Candlewood Isle, Connecticut

Candlewood Isle, Connecticut
Island House off the tip of Candlewood Isle
Island House off the tip of Candlewood Isle
Nickname: 
The Isle[1]
Location within the Western Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut
Location within the Western Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut
Candlewood Isle is located in Connecticut
Candlewood Isle
Candlewood Isle
Location within Connecticut
Candlewood Isle is located in the United States
Candlewood Isle
Candlewood Isle
Location within the United States
Coordinates: 41°29′1″N 73°27′18″W / 41.48361°N 73.45500°W / 41.48361; -73.45500
Country United States
State Connecticut
CountiesFairfield
RegionWestern CT
TownNew Fairfield
Area
 • Total
1.19 sq mi (3.08 km2)
 • Land0.39 sq mi (1.01 km2)
 • Water0.80 sq mi (2.06 km2)
Elevation640 ft (200 m)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Code
Area codes203/475
FIPS code09-11360
GNIS feature ID2805934[3]
Websitecandlewoodisle.communitysite.com

Candlewood Isle is a census-designated place (CDP) on an island of the same name in Candlewood Lake, in the town of New Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is in the southeastern section of the town, about 10 miles from Danbury,[1] with Candlewood Knolls and Kellogg Point on the mainland to the west and Candlewood Lake Club, Candlewood Shores and Candlewood Orchards across the lake to the east. Candlewood Isle was famously the location of the 1955 "Lake Shark" sighting.

Candlewood Isle was first listed as a CDP prior to the 2020 census. As of the 2020 census, Candlewood Isle had a population of 491.[4]

History

Candlewood Isle was developed in the years immediately following the creation of Candlewood Lake. In 1929, Price, Miller & Schiller Inc. purchased the newly formed island property[5] with plans to develop a highly restricted summer colony.[6] Early homes were designed by architect Robert C. Kilborn. According to Kilborn, Candlewood Isle was developed with strict architectural controls intended to preserve a rustic character. All buildings were required to have exteriors of logs, log slab, log cabin siding or wavy edge siding, wood shingle roofs, and earth-toned colors. Building heights were generally limited to one-and-a-half stories, with attached garages preferred. All construction plans required approval by the supervising architect, with on-site inspections to ensure compliance.[7]

The Isle remained a seasonal summer community until the 1960s, when residents began weatherizing their homes for year-round use.[8] In 1962, Candlewood Isle residents petitioned the Town of New Fairfield to establish a special tax district to fund infrastructure and services such as private road maintenance and special police protection, as specified in property deeds.[9] However, it was not until 1970 that the Candlewood Isle Tax District was formally established.[10] On November 7, 1970, it was incorporated as "The Candlewood Isle Community Association, Inc.", before being renamed the "District of Candlewood Isle" in 1972.[11]

Notable residents

References

  1. 1 2 Konrad, Walecia (September 20, 2002). "Havens: Weekender; Candlewood Isle, Conn". The New York Times. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  2. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files – Connecticut". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Candlewood Isle Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Death Claims Rodman Price". The Danbury News-Times. January 17, 1953. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  6. ↑ "Lake Candlewood To Be Developed For Summer Lodge". The Hartford Daily Courant. March 19, 1930. Retrieved June 8, 2026.
  7. ↑ Kilborn, Robert C. (July 1933). "Summer Colony Developments" (PDF). American Architect. Vol. CXLIII, no. 2618. pp. 69–82. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  8. ↑ Singh, Vinti (July 16, 2010). "Lake communities offer atmosphere, tradition". newstimes.com. Hearst Media. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Isle Residents Petition For Special Tax District". The Danbury News-Times. July 1, 1966. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  10. ↑ Hurley, Joe (August 12, 1982). "Lake communities adopt tax districts". The News-Times. Danbury, Connecticut. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  11. ↑ Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (1978). Information Relative to the Assessment and Collection of Taxes. State of Connecticut. p. 157. Retrieved June 9, 2026.