1652Government
== History ==
The area along the Naugatuck River, comprising the present Elm Street section of Ansonia and Derby Avenue section of Derby, was first settled by English colonists ...
1654Culture
Elm Street is also the town's historic district and was part of the original 1654 settlement of Derby.
1844Government
Ansonia was founded in 1844 by merchant and philanthropist Anson Green Phelps.
1851Government
The well-known Ansonia Clock Company was founded here in 1851.
1864Government
The state chartered Ansonia as a borough of Derby in 1864 and amended it in 1871, granting full municipal privileges.
1866History
=== Invention of America's first bicycle ===
In 1866, while residing in Ansonia, inventor Pierre Lallement, a native of Pont-a-Mousson, France, submitted a patent application fo...
1870Architecture
The prominent Ansonia Opera House is the oldest opera house in Connecticut built in 1870.
1878Economy
The company moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1878 but retained its home city's name.
1880Government
=== Police department ===
The Ansonia Police Department was founded around 1880 when Ansonia was a borough in the Town of Derby and Daniel Hayes was appointed the first police c...
1882Crime
Chief Hayes died in 1882 after he succumbed to his injuries day after when he was shot while making an arrest.
1888History
In 1888, a petition was circulated in the borough of Ansonia for the purpose of becoming a separate township from Derby.
1889History
In 1889 the State General Assembly granted the separation, constituting the Borough, Hilltop, West Ansonia, and Elm Street areas as a separate town known as Ansonia.
1893Government
In 1893, Ansonia was incorporated as a city, consolidating with the coterminous Town and the old borough.
1900Government
Impellitteri (1900–1987), Mayor of New York City from 1950 to 1953
General Samuel Jaskilka (1919–2012), former assistant commandant of the U.S.
1924History
Cousins (1924–2013), sociologist
Joseph P.
1936Education
When it opened in 1936, it was one of the first "modern" high school buildings in the country.
1955Disaster
=== 20th century to present ===
Ansonia suffered grievous damage in the Flood of 1955 on August 19, when the Naugatuck River flooded due to heavy rain from Hurricane Diane.
1960History
In the early morning hours of November 6, 1960, Senator John F.
1962History
President Kennedy returned to Ansonia on October 17, 1962, while on his way to Waterbury, but did not stop here.
1985Military
Army colonel during World War II referenced in Cornelius Ryan's A Bridge Too Far
== On the National Register of Historic Places ==
Ansonia Library – 53 South Cliff Street (ad...
1992Government
Bush paid a visit to Ansonia by helicopter during the 1992 presidential election campaign.
1999Education
The former high school became Ansonia Middle School in 1999 when a new Ansonia High School was built at 20 Pulaski Highway in the Hilltop section of the city.
2000History
In 2000, the Lower Naugatuck Valley, which includes Ansonia, was named an "All America City" by the National Civic League.
2001Disaster
==== Rubber plant fire ====
In May 2001, a wind-driven fire destroyed the Latex Foam Company building, a very large rubber plant along the Naugatuck River in downtown Ansonia.
2007Architecture
The aforementioned Target store was constructed on the empty lot, opening in July 2007.
2009History
To provide an alternative, a non-profit, online-only news site, named The Valley Independent Sentinel in honor of the historic paper, has been organized and launched June 22, 2009.
2013Infrastructure
Cassetti, 13 years (2013–2025)
=== Politics ===
== Transportation ==
Ansonia is a station stop on the Waterbury Branch of the Metropolitan Transit Authority's Metro-North R...