Prior to settlement by colonists, Harwinton sat at the confluence of various tribal territories, notably that of the Tunxis tribe.[3] The Connecticut Colony granted and split the area of modern-day Harwinton to the townships of Hartford and Windsor in May 1729. The area was first settled in January 1730 by Daniel Messenger. Townships were formally established in the following years in the Hartford and Windsor allotments.
Harwinton was incorporated as an independent town in October 1737.[4][5] The name of the town alludes to Hartford and Windsor, Connecticut (HAR + WIN) followed by the suffix -ton, meaning town.[6]
Geography
Harwinton is in eastern Litchfield County; it is bordered to the northwest by the city of Torrington and to the east by Burlington in Hartford County. Hartford, the state capital, is 23 miles (37 km) to the east, and Bristol is 11 miles (18 km) to the southeast.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Harwinton has a total area of 31.2 square miles (80.7 km2), of which 30.8 square miles (79.8 km2) are land and 0.35 square miles (0.9 km2) of it, or 1.12%, are water.[7] The town is bordered to the west by the Naugatuck River. The southeastern portion of the town contains the Roraback Wildlife Area and several reservoirs.
Per the 2020 United States Census,[9] there were 5,484 people and 1,641 family households living in the town. The population density was 178 inhabitants per square mile (68.7/km2). There were 2,313 housing units at an average density of 74.1 per square mile (28.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.0% White, 0.67% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 5.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.14% of the population.
There were 2,179 occupied households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.7% were non-families. 20.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 people.
In the town, the population distribution was 20.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 18.7% from 25 to 44, 31.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.7 years. The population was 50.3% male and 49.7% female.
