2 - Town of Colchester

Resort Period
Historical Marker
While agriculture was the dominant economic activity in Colchester in the early 1900’s, it was not a viable way of life for
some of the immigrants. Instead, they opened businesses in the central village, worked in the few remaining small
factories, went into the hotel business, or operated rooming houses in the village.
The hospitality opportunities resulted in a resort trade that attracted vacationers, many of them Jewish, to Colchester.
During the 1920s, seven major hotels or resorts operated in town and some farmers opened their homes to summer
boarders. At its peak, local resorts attracted about 4,000 people annually. The resort trade was a major component of the
local economy during this period.
The Depression of 1930’s brought a decline to the resort industry. Many hotels closed during this time or became private
homes or apartments. After the Depression, the resort business moved to lake areas in other towns.
Suburbanization
Colchester has experienced explosive growth since 1950. There are three reasons for this.
1. Strategic Location
While Colchester has always been strategically located in relation to other parts of Connecticut, this location has
become even more convenient with the development of state and federal highways in the past 50 years. Today,
Colchester is within easy commuting distance of major employment centers in Hartford, Norwich, New London and
Middletown by Routes 2, 11, and 16. With the post-war “baby boom” and the trend toward suburbanization, it
should come as no surprise that Colchester experienced growth as did many other communities.
2. Land Availability
The availability of residential land in Colchester, coupled with a convenient location and affordable prices, has made
it a focal point for growth. New homes have been built at a brisk rate to accommodate the demand.
Locational Considerations
Factors that can affect
locational decisions of new
residents include:
• job location,
• population density,
• housing prices,
• socio-economic status,
• educational quality,
• tax rates, and
• other factors (amenities,
resale values, etc.).
3. Community Character
Finally, the community character and amenities that are available to residents have attracted new home buyers.
For these reasons, Colchester will be increasingly sought out by new residents, both for its rural character and its
proximity to employment sources.
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