Durham, Connecticut, USA
1819 - Durham
Durham is a post town, situated in the western section of the county 20 miles south of Hartford, and 18 northeast from New-Haven; bounded north on Middletwon, east on Haddam, south on Guilford and Killingworth, and west on Wallingford.
This is a small township, averaging about 6 miles in length from east to west, and nearly 4 in breadth from north to south, comprising an area of about 23 square miles.
The prevailing character of the surface is undulating; exhibiting an agreeable and interesting diversity of moderate hills and gentle declivities and dales. The eastern and western border are somewhat broken and mountainous.
This township is situated at the commencement of the agrillaceous district extending to the north upon Connecticut river; being partly included within it, and partly within the granitic region which prevails upon the borders of Long Island sound. Within the clay slate strata, there is an exhaustless quarry of sandstone, which is a very valuable freestone.
The prevailing soil is an agrillaceous loam, and a slaty of shistic gravel. It is generally fertile and productive. Upon the streams, particularly West or Middletown river, are considerable tracts of alluvial.
The lands are well adapted both to grazing and tillage, and also favorable for fruit.
The staple agricultural productions are rye, corn and flax.
Of the waters of the town, West river is the principal stram. It rises near the north line of Guilford, and runs northwardly through the town, embodying, in its course, most of the small streams, into Middletown, where it discharges itself into the Connecticut. It affords within this town, very extensive meadows.
The Middletown and New-Haven turnpike leads through this town; the East-Guilford turnpike runs from that Society in Guilford, into the centre of this town; and there is a turnpike, commencing about half a mile south of the centre of this town, which leads to Haddam.
The principal manufacture is that of shoes; of which, for some years past, considerable quantities have been made, and sent to the southern States for market. There are 4 Tanneries, 2 Grain Mills, 3 Saw Mills, 1 Carding Machine and 1 Cider Distillery.
The population of the town, in 1810, was 1130; and there are about 150 Electors, 2 Companies of Militia, and 172 Dwelling houses.
The aggregate list of the town, in 1816, including polls, was $26,609.
This town comprises but 1 located Ecclesiastical Society. Beside which, there is 1 Society of Episcopalians and 1 of Methodists. In the centre of the town, there is but a small pleasant village.
There are, in Durham, 3 Mercantile Stores, 6 common Schools, 1 small Academy, 2 Social Libraries, 1 Clergyman and 1 Physician.
The settlement in this town was commenced in the year 1699, and it was incorporated in 1708.
A Gazetteer of the States of Connecticut and Rhode-Island: Written with Care and Impartiality, from Original and Authentic Materials : Consisting of Two Parts ... with an Accurate and Improved Map of Each State Authors John Chauncey Pease, John Milton Niles Publisher W.S. Marsh, 1819
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