Ellington is a rural town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. Ellington was incorporated in May, 1786, from East Windsor. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 12,921. Ellington is a rapidly growing community, and is going through the process of Suburbanization. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 34.6 square miles (89.6 km²), of which, 34.0 square miles (88.2 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.4 km²) of it (1.59%) is water. Ellington is bordered by the towns of East Windsor, South Windsor, Vernon, Tolland, Willington, Stafford, Somers, and Enfield. The town has a panhandle extending to the east that extends to the Willimantic River and encompasses Crystal Lake. A large portion of the town's eastern portion is occupied by the Shenipsit State Forest which is bounded on the south by Shenipsit Lake and on the north by Soapstone Mountain. As of the census of 2000, there were 12,921 people, 5,195 households, and 3,470 families residing in the town. The population density was 379.4 people per square mile (146.5/km²).