Cornwall, Connecticut

Cornwall is a town situated in Litchfield County in the US State of Connecticut. Incorporated in May 1740, the town has been named after the English county of Cornwall and is located along the Housatonic River in northeastern Connecticut, close to the Mohawk State Forest.

Geography And Climate Of Cornwall

Cornwall covers a total area of 120.0 sq. km, of which 119.3 sq. km is occupied by land, and 0.7 sq. km is covered by water. Cornwall is bordered by the town of Canaan in the north, Goshen in the east, Warren in the south, Kent in the southwest, and Sharon in the west. Some of the major communities in Cornwall include Cornwall, Cornwall Bridge, Cornwall Hollow, East Cornwall, and West Cornwall. 

Cornwall's coldest month is January, with an average high of 30.9°F and a low of 18.9°F. Cornwall receives snowfall from January to May and from October to December, and the month with the highest rainfall is July. Cornwall has three pleasant months with high temperatures ranging from 70 to 85 degrees which are July, August, and June.

History Of Cornwall

Cornwall was incorporated in May 1740 and named after the English County of Cornwall. The early economy was centered on farming, but iron furnaces, including two blast furnaces, and the accompanying charcoal manufacturing businesses, acquired significance in the nineteenth century. Cornwall is well-known as the location of the Foreign Mission School and the Cream Hill Agricultural School, but it is also known as the "Home of the Covered Bridge," referring to the 1864 West Cornwall Covered Bridge, which is still in use today. Cornwall is one of Connecticut's small towns and has maintained itself as a rural hamlet.

The Population And Economy Of Cornwall

Cornwall has a population of 1,567 inhabitants with a population density of 13 inhabitants per sq. km. The most common racial/ethnic groups in the town are White (87.1 %), Hispanic (7.1 %), and Asian (3.9%). Cornwall families had a median family income of $90,197 in 2020. However, 5.4% of Cornwall's families are poor. The early economy was centered on farming, but iron, including two blast furnaces, as well as the accompanying charcoal manufacturing sector, acquired prominence in the nineteenth century.

Attractions In Cornwall

West Cornwall Covered Bridge

This historic bridge spans 172 feet over the Housatonic River and is one of Connecticut's last remaining covered bridges. It is still used for vehicle traffic on Connecticut Route 128 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mohawk State Forest

Mohawk State Forest, also referred to as Mohawk Mountain State Park spans about 4,000 acres in the towns of Cornwall, Goshen, and Litchfield in Connecticut's southern Berkshires. The region is controlled by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and is open to the public for hiking, picnics, and winter sports while also producing timber and other forest products. Mohawk State Forest is also an attractive location for rock climbers and amateur scientists who want to take in the rich ecology and natural surroundings.

Mohawk Mountain Ski Area

In 1947, Walter Schoenknecht, the visionary behind Mount Snow in Vermont, founded Mohawk Mountain in the Southern Berkshires in Cornwall, Connecticut. This is Connecticut's oldest and largest ski slope, nicknamed "the home of snowmaking." Mohawk features a 1600-foot high peak, 25 trails distributed across 107 acres of skiable terrain, and a 650-foot vertical drop. In addition to snowmaking on 95% of its landscape, Mohawk offers night skiing on 12 trails. Along with other housing and dining options in Cornwall, dining is also available at the mountain's base lodge.

Housatonic Meadows State Park

Housatonic Meadows, located in the Housatonic River's rock-strewn valley amid the rocky hills of the northern uplands, is a perfect site for a range of outdoor leisure activities. Camping on the riverbank amid the tall trees provides the overnight camper with a truly back-to-nature experience. Fly fishermen may practice their skills on trout and bass in the clear, cold river water as well. Housatonic Meadows is also a great place to go hiking, camping, canoeing, and cross-country skiing.

Cornwall Historical Society

The Cornwall Historical Society deals with the preservation, promotion, and presentation of Cornwall's and its people's heritage. It is thought that understanding Cornwall's distinctive cultural, economic, and social past enriches and strengthens the county.