Town settlement began before the 1700s , but Bethel was not
incorporated as a town separate from Danbury until 1855. Like Danbury,
the town was dominated by the hatting industry until the last facility,
run by the Barton Rough Hat Company, closed in the mid-1960's. The
hatting industry brought growing prosperity to the area, any many
substantial, "Victorian" homes were built near the town center. The
town has an area of land called "P.T. Barnum Square" named after
Phineas Taylor Barnum, who was born in Bethel in 1810.
The public library found a permanent home when the Seelye family donated their old homestead on Greenwood Avenue in 1914.
Over the years, Bethel has developed into a town with excellent
schools, thriving businesses, diverse recreational areas and
breathtaking landscapes.
Bethel is a quaint, picturesque town with a lovely town green,
an active retail climate, a municipal center, library and churches
lining the streets. A recent streetscape project has significantly
enhanced the village center with new sidewalks, street lamps and
beautiful plantings.
An abundance of historic homes, winding stone walls and
converted farmhouses add to the charm of the surrounding countryside.
The town is primarily residential although careful planning has
resulted in some light industrial development. The Berkshire Corporate
Park and the Francis J. Clarke Industrial Park, home of Duracell's
world headquarters, are prime examples of controlled commercial and
industrial growth.
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