Bethel

THE COMMUNITY
A charming New England town centered around a Village Green, Bethel was founded in 1759 as the
Ecclesiastical Society of Bethel and was a part of Danbury until 1855. Colorful Revolutionary War
confrontations, a pleasing architectural mix of vintage residences and a lovely downtown area with quaint
shops and cobblestone sidewalks have included Bethel's center on the National Register of Historic Places.
The town's many historic homes, converted farmhouses and its scenic countryside lined with old stone
walls attest to the region's interesting past. Quietly unpretentious small town beauty, rural peace, an
"Open Space" policy, an innovative commercial-industrial section and reasonably priced real estate have
contributed to the town's present-day popularity. Occupying seventeen square miles, Bethel's approximately
18,000 residents are governed by Town Meeting and an elected Board of Selectmen whose policies stress
balance, high standards and the carefully zoned preservation of Bethel's tranquil grace.
EDUCATION, AND CULTURAL, FACILITIES
"Outstanding educational facilities for an ages" is the goal of Beth€1's school system. Five Public Schools
are placed in an Educational Park near the heart of town, offering clas3cs for children and adults and
special education at every level. St. Mary's Parochial School has classes for Grades I-8. Nearby Danbury
enhances both the educational and cultural life of Bethel and Western Connecticut State University grants
undergraduate and graduate degrees. The town's large Public Library is housed in a grand old structure.
RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
Over 300 acres of town property and numerous programs provide courts, fields, tracks and the area's most
comprehensive organized leisure activities. Huntington State Park, Overlook Park and Meckauer Town
Park provide green-spaces inviting hiking, picnicking, camping and every form of outdoor fun.
TRANSPORTATION
In the heart of Fairfield County, Bethel is an oasis of country charm surrounded by Danbury, Brookfield,
Newtown and Redding. It is two hours from Manhattan via Metro-North train and is within comfortable
commutation of Hartford, Stamford and White Plains. Interstate Route 84 passes through its northern
corner and connects with State Routes 6, 53, 302 and 58.