Norwalk
About Norwalk
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Norwalk is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 84,437 making it the sixth largest city in Connecticut. The current mayor of Norwalk is Dick Moccia, a Republican.
The name “Norwalk” itself comes from the Algonquin word “noyank” meaning “point of land”, or its Native American name, “Naramauke” (or Norwauke, Norowake, or Norwaake), a Native American chief.
The farming of oysters has long been important to Norwalk, which was once nicknamed “Oyster Town.” Norwalk is Connecticut’s largest oyster producer and home to the nation’s largest oyster company, Tallmadge Brothers. Each September, Norwalk holds its annual Oyster Festival. The festival is similar to many state fairs.
Residents of Norwalk are referred to as “Norwalkers”. They are served by Norwalk Hospital.
The influential Financial Accounting Standards Board and related Government Accounting Standards Board are headquartered in Norwalk.
Norwalk is composed of several neighborhoods: East Norwalk, Marvin Beach, West Norwalk, Cranbury, Silvermine, Winnipauk, Wilson Point, Harbor View, Rowayton and South Norwalk, known locally as “SoNo.” Norwalk is bordered on the east by Westport; on the north by Wilton; on the northwest by New Canaan; on the west by Darien and on the south by Long Island Sound.
The public school system has three high schools, each covering Grades 9 through 12: The oldest, Norwalk High School (founded in 1902) is the home of the Norwalk Bears. Brien McMahon High School (founded in 1960) is named for U.S. Senator Brien McMahon. The third is Briggs High School.
The city has four middle schools, for grades 6-8: West Rocks Middle School and Nathan Hale Middle School, which feed into Norwalk High School, and Roton Middle School and Ponus Ridge Middle School, which feed into Brien McMahon High School.
There are twelve elementary schools in Norwalk: Brookside, Columbus Magnet, Cranbury, Fox Run, Jefferson, Kendall, Marvin, Naramake, Rowayton, Silvermine, Tracey, and Wolfpit. One charter school, Side by Side Community School, is located in South Norwalk.
In 2006, three of the city’s four middle schools and nine of its 12 elementary schools, along with a “community school” were cited as falling behind in standards for the federal “No Child Left Behind” Act. Three elementary schools had not met the standards for two years in a row, so students in those schools are offered the choice to go to a Norwalk public school that hasn’t been designated as needing improvement.