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A+History
History · Wethersfield

Wethersfield dates to 1632, and 20% of its homes were built before 1940

More historic than 97% of U.S. towns · #11 of 155 in Connecticut. What drives it

5 places in town are on the National Register, among them 3 National Historic Landmarks and two historic districts with 1,207 buildings between them. Below: 9 old photos and papers, maps from 1893 on, and the census since 1820.

1632founded
5on the National Register
20%homes built before 1940
9old photos & papers
18famous people
Add an old photoShare a memory
From Wethersfield’s archive · credits on each photo
Quick answers

How Wethersfield began

When was Wethersfield founded?

1632

Wethersfield dates its founding to 1632 (Wikidata). The census first counted it in 1820.

First census: 3,825 in 1820394 years

How historic is Wethersfield?

A+

More historic than 97% of U.S. towns, on its age, its old homes and the National Register.

What drives the grade ↓
Founding year: Wikidata. First post office: 1794.The full story ↓
History grade

What drives Wethersfield’s History grade

On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Wethersfield is more historic than 97% of U.S. towns, #11 of 155 in Connecticut. All 3 inputs are above most U.S. towns; its age ranks highest and its share of homes from before 1940 lowest.

A+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Wethersfield’s overall grade.
Founding era1632, from Wikidata: founded before 1776, an older era than 96% of U.S. townsA+Homes built before 194019.9% of homes (±2.8) · typical CT town 15.1% · U.S. 8.4%B+National Register5 listings, 1,210 historic buildings, 444 per 10,000 residents · typical CT town 73.3 · U.S. 2.4A+
All U.S. towns we grade (21,289)Ahead of 97%
NewerOlder
Connecticut towns of 2,500+ (155)Ahead of 94%

Connecticut towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Connecticut town has 73.3 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Wethersfield’s 444 sits above most of its state (93% of Connecticut towns have fewer) while its 1,210 historic buildings outnumber those of 99% of U.S. towns.

NoteThe founding year comes from Wikidata alone; no second source gives 1632.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from A to A+. The pre-1940 share (±2.8 points) is firm at this size.

Founding year: Wikidata (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →

What stands out about Wethersfield’s past

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

A historic districtThe Old Wethersfield Historic District takes in 1,200 historic buildings.Older than the countryEstablished in 1632, 144 years before the Declaration of Independence.Shrank, then grewLost a third of its people between 1820 and 1880, then grew more than tenfold.On the map since 18937 editions of the USGS map, 1893 to 1992. Watch Wethersfield change.
★ What stands out · On the National Register

5 listings protect 1,210 historic buildings

The country’s official list of buildings and places worth saving. 3 are National Historic Landmarks, the highest tier.

places listed
5
National Historic Landmarks
3
Joseph Webb House
historic buildings protected
1,210
each building in a district counts
first listed
1966
Joseph Webb House
Old Wethersfield Historic DistrictCedar Hill CemeteryJoseph Webb House★Buttolph-Williams House★Silas Deane House★
BuildingsDistricts★ landmark

Architectural styles listings

Georgian1
Federal1
Colonial1
Gothic Revival1
Queen Anne1
Modern Movement1
★ Landmark
Joseph Webb HouseGeorgian
★ Landmark
Buttolph-Williams HouseBuilding
★ Landmark
Silas Deane HouseBuilding
Old Wethersfield Historic DistrictFederal
Cedar Hill CemeteryGothic Revival

National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, credited on each place’s page.

Timeline

Wethersfield, 1632 to 1972

Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.

  1. 17th century
  2. 1632
    FoundingWethersfield is established
  3. 18th century
  4. 1794Post officeThe Wethersfield post office opens
  5. 19th century
  6. 1803Born hereJames Curtiss is born here
  7. 1811Born hereCharles Wright is born here
  8. 1863Born hereCharles McLean Andrews is born here
  9. 1869In the archiveAtlas of Hartford and Tolland counties - with a map of Connecticut, from actual surveys
  10. 1873Post officeThe South Wethersfield post office opens
  11. 1890In the archiveThe Henry Deming house, built in 1790, Main Street
  12. 1893On the mapFirst mapped by the U.S. Geological Survey
  13. 20th century
  14. 1901In the archiveMain Street, Wethersfield, with streetcar - postcard
  15. 1911In the archiveMain Street with Trinity Church, Wethersfield - 1911 postcard
  16. 1923Post officeThe Wethersfield post office closes
  17. 1932Post officeThe South Wethersfield post office closes
  18. 1936In the archiveConnecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks
  19. 1942Born hereBetsey Johnson is born here
  20. 1962LandmarkJoseph Webb House named a National Historic Landmark
  21. 1968LandmarkButtolph-Williams House named a National Historic Landmark
  22. 1972LandmarkSilas Deane House named a National Historic Landmark
People over time

Wethersfield, census by census

05,00010,00015,00020,00025,00030,00018501900195020003,825 in 1820Low: 2,173

Lost a third of its people between 1820 and 1880, then grew more than tenfold.

20 censuses, 1820–2020.

U.S. Census Bureau decennial counts, from the census table on Wethersfield’s Wikipedia page.

The story

How Wethersfield came to be

From Wikipedia’s history of Wethersfield.

Read it all →

Founded in 1634 by a Puritan settlement party of "10 Men", including John Oldham, Robert Seeley, Thomas Topping, and Nathaniel Foote, Wethersfield is arguably the oldest town in Connecticut, depending on the interpretation of when a remote settlement qualifies as a "town". Along with Windsor and Hartford, Wethersfield is represented by one of the three grapevines on the Flag of Connecticut, signifying the state's three oldest English settlements. The town was named by colonists for Wethersfield, a village in the English county of Essex. The town was previously called "Watertown", named after Watertown, Massachusetts, until February 21, 1637, when it was incorporated as a town along with Windsor and Hartford. The town established the Old Wethersfield Village Cemetery as its first burying ground on Hungry Hill in 1638.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

From the old history books

What they wrote about Wethersfield in 1900

Passages that mention Wethersfield, cut from the printed page as they were published.

Schools and Districts of Old or First Parish of Wethersfield.— At a Town Meeting in Wethersfield, March 2d, 1723-4, it was voted that the “northern inhabitants of the First Society in said Town” might erect a small school house, “somewhere near the northwest end of Standishes Lane, so as not to pre…
The history of ancient Wethersfield1900 · page 361Read the page →
Read the text

Schools and Districts of Old or First Parish of Wethersfield.— At a Town Meeting in Wethersfield, March 2d, 1723-4, it was voted that the “northern inhabitants of the First Society in said Town” might erect a small school house, “somewhere near the northwest end of Standishes Lane, so as not to prejudice the highway thereby.” Thus it is seen that the Town, even in the First, or Old Society, directed in the matter of the schools. As School Districts were unknown, the new school house should be considered as a branch of the school house of

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
the lines as they now exist, except that the north district extended up to the north line of Stepney parish, and the north line of the west district was on the old parish line at that end of the parish. That part of the north district now in the town of Wethersfield, except the first house north of…
The history of ancient Wethersfield1900 · page 875Read the page →
Read the text

the lines as they now exist, except that the north district extended up to the north line of Stepney parish, and the north line of the west district was on the old parish line at that end of the parish. That part of the north district now in the town of Wethersfield, except the first house north of the bridge, was at a later day set off to Harris Hill district of Wethersfield, and about 1860 the district line was brought to the town line and the north line of the west district was extended in 1850 north to coincide with the line between the towns. At this period

Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.

Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.

By decade

Wethersfield, decade by decade

5 decades in the archive, from the 1860s to the 1930s. Scroll each row; tap a photo for its story.

1860s–1900s6 items
Atlas of Hartford and Tolland counties - with a map of Connecticut, from actual surveys1869Atlas of Hartford and Tolland counties - with a map o…MapAtlas of Hartford and Tolland counties - with a map of Connecticut, from actual surveys1869Atlas of Hartford and Tolland counties - with a map o…MapAtlas of Hartford and Tolland counties - with a map of Connecticut, from actual surveys1869Atlas of Hartford and Tolland counties - with a map o…MapThe Henry Deming house, built in 1790, Main Street1890The Henry Deming house, built in 1790, Main StreetMain Street, Wethersfield, with streetcar - postcard1901–1907Main Street, Wethersfield, with streetcar - postcardPostcardWilliam Francis Joseph Boardman1901William Francis Joseph Boardman
1910s–1930s3 items
Main Street with Trinity Church, Wethersfield - 1911 postcardc. 1911Main Street with Trinity Church, Wethersfield - 1911 …PostcardConnecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks1936Connecticut - Norwalk through Windsor LocksConnecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks1936Connecticut - Norwalk through Windsor Locks
1940s–1990snothing yet
Nothing in the archives for these yearsWeddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.
Add from your album
Today19 recent
Chip's Restaurant2014Chip's RestaurantSilas W. Robbins House (1873), Old Wethersfield Historic District, Connecticut2012Silas W. Robbins House (1873), Old Wethersfield Histo…Isaac Stevens House2011Isaac Stevens HouseGriswoldville Chapel2011Griswoldville ChapelWethersfield Country Club golf course2011Wethersfield Country Club golf courseWethersfield Country Club golf course2011Wethersfield Country Club golf courseWethersfield Country Club golf course2011Wethersfield Country Club golf courseWethersfield High School Main Entrance2011Wethersfield High School Main EntranceWethersfield Country Club golf course2011Wethersfield Country Club golf courseWethersfield Country Club golf course2011Wethersfield Country Club golf courseWethersfield Country Club golf course2011Wethersfield Country Club golf courseIsaac Stevens House2011Isaac Stevens HouseIsaac Stevens House2011Isaac Stevens HouseColin McDonald2011Colin McDonaldWethersfield CT lg2010Wethersfield CT lgSargt. John Lattimer House2009Sargt. John Lattimer HouseMasonic Hall2009Masonic HallKeeney Memorial2009Keeney MemorialRoger Butler House2007Roger Butler House
On the map

Wethersfield on the map, 1893 to 1992

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

Wethersfield on the 1893 USGS mapWethersfield on the 1944 USGS mapWethersfield on the 1952 USGS mapWethersfield on the 1964 USGS mapWethersfield on the 1972 USGS mapWethersfield on the 1984 USGS mapWethersfield on the 1992 USGS map1893Middletown 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 Wethersfield.

Then & now

Stand where they stood

No then-and-now pairs yet. Take a photo from the same spot as an old one and they appear here side by side.

The Henry Deming house, built in 1790, Main Street
Retake this viewThe Henry Deming house, built in 1790, Main Street, 1890

Find the spot, match the angle, and add your photo. It becomes the first then-and-now pair on Wethersfield’s page.

Retake this view · +15
Famous people

18 famous people were born in Wethersfield

Writers, athletes, leaders and more, ranked by how widely they’re known.

See all →
Betsey JohnsonAmerican fashion designer · b. 1942
Charles McLean AndrewsAmerican historian · b. 1863
Charles WrightAmerican botanist · b. 1811
James CurtissAmerican mayor and newspaper publisher · b. 1803
Stephen Mix MitchellAmerican politician · b. 1743
Asher RobbinsAmerican politician · b. 1761
Places that used to be

Lost post offices, old corners and burying grounds

Wethersfield had its own post office from 1794 to 1923. Another post office, South Wethersfield, opened and closed inside today’s town.

Wethersfield
1794–1923
South Wethersfield
1873–1932
17901910today
Hamlets and corners on the map
GriswoldvilleSouth Wethersfield
3cemeteries and burying grounds inside Wethersfield
Cedar HillEmanuelVillage

US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).

Help out

Finish Wethersfield’s story

Most archives stop around 1920. The photos from after that are in family albums, not libraries.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
3 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
Retake an old viewThe Henry Deming house, built in 1790, …: stand where they stood+15Share a family photoSign in to add one+10
Stories next door

History across the town line

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

Rocky Hill5 historic placesB+Newington8 historic placesBGlastonbury12 historic placesA−Hartford146 historic placesA+Glastonbury Center6 historic placesnot graded: under 1,000 residents or part of its townEast Hartford8 historic placesA−

Questions about Wethersfield’s history

What year was Wethersfield founded?

In 1632, according to Wikidata. Wethersfield’s post office opened in 1794, and the census of 1820 counted 3,825 people here.

How does Wethersfield rank for history?

Wethersfield is more historic than 97% of U.S. towns, #11 of 155 in Connecticut. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.

What is on the National Register in Wethersfield?

5 listings, 3 of them National Historic Landmarks: 3 buildings, among them the Joseph Webb House (a National Historic Landmark since 1962), and 2 historic districts, the Old Wethersfield Historic District and the Cedar Hill Cemetery, with 1,207 contributing buildings. 1,210 historic buildings in all.

How old are the homes in Wethersfield?

20% of Wethersfield’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±2.8 points), against a typical 15% for a Connecticut town; the median home was built in 1960.

Memory lane

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

Town Square →
Start a conversation
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).

From Wikimedia Commons (22), the Library of Congress (6), the National Register of Historic Places (5), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.