Ellington, Connecticut, is a tiny town about 77 miles outside Boston and 18 miles from Hartford. Nestled in the Connecticut River Valley and set against the backdrop of the Shenipsit State Forest, Ellington is best known for its roots as an agricultural community and remains one of the largest agricultural production towns in Connecticut. In recent years, Ellington has also become known as a resort community thanks to the Crystal Lake section of town, which was, for a while, a popular summer resort location. Today, about 15,725 people call Ellington home, giving it the sixth-fastest growth rate of all the towns in Connecticut. So, what is there to love about living in Ellington?
Its Rural Charm & Suburban Convenience
Lindsay Redin and her family just moved to Ellington in July 2018, and the first thing she noticed was the people.
“I like how wholesome and down to earth the people are,” says Redin, who is the executive director of the Ivy at Ellington. “Everybody is welcoming and willing to help.”
Bianca Syriac, marketing director at the Ivy at Ellington, also recently relocated to the Ellington area and has already gotten used to being in the country.
“The view out my office window is cornfields,” she says. “You get the smell of the farms when you drive into town. I like the hometown feel.”
It’s a Good Place to Grow
Ellington has a thriving Parks and Recreation Commission that is committed to providing a cross-section of programming on a year-round basis. Youth programs include co-ed volleyball and floor hockey, jukido, and girls and boys basketball, and adult programs include pickleball, tennis, co-ed badminton, and men and women’s volleyball and basketball. There’s an Ellington Hiking Club, an ultimate Frisbee team, outdoor educational opportunities, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs.
There’s Always Something Going On
From the farmers market and the Ellington Family Fall Festival to the annual Ellington Family Road Races and Veterans Coffeehouse with state Rep. Greg Stokes, there’s always something going on in Ellington. When there’s not an event happening, there’s still plenty to do. Crystal Lake, in the eastern section of town, is used by many for recreational boating. Hall Memorial Library is home to a 70,500-volume collection in various media and hosts a variety of programs and events each month, such as free films, knitting groups, study sessions, and introduction to American Sign Language class. The Ellington Historical Society and the Nellie McKnight Museum offer programs on subjects of local history or historical interest. Nellie McKnight was born July 22, 1894, on her father’s farm in Ellington in the house her grandfather built in 1850. Educated in the local schools, she graduated from Rockville High School in 1913 and Mount Holyoke College in 1917 before returning to Ellington, where she became the librarian of the Hall Memorial Library until her retirement in 1967. McKnight left her home and all its contents to the Ellington Historical Society to use as a museum.
You Can Shop ‘til You Drop
Muddy Brook Potters, Scandinavian Gift Shop, and Thistle Glass Crafts are just a few places you can explore when you’re bitten by the shopping bug. But before you actually drop, you can refuel at Cold Creek Brewery, Connecticut Valley Distillery, or Hidden Still Restaurant & Moonshine Bar.
A Few Notable People Called Ellington Home, Too
Any NASCAR fans will know the names Mike Massaro, a former a pit reporter and racing analyst at ESPN who was born in Ellington, and Steve Park, a NASCAR driver who drove in the Sprint Cup Series and lived in Ellington before moving to North Carolina to pursue his dream. Other notable Ellingtonians include Stephen Jenks, a composer of music for more than 200 hymns, and John H. Brockway, a U.S. representative. Of course we have to mention our own, Ivy at Ellington. We are the newest assisted living residential community in town, serving the communities of Ellington, Rockville, East Windsor, South Windsor, Stafford, Enfield, Tolland, Willington, Vernon, Manchester, Somers, and the surrounding area. And it didn’t take long for one of our assisted living community’s newest residents to fall in love with Ellington. “The farmers are still out there working every day,” Marie says. “We’re waiting for the sweet corn to come up. It’s a beautiful part of the country.”