Town of
Plainville
About Plainville
The Town of Plainville covers an area of 9.6 square miles in Hartford County, midway between New Britain and Bristol and 14 miles southwest of Hartford. Bristol borders it on the west, Farmington on the north, New Britain on the east, and Southington on the south.
Plainville, originally part of Farmington, was first settled about 1657, and was incorporated as a separate town in July, 1869. Its name developed about 1830 from an earlier reference to the area as the “Great Plain.” The town had a population of 1,433 in the first census, taken after its incorporation in 1870.
The industrial history of Plainville dates back to about 1828, following the opening of the Farmington Canal and the early industrial sites in what is now the business district.
EDUCATION
Plainville has three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Linden Street Elementary School, the oldest of Plainville’s school buildings, has undergone extensive renovations and expansions. The school system enjoys many community partnerships that enhance the educational program. General Electric Industrial Systems donated $100,000 over three years to strategic planning and administrative training.
Additionally, employees from GE and many local businesses volunteer in the schools as mentors and tutors.
BUSINESS CLIMATE
The town’s business base is diverse with major industries that include electrical products, spring manufacturing, tool making,
metal stamping, heavy construction, and stone quarries. The level of growth in Plainville is holding firm in the area of commercial and light industrial building.
Economic development is a vital aspect of Plainville’s continued growth, with a lot of interest in small, diverse Restricted and General Industrial and service businesses looking to expand and invest in new machinery or equipment. Plainville’s Enterprise Zone has stimulated this type of new economic development opportunity for the Town.
Robertson Airport on Johnson Avenue in Plainville, now a full-service, modern facility, is the oldest airport in Connecticut. The owners are considering the sale of the airport, and the Town is looking into the possibility of taking it over as a municipally-operated field. The Town has contracted Clough, Harbour & Associates (CHA) to do a feasibility study regarding the possible purchase.
Plainville’s commercial/retail segment has also been diversified in the past few years. Connecticut Commons has stimulated new investment by national retailers such as Kohl’s, Old Navy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and DSW Shoe Warehouse.
TOWN SERVICES
The Town of Plainville has had a town manager/town council form of government since 1959. The Town Council is made up of seven members who serve two-year terms. The Board of Education is made up of nine members who serve four-year terms. It oversees the school system, which has a currently enrollment of over 2,200 students.
It is the mission of the Plainville Police Department to protect and serve our community. We seek to provide professional, ethical, and effective police services to all people. We pledge fidelity to the United States Constitution and the Connecticut Constitution. We will protect individual rights while impartially enforcing the law. We affirm our mission with integrity, passion, courage, and strength.
Plainville’s Fire Company is a volunteer department with 85 members. The Company is responsible for the Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival held each year in August. Thousands come from around the State to enjoy the festivities and fireworks display.
RECREATION
Trumbull Park boasts a new Little League field, all-purpose field, and baseball field. At Norton Park, the girls’ softball diamond has been refurbished and a new soccer field was recently constructed. A $175,000 grant has been secured to design and construct Class A soccer fields. Norton Park is also the location of the Elizabeth A. Berner Pool, which is open from mid-June to the end of August for residents and their guests to enjoy. This family aquatic center offers two water slides, a raindrop fountain and a zero-depth entry tot pool. The pool underwent replastering work in 2006.
Paderewski Park is the home of the Conservation Commission’s annual fishing derby. Tomasso Nature Park offers approximately four acres of wetlands, observation areas, knolls, trails and bridges. It is home to nearly 600 painted turtles and other wildlife.