Guilford is a coastal community located on the North Shore of Long Island Sound approximately 17 miles East of New Haven, CT and around 90 miles northeast of New York City.
Guilford was founded in 1639 as a small farming community. Slow changes over the next 300 years included the growth of specialty industries and development of the shoreline as a vacation/second home destination. The town's greatest transformation occurred in the 1950's with the growth of the suburbs as bedroom communities for urban centers such as New Haven.
Today's Guilford is an enjoyable mix of the old and new. The town features New England's third-largest collection of antique residences. Four of these are maintained as museums. Homes continue to be renovated or replaced in ways that pay homage to the antique New England flavor of the town. The community actively works to protect and preserve its most valuable natural habitats. Dedicated open space owned by the town and the Guilford Land Trust exceeds 5,000 acres. The proximity to the Long Island Sound provides a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities, including town beaches.
A unique feature of Guilford is its almost eight acre Town Green which anchors downtown Guilford. The Town Green hosts numerous events throughout the year including free Summer Concerts, Shakespeare on the Green, arts and crafts fairs, the Strawberry Social and ecumenical services including tree and menorah lightnings.