# Canaan, Connecticut

Canaan is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,080 at the 2020 census, down from 1,234 at the 2010 census. The town is part of the Northwest Hills Planning Region. The town of Canaan is often referred to locally by the name of its principal settlement, Falls Village.

## Geography

Canaan is in northwestern Litchfield County; it is bordered to the north by the town of North Canaan, to the east by Norfolk, to the south by Cornwall, and to the west, across the Housatonic River, by Salisbury. It is 17 miles (27 km) northwest of Torrington, 46 miles (74 km) north of Danbury, and 17 miles (27 km) south of Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town of Canaan has a total area of 33.2 square miles (86.1 km$^2$), of which 32.9 square miles (85.2 km$^2$) are land and 0.3 square miles (0.8 km$^2$), or 0.97%, are water.

### Principal communities

* Falls Village (town center)
* Huntsville
* Lower City
* South Canaan

## History

The town was incorporated in 1739. The name "Canaan" is derived from the Hebrew name for a Semitic-speaking civilization and region of the Southern Levant. It was founded in 1739, eight years after the unrelated settlement (in today's Fairfield County, Connecticut) of New Canaan.

## Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,081 people, 445 households, and 298 families residing in the town. The population density was 32.8 inhabitants per square mile (12.7/km$^2$). There were 610 housing units at an average density of 18.5 per square mile (7.1/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the town was 97.04% White, 1.48% Black or African American, 0.19% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 445 households, out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 7.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 28.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $54,688, and the median income for a family was $62,500. Males had a median income of $40,438 versus $29,219 for females. The per capita income for the town was $35,841. About 3.0% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.
Voter registration and party enrollment as of October 29, 2019 :
| Party | Party | Active voters | Inactive voters | Total voters | Percentage |
| | Republican | 150 | 26 | 176 | 21.86% |
| | Democratic | 297 | 20 | 317 | 39.38% |
| | Unaffiliated | 258 | 50 | 308 | 38.26% |
| | Minor Parties | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0.50% |
| Total | Total | 709 | 96 | 805 | 100% |
Presidential Election Results :
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third Parties |
| 2020 | 66.7% 437 | 31.9% 209 | 1.4% 9 |
| 2016 | 60.3% 357 | 34.3% 203 | 5.4% 32 |
| 2012 | 63.4% 384 | 34.7% 210 | 1.9% 12 |
| 2008 | 67.7% 429 | 29.8% 189 | 2.5% 16 |
| 2004 | 61.1% 378 | 35.4% 219 | 3.5% 22 |
| 2000 | 49.1% 288 | 35.9% 211 | 15.0% 88 |
| 1996 | 50.8% 302 | 30.3% 180 | 18.9% 112 |
| 1992 | 41.2% 237 | 33.4% 192 | 25.4% 146 |
| 1988 | 46.3% 241 | 52.6% 274 | 1.1% 6 |
| 1984 | 28.2% 151 | 71.0% 380 | 0.8% 4 |
| 1980 | 30.4% 153 | 54.6% 275 | 15.0% 76 |
| 1976 | 36.4% 170 | 61.2% 289 | 2.4% 8 |
| 1972 | 28.8% 146 | 70.6% 358 | 0.6% 3 |
| 1968 | 32.4% 140 | 64.4% 278 | 3.2% 14 |
| 1964 | 47.1% 202 | 52.9% 227 | 0.00% 0 |
| 1960 | 20.7% 89 | 79.3% 341 | 0.00% 0 |
| 1956 | 16.4% 68 | 83.6% 346 | 0.00% 0 |

## Education

Canaan is a member of Regional School District 1, which also includes the towns of Cornwall, Kent, North Canaan, Salisbury, and Sharon. Public school students attend Lee H. Kellogg School for grades K–8, and Housatonic Valley Regional High School for grades 9–12.

## Notable people

* Philo Belden, Wisconsin politician
* Steve Blass, former Major League Baseball pitcher and current broadcaster
* Major Felten, artist and illustrator
* James Mars, slave narrative author
* Judson Philips, author of mystery novels
* Cyrus Prindle, abolitionist and one of the founders of the Wesleyan Church
* Lemuel Roberts, Revolutionary War soldier and historian, born in Canaan in 1755
* Catherine Roraback, civil rights attorney
* Bates Turner, Vermont politician and jurist
* Elizur Wright, the "father of life insurance"

## Transportation

The town is served by U.S. Route 7, Route 63, and Route 126. US 7 leads north into Massachusetts and south to Danbury, while Route 63 leads southeast to Litchfield. Route 126 is a local road that passes through the center of Falls Village and runs north along the Housatonic River.

## Pictures

* "The Famous Elm", c. 1910
* High school, 1910
* South Canaan Congregational Church