Town of Naugatuck

Facts about Naugatuck

Town/City established:

• Incorporated 1844.

Named from:

• Incorporated from Bethany, Oxford, and Waterbury, May, 1844; Algonkin name = one tree. Formerly Salem parish or Salem Bridge. Originally South Farms of Waterbury.

County:

• New Haven.

Notable citizens (past and present):

• Charles Goodyear, first American to vulcanize rubber, lived in Naugatuck as a young man; his brother, Henry Goodyear, founded the Goodyear Metallic Rubber Shoe Company in Naugatuck that became part of the United States Rubber Company in 1892.
• Seth Bingham, organist and prolific composer.
• Billy Burke, professional golfer, winner of the 1931 U.S. Open.
• Velvet Sky, professional wrestler and model.
• Michael Bergin, former Calvin Klein model and Baywatch actor; attended Naugatuck High School where he played baseball and basketball.

Top Five Attractions:

• Hop Brook Golf Course.
• Whittemore Glen State Park.
• Naugatuck Historical Society.
• Naugatuck State Forest.
• Hop Brook Lake.

Annual Visitor’s Events:

• Downtown Spring Festival, May.
• Duck Day and Race, June. 
• 22 for 22 Hike, September.

Quality of the town/city:

• Naugatuck is located in a lovely area of Connecticut that highlights the historic beauty of previous industry. It is loaded with historical places one can visit to appreciate what had been in the past. Take a swing at the local golf course of this area, or take a hike in the state forest or park. Finally, visit the downtown area that is peppered with historic beauty and charm..