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History · Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake’s post office opened in 1889, and 18% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1892 on.

1889first post office
0on the National Register
18%homes built before 1940
Add an old photoShare a memory
Photo: Elipongo · Public domain
Quick answers

How Crystal Lake began

When was Crystal Lake founded?

1889

The Crystal Lake post office opened in 1889, the earliest record of the town by name.

2020 census: 2,152137 years
Founding year: the first Crystal Lake post office (Blevins & Helbock, CC0).

What stands out about Crystal Lake’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Crystal Lake are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.On the map since 18927 editions of the USGS map, 1892 to 1984. Watch Crystal Lake change.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Crystal Lake’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Crystal Lake’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
On the map

Crystal Lake on the map, 1892 to 1984

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Crystal Lake. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Crystal Lake on the 1892 USGS mapCrystal Lake on the 1921 USGS mapCrystal Lake on the 1946 USGS mapCrystal Lake on the 1953 USGS mapCrystal Lake on the 1967 USGS mapCrystal Lake on the 1972 USGS mapCrystal Lake on the 1984 USGS map1892Tolland sheet · 1:62,500

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Crystal Lake.

The story so far

Crystal Lake, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Crystal Lake yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Crystal Lake is a village, census-designated place, and part of the town of Ellington, in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2020 census, Crystal Lake had a population of 2,152. The CDP includes an eponymous lake.

Its first post office opened in 1889. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew from 1,945 to 2,152 (+11%).

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

Crystal Lake, decade by decade

Today6 recent
CT Route 1402024CT Route 140Little Free Library2023Little Free LibraryEllington Depot General Store2023Ellington Depot General StoreCrystal Lake School2023Crystal Lake SchoolCommunity United Methodist Church2023Community United Methodist ChurchSandy Beach, Crystal Lake, Ellington Connecticut USA2007Sandy Beach, Crystal Lake, Ellington Connecticut USA
Famous people

Famous people close to Crystal Lake

Nobody well known was born in Crystal Lake itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Jonathan EdwardsChristian preacher, philosopher, and theologian · b. 1703
Meghann FahyAmerican actress · b. 1990
Nathaniel LyonFirst Union general to be killed in the America… · b. 1818
Sereno WatsonAmerican botanist · b. 1826
Victoria AveyardAmerican writer of young adult and fantasy fict… · b. 1990
Chris ClarkAmerican ice hockey player · b. 1976
Stories next door

History across the town line

Each neighbor’s History grade, on the same three inputs.

Ellington2 historic placesBWillington2 historic placesAStafford2 historic placesATolland3 historic placesB+Stafford Springs1 historic placenot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townSomers2 historic placesA−

Questions about Crystal Lake’s history

What year was Crystal Lake founded?

The Crystal Lake post office opened in 1889, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From Wikimedia Commons (6) and U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.