Derby, CT

Derby was settled in 1642 as an Indian trading post under the name Paugasset. It was named after Derby, England, in 1675. It included what are now Ansonia, Seymour, Oxford, and parts of Beacon Falls.

Derby is home to the first electric trolley system in New England, only the second in the United States. It is also home to the first electric locomotive in U.S. history to be built and successfully used commercially for hauling freight. The locomotive, built in 1888, is still kept in running condition by the Shore Line Trolley Museum

Today, Derby is the smallest city in the state and offers a multitude of sightseeing opportunities including a 3-mile Greenway Trail, enjoy scenic views of the Naugatuck River and the Housatonic River. Visitors will enjoy the 400 acres of open space at the Kellogg Environmental Center and the Osborne Homestead Museum located in the Osbournedale State Park. The historic downtown district includes the historic greens and the nationally recognized Sterling Opera House, which hosted notables such as Harry Houdini. Derby is also home to the Yale University boathouse that houses crew teams and holds its spring regattas.

Places to Visit:

  • Greenway Trail
  • O'Sullvan's Island
  • Sterling Opera House
  • Osbournedale State Park
  • Historic Town Green

Climate:

    Derby, CT has a humid continental climate with warm and humid summers and cold winters, during which frequent snowfall occurs. The average annual temperature is around 47 °F. During the summer months, temperature highs can reach up to 90 °F, while overnight temperatures can drop to as low as 35°F in the winter. Precipitation is abundant throughout the year with an average of 44 inches of rain and approximately 50 inches of snow per year.

Transportation

    The city has a Metro-North Railroad station called Derby–Shelton. The station is located at 1 Main Street and serves the residents of Derby and Shelton. Derby-Shelton is the last regular stop on the Waterbury Branch before it joins the Northeast Corridor. The station is 69.5 miles from Grand Central Terminal, with travel time being an average of one hour, 54 minutes, depending on transfer time at Bridgeport. Travel time to New Haven is an average of one hour, two minutes, depending on transfer time.

    Derby is also served by buses of the Connecticut Transit – Route F6, Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority – Routes 15 & 23, and Valley Transit – Regional public bus service by reservation only, serving the residents of Ansonia, Derby, Shelton, and Seymour All bus routes meet at the Derby–Shelton station. The Valley Transit facility is next to the train station on adjoining property.