New to Easton, in Fairfield County, CT?
Here are a few fun facts about the town:
- Easton is known as a bustling farm community, and is home to more than 20 working farms of different sizes. The New York Times recently featured Easton’s thriving farm community. Click here to read the article.
- Helen Keller,the deaf and blind author and political activist, was once a resident of Easton. She died at her Easton home at the age of 87 in 1968. The town named their middle school after her.
- Ida Tarbell is another one of Easton’s most famous residents. Tarbell was considered one of the pioneers of investigative journalism, and was the author of “The History of the Standard Oil Company,” one of the most prominent works of 20th-century American journalism.
- At one time or another, the actor Robert Redford lived there. As did iconic actor Bette Davis. Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones also used Easton as his stomping grounds.
- There are three landmarks in Easton included on the National Register of Historic Places: the Aspetuck Historic District, the Ida Tarbell House, and the Bradley-Hubbell House.
- The majestic 76-foot Christmas tree that stood at the Rockefeller Center in 2009 was a donation from one of the private residences in Easton.
- Famous weekenders of Easton include actress Anne Baxter, CBS News anchor Dan Rather, and playwright and novelist Edna Ferber.
- During the Revolutionary War, a massive number of British forces gathered in Easton. Back then, the town was known as North Fairfield.
- Aspetuck and Gilbertown were among the first parts of Easton that was settled.
- The first “free” school in Easton was established by Samuel Staples in 1797. The school was built so that all children could receive decent education.
- During the mid-19th century, a significant number of mills were built around Easton’s streams to power the town’s early economy.
- Easton supplies all of the water throughout FairfieldCounty. The Aquarion Water Company is the largest taxpayer of Easton.
- In 2012, Easton was ranked as the #1 small town by the Connecticut Magazine.