LONG RANGE PLAN  
2001 –2006

Part 3 - The Community Profile

Fairfield today is an attractive and prosperous shoreline town whose population in the year 2000 stood at 57,340, an increase of 7.3% in ten years. There are at present 20,399 households in town, with about 100 new housing units being created each year.  84% of dwellings are single-family homes.  35.5% of all Fairfield families have children age 0-18.  Along with increasing numbers of children, the population over age 75 increased by 23% in ten years.  The number of residents in their 20’s dropped 45%, and the number in their 60’s dropped 33%.  Model school projections developed for the Board of Education predict an increase of 5.3% in total enrollment from 2001- 2006.  The elementary school population is projected to rise by 3.7% in five years; the middle school population is expected to rise .3% and the high school population by 13.4%

Fairfield’s population is primarily Caucasian (95.3%).  The non-white population is growing gradually and includes residents of African-American, native American and Asian descent.  Languages spoken in the home include Spanish, Polish, Russian, Lebanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Korean.

Fairfield is a relatively affluent town with a AAA bond rating.  The three largest employers are General Electric Company, Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University.  About three thousand businesses are located in town, including many home-based businesses.  While services and trade establishments, especially restaurants, have increased in number, manufacturing concerns have declined.

Fairfielders are well educated, with over 87% having a high school diploma and 41% a college degree.  A wide range of informational resources is available through the Fairfield Public Library, the Pequot Library, two university libraries, school libraries and special libraries. Many preschools and other private schools are well established in town, and two community colleges are within easy driving distance. Fairfield is wired for cable, has local Internet providers and ISDN availability.

Sources:

Board of Education. Fairfield, CT. Fairfield Model School Projections. 2 October 2001.

Brophy, Andrew,  “The Census: Fairfield,” Connecticut Post (Bridgeport), 30 July 2001, p. 1

Ciarmiello, Chris, “Census shows Fairfield, Easton Growing,” Fairfield Minuteman, 19 July 2001, p.A1.

Fairfield Municipal Profile, 2000. United Illuminating Co. Economic Development Services. New Haven, CT. comp.  Connecticut. Economic Resource Center, Rocky Hill, CT.

Himmel, Ethel and William James Wilson. Planning for Results: A Public Library  Transformation Process.  Chicago: American Library Association, 1998.

The Sourcebook of Zip Code Demographics 2000. 15th ed. Fairfax, VA: CACI, 2000