Set in hilly terrain, the town of Bethel in Fairfield County lies near Connecticut’s border with New York. Settled as part of Danbury in 1685, the parish of Bethel, which took its name in 1759 for the Hebrew term meaning “House of God,” incorporated in 1855. Bethel, as part of Danbury, had boasted hat-making factories as early as the late-1700s. The trade remained vital to the town’s economy well into the early 1900s. Today, such firms as Duracell, Inc., and Eaton Corporation, a power management company, call Bethel home. The town is also known as the birthplace of celebrated showman and entrepreneur P.T. Barnum.

Located in northern Fairfield County, Bethel lies 60 miles northeast of New York City and 50 miles southwest of Hartford.  Populated by  a little more than 18,000 people the town comprises of  over 17 square miles. Easily accessible to nearby RT. 84, Bethel has a small town charm, an active community calendar of events, walkable downtown offering a variety of restaurants, and an active historical society.