Darien, Connecticut
Darien is a town located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA.
As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 19,607, but a July 1, 2002 Census estimate put the town's population at 19,887.
Like its neighbor to the north, New Canaan, Darien is one of the most affluent small communities in the United States.
Two Metro North railroad stations serve Darien: Noroton Heights and Darien.
The part of Interstate 95 that runs through Darien is considered the most dangerous stretch of that highway in Connecticut.
Both the 1975 and the 2004 versions of the film The Stepford Wives were filmed in part in Darien.
The public library in Darien, the Darien Library, has consistenly ranked in the top ten of its category in the HAPLR Index of libraries.
Its ambulance service, Darien EMS (also known as Post 53) is the only ambulance service in the nation, staffed and run entirely by high school students volunteering. The service provides emergency care at no cost to the patient, funded entirely by private donations from town residents. Teenagers are allowed to perform patient care due to the fact that Connecticut is one the few states in the nation which allows Emergency medical technicians to be certified at age 16.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 38.4 km² (14.8 mi²). 33.3 km² (12.9 mi²) of it is land and 5.2 km² (2.0 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 13.41% water. The town is served by Interstate 95 and the Merritt Parkway. It also has two Metro North railroad stations for commuter trains into New York City, with a commute of approximately 55 minutes. The central part of town is on Route 1.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 19,607 people, 6,592 households, and 5,385 families residing in the town. The population density is 588.7/km² (1,525.2/mi²). There are 6,792 housing units at an average density of 203.9 persons/km² (528.3 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 95.97% White, 0.45% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.42% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 2.19% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 6,592 households out of which 46.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.5% are married couples living together, 5.6% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 18.3% are non-families. 15.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.95 and the average family size is 3.31.
In the town the population is spread out with 32.5% under the age of 18, 3.0% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $146,755, and the median income for a family is $173,777. Males have a median income of $100,000 versus $59,313 for females. The per capita income for the town is $77,519. 2.0% of the population and 0.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 1.6% are under the age of 18 and 2.6% are 65 or older.
With a median home price of approximately $1 million, Darien is one of the most expensive places to live in North America, and was rated one of the best places to live in America by CNN in 2005.
Local media
Darien is served by two local weeklies: Darien News-Review and the Darien Times.
Darien Public Schools
Per Pupil Expenditure: $13,950 (Estimated)
Class of 2004 stats
Mean SAT I scores:
- Verbal 577
- Math 612
86.6% to Four Year Colleges
6.7% to Two Year Colleges
Famous People raised in Darien
- Kate Bosworth - actress
- Clint Conley - musician in the band Mission of Burma
- Topher Grace - actor
- Moby - musician
- Alex Michel - cast member on The Bachelor
- Chloë Sevigny - actress
- Christopher Shays - Republican Representative of Connecticut's Fourth District
- Gus Van Sant - film director
- Gerry Mulligan - jazz musician