The town of Branford, Connecticut, is the perfect place to start a home.  Because the residential real estate market has plummeted, now is the best time to purchase Branford, Connecticut homes.  Branford, CT homes will still hold its value but, like most of the nation, has more homes for sale than buyers.

Historic Roots

Branford is one of the oldest established towns in Connecticut.  It was officially incorporated in 1653 and named after Brentford, England, although most of the early homes were Dutch.  The land that is Branford today was purchased in 1638 from the Mattabesech, Indians.  Trading posts and homes were soon established and the town started to grow. 

Some of the earlier businesses in the town grew because of the railroad that came through in the mid 1800s.  This brought forth Branford Lockworks, Malleable Iron Fittings and the Atlantic Wire Company.  The town began to grown into a bustling community for working class individuals, and up sprouted many homes. 

Resort Town

The town became a resort area in the mid 1800s as well.  Hotels were opened,  many of which still exist today.  It became a suburban town in the mid 20th century.  No longer is Bradford considered a resort town as most of the residents today work in nearby New York City. 

Things To See

If you are visiting Branford, you will want to see the Harrison House and Museum.  This is a large 1724 house that has many historical items that you can view.  There is even a barn that you can visit as well as a large herbal garden.  Many of the districts in Branford are historical districts and there are also private and public beaches as well as hiking trails. 

Branford Center is located in the center of the town and contains shopping areas as well as antiques stores.  The town hall is located in Branford Center.  You will want to see the town hall which is very historic when you visit Branford.

Hospice Legacy

One of the things that Branford is known for is having the first Hospice in the nation.  A hospice is a place where a terminally ill patient is cared for at the end of life.  The original site of the first hospice is still in Branford Hills, which is located on the west end of town.  The west end of town is more commercial than the center. 

If you visit Branford, you can visit Indian Neck, which was once the tourist destination.  This area had inns as well as seaside restaurants, many of which are no longer in existence as a fire wiped out a good part of the old buildings in the 1970s.  Indian Neck is located in the southern part of Branford on Branford Harbor.  There are memorials located in the area and it s a very peaceful area. 

The Town Today

Today, Branford has a population of around 30,000 people.  The median income for households in Branford is just under $60,000.  Only a very small percentage of people who live in Branford are below the poverty level.  Many people who live in Branford live alone and there are more non-families than traditional families in the town. 
 

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