About the Mansfield, Connecticut Area 

The town of Mansfield/Storrs, with its growing population of approximately 25,720, serves as the cultural hub for this region, with its numerous theater, music, and museum programs. Here you can delight in the area’s beauty and historic traditions. Enjoy the wealth of arts, heritage, culture, sports, entertainment and first-rate schools, in a scenic countryside setting, within easy access of all the amenities of the major metropolitan areas of Boston, New York City and Hartford. What a fantastic place to live, work and play! 

Location and Geography 

The Town of Mansfield is located in eastern Tolland County, and is considered part of the greater Hartford metro area. The County is situated in east central Connecticut, in the eastern United States. Storrs is a village in the town of Mansfield, and surrounding towns include Ashford, Chaplin, Coventry, Tolland, Willington and Windham. Tolland County is bordered by Hartford County to the west, New London County to the south, Windham County to the east, and the state of Massachusetts to the north.
With a total area of 45.5 square miles, Mansfield covers 44.5 square miles of land and 1 square mile of water. The town sits at an approximate elevation of 460 feet, on the Willimantic River. The local terrain includes wooded uplands, cut by the valleys of the Willimantic, Fenton, and Mt. Hope Rivers. Mansfield Hollow Lake is a large reservoir formed by the Mansfield Hollow Dam. To the west of Mansfield flows the 407-mile long Connecticut River, New England's longest river, which empties into Long Island Sound. Connecticut’s shoreline and sandy beaches are a short drive south, and to the north are some of New England’s highest mountains, perfect for skiing and hiking. 

Storrs/Mansfield is located approximately 19 miles northeast of Hartford, CT, 27 miles southeast of Springfield, MA, 72 miles southwest of Boston, MA, and 117 miles northeast of New York, NY.  

History/Interesting Facts/Historic Buildings and Places 

Mansfield was incorporated in October 1702, from Windham. The town was acquired from the Mohegan Indian tribe, and settled primarily by farmers. In the early days there were sawmills and gristmills, powered by the rivers. In the nineteenth century textiles were the main industry, but steel products, bells, bronze cannons, gunpowder, and organ pipes were also manufactured here. The very first silk mill in the nation was built in Mansfield in 1810, and for several years, Mansfield was number one in the nation in silk production.  

The Storrs Agricultural School was established in 1881 and went on to become the University of Connecticut. The University has a local student population of close to 17,000, and has been rated as the number one public research university in New England, and among the top 25 in the nation. 

Some well-known residents of Mansfield/ Storrs have included: Rivers Cuomo, singer/guitarist; Peter Tork, musician; Wally Lamb, author; and Wendy O. Williams, singer. Abigail Williams, a young girl who accused residents of Salem, Massachusetts of being witches, died in Mansfield. Wilbur Lucius Cross, a literary critic and the Democratic Governor of Connecticut, was born in town, as was Charles Emory Smith, postmaster general in the cabinet of Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. The rather notorious playwright, actor and producer Willard Mack owned a large estate on the northeastern edge of town, where he allowed his friends and associates to board and breed their thoroughbreds. The legendary boxer, Jack Dempsey, made continual use of these facilities and the famous Arabian stallion "Broomstick", resided on the property.  

Mansfield has several historic landmarks, such as the Gurleyville Gristmill, which dates back to 1835 and is the only one of its kind in Connecticut. Located on the Fenton River, this stone gristmill is fully intact with the original equipment. The area is also home to the Mansfield Drive-In Theater, and Lucky Strike Lanes, which are among the last of their kind in the nation. Also on the National Register of Historic Places are: Farwell Barn, Mansfield Center Cemetery, Mansfield Center Historic District, Mansfield Hollow Historic District, Mansfield Training School and Hospital, and University of Connecticut Historic District. 

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Storrs was named by Slate magazine as "America's Best Place to Avoid Death Due to Natural Disaster." 

Jobs 

The economy of the Mansfield/Storrs area is dominated by the presence of the main campus of the University of Connecticut. The university is one of the largest employers in eastern Connecticut. Renowned as “the insurance capital of the world,” Greater Hartford is home to many of the world’s largest insurance companies, as well as the headquarters for several Fortune 500 companies. Other dominant industries in the region include aerospace and information technology, precision machining, health care and medical device. 

Educational, health and social services provide 46.4% of the employment in the town, and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services provide12.8%. The unemployment rate is a low 4.9% and the average commute time to work is 21 minutes. The median household income is $$66,943 and the average per capita income is $27,043.

Housing

You can find a wide range of homes in the Mansfield/Storrs area, both old and new. There are condominiums, single-family residences, adult living and retirement communities, waterfront, equine and country properties, vacation homes, and farms. There are Colonial styles in upscale subdivisions, condos in beautiful cape style, chalet or ranch style. There are elegant homes on large estates with ponds and large trees, often surrounded by farmland or protected land. Most homes are within walking distance of UConn, many located on stunning hillside sites. Whatever your taste or price range, there is a home here for you. 

Parks and Recreation 

Mansfield residents have a good amount of protected open spaces to enjoy, where they can choose anything from an easy-going stroll to a formidable hike. These areas include 1,700-acre Mansfield Hollow State Park with its lake and trails, as well as eight town parks and preserves. Joshua's Conservation and Historic Trust protects 500 acres in Mansfield, and the University of Connecticut maintains hundreds of acres of agricultural lands and forestlands. Nipmuck Trail is a 37-mile long trail connecting Mansfield Hollow State Park to the Nipmuck State Forest in Union, CT. Albert E. Moss Forest is a stunning wildlife and wildflower sanctuary, which also serves as an outdoor classroom for the university students.  

There is a first-rate Community Center in Mansfield, which boasts a lap swimming pool and therapy pool, a gymnasium and basketball court, a fitness center and a dance/aerobics room. Mansfield Parks and Recreation Department provides a full range of recreational programs for all ages, from preschoolers and teens to seniors. For something novel, you can experience balloon rides at View Point Balloons in nearby Coventry, taking in the stunning views of the rivers, fields, towns, and woodlands of Central and Eastern Connecticut. 

The University of Connecticut has an outstanding $28 million Sports Center Complex. The 39,000-square foot Wolff-Zackin Natatorium is one of the finest swimming facilities in the East. The 171,000-square foot Harry A. Gampel Pavilion is home to Connecticut's men's and women's basketball programs, and the Joseph J. Morrone Stadium is one of the finest college facilities in the nation. The George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex provides the UConn field hockey program one of the finest on-campus collegiate facilities in the nation. The Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum is home for the University of Connecticut men's and women’s ice hockey teams, and their baseball team plays its home games at J.O. Christian Field, one of the finest collegiate baseball facilities in the region. 

For avid golfers, there is a range of courses to suit all skill levels. Storrs is home to Villa Hills, a 9-hole golf course, and the Willimantic Country club is an 18-hole semi-private course with tree-lined fairways in nearby Willimantic. The Skungamaug River Golf Course in Coventry offers a challenging course situated on gently rolling terrain, with narrow fairways and small, well undulated greens. Twin Hills Country Club, also in Coventry, is well maintained, with tree-lined fairways and scenic, rolling terrain. 

Special Attractions 

There are a host of special events to enjoy every month of the year in Mansfield/Storrs. At the Buchanan Auditorium you can enjoy a program on Bluegrass Music held by the Connecticut Bluegrass Music Association. At the same venue, delight in humorous adaptations of classic tales by the Pumpernickel Puppets or a mix of stories and music from different cultures by award-winning Mary Jo Maichack. 

Residents can participate in family fun nights at the Mansfield Community Center, with an inflatable slide, drop-in games, ping-pong, inflatable animal floats, warm therapy pool, tot toys, family track hours, an open gym, poolside basketball, and more. Also at the Community Center, the whole family will enjoy the “Kids' Flea Market”, and “Parents Night Out”, provides fun for the kids as well as a night out for the parents. "Celebrate Earth Day," offers a variety of events for both children and adults. 

The Mansfield Public Library hosts Teen Game Night and poetry readings by Paul La Bossiere. There are ongoing workshops on issues such as protecting the environment, natural ecosystems and landscaping, and special organized trips to the big city, for dinner and some Comedy Theater. Every summer there are free concerts at Bicentennial Pond. And of course, with the cities of Boston, New York and Hartford all easily accessible, there are limitless possibilities for entertainment, culture and special attractions. 

Storrs is home to the main campus of the University of Connecticut. You can visit the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry, which is the State Museum of Puppetry for Connecticut. The Museum preserves and exhibits puppets from around the world as well as those created at the University of Connecticut. You may want to enjoy some art at the William Benton Museum of Art at the UConn, or some history at the Museum of the Mansfield Historical Society. The Museum, next to the old Town Hall, preserves historic collections, research materials, photographs, manuscripts, and publications regarding Mansfield history.
 

Request my Free Mansfield, Storrs and Willington Relocation Package. It's packed full of useful and important information about the Mansfield, Storrs and Willington, Connecticut area. Don't move here without it! Remember: I'll send it to you for free and without obligation. Just fill out the form and I will send it right out... 

It's my job to know EVERYTHING about Mansfield, Storrs and Willington! Ask me any question. Or request a FREE information package. There's no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly...