[JoeYanxfan]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

As a geographer- who has visited the Jersey shore many times- and also spent time on the CT shoreline- there is no part of the CT shoreline that begins to resemble New Jersey's Atlantic coastline. The population density is less- and there is more restrictive zoning that limits the density of development- in CT as Jay has said.

The Shoreline towns east of New Haven all have an historical New England maritime theme and 'house form & culture' that is New England- and certainly does not look like NJ.

Couple Qs for ya:

1) What is 'house form & culture'?
2) How does it relate to your profession as a Geographer?

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by JoeYanxfan

Couple Qs for ya:

1) What is 'house form & culture'?
2) How does it relate to your profession as a Geographer?

I think the answer to No. 1 is pretty clear. house form is architecture. Culture is well... culture. As for his profession, I don't think he needs to answer that. Skytrekker has shown a great knowledge of geography over the years which is all anyone needs to know. Jay

[allforcats]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

As a geographer-

You're a geographer? THAT'S FABULOUS!! landtrekker....

Yep, the slightest research sez "BA in Geography". As someone who was given my first map puzzle when I was probably about 2, I think your love of geography is a glorious way to use one's mind!

[bluecountry]

Originally Posted by skytrekker

The status of LI Sound is good- it is much cleaner then 30 years ago. East of New Haven there are smaller towns, with a traditional New England maritime persona. There are some nice town and state beaches and the water has more clarity then toward the west of New Haven.

Beyond to the east of the mouth of Connecticut river- where the sound opens up to Block Island sound and the Atlantic, the water becomes rougher and even cleaner.

Where does it become less dense...East Haven...Branford...Guilford?
Also...why are those towns different from West Haven...Orange....Milford?

[ctcoldplay11]

I'd say it becomes less dense from Branford, East.
Anything west of that is fairly well developed. I assume you're talking about East Haven, Branford and Guilford in comparison with West Haven, Orange and Milford? Well for beginners, the latter three towns are generally larger than the former three towns (West Haven-Orange-Milford has a combined population of around 119,000 while East Haven-Branford-Guilford has a combined population of around 79,000). This discrepancy in population is one of the reasons why East Haven, Branford and Guilford are all less dense than the other three towns.

In these towns you will find more rural beaches:
Branford-Guilford-Madison-Clinton-Westbrook-Old Saybrook-Old Lyme-East Lyme-Waterford-Stonington!

[nate14ri]

The CT folk all migrate to Watch Hill and Misquamicut in the summer....

[nico7]

Many of the beaches east of New Haven belong to private associations or homeowners with waterfront property. There are some public parks with beaches that are little-known gems, but many of them are not manned by lifeguards. The town beaches with lifeguards are generally small (except for Hammonassett, a state beach), and can get crowded. Plus they often charge a fee for usage or membership -- and may require residence.

The best thing about some of the beaches on public land (not necessarily "town beaches") east of New Haven is that nobody else can find them if they don't know where they're going.

The truth about Long Island Sound is that its environmental quality varies by location. In my opinion, the further east you go, the better. But stay away from industrial areas.

[skytrekker]

House form and culture--- the house form is what Jay said- local architecture from residential to even some commercial- and how local planners try and blend them into the prevailing landscape and 'culture' of a region.

The culture is not always a 'people' concept- it can be as relating to the traditions of the local inhabitants of a specific region- but also the 'culture' when ascribed to New England- including everything from architecture to urban design, local culinary habits, lifestyle habits regarding to the seasons and so on.

The study of Geography includes land use (rural and urban) and planning, urban design, physical geography, map making (cartography) Climate (Climatology) Drainage patterns and water use, Economic geography, transportation patterns and use and a plethora of other new disciplines introduced since I left College.

And last but not least 'house form & culture' which of course differs throughout the USA and the world.
Geography is defined as the study of 'location' and how people live and interact within a region- which of course may vary due to physical and climatic factors. But also what is produced agriculturally, natural resources- and how the local population utilizes these economically.