The Naugatuck River Valley is the watershed area of the
Naugatuck River in the western part of
Connecticut. The Naugatuck Valley straddles parts of
Litchfield County,
New Haven, and
Fairfield counties. The
Route 8 corridor and
Waterbury Branch of the
Metro-North railroad line run along the river valley. Geographically, it comprises the municipalities located within the
Naugatuck River basin. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the area was one of the main manufacturing centers in
New England, and most of the communities around the river were emblematic New England mill towns.
Subdivisions
Traditionally, the Naugatuck Valley is often subdivided for historical, cultural, geographic, and demographic reasons.
The
Lower Naugatuck Valley refers to the area focused on the city of
Derby. The towns within the watershed area of the lower valley are
Shelton,
Seymour,
Woodbridge,
Ansonia, and Derby. The towns of Beacon Falls, Oxford, and Naugatuck, usually grouped together in the central valley region, are also sometimes assigned to the lower valley region.
Towns and cities
The following municipalities are members of the Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG):