Bethlehem is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,385 at the 2020 census, down from 3,607 at the 2010 census. The town center is a historic district and a census-designated place (CDP). The town's name has prompted thousands of visitors each December to mail their Christmas cards at the renowned local post office, situated at 34 East Street, in order to get a "Bethlehem" postmark. The post office also has nearly 100 Christmas-related stamps for customers to decorate their envelopes during the holiday season. Bethlehem is one of the two towns in Litchfield County served by the area code 203/area code 475 overlay. The other is the town of Woodbury. Education Since 1970, elementary education has been handled by Regional School District 14, including Bethlehem Elementary School. Nonnewaug High School in neighboring Woodbury is the primary regional high school. The Woodhall School is a private high school located in town. Geography Bethlehem is in southern Litchfield County and is bordered by Morris to the north, Watertown to the east, Woodbury to the south, and Washington to the west. According to the United States Census Bureau, Bethlehem has a total area of , of which are land and , or 1.45%, are water. The Bethlehem Village census-designated place (CDP) corresponding to the center portion of the town has a total area of , of which are land and , or 3.30%, are water. The two largest water bodies in the town are Long Meadow Pond and the Bronson E. Lockwood Reservoir, both in the northern part of town. Connecticut Route 61 passes through the town center, leading north to Morris and Litchfield, and south to US 6 in Woodbury. Connecticut Route 132 takes a winding route through the town, leading south to Woodbury and east into Watertown. On the eastern side of town is a ridge called "the Devil's Backbone", one of more than 30 Connecticut places named after the devil. Principal community Bethlehem Village Demographics At the 2010 census Bethlehem had a population of 3,607. The racial composition of the population was 97.9% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% from some other race and 0.9% from two or more races. 1.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. At the 2000 census, there were 3,422 people, 1,246 households and 935 families residing in the town. The