How did Norwalk, CT get the nickname “Oyster Town”?
Oysters and Norwalk, it’s like peanut butter and jelly or beer and pretzels, they just go together. It fits very naturally with it’s nickname “Oyster Town”. Norwalk Ct is located in Fairfield County on the Long Island Sound about 45 miles northeast of New York City. Like most of Connecticut it was settled early in the 17th century and given its location on the Sound it was natural that the water would play a part in its development. Oysters have been a part of the eco-system of Long Island Sound for hundreds perhaps even thousands of years. It was no secret to the Native Americans of the area that there were rich beds located very close to the shore. In Norwalk that means along, around and through the Norwalk Islands that form a six mile long barrier between the harbor and the sound. In the early days these oysters were just a local delicacy to be savored and enjoyed and to supplement the other food that could be grown in the area. As cities began to grow the need for fresh foods also
