Page Contents for Willimantic, Connecticut

Statistics & Facts

Location

History & History-related items

City Attractions

Government

Chamber of Commerce.

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Statistics & Facts

The Connecticut state capital is Hartford.
The population of Willimantic is approximately 14,746 (1990), 17737 (2010).
The approximate number of families is 5,887 (1990), 5812 (2010).
The amount of land area in Willimantic is 11.352 sq. kilometers.
The amount of surface water is 0.261 sq kilometers.
The distance from Willimantic to Washington DC is 326 miles.
The distance to the Connecticut state capital is 21 miles. (as the crow flies)
Willimantic is positioned 41.71 degrees north of the equator and 72.21 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Willimantic elevation is 125-640 feet above sea level.
Willimantic average annual rainfall is 43.25 inches per year
Willimantic average annual humidity is 68
Willimantic average temperature is 47.5 degrees F.

Location

about 28 miles from Hartford, 47 miles from Providence and 96 miles from Boston.
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History & History Related Items

Willimantic became known as the "Thread City" when it began to produce quality cotton thread. Now the colonies didn't have to import their thread from England.

Willimantic is located in the town of Windham. It is named for Wymondham in Norfolk, England, and was founded in 1692. The town was originally settled by John Cates, a Puritan soldier fleeing from the wrath of the Royalists following the restoration of the English monarchy after Oliver Cromwell's death.

Windham's seal features a bullfrog - Why?
Find out on this page

"Willimantic" is the Algonquin term for "land of the swift running waters." The fast running Wilimantic River attracted numerous cotton manufacturers from Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the early 19th century. They located their water-powered cotton mills in Willimantic, and along the length of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers. Willimantic also became a major American center for silk thread and cloth production in the years between the end of the Civil War, and the outbreak of World War II.
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Attractions

Take a picture tour of Willimantic, CT

The Capitol Theater

Points of Interest in Windham

Windham Textile and History Museum
157 Union/Main Street
Willimantic, CT 06226
Telephone (860) 456-2178

Here is a picture gallery of historical places - past and present - in Willimantic.
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Willimantic City Government

Town of Windham
979 Main St.
Willimantic, CT 06226
Phone: 860-465-3007
Fax: 860-465-3110

Willimantic Chamber

Greater Windham Chamber of Commerce
Serving the communities of Ashford, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, Scotland, Union, Willington and Windham.

First settled in about 1686. The Town, named from Windham in Sussex County, was incorporated in 1692. The area in the vicinity of Willimantic was settled to take advantage of the river's water power for saw and grist mills. In later years, the town was dominated by the thread and textile industry. The town was known worldwide as one of the finest manufacturers of thread outside of England and was aptly named the Thread City. It was chartered as a borough in 1833, a city in 1893 and in 1983 it was consolidated as part of the Town of Windham

Willimantic Organizations

Greater Windham Chamber of Commerce
Serving the communities of Ashford, Chaplin, Columbia, Coventry, Hampton, Lebanon, Mansfield, Scotland, Union, Willington and Windham.

First settled in about 1686. The Town, named from Windham in Sussex County, was incorporated in 1692. The area in the vicinity of Willimantic was settled to take advantage of the river's water power for saw and grist mills. In later years, the town was dominated by the thread and textile industry. The town was known worldwide as one of the finest manufacturers of thread outside of England and was aptly named the Thread City. It was chartered as a borough in 1833, a city in 1893 and in 1983 it was consolidated as part of the Town of Windham