roughly in Ridgefield and the Berkshires begin roughly in Northern Trumbull , both running north to Litchfield County and beyond. A portion of the Taconics also is in rural Greenwich and rural North Stamford in Fairfield County and run north into Westchester County , New York , eventually re-entering Fairfield County in Ridgefield . A small portion of
17136-647: The magazine Zornitsa (Зорница, "Dawn"), founded in 1864 by the initiative of Riggs and Long. Zornitsa became the most powerful and most widespread newspaper of the Bulgarian Renaissance. A small roadside marker on Bulgarian Highway 19 in the Rila Mountains, close to Gradevo commemorates the support given the Bulgarian Resistance by these early Congregationalist missionaries. On 3 September 1901 Congregationalist missionaries came to world attention in
17289-551: The media at the time, the event has been often dubbed "America's first modern hostage crisis". The Bulgarian royal house, of Catholic German extraction, was unsympathetic to the American inspired Protestants, and this mood became worse when Bulgaria sided with Germany in WWI and WWII. Matters became much worse when the Bulgarian Communist Party took power in 1944. Like the royal family, it too saw Protestantism closely linked to
17442-409: The men pro bono and filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city on their behalf. On March 8, 2011, it was confirmed a settlement had been reached in the case whereby Danbury agreed to pay the laborers $ 400,000 (Danbury's insurance carrier paid the settlement plus legal fees of close to $ 1,000,000, less a $ 100,000 deductible). The federal government agreed to pay them $ 250,000. As part of the settlement,
17595-476: The metropolitan area as the 59th most populous metropolitan statistical area of the United States in 2019. The U.S. Office of Management and Budget has further designated the metropolitan statistical area as a component of the more extensive New York–Newark–Bridgeport, NY–NJ–CT–PA combined statistical area , the most populous combined statistical area and primary statistical area of the United States. As
17748-582: The most affluent states in the U.S. Other communities are more densely populated and economically diverse than the affluent areas for which the county is better known. Fairfield County was the home of many Native American tribes prior to the Europeans' arrival. People of the Schaghticoke tribe lived in the area of present-day New Fairfield and Sherman . From east to west the Wappinger sachemships included
17901-444: The name of Jesus, and making the sign of the cross in baptism and communion. Many Puritans believed the Church of England should follow the example of Reformed churches in other parts of Europe and adopt presbyterian polity , in which an egalitarian network of local ministers cooperated through regional synods . Other Puritans experimented with congregational polity both within the Church of England and outside of it. Puritans who left
18054-472: The police station, Union Savings Bank and in their getaway car to cover their escape from robbing the bank at gunpoint, the culmination of a two-year crime spree that included four bank robberies and five murders. The flawed primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope was ground and polished in Danbury by Perkin-Elmer's Danbury Optical System unit from 1979 to 1981. It was mistakenly ground to
18207-401: The population of Danbury as of 2015 is 84,657. As of the 2010 census, there were 80,893 people and 29,046 households in the city, with 2.73 persons per household. 44.1% of the population spoke a language other than English at home. The population density was 1,921.4 people per square mile. There were 31,154 housing units at an average density of 740.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city
18360-434: The population was under the age of 5, and 21.1% was under the age of 18. 11.1% of the population was 65 years of age or older. 50.9% of the population was female. The per capita income for the city was $ 31,411. 11.1% of the population was below the poverty line. The median gross monthly rent was $ 1,269. In 2015 the median income for a household in the city was approximately $ 66,676. When ZIP codes were introduced in 1963,
18513-564: The prison, and local laborers protesting in solidarity with the conscientious objectors, Danbury became one of the nation's first prisons to desegregate its inmates. On August 18–19, 1955, the Still River, which normally meandered slowly through downtown Danbury, overflowed its banks when Hurricane Diane hit the area, dropping six inches of rain on the city. This was in addition to the nine inches that fell from Hurricane Connie five days earlier. The water flooded stores, factories and homes along
18666-530: The province of Misiones, in Leandro N. Alem and the surrounding area, immigrants from Poland, Germany and Brazil began to arrive between 1929 and 1938. Although their economic condition was precarious, they were rich in their desire to work, to progress and in their spirituality. They began to hold prayer meetings, and faith communities were formed in Alem Sud, Picada Almafuerte and Picada Flor (Colonia El Chatón). In 1932
18819-443: The regional agencies are: Several former county municipal buildings are used by other state or local agencies, including: Law enforcement within the geographic area of the county is provided by the respective town police departments, whereas in other states in the region such as New York and Vermont law enforcement would be provided by the local county sheriff's department. In the less dense areas, such as Sherman , law enforcement
18972-478: The river from North Street to Beaver Brook, causing $ 3 million in damages. Stores downtown on White Street between Main and Maple were especially hard hit. On October 13–16, another 12 inches of rain fell on Danbury, causing the worst flooding in the city's history. This time, the river damaged all bridges across it, effectively cutting the city in half for several days. Flooding was more widespread than in August, and
19125-404: The same downtown areas hit in August were devastated once again. The resulting damage was valued at $ 6 million, and two people lost their lives. The City determined the river in the downtown area had to be tamed. $ 4.5 million in federal and state funding were acquired as part of a greater urban renewal project to straighten, deepen, widen, and enclose the river in a concrete channel through
19278-534: The scale of the industry, labor unrest and struggles over wages affected the economy of the entire town. In 1893, nineteen manufacturers locked out 4000 union hatters. In 1902, the American Federation of Labor union called for a nationwide boycott of Dietrich Loewe, a Danbury non-union hat manufacturer. The manufacturer sued the union under the Sherman Antitrust Act for unlawfully restraining trade. In
19431-575: The spring of 1777, the British Commander-in-Chief, North America General William Howe , in New York City, ordered William Tryon to interrupt the flow of supplies from Connecticut that were reaching the Continental Army . Tryon and Henry Duncan led a fleet of 26 ships carrying 2,000 men to Westport's Compo Beach to raid Continental Army supply depots in Danbury on April 22, 1777. American Major General David Wooster (1710–1777), who
19584-518: The sub-voivodas Hristo Chernopeev and Krǎstyo Asenov and ransomed to provide funds for revolutionary activities. Eventually, a heavy ransom (14,000 Ottoman lira (about US$ 62,000 at 1902 gold prices or $ 5 million at 2012 gold prices) raised by public subscription in the USA was paid on 18 January 1902 in Bansko and the hostages (now including a newborn baby) were released on 2 February near Strumica —a full five months after being kidnapped. Widely covered by
19737-742: The tour. He was buried at Wooster Cemetery . In 2012, employee Robert Young discovered Afraid of Hawk's remains. The city consulted with Oglala Sioux leaders of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and arranged repatriation of the remains to the nation. This meeting occurred in the Health Sciences Library of Danbury Hospital with assistance of the Chaplain. Wrapped in a bison skin, the remains were transported to Manderson , South Dakota, to Saint Mark's Episcopal Cemetery, for reburial by tribal descendants. In 1928 local plane pilots bought
19890-637: The towns of Rye , Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk, Fairfield , and Stratford . In 1673, the town of Woodbury was incorporated and added to Fairfield County. In 1683, New York and Connecticut reached a final agreement regarding their common border. This resulted in the cession of the town of Rye and all claims to the Oblong to New York. From the late 17th to early 18th centuries, several new towns were incorporated in western Connecticut and added to Fairfield County, namely Danbury (1687), Ridgefield (1709), Newtown (1711), and New Fairfield (1740). In 1751, Litchfield County
20043-606: The unemployment rate for the Danbury Labor Market Area was 3.0%, compared to 3.7% for the State and 4.6% nationally. The top employers in the city in 2020 were: The chief executive officer of Danbury is the Mayor, who serves a two-year term. The current mayor is Roberto L. Alves (D). The Mayor is the presiding officer of the City Council, which consists of 21 members, two from each of the seven city wards , and seven at-large. The City Council enacts ordinances and resolutions by
20196-547: The village of Sapapali'i. As the church grew it established and continues to support theological colleges in Samoa and Fiji. There are over 100,000 members attending over 2,000 congregations throughout the world, most of which are located in Samoa, American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia and America. The Christian Congregational Church of Jamaica falls under the constitution of the Samoan Church. Congregational churches were brought to
20349-451: The work of Bulgarian monk Neofit Rilski to create a Bible translations into Bulgarian which was then distributed widely in Bulgaria in 1871 and thereafter. This effort was supported by Congregationalist missionary Albert Long, Konstantin Fotinov , Hristodul Sechan-Nikolov and Petko Slaveikov . Reportedly, 2,000 copies of the newly translated Bulgarian language New Testament were sold within
20502-584: The wrong shape due to the use of a miscalibrated testing device. The mistake was not discovered until after the telescope was in orbit and began to be used. The effects of the flaw were corrected during the telescope's first servicing mission in 1993. In the August 1988 issue of Money magazine , Danbury topped the magazine's list of the best U.S. cities to live in, mostly due to low crime, good schools, and location. A case that would make national headlines and play out for over four years began on September 19, 2006, when eleven day laborers, who came to be known as
20655-549: The year, respectively. The average annual precipitation is approximately 56.04 inches (1,420 mm), which is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year; snow averages 49.3 inches (125 cm) per season, although this total may vary considerably from year to year. Extremes in temperature range from 106 °F (41 °C) on July 22, 1926, and July 15, 1995 (the highest temperature recorded in Connecticut) down to −18 °F (−28 °C) on February 9, 1934. It's estimated that
20808-610: The years, Congregationalists have adopted various confessional statements , including the Savoy Declaration , the Cambridge Platform and the Kansas City Statement of Faith . Unlike Presbyterians, Congregationalists practise congregational polity (from which they derive their name), which holds that the members of a local church have the right to decide their church's forms of worship and confessional statements, choose their own officers and administer their own affairs without any outside interference. Congregationalist polity
20961-552: Was 1,410 inhabitants per square mile (540/km ). There were 339,466 housing units at an average density of 542 per square mile (209/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 79.31% White , 10.01% Black or African American , 0.20% Native American , 3.25% Asian , 0.04% Pacific Islander , 4.70% from other races , and 2.49% from two or more races. 11.88% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.6% were of Italian , 12.4% Irish , 6.5% German and 6.4% English ancestry. In 2010, 66.2% of Fairfield County's population
21114-464: Was 11th in the United States terms of industrial goods produced, and Fairfield County contained the city with the most total worth of products made, Bridgeport. One-fifth of Connecticut's population was employed in manufacturing, the state's largest industry which generated most of its wealth. Bridgeport in 1905 produced 20% of America's corsets. The 2nd largest city in Connecticut behind New Haven by 1910, Bridgeport's population grew by 50,000 people during
21267-451: Was 68.2% White , 25.0% Hispanic or Latino (of any race), 7.2% African American , 0.40% Native American , 6.8% Asian , less than 0.10% Pacific Islander , 7.6% from other races , and 4.5% from two or more races. 32% of the population was foreign born. Of particular note is a sizeable population of residents of Portuguese and Brazilian heritage. They are served by locally based Portuguese-language print and broadcast media. 6.7% of
21420-479: Was also called Paquiack ("open plain" or "cleared land") by the Paquioque. In recognition of the wetlands, the settlers chose the name Swampfield for their town. In October 1687, the general court decreed the name Danbury. The general court appointed a committee to lay out the new town's boundaries. A survey was made in 1693, and a formal town patent was granted in 1702. During the Revolutionary War , Danbury
21573-591: Was also one of the first settlers of Stratford in 1639. Fairfield County was established by an act of the Connecticut General Court in Hartford along with Hartford County , New Haven County , and New London County ; which were the first four Connecticut counties, on May 10, 1666. From transcriptions of the Connecticut Colonial Records for that day: The original Fairfield County consisted of
21726-473: Was an important military supply depot for the Continental Army . Sybil Ludington , 16-year-old daughter of American Colonel Henry Ludington , is said to have made a 40-mile ride in the early hours of the night on April 26, 1777, to warn the people of Danbury and her father's forces in Putnam County, New York , of the approach of British regulars, helping them muster in defense; these accounts, originating from
21879-452: Was born in Stratford, was in charge of the stores at Danbury and defended them with a force of only 700 troops. Two years later during a British raid on Greenwich on February 26, 1779 General Israel Putnam , who had stayed at Knapp's Tavern the previous night, rode away on his horse to warn the people of Stamford. Putnam was shot at by the British raiders but was able to escape. The hat he
22032-411: Was carried by migrating settlers from New England into New York , then into the Old Northwest , and further. The Congregationalist tradition has a presence in the United States, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Ireland, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and various island nations in the Pacific region. It has been introduced either by immigrant dissenters or by missionary organizations such as
22185-460: Was constituted, taking over the town of Woodbury. The final boundary adjustment to Fairfield County occurred in 1788 when the town of Brookfield was incorporated from parts of Newtown, Danbury, and New Milford , with Fairfield County gaining territory from Litchfield County. Other early county inhabitants include: During the Revolutionary War, Connecticut's prodigious agricultural output led to it being known informally as "the Provisions State". In
22338-426: Was mortally wounded at the Battle of Ridgefield by the British forces which had raided Danbury, but at the beginning of the battle, the Americans succeeded in driving the British forces down to Long Island Sound. Wooster is buried in Danbury's Wooster Cemetery; the private Wooster School in Danbury also was named in his honor. In 1802, President Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association ,
22491-780: Was most active in Darien , but had small chapters in Norwalk, Stamford, and Bridgeport. The Klan has since disappeared from the county. The county's first institution of higher learning was Western Connecticut State University, founded in Danbury in 1903 (known by its acronym, WCSU), followed by the University of Bridgeport in 1927, Fairfield University in neighboring Fairfield in 1947 and Sacred Heart University. Nearly one-third of Fairfield County's population lived within Bridgeport's city limits in 1950, 31.5%. The city began to decline in population as families moved into nearby suburbs, such as Fairfield , leading to widespread residential development. Bridgeport slowly began to loose jobs and large corporations moved into southern states or outside
22644-602: Was moving away theologically and in practice from Biblical Christianity. Many of the former UCC congregations banded together as the new Congregational Christian Churches in Canada . The Congregational Christian Churches in Canada (or 4Cs) is an evangelical, Protestant, Christian denomination, headquartered in Brantford, Ontario, and a member of the World Evangelical Congregational Fellowship . The name "congregational" generally describes its preferred organizational style, which promotes local church autonomy and ownership, while fostering fellowship and accountability between churches at
22797-501: Was no longer adequate. The first hospital in the county, and the 3rd hospital in Connecticut behind Hartford and New Haven Hospitals , Bridgeport Hospital was founded in 1884 along with Fairfield County's first nursing school. It would be soon followed by Danbury Hospital (1885), Norwalk Hospital (1893), Stamford Hospital (1896) Greenwich Hospital (1903), St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport (1903), and Park City Hospital in Bridgeport (1926), which closed in 1993. By 1900,
22950-472: Was non-Hispanic whites and 10.8% of the population was black. Asians were 4.6% of the population. Hispanics now constituted 16.9% of the population. As of 2000, 76.2% spoke English , 11.0% Spanish , 2.0% Portuguese , 1.7% Italian and 1.1% French as their first language. Some of the last group were Haitians, although other Haitians would identify Haitian Creole as their first language. There were 324,232 households, out of which 34.20% had children under
23103-422: Was raided on July 10 and burned on the 11th. Norwalk militia leader Captain Stephen Betts put up resistance to the invaders, but was overwhelmed by the powerful British raiders and was forced to retreat. David Sherman Boardman (1786–1864) was a prominent early lawyer and judge in this and neighboring Litchfield County. On October 7, 1801, Neheemiah Dodge and other members of the Danbury Baptist Association wrote
23256-402: Was razed and rebuilt it with modern skyscrapers, and several major corporations moved their headquarters to Stamford, creating one of the largest corporate concentrations in the United States. Originally a more moderate plan, entire downtown blocks and streets were demolished in slow phases and replaced with office towers, residential towers and the Stamford Town Center shopping mall courtesy of
23409-419: Was wearing with a musket ball hole in it is on display at Knapp's Tavern in Greenwich (which is commonly, albeit somewhat erroneously, called Putnam's cottage ). In the summer of 1779, General William Tryon sought to punish Americans by attacking civilian targets in coastal Connecticut with a force of about 2,600 British troops. New Haven was raided on July 5, Fairfield was raided on the 7th and burned. Norwalk
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