Welcome to Redding, CT

County: Fairfield
Population: 8,659
Square Miles: 31.5
Government: Selectman
Distance to Major Cities:
Boston: 160 miles
Hartford: 58 miles
New York City: 63 miles

Connecticut Magazine has ranked Redding the #1 or #2 small town for the past decade, and in 2013, it was ranked #1 in Economy. This peaceful rural community in the heart of Fairfield County is committed to excellence in education, maintaining open space, and preserving its historical and natural resources.

The town offers a superb education with 1 elementary school, 1 middle school, and Barlow High School, ranked #9 in the country by US News & World Report’s 2013 Best High School ratings, and #9 by Connecticut Magazine.

Visitors and commuters can easily access I-84 to the north, and Rte. 7 on its western border. Routes 107, 53, and 58 intersect, offering access to the Merritt Parkway and I-95. The Redding Metro-North Railroad station serves resident via the Danbury branch of the New Haven Line. (The station is actually signed “West Redding.”) Westchester Country Airport, Tweed New Haven Regional Airport, and Stewart International Airport are all within an hour’s drive.

There are four sections forming the town, including Georgetown, Redding Center, Redding Ridge, and West Redding. Although the town humbly shows the wealth that is identified with Fairfield County, it is a more secluded option for home ownership. Much of its popularity is derived from the careful planning that has preserved its distinctive, charming character.

Redding Center was designated a National Register Historic District in 1992. The district consists of approximately 55 acres, 39 historic structures, and a cemetery dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Georgetown, which includes parts of Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton, and Weston, was designated a National Register Historic District in 1987.

Several movies were filmed in Redding, including “Valley of the Dolls,” “The Last House on the Left,” “The Stepford Wives,” and most recently, a Disney film, “Old Dogs.”

Redding’s renowned resident, Samuel Clemens, founded the Mark Twain Public Library in 1908. He added 3000 books from his own collection, growing the library with donations from colleagues in the publishing world, and raising funds himself by hosting concerts at his mansion. Annual library fundraisers include an art show and a gigantic used-book sale that attracts readers and bookshop owners from all over New England.

There are three public golf courses nearby, but many residents enjoy the friendly atmosphere and amenities of the Redding Country Club, a private club nestled high atop the hills in a beautiful rural setting.