View source for Litchfield County, Connecticut

{{short description|County in Connecticut, United States}}
{{redirect|Litchfield County|the ship|USS Litchfield County (LST-901)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county           = Litchfield County
| state            = Connecticut
| type             = [[List of counties in Connecticut|County]]
| ex image         = File:Spring 2006.jpg
| ex image cap     = Coe Memorial Park in Torrington 
| ex image size    = 250px
| founded year     = 1751
| founded date     = 
| seat             = none (since 1960)<br />[[Litchfield, Connecticut|Litchfield]] (before 1960)
| largest city  = [[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]] (by population)<br/>[[New Milford, Connecticut|New Milford]] (by area)
| area_total_sq_mi = 945
| area_land_sq_mi  = 921
| area_water_sq_mi = 24
| area percentage  = 2.5%
| census yr        = 2020
| pop              = 185186 {{decrease}}
| pop_est_as_of    = 
| population_est   = 
| density_sq_mi    = 196.0
| district         = 1st
| district2        = 5th
| time zone        = Eastern
| coordinates      = {{Coord|41.79|-73.24|display=inline,title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CT_source:UScensus1990}}
| named for        = [[Lichfield]], England
}}
{{maplink|frame=yes|zoom=8|id=Q54235|type=shape|stroke-color=#808080|fill=#808080|fill-opacity=0.0|text=Interactive map of Litchfield County, Connecticut}}

'''Litchfield County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in northwestern [[Connecticut]], United States. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 185,186.<ref>{{cite web|title=Census - Geography Profile: Litchfield County, Connecticut |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US09005|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref> The county was named after [[Lichfield]], in England.<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n186 187]}}</ref> Litchfield County has the lowest [[population density]] of any county in Connecticut and is the state's largest county by area.

Litchfield County comprises the Torrington, CT, [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is included in the [[New York City|New York]]–[[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[New York (state)|NY]]–[[New Jersey|NJ]]–CT–[[Pennsylvania|PA]], [[New York metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

As is the case with the other seven Connecticut counties, there is no county government and no county seat. Each town is responsible for all local services such as schools, [[snow removal]], sewers, and fire and police departments. However, in some cases in rural areas, adjoining towns may agree to jointly provide services or even establish a regional school system. On June 6, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau formally recognized [[Councils of governments in Connecticut|Connecticut's nine councils of governments]] as county equivalents instead of the state's eight counties. Connecticut's county governments were disbanded in 1960, and the councils of governments took over some of the local governmental functions. [[List of counties in Connecticut|Connecticut's eight historical counties]] continue to exist in name only, and are no longer considered for statistical purposes.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2022/06/06/2022-12063/change-to-county-equivalents-in-the-state-of-connecticut |website=Federal Register |title=Change to County-Equivalents in the State of Connecticut |date=June 6, 2022 |agency=Census Bureau}}</ref>

==History==
Litchfield County was created on October 9, 1751, by an act of the Connecticut General Court from land belonging to Fairfield, New Haven, and Hartford counties. The act establishing the county states:
<blockquote>
That the townships of Litchfield, Woodbury, New Milford, Harwinton, New Hartford, Barkhempstead, Hartland, Colebrook, Norfolk, Canaan, Salisbury, Kent, Sharon, Cornwall, Goshen, Torrington, and Winchester, lying in the northwesterly part of this Colony, shall be and remain one entire county, and be called the County of Litchfield, and shall have and exercise the same powers, {{sic|priviledges}} and authorities, and be subject to the same regulations, as the other counties in this Colony by law have and are subject unto. The bounds of which county shall extend north to the Colony line, and west to the
Colony line till it meets with the township of New Fairfield, and to include the towns abovementioned.
<ref name="ccr">{{cite web |url=http://www.colonialct.uconn.edu/ViewPageByPageNew.cfm?ID=2825&Volume=10&Master=622&Letter=L&v=10&p=56&c=4 |title=CCR: Volume 10, Page 56 |access-date=June 17, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
<ref name=Hathi>{{cite book |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101067880318&view=1up&seq=66 |title=The public records of the colony of Connecticut [1636-1776] ... transcribed and published, (in accordance with a resolution of the general assembly) ..., vol.10 (May 1751-Feb.1757), Page 56. HathiTrust Digital Library. |publisher=Brown & Parsons |access-date=2 March 2020}}</ref>
</blockquote>

Between 1780 and 1807, several new towns were created at the boundaries between Litchfield County and other counties in Connecticut. The town of Watertown was established in 1780 from Waterbury and was placed under Litchfield County jurisdiction. The establishment of the town of Brookfield from part of New Milford in 1788 resulted in Litchfield County losing territory to Fairfield County. In 1796, the town of Hartland was transferred to Hartford County. In 1798, the town of Oxford was established from part of Southbury causing Litchfield County to lose territory to New Haven County. In 1807, the town of Southbury was transferred to New Haven County. The final boundary change occurred on October 8, 1807, when the town of [[Middlebury, Connecticut|Middlebury]] was established from part of Woodbury.<ref>[http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Connecticut/documents/CT_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm#LITCHFIELD Newberry Library &ndash; Connecticut Atlas of Historical County Boundaries] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110043227/http://historical-county.newberry.org/website/Connecticut/documents/CT_Individual_County_Chronologies.htm |date=November 10, 2013}}</ref>

In 1862, during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Litchfield County raised the [[2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery Regiment|2nd Connecticut Regiment of Volunteers Heavy Artillery]]. This regiment, originally the [[19th Connecticut Infantry Regiment|19th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry]], served in the defense of Washington, D.C. from September 1862 to March 1864, at which time it was transferred to the [[Army of the Potomac]]. On June 1, 1864, the 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery fought as infantry (as it continued to do through the war) in the [[Battle of Cold Harbor]], experiencing the heaviest proportionate losses of any Connecticut regiment in the Civil War. The regiment remained active to the end of the war, and its final mustering out September 5, 1865.<ref>[http://www.the2dconn.com/history.htm 2d Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery Regiment - Unit History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107035537/http://the2dconn.com/history.htm |date=January 7, 2013 }}. The2dconn.com. Retrieved on July 15, 2013.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|945|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|921|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|24|sqmi}} (2.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is the largest county in Connecticut by area. Litchfield County is roughly contiguous with the portion of the [[Appalachian Mountains]] range known as the [[The Berkshires|Berkshire Mountains]] (sometimes locally, this area is called the [[Litchfield Hills]]).

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Berkshire County, Massachusetts]] (north)
*[[Hampden County, Massachusetts]] (northeast)
*[[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]] (east)
*[[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]] (southeast)
*[[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield County]] (south)
*[[Dutchess County, New York]] (west)

{{Rivers of Connecticut}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 38635
|1800= 41214
|1810= 41375
|1820= 41267
|1830= 42858
|1840= 40448
|1850= 45253
|1860= 47318
|1870= 48727
|1880= 52044
|1890= 53542
|1900= 63672
|1910= 70260
|1920= 76262
|1930= 82556
|1940= 87041
|1950= 98872
|1960= 119856
|1970= 144091
|1980= 156769
|1990= 174092
|2000= 182193
|2010= 189927
|2020= 185186
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ct190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 11, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2018<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/09/09005.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=June 11, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607095807/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/09/09005.html |archive-date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 182,193 people, 71,551 households, and 49,584 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|198|pd/sqmi}}. There were 79,267 housing units at an average density of {{cvt|86|/sqmi}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial makeup]] of the county was 95.77% White, 1.10% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 2.14% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.8% were of [[Italian people|Italian]], 14.8% Irish, 10.6% English, 9.2% German and 6.3% French ancestry. 92.3% spoke English, 2.1% Spanish, 1.6% Italian and 1.2% French as their first language.

There were 71,551 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.60% under the age of 18, 5.70% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $56,273, and the median income for a family was $66,445 (these figures had risen to $67,591 and $81,752 respectively as of a 2007 estimate).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US09009&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US09%7C05000US09009&_street=&_county=litchfield&_cityTown=litchfield&_state=04000US09&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry=|title=American FactFinder - Community Facts|publisher=United States Census Bureau|website=factfinder.census.gov|access-date=June 29, 2018|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200211180617/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ACSSAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=05000US09009&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US09%7C05000US09009&_street=&_county=litchfield&_cityTown=litchfield&_state=04000US09&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=050&_submenuId=factsheet_1&ds_name=ACS_2007_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry=|archive-date=February 11, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> Males had a median income of $45,586 versus $31,870 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $28,408. About 2.70% of families and 4.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.30% of those under age 18 and 5.40% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 189,927&nbsp;people, 76,640&nbsp;households, and 51,530&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US09005
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=January 12, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032053/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US09005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|206.3|PD/sqmi}}. There were 87,550 housing units at an average density of {{convert|95.1|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US09005
  |access-date=January 12, 2016
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192930/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US09005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial makeup]] of the county was 93.9% white, 1.5% Asian, 1.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 1.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.5% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were [[Italians|Italian]], 21.3% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 14.8% were [[English people|English]], 14.5% were [[Germans|German]], 8.3% were [[Polish people|Polish]], and 3.3% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US09005
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 12, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213034758/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US09005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 76,640&nbsp;households, 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.7% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.8% were non-families, and 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97. The median age was 44.4 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $69,639 and the median income for a family was $84,890. Males had a median income of $57,362 versus $42,729 for females. The per capita income for the county was $35,848. About 3.6% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 6.9% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US09005
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=January 12, 2016
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033304/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US09005
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

===Demographic breakdown by town===

====Income====
{{See also|List of Connecticut locations by per capita income}}
Data is from the 2010 United States Census and the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212213253/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_10_5YR_DP03&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=November 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1&prodType=table |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190521214830/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=DEC_10_DP_DPDP1&prodType=table |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 21, 2019 |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=November 25, 2012 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign=bottom
! Rank
! Town
! 
! Per capita<br />income
! Median<br />household<br />income
! Median<br />family<br />income
! Population
! Number of<br />households
|-
| 1
| [[Roxbury, Connecticut|Roxbury]]
| Town
| $65,236
| $97,768
| $119,091
| 2,262
| 936
|-
| 2
| [[Bridgewater, Connecticut|Bridgewater]]
| Town
| $58,172
| $86,607
| $105,568
| 1,727
| 735
|-
| 3
| [[Washington, Connecticut|Washington]]
| Town
| $51,907
| $67,417
| $84,833
| 3,578
| 1,512
|-
| 4
| [[Kent, Connecticut|Kent]]
| Town
| $51,772
| $68,481
| $82,260
| 2,979
| 1,246
|-
| 5
| [[Cornwall, Connecticut|Cornwall]]
| Town
| $50,901
| $80,179
| $97,500
| 1,420
| 628
|-
| 6
| [[Warren, Connecticut|Warren]]
| Town
| $49,142
| $87,857
| $94,583
| 1,461
| 601
|-
| 7
| [[Salisbury, Connecticut|Salisbury]]
| Town
| $47,361
| $63,587
| $76,719
| 3,741
| 1,693
|-
| 8
| [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]]
| Town
| $44,060
| $80,595
| $100,500
| 9,975
| 4,214
|-
| 9
| [[Norfolk, Connecticut|Norfolk]]
| Town
| $43,866
| $85,526
| $98,098
| 1,709
| 720
|-
| 10
| [[Sharon, Connecticut|Sharon]]
| Town
| $43,317
| $70,104
| $74,313
| 2,782
| 1,250
|-
| 11
| [[New Hartford, Connecticut|New Hartford]]
| Town
| $41,709
| $80,718
| $90,172
| 6,970
| 2,632
|-
| 12
| [[Litchfield, Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| Town
| $41,649
| $78,750
| $100,833
| 8,466
| 3,459
|-
| 13
| [[Litchfield (borough), Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| Borough
| $40,635
| $68,125
| $81,875
| 1,258
| 548
|-
| 14
| [[Bethlehem, Connecticut|Bethlehem]]
| Town
| $39,704
| $82,899
| $86,792
| 3,607
| 1,411
|-
| 15
| [[Goshen, Connecticut|Goshen]]
| Town
| $39,562
| $76,705
| $86,114
| 2,976
| 1,192
|-
| 16
| [[Colebrook, Connecticut|Colebrook]]
| Town
| $39,324
| $72,000
| $85,833
| 1,485
| 589
|-
| 17
| [[New Milford, Connecticut|New Milford]]
| Town
| $38,893
| $84,824
| $100,574
| 28,142
| 10,618
|-
| 18
| [[Harwinton, Connecticut|Harwinton]]
| Town
| $37,902
| $85,253
| $92,083
| 5,642
| 2,170
|-
| 19
| [[Canaan, Connecticut|Canaan]]
| Town
| $37,283
| $54,219
| $77,500
| 1,234
| 583
|-
| 20
| [[Morris, Connecticut|Morris]]
| Town
| $36,682
| $81,583
| $97,381
| 2,388
| 958
|-
| 21
| [[Barkhamsted, Connecticut|Barkhamsted]]
| Town
| $34,775
| $87,656
| $107,804
| 3,799
| 1,452
|-
| 22
| [[Watertown, Connecticut|Watertown]]
| Town
| $34,158
| $77,771
| $93,194
| 22,514
| 8,672
|-
| 23
| [[Thomaston, Connecticut|Thomaston]]
| Town
| $31,652
| $63,990
| $77,842
| 7,887
| 3,108
|-
| 24
| [[Plymouth, Connecticut|Plymouth]]
| Town
| $30,081
| $71,630
| $82,438
| 12,243
| 4,803
|-
| 25
| [[Winchester, Connecticut|Winchester]]
| Town
| $27,264
| $57,958
| $68,622
| 11,242
| 4,815
|-
| 26
| [[North Canaan, Connecticut|North Canaan]]
| Town
| $26,700
| $46,417
| $52,604
| 3,315
| 1,400
|-
| 27
| [[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]]
| City
| $25,948
| $48,409
| $64,476
| 36,383
| 15,243
|-
| 28
| [[Winsted, Connecticut|Winsted]]
| City
| $25,291
| $61,404
| $68,406
| 7,712
| 3,346
|-
| 29
| [[Bantam, Connecticut|Bantam]]
| Borough
| $24,284
| $42,256
| $54,063
| 759
| 372
|}

====Race====
Data 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."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212212105/http://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?pid=ACS_11_5YR_DP05&prodType=table|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates 2007-2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=January 8, 2013}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- valign=bottom
! Rank
! Town
! 
! Population
! White
! Black
! Asian
! American<br />Indian
! Other
! Hispanic
|-
| 1
| [[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]]
| City
| 36,380
| 93.6%
| 3.5%
| 2.9%
| 1.1%
| 1.8%
| 6.8%
|-
| 2
| [[New Milford, Connecticut|New Milford]]
| Town
| 28,122
| 92.6%
| 3.9%
| 2.7%
| 0.6%
| 1.8%
| 5.2%
|-
| 3
| [[Watertown, Connecticut|Watertown]]
| Town
| 22,502
| 96.1%
| 1.6%
| 2.2%
| 0.6%
| 0.9%
| 2.5%
|-
| 4
| [[Plymouth, Connecticut|Plymouth]]
| Town
| 12,218
| 98.1%
| 1.1%
| 0.0%
| 1.4%
| 1.0%
| 3.6%
|-
| 5
| [[Winchester, Connecticut|Winchester]]
| Town
| 11,216
| 95.3%
| 1.3%
| 1.4%
| 0.8%
| 2.6%
| 9.9%
|-
| 6
| [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]]
| Town
| 9,928
| 97.9%
| 0.6%
| 1.8%
| 0.7%
| 0.3%
| 4.0%
|-
| 7
| [[Litchfield, Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| Town
| 8,484
| 97.6%
| 1.5%
| 1.2%
| 0.2%
| 0.7%
| 3.1%
|-
| 8
| [[Thomaston, Connecticut|Thomaston]]
| Town
| 7,862
| 98.0%
| 1.2%
| 0.9%
| 1.0%
| 0.7%
| 1.4%
|-
| 9
| [[Winsted, Connecticut|Winsted]]
| City
| 7,402
| 93.3%
| 1.5%
| 1.9%
| 1.3%
| 3.7%
| 13.2%
|-
| 10
| [[New Hartford, Connecticut|New Hartford]]
| Town
| 6,901
| 96.0%
| 0.6%
| 3.9%
| 0.0%
| 0.0%
| 0.7%
|-
| 11
| [[Harwinton, Connecticut|Harwinton]]
| Town
| 5,618
| 97.7%
| 0.0%
| 2.3%
| 0.5%
| 0.0%
| 0.0%
|-
| 12
| [[Barkhamsted, Connecticut|Barkhamsted]]
| Town
| 3,783
| 99.8%
| 0.4%
| 0.2%
| 0.0%
| 0.0%
| 0.3%
|-
| 13
| [[Salisbury, Connecticut|Salisbury]]
| Town
| 3,783
| 95.3%
| 2.6%
| 3.8%
| 1.3%
| 2.0%
| 2.2%
|-
| 14
| [[Bethlehem, Connecticut|Bethlehem]]
| Town
| 3,596
| 99.4%
| 0.1%
| 0.8%
| 0.2%
| 0.0%
| 0.9%
|-
| 15
| [[Washington, Connecticut|Washington]]
| Town
| 3,586
| 94.0%
| 2.9%
| 0.9%
| 0.2%
| 3.0%
| 9.6%
|-
| 16
| [[North Canaan, Connecticut|North Canaan]]
| Town
| 3,329
| 96.3%
| 1.4%
| 2.3%
| 0.0%
| 0.0%
| 2.2%
|-
| 17
| [[Kent, Connecticut|Kent]]
| Town
| 2,982
| 98.5%
| 0.3%
| 0.8%
| 0.7%
| 0.0%
| 0.3%
|-
| 18
| [[Goshen, Connecticut|Goshen]]
| Town
| 2,957
| 99.1%
| 0.1%
| 0.7%
| 0.4%
| 0.2%
| 5.5%
|-
| 19
| [[Sharon, Connecticut|Sharon]]
| Town
| 2,804
| 92.0%
| 0.4%
| 1.4%
| 0.3%
| 6.8%
| 8.5%
|-
| 20
| [[Morris, Connecticut|Morris]]
| Town
| 2,411
| 99.0%
| 1.0%
| 0.0%
| 0.0%
| 0.0%
| 0.4%
|-
| 21
| [[Roxbury, Connecticut|Roxbury]]
| Town
| 2,315
| 99.0%
| 0.0%
| 0.3%
| 1.3%
| 0.3%
| 5.3%
|-
| 22
| [[Bridgewater, Connecticut|Bridgewater]]
| Town
| 1,790
| 96.6%
| 1.7%
| 1.3%
| 0.3%
| 1.9%
| 6.2%
|-
| 23
| [[Norfolk, Connecticut|Norfolk]]
| Town
| 1,574
| 97.2%
| 0.7%
| 1.5%
| 2.1%
| 0.5%
| 2.2%
|-
| 24
| [[Warren, Connecticut|Warren]]
| Town
| 1,531
| 98.5%
| 0.0%
| 0.9%
| 0.3%
| 1.0%
| 3.0%
|-
| 25
| [[Cornwall, Connecticut|Cornwall]]
| Town
| 1,469
| 99.0%
| 0.5%
| 1.0%
| 0.0%
| 0.8%
| 2.2%
|-
| 26
| [[Litchfield (borough), Connecticut|Litchfield]]
| Borough
| 1,420
| 98.6%
| 0.0%
| 1.9%
| 0.0%
| 0.4%
| 4.2%
|-
| 27
| [[Colebrook, Connecticut|Colebrook]]
| Town
| 1,395
| 99.4%
| 0.5%
| 0.0%
| 0.8%
| 0.0%
| 0.6%
|-
| 28
| [[Canaan, Connecticut|Canaan]]
| Town
| 1,183
| 97.5%
| 1.6%
| 0.2%
| 0.2%
| 1.0%
| 2.8%
|-
| 29
| [[Bantam, Connecticut|Bantam]]
| Borough
| 731
| 96.0%
| 3.6%
| 1.5%
| 0.3%
| 2.2%
| 4.4%
|}

==Politics==
Litchfield County has voted for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] presidential candidates more often than the rest of the state. In 2004 Bush won 52% to Kerry's 46%, making Litchfield the only county in southern New England that Bush carried. Litchfield was one of two Connecticut counties won by [[George H. W. Bush]] in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?f=0&year=2004&fips=9|title=David Leip's election Atlas|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref> But in 2008, no county in Connecticut, including Litchfield, was won by Republican candidate [[John McCain]]. The county also went for the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] presidential candidate in 1964, 1996, and 2000. In 2012 it was the only county won by [[Mitt Romney]] in the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?f=0&year=2012&fips=9|title=David Leip's election Atlas|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref> In 2016, 2020 and 2024, [[Donald Trump]] won the county, with his 2024 campaign receiving the highest raw number (but not percentage) of votes for a Republican candidate in the county's history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ctmirror.org/2016/11/10/election-autopsy-trump-expands-map-gop-gains-in-legislature/|title=CT election autopsy: Trump expands map|date=November 10, 2016}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Litchfield County, Connecticut|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=May 26, 2017}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|56,452|47,940|1,577|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|55,601|50,164|1,779|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|53,051|39,775|4,616|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|47,201|43,856|1,370|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|46,173|51,041|1,752|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|50,160|44,647|1,861|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|39,172|41,806|6,360|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|31,645|37,375|12,378|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|34,492|33,686|25,035|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|44,637|34,227|893|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|52,583|26,564|269|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|38,725|26,705|10,924|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|40,705|32,419|459|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|43,478|27,929|812|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|31,429|29,340|3,611|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|20,834|40,172|62|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|34,043|29,062|3|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|40,029|17,226|0|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|35,735|20,163|107|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|26,848|18,628|823|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|24,019|19,212|248|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|22,956|19,537|49|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|18,850|17,468|875|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|18,682|13,469|660|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|19,157|10,766|138|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|15,499|6,645|3,120|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|14,405|6,938|504|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|7,288|6,183|280|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|5,518|4,661|2,959|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|8,978|4,128|454|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|8,797|4,500|332|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|8,534|4,554|218|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|10,081|5,771|583|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|7,716|7,998|633|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|7,726|7,582|603|Connecticut}}
{{PresRow|1884|Republican|7,405|6,601|572|Connecticut}}
|}

==Transportation==
Litchfield is served by the [[Northwestern Connecticut Transit District]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nwcttransit.com/|title=Home - Northwestern CT Transit District, Torrington CT|website=Northwestern CT Transit District, Torrington CT}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpublications/gettingonboard_northwest.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/dpublications/gettingonboard_northwest.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=dead |title=Getting on board |website=www.ct.gov |access-date=May 15, 2019}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Map of Litchfield County Connecticut With Municipal Labels.PNG|thumb|250px|right|Map of Litchfield County, Connecticut showing cities, boroughs, towns, CDPs, and Indian Reservations]]
[[File:Greater Torrington.jpg|thumb|Map highlighting the Greater Torrington [[Micropolitan statistical area|Micropolitan Area]]]]

[[Borough (Connecticut)|Boroughs]] are incorporated portions of one or more towns with separate borough councils, zoning boards, and borough officials. Villages are named localities, but have no separate corporate existence from the towns they are in.

===City===
*[[Torrington, Connecticut|Torrington]]

===Towns===

* [[Barkhamsted, Connecticut|Barkhamsted]]
** [[Pleasant Valley, Connecticut|Pleasant Valley]]
** [[Riverton, Connecticut|Riverton]]
* [[Bethlehem, Connecticut|Bethlehem]]
** [[Bethlehem Village, Connecticut|Bethlehem Village]]
* [[Bridgewater, Connecticut|Bridgewater]]
** [[Bridgewater (CDP), Connecticut|Bridgewater CDP]]
* [[Canaan, Connecticut|Canaan]]
** [[Canaan (village), Connecticut|Canaan CDP]]
** [[Falls Village, Connecticut|Falls Village]]
* [[Colebrook, Connecticut|Colebrook]]
* [[Cornwall, Connecticut|Cornwall]]
** [[Cornwall (CDP), Connecticut|Cornwall]]
** [[Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut|Cornwall Bridge]]
** [[West Cornwall, Connecticut|West Cornwall]]
* [[Goshen, Connecticut|Goshen]]
** [[West Goshen Historic District|West Goshen]]
* [[Harwinton, Connecticut|Harwinton]]
** [[Northwest Harwinton, Connecticut|Northwest Harwinton]]
* [[Kent, Connecticut|Kent]]
** [[Flanders Historic District|Flanders]]
** [[South Kent, Connecticut|South Kent]]
* [[Litchfield, Connecticut|Litchfield]]
** [[Bantam, Connecticut|Bantam]]
** [[East Litchfield Village, Connecticut|East Litchfield]]
** [[Northfield, Connecticut|Northfield]]
* [[Morris, Connecticut|Morris]]
* [[New Hartford, Connecticut|New Hartford]]
** [[New Hartford Center, Connecticut|New Hartford Center]]
** [[Pine Meadow Historic District|Pine Meadow]]
* [[New Milford, Connecticut|New Milford]]
** [[Chimney Point, Connecticut|Chimney Point]]
** [[New Milford (CDP), Connecticut|Downtown New Milford]] 
** [[Erickson Corner, Connecticut|Erickson Corner]]
** [[Gaylordsville, Connecticut|Gaylordsville]]
** [[Merryall, Connecticut|Merryall]]
** [[New Milford (CDP), Connecticut|New Milford CDP]]
** [[Northville, Connecticut|Northville]]
* [[Norfolk, Connecticut|Norfolk]]
** [[Norfolk (CDP), Connecticut|Norfolk CDP]]
* [[North Canaan, Connecticut|North Canaan]]
* [[Plymouth, Connecticut|Plymouth]]
** [[East Plymouth Historic District|East Plymouth]]
** [[Terryville, Connecticut|Terryville]]
* [[Roxbury, Connecticut|Roxbury]]
* [[Salisbury, Connecticut|Salisbury]]
** [[Lakeville, Connecticut|Lakeville]]
** [[Lime Rock, Connecticut|Lime Rock]]
* [[Sharon, Connecticut|Sharon]]
** [[Sharon (CDP), Connecticut|Sharon CDP]]
** [[Sharon Valley Historic District|Sharon Valley]]
* [[Thomaston, Connecticut|Thomaston]]
** [[Thomaston (CDP), Connecticut|Thomaston CDP]]
* [[Warren, Connecticut|Warren]]
* [[Washington, Connecticut|Washington]]
** [[New Preston, Connecticut|New Preston]]
* [[Watertown, Connecticut|Watertown]]
** [[Watertown (CDP), Connecticut|Watertown CDP]]
** [[Oakville, Connecticut|Oakville]]
* [[Winchester, Connecticut|Winchester]]
** [[Winsted, Connecticut|Winsted]]
* [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]]
** [[Hotchkissville Historic District|Hotchkissville]]
** [[Woodbury Center, Connecticut|Woodbury Center]]

===Telephone area codes===
All areas of the county are in [[area code 860]] except for the towns of [[Woodbury, Connecticut|Woodbury]], [[Bethlehem, Connecticut|Bethlehem]] and a small part of [[Roxbury, Connecticut|Roxbury]], which are in the [[area code 203]]/[[area code 475]] overlay. The geographical Woodbury Telephone Exchange (of the now defunct [[Woodbury Telephone|Woodbury Telephone Company]]) serves the two towns as well as the town of [[Southbury, Connecticut|Southbury]], which is in [[New Haven County]] and the small part of Roxbury. Ten digit dialing took effect for both area codes on November 14, 2009, as a result of the [[area code 203|203]]/[[area code 475|475]] overlay and the planned but not implemented [[area code 860|860]]/[[area code 959|959]] overlay.

==Attractions==
* [[Abbey of Regina Laudis]]
* [[Appalachian Trail#Connecticut|Appalachian Trail in Connecticut]]
* [[Kent Falls State Park]]
* [[Litchfield Historic District]]
* [[Mohawk Mountain Ski Area]]
* [[West Cornwall Covered Bridge]]

==Education==
School districts in the county follow municipal boundaries.<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st09_ct/schooldistrict_maps/c09005_litchfield/DC20SD_C09005.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st09_ct/schooldistrict_maps/c09005_litchfield/DC20SD_C09005.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Litchfield County, CT|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=July 22, 2022}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st09_ct/schooldistrict_maps/c09005_litchfield/DC20SD_C09005_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

===Full K-12 Districts===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Litchfield School District]]
* [[New Milford School District (Connecticut)|New Milford School District]]
* [[Plymouth School District]]
* [[Regional School District 06]]
* [[Regional School District 10]]
* [[Regional School District 12 (Connecticut)|Regional School District 12]]
* [[Regional School District 14]]
* [[Thomaston School District]]
* [[Torrington School District]]
* [[Watertown School District]]
* [[Winchester School District]]
{{div col end}}

===Secondary-school Districts===
* [[Regional High School District 01]]
* [[Regional High School District 07]]
(There is also a ''privately-endowed'' publicly funded secondary school, [[Gilbert School]])

===Elementary-school Districts===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Barkhamsted School District]]
* [[Canaan School District]]
* [[Colebrook School District]]
* [[Cornwall School District]]
* [[Kent School District (Connecticut)|Kent School District]]
* [[New Hartford School District]]
* [[Norfolk School District]]
* [[North Canaan School District]]
* [[Salisbury School District]]
* [[Sharon School District]]
{{div col end}}

===Private Schools===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Litchfield County, CT Private Schools |url=http://www.usa.com/litchfield-county-ct-private-schools.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919220412/http://www.usa.com/litchfield-county-ct-private-schools.htm |archive-date=2024-09-19 |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=www.usa.com}}</ref>

Litchfield County is home to a number of historic college-preparatory ''boarding schools'', among which are:
* [[Canterbury School (Connecticut)|Canterbury School]] (1915), New Milford
* [[Forman School]] (1930), Litchfield
* [[The Frederick Gunn School|The Gunnery]] (1850), Washington
* [[Hotchkiss School]] (1892), Lakeville
* [[Kent School]] (1906), Kent
* [[Marvelwood School]] (1956), Kent
* [[Salisbury School]] (1901), Salisbury
* [[South Kent School]] (1923), Kent
* [[Taft School]] (1890), Watertown
* [[The Woodhall School]] (1983), Bethlehem

Several schools provide boarding facilities for younger students with educational challenges:
* [[Devereux Glenholme School|Glenholme School]] (1968), Washington; ages 10–21
* [[Indian Mountain School]] (1916), Lakeville; ages 10–15
* [[Rumsey Hall School]] (1900), Washington; ages 10–15

Private day schools:
* Arch Bridge School (3-12), Bethlehem
* Faith Preparatory School (K-12), New Milford
* Litchfield Montessori School (K-8), Northfield
* St. Anthony School (K-8), Winstead
* St. John Evangelist School (K-8), Watertown
* St. Mary Magdalen School (K-8), Oakville
* St. Peter/St. Francis School (K-8), Torrington
* Torrington Christian Academy (K-12), Torrington
* Touchstone School (9-11), Litchfield
* Washington Montessori School (K-8), New Preston

==See also==
{{Portal|Connecticut}}
* [[Kent Hollow, Connecticut]]
* [[Litchfield Hills]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Litchfield County, Connecticut]]
* [[Torrington Titans]] Litchfield County's summer collegiate baseball team who play at [[Fuessenich Park]] in downtown Torrington.
* [[Wildcat Hollow, Connecticut]]

==Further reading==

* Henry W. Riecken, Jr., Nathan L. Whetten. 1948. ''Rural Social Organization in Litchfield County, Connecticut''. Storrs.

==References==
{{Commons category-inline|Litchfield County, Connecticut}}
{{reflist}}

{{Geographic Location
 | Centre    = Litchfield County, Connecticut
 | North     = [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts]]
 | Northeast = [[Hampden County, Massachusetts]]
 | East      = [[Hartford County, Connecticut|Hartford County]]
 | Southeast = [[New Haven County, Connecticut|New Haven County]]
 | South     = [[Fairfield County, Connecticut|Fairfield County]]
 | Southwest = 
 | West      = [[Dutchess County, New York]]
 | Northwest = [[Columbia County, New York]]
}} 
{{Litchfield County, Connecticut}}
{{Connecticut}}
{{New York metropolitan area}}{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Litchfield County, Connecticut| ]]
[[Category:1751 establishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:1960 disestablishments in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Counties in the New York metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1751]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Connecticut]]