The area that is now Bethany was bought by the New Haven Colony in 1638 and was settled in 1700 as a part of Amity Parish. Bethany Parish was created in 1762 when the right to build a house of worship, that was the precursor of the present congregational church, was granted by the Connecticut Colony. In 1784, the two parishes were incorporated into the new Town of Woodbridge, and in 1832 Bethany became an independent town. Bethany is 21 square miles and sits on a plateau between the Naugatuck and West Rivers. Today’s town has approximately 4,900 residents.
Location
Schools
The Bethany Community School houses K-6 students in a campus like environment. Junior and senior high school students are served by the Amity Regional School System which serves the towns of Bethany, Orange and Woodbridge.
Recreation
Bethany is still the country! Almost a third of the town, approximately 3,800 acres, is owned by local Water Authorities. The South Central Regional Water sells permits to hikers, skiers, horseback riders and fisherman. Several large farms are still operated by long time families. An equestrian community, Bethany has the states’ only Horse Commissioner and an active Horsemen’s Association. It is estimated there are about 2,500 horses in Bethany and residents who enjoy riding practice their skills on one of the Town’s five arenas.
Health
Bethany is also serviced by outstanding medical facilities, including the highly regarded Yale-New Haven Hospital, the Hospital of St. Raphael’s, St. Mary’s Hospital, Waterbury Hospital and Griffin Hospital.
Town Information Courtesy of The Community Guide and The System-1 Real Estate Network