Background on local growth, accessible from the menu or map at left, overviews the unique development of each community. The emphasis is upon growth and infrastructure changes since World War II.

The view over decades of how the Region's 10 municipalities have been changing is of particular value to new members of local land use commissions.

It is also useful to the general public in assessing the Housatonic Valley Region as a place to live, work and invest.


Land use change is heavily influenced by its fiscal impact upon the community. For details on this subject, see an award winning 2000 analysis of the costs and benefits of growth by the neighboring regional planning organization to the east, the Council of Governments of the Central Naugatuck Valley.