Page 26 - 951 North Park Ave Extension Brochure

THE STORY

OF REDDING

Redding has been blessed with a natural beauty in its landscape, hills,
marshes, lakes, and glens. The residents of Redding have always shown
a strong interest in preserving this natural beauty by maintaining an
open space program, restraining new home development to a moderate
level, and adhering to the best use of land via enforcement of reasonable
planning, zoning, and conservation regulations. Traveling through
Redding with a camera is like going on a photo-shoot. The scenery is
gorgeous.

Redding offers close proximity to major job markets in New York City,
Westchester County, and Fairfield County with the presence of a rural
community environment. It is located approximately 53 miles northeast
of New York City, 35 miles northeast of White Plains, 30 miles northeast
of Stamford, 8 miles south of Danbury, and 48 miles west of Hartford.
The town has been rated #1 among small towns in Connecticut by
Connecticut Magazine. The current population is 8270 with an annual
growth rate of 1.28% and a land area of 31.5 square miles. The total
school enrollment is 2010 pupils with an average class size of 22 pupils.
The annual per capita income is $54,000 and the real estate tax rate is
29.0 mils at 70% assessment. Commuters into New York City can take
the train from West Redding, Branchville, or Canondale.

Redding was named after the first colonist to settle here, John Read,
who came With a wife and two children in 1714. Read was an eighteenth
century lawyer, investor, and farmer. He homesteaded on land that is now
part of Redding and claimed 500 acres to build a farm, which he called
Lonetown Manor. At that time, the land that later became Redding was
considered part of the Town of Fairfield, though in name only. Travel by
horse and wagon to Fairfield Center for attending church and buying/
selling goods took too long. The residents of Redding decided to petition
the State of Connecticut for separation from Fairfield. Finally, in 1797,
the Connecticut General Assembly incorporated the Town of Redding
as an independent township. At the time, Redding had less than 1000
inhabitants.

It is interesting to note that the early town records of Redding were
destroyed by the British in 1777 when they marched from Fairfield to
Danbury, burning many homes and public buildings along the way. Homes
with a black ring painted around the chimneys, indicating loyalty to
the King, were spared. The route through Redding included Blackrock
Turnpike and Sunset Hill Road. The British troops captured a munitions
supply in Danbury and then returned to Long Island Sound via Ridgefield,
Wilton, and Norwalk.

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