The Naugatuck Valley Planning Region is a planning region and county-equivalent in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is served by the coterminous Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG). In 2022, planning regions were approved to replace Connecticut's counties as county-equivalents for statistical purposes, with full implementation occurring by 2024.[1][2]
Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) | |
|---|---|
     From top left: Lake Compounce in Bristol, Town Green in Naugatuck, Main Street in Thomaston, Shepaug Dam in Southbury, Downtown Waterbury Historic District | |
 Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state of Connecticut | |
| Coordinates: 41°31′N 73°07′W / 41.52°N 73.12°W | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Connecticut |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Largest city | Waterbury |
| Other cities | Bristol, Shelton, Ansonia, Derby |
| Government | |
| • Executive Director | Rick Dunne |
| Area | |
• Total | 412.8 sq mi (1,069 km2) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 450,376 |
• Estimate (2025) | 463,349  |
| • Density | 1,090.13/sq mi (420.90/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional districts | 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th |
| Website | nvcogct |
Geography
editThe Naugatuck Valley Planning Region lies in west-central Connecticut, spanning urban centers and rural towns along the Naugatuck River. The region covers approximately 412.8 sq mi and includes both densely populated cities like Waterbury and Shelton, and smaller towns such as Bethlehem and Oxford. Major transportation routes such as Interstate 84 and Route 8 serve as key regional corridors.
Demographics
edit| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 8,198 | — | |
| 1800 | 10,097 | 23.2% | |
| 1810 | 8,903 | −11.8% | |
| 1820 | 19,611 | 120.3% | |
| 1830 | 19,231 | −1.9% | |
| 1840 | 19,868 | 3.3% | |
| 1850 | 25,207 | 26.9% | |
| 1860 | 39,305 | 55.9% | |
| 1870 | 47,187 | 20.1% | |
| 1880 | 64,816 | 37.4% | |
| 1890 | 82,125 | 26.7% | |
| 1900 | 110,865 | 35.0% | |
| 1910 | 154,112 | 39.0% | |
| 1920 | 200,514 | 30.1% | |
| 1930 | 223,036 | 11.2% | |
| 1940 | 229,609 | 2.9% | |
| 1950 | 256,323 | 11.6% | |
| 1960 | 310,233 | 21.0% | |
| 1970 | 362,719 | 16.9% | |
| 1980 | 381,620 | 5.2% | |
| 1990 | 413,851 | 8.4% | |
| 2000 | 428,790 | 3.6% | |
| 2010 | 448,738 | 4.7% | |
| 2020 | 450,376 | 0.4% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 463,349 | [3] | 2.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[2] | |||
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 450,376 people living in the Naugatuck Valley Planning Region.[2]
Government and Planning
editThe region is governed by the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG), which provides shared services and regional planning coordination. NVCOG oversees long-term transportation, land use, environmental, and economic strategies, and works with the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to implement the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).[4]
Municipalities
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Governor Lamont Announces U.S. Census Bureau Approves Proposal for Connecticut's Planning Regions To Become County Equivalents". CT.gov. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- 1 2 3 "Change to County-Equivalents in the State of Connecticut". Federal Register. June 6, 2022. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ↑ "A Council of Governments - NVCOG CT - Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments". April 22, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
- ↑ "Our Region". Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
External links
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