derby
For some time parts of the present day city of Derby were also known as Smithville and then Birmingham. The area prospered through agriculture, a successful foreign maritime trade, and finally manufacturing. The city of Derby was chartered by the state in 1893. The town's successful commercial development was by then based on manufacturing. From the first water-powered gristmill in 1681 to the opening of the Housatonic Dam in 1870, efficient use of available power attracted a series of large manufactures to the town.
While the rivers provided power and transportation that made Derby's location the envy of its neighbors from the earliest times, its geographic location continues to be a favorable asset to this day. Located in the center of a triangle bordered by New Haven on the east, Bridgeport to the south and Waterbury to the north, Derby is the hub of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the state, yet maintains its peaceful suburban charm. Route 8 provides a vital north-south link to major interstate highways 84 and 95. New York is little more than an hour's drive and Boston is about 2 hours away. Derby is an ideal place to live and work, and we invite you to learn more about the community by visiting our pages. Derby history is always being made, and these pages are constantly updated to keep pace. So, come back often to learn more about this vital city.
