Bridgeport, Connecticut

City of Bridgeport
—  City  —
Bridgeport's Skyline

Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): The Park City, The Port, B-Port, BPT
Location in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Coordinates:
Country United States
State Connecticut
County Fairfield
NECTA/MSA Bridgeport-Stamford
Region Greater Bridgeport, Greater New York
Incorporated (town) 1821
Incorporated (city) 1836
Government
 - Type Mayor-council
 - Mayor Bill Finch
Area
 - City 19.4 sq mi (50.2 km2)
 - Land 16.0 sq mi (41.4 km2)
 - Water 3.4 sq mi (8.8 km2)
 - Urban 465.3 sq mi (1,205 km2)
Elevation 3 ft (1 m)
Population (2006)[1]
 - City 137,912
 - Density 8,720.9/sq mi (3,354/km2)
 - Metro 902,775
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 - Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 06601, 06602, 06604, 06606, 06607, 06608, 06610, 06650, 06673, 06699[2]
Area code(s) Area codes 203 and 475
FIPS code 09-08000
GNIS feature ID 0205720
Website www.bridgeportct.gov

Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 137,912 in 2006[1] and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area. The city is part of the New York combined statistical area and is the fifth largest city in New England.

Bridgeport is also the center of the 41st largest urban area in the United States, just behind Austin, Texas (40th).

The city is marked by its attachment to its famous resident, the circus-promoter and once mayor P.T. Barnum. Barnum built three houses in the city, and housed his circus in town during winters.

Other than Black Rock and Parts of Brooklawn which were originally part of the township of Fairfield, Bridgeport was originally a part of the township of Stratford. The first English settlement on the west bank of the mouth of the Pequonnock River was made somewhere between 1639 and 1665 and was called Pequonnock.[3][4] This village was renamed Newfield sometime before 1777.[5] More people settled further inland and to the West and the area officially became known as Stratfield in 1701, likely due to its location between the already existing towns of Stratford and Fairfield.[6] During the American Revolution, Bridgeport was a center of privateering.[4] In 1800, Newfield village was chartered as the borough of Bridgeport, and in 1821 the township of Bridgeport, including more of Stratfield, was incorporated. Finally, Bridgeport was chartered as a city in 1836.[7]

The city was home to the Frisbie Pie Company, and therefore it has been argued that Bridgeport is the birthplace of the frisbee.[8]

The city is also home to the first Subway Restaurant, opened in the North End section of the city in 1965.[9]

Contents

History

Early years

Bridgeport's early years were marked by residents' reliance on fishing and farming. The city's location on the deep Newfield Harbor fostered a boom in shipbuilding and whaling in the mid-19th century, especially after the opening of a railroad to the city in 1840.[10][11]

The city rapidly industrialized in the late-19th century, when it became a manufacturing center. It produced such goods as the famous Bridgeport milling machine, brass fittings, carriages, sewing machines, brassieres, saddles, and ammunition.[12] Bridgeport annexed the village of Black Rock and its busy harbor in 1870.[13]

Eastern View of Bridgeport, Con. by John Warner Barber (1836)

Abraham Lincoln's visit

On Saturday, March 10, 1860, Abraham Lincoln spoke in the city's Washington Hall, an auditorium at the old Bridgeport City Hall (now McLevy Hall), at the corner of State and Broad streets. Not only was the largest room in the city packed, but a crowd formed outside as well. Lincoln received a standing ovation before taking the 9:07 p.m. train that night back to Manhattan.[14][15] A plaque marks the site where Lincoln spoke. Other notables who have given speeches in Bridgeport include Martin Luther King, Jr. who spoke three times at the Klein Auditorium in the 1960s;[16] and President George W. Bush who spoke before a small, selected group of Connecticut business people and officials at the Playhouse on the Green, just across the street from McLevy Hall, in 2006.[17]

Industrialization and labor history

Industrialization started taking place in the mid-19th century. Famous factories included Wheeler & Wilson, which produced sewing machines and exported them throughout the world, and the Locomobile Company of America, builder of one of the premier automobiles in the early years of the century.[18]

In the summer of 1915, amid increased labor demand for World War I, a series of strikes demanding the eight-hour day began in Bridgeport. They were so successful that they spread throughout the Northeast.[19]

By 1930, Bridgeport was a thriving industrial center with more than 500 factories. Since the late 19th century, its industrial jobs had attracted the most recent immigrants: Irish, Italians and eastern Europeans. The build-up to World War II further helped its industries.[20]

Deindustrialization

Restructuring of heavy industry starting after the mid-20th century caused the loss of thousands of jobs and residents. Like other urban centers in Connecticut, Bridgeport suffered during the deindustrialization of the United States in the 1970s and 1980s.[21] Suburban flight as well as overall mismanagement, for which several city officials were convicted, contributed to the decline.[22]

In September 1978, Bridgeport teachers went on a 19-day strike due to deadlocked contract negotiations. A court order, as well as state law that made strikes illegal in Connecticut, resulted in 274 teachers being arrested and jailed.[23]

A portion of the harbor in Bridgeport.

Like other northeastern cities suffering from the effects of Post World War II industrial decline, Bridgeport made numerous efforts at revitalization. In one proposal Las Vegas developer Steve Wynn was to build a large casino, but that project failed to materialize. In 1991, the city filed for bankruptcy protection but was declared solvent by a federal court.[24]

Twenty-first century

In the early 21st century, Bridgeport is a city that despite the longtime burdens of crime, poverty and corruption has taken steps toward redevelopment of its downtown and other neighborhoods. In 2004, artists' lofts in the former Read's Department Store on Broad Street first became available. Several other rental conversions have been completed, including the 117 unit Citytrust bank building on Main Street. The recession has halted, at least temporarily, two major mixed-use projects including a $1 billion waterfront development at Steel Point, but other redevelopment projects have proceeded, albeit slowly, such as the condominium conversion project in Bijou Square.[25] In 2009, the City Council approved a new master plan for development designed both to promote redevelopment in selected areas and to protect existing residential neighborhoods.[26] In 2010, the Bridgeport Housing Authority and a local health center announced plans to build a $20 million medical and housing complex at Albion Street, making use of federal stimulus funds and designed to replace some of the housing lost with the demolition of Father Panik Village.[27]

Emergency services

Fire Department

The City of Bridgeport is protected 24/7 by the professional firefighters of the City of Bridgeport Fire Department (BFD). The BFD operates from eight fire stations, strategically-located throughout the city, in two battalions, under the command of a deputy chief and two battalion chiefs. The BFD operates a fire apparatus fleet of nine engines (including a Quint), four ladders, a rescue vehicle, a command Vehicle, a haz-mat. unit, three marine units, and numerous special, support, and reserve units. The BFD responds to, on average, approximately 10,000 emergency calls a year. [28][29]

Two Bridgeport firefighters, Lt. Steven Velazquez and Firefighter Michel Baik, died while fighting a fire at 41 Elmwood Ave. Saturday afternoon (07/24/2010). In a residential structure fire, they had been trapped on the 3rd floor while checking for hotspots and trapped victims. [30]

Engine Company Ladder Company Special Unit Battalion Chief Address Neighborhood
Engine 1 Ladder 5 Rescue 5, Command Vehicle, Marine 1 Battalion 1 30 Congress St. Downtown
Engine 3, Engine 4 Haz-Mat. Decon. Unit 233 Wood Ave. West Side
Engine 6 Ladder 6 Marine 3 Battalion 2 1035 Central Ave. East End
Engine 7 Ladder 11 245 Ocean Terrace Black Rock
Engine 10 Ladder 10 950 Boston Ave. East Side
Engine 12 265 Beechmont Ave. Brooklawn
Engine 15 104 Evers St. North Bridgeport
Engine 16(Quint) 3115 Madison Ave. North End

Law enforcement

There are 5 law enforcement agencies that serve Bridgeport. Two at the city level, one at the county level, and two at the state level.

City Level:

County Level:

State Level:

Law enforcement agencies in Fairfield County, Connecticut
State Level
Connecticut State Police • Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police
County Level
Fairfield County Sheriff's Department • Fairfield County Marshal
Town/City Level
Bethel Police Department • Bridgeport Police Department • Bridgeport Park Police Department • Bristol Police Department • Brookfield Police Department • Danbury Police Department • Darien Police Department • Easton Police Department • Fairfield Police Department • Greenwich Police Department • New Canaan Police Department • Newtown Police Department • Norwalk Police Department • Ridgefield Police Department • Shelton Police Department • Shelton Sheriff's Department • Stamford Police Department • Stratford Police Department • Weston Police Department • Westport Police Department • Wilton Police Department • Trumbull Police Department
University Level
Western Connecticut State University Police Department • Sacred Heart University Public Safety

Medical care

The community has two hospitals, Bridgeport Hospital and St. Vincent's Medical Center.

Animal control

Animal Control has been located for many years at 525 Asylum St. and on June 2008 the animal shelter which is now referred to as Bridgeport Animal Control has moved to 236 Evergreen St. This location was the previous housing quarters for the Shoreline Star Greyhounds. This location once housed over 800 dogs. The Animal Control facility is currently the largest in the state of Connecticut. Over 1500 to 2000 animals are brought in yearly. The new facilities currently consist of three buildings. An Administration building, and two animal holding buildings. One is used as a quarantine building for the 7 day holding period and the second is the adoption building. The new shelter can house up to 80 dogs and 25 cats. During the beginning of the project the facility was planning on holding 52 cats in a fourth building but there wasn't enough money in the budget. The Director of the Animal shelter is referred to as the Chief Animal Control officer and his assistant officers are referred to as AACO's (Assistant Animal Control officers) The largest breed of dog the shelter deals with, is the "Pitbull." The BAC does not pick up cats unless they are sick or injured and this is also the same policy for wildlife.[31]

Geography and climate

Bridgeport is located along Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Pequonnock River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.4 square miles (50.2 km²), of which, 16.0 square miles (41.4 km²) of it is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) of it (17.53%) is water. Bridgeport lies within the transition zone between a humid subtropical and a humid continental (Köppen Cfa/Dfa), with very warm and humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Although the seasonal extremes are slightly moderated by Long Island Sound, the primary annual weather pattern flow is offshore, from the colder landmasses to the north and west. The adjacent waters result in Bridgeport being several degrees cooler in summer and slightly milder with less snowfall in winter than locations further away from the coast. The city receives 41.7 inches (1,060 mm) of precipitation and 24.8 inches (63 cm) of snowfall in an average year. The snowiest winter on record is 1996 where Bridgeport received 76.8 inches (195 cm).[32]

Climate data for Bridgeport, Connecticut
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 36.9
(2.72)		 38.8
(3.78)		 46.9
(8.28)		 57
(13.9)		 67.4
(19.67)		 76.4
(24.67)		 81.9
(27.72)		 80.7
(27.06)		 73.6
(23.11)		 63.1
(17.28)		 52.6
(11.44)		 42.1
(5.61)		 59.8
(15.44)
Average low °F (°C) 22.9
(-5.06)		 24.9
(-3.94)		 32
(0)		 40.7
(4.83)		 50.6
(10.33)		 59.6
(15.33)		 66
(18.9)		 65.4
(18.56)		 57.7
(14.28)		 46.3
(7.94)		 37.5
(3.06)		 28
(-2.2)		 44.3
(6.83)
Precipitation inches (mm) 3.73
(94.7)		 2.92
(74.2)		 4.15
(105.4)		 3.99
(101.3)		 4.03
(102.4)		 3.57
(90.7)		 3.77
(95.8)		 3.75
(95.3)		 3.58
(90.9)		 3.54
(89.9)		 3.65
(92.7)		 3.47
(88.1)		 44.15
(1,121.4)
Snowfall inches (cm) 8.5
(21.6)		 7.2
(18.3)		 4.3
(10.9)		 0.9
(2.3)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0.7
(1.8)		 3.2
(8.1)		 24.8
(63)
Avg. precipitation days 11 9.8 11.1 10.3 11.4 10.7 8.5 9.2 8.6 8.2 9.8 11.4 120
Avg. snowy days 5.3 4.4 2.5 0.4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.7 2.9 16.2
Source: NOAA [33]
1912 postcard showing Main Street in Bridgeport

Cityscape

The Bridgeport Harbor is bordered by the Long Island Sound and is formed by the estuary of the Pequonnock River and Yellow Mill Pond, an inlet. Between the estuary and the pond is a peninsula, East Bridgeport, also known as the East Side, which was once the site of some of the largest manufacturing establishments in Connecticut, most of which no longer exist. On the other side of the Yellow Mill Pond inlet is the East End of Bridgeport, which is the far Eastern point of the city, next to Pleasure Beach Island. Above the East End are the Mill Hill and Boston Avenue neighborhoods and the border with Stratford, Connecticut. West of the Harbor and the Pequonnock River is the main portion of the city, with Downtown Bridgeport lining the river, the South End lining the harbor and Long Island Sound, the West Side between Fairfield, Connecticut and Downtown, and North Bridgeport extending from Downtown and the West Side to the border with Trumbull, Connecticut. Numerous factories, some of which are no longer in operation, line western sections the Metro North/New Haven Railroad line from the Bridgeport Station in Downtown, under Interstate 95 in the South End, and through the West Side and into Fairfield. The city is surrounding by hills in North Bridgeport/North End, the Upper East Side, and Mill Hill.

The main portion of the city is divided into three major North/South roads that somewhat parallel each other. Main Street, the city's main artery, extending from the Trumbull town line, down through North Bridgeport, under Route 25 and into Downtown, ending at the Harbor Yard Arena in the South End. Park Avenue is the far western main road that is on the borderline with the town of Fairfield and extends from the Easton, Connecticut border in the North End to the West Side. Madison Avenue is situated parallel between Main Street and Park Avenue that extends from the Trumbull town line in the North End and continues through the West Side. East Main Street is the major North/South road through East Bridgeport, extending from the Trumbull/Stratford line though the East Side, ending near Steel Point. The major East/West roads in the city are Barnum Avenue, Boston Avenue, Fairfield Avenue/Stratford Avenue, North Avenue, Capitol Avenue, State Street, and Railroad Avenue. Barnum Avenue extends from the Stratford line, below Mill Hill, and ends at the Pequonnock River. Boston Avenue breaks off of Barnum Avenue at the Stratford line and goes Northwest through the Upper East Side into the North End. Stratford Avenue starts in the South End of the town of Stratford and travels Southwest into Bridgeport, where it briefly becomes Connecticut Avenue in the city's East End. It then travels East through Steel Point directly into the center of Downtown Bridgeport, where it turns into Fairfield Avenue at Main Street. Fairfield Avenue then travels South and then Southwest through the West Side and down into Black Rock, where it turns into the Boston Post Road, or simply, the Post Road, in Fairfield, Connecticut. North Avenue begins at Boston Avenue in the Upper East Side above the Pequonnock River and extends Southwest diagonally through the city as Route 1. Like Fairfield Avenue, it then turns into the Post Road in Fairfield. Capitol Avenue begins by breaking off of North Avenue at Barnum Avenue and travels West across the Madison and Brooklawn neighborhoods near North Bridgeport and ends at the Fairfield line. State Street begins in Downtown and cuts across the West Side, where it terminates in Fairfield. Railroad Avenue extends from just below Downtown Bridgeport and runs parallel with the Metro North/New Haven Railroad lines. The Westbound side above the tracks, and the Eastbound side below the tracks. It terminates at Fairfield Avenue in the West Side.

There are two large parks in Bridgeport, the Park City. Beardsley is in the extreme northeastern part of the city and also contains Connecticut's only zoo, the Beardsley Zoo. It also borders a large reservoir. Seaside is west of the harbor entrance and along the Sound in the South End. It has statues in honor of Elias Howe, who built a large sewing-machine factory in 1863; and of P.T. Barnum, the showman, who lived in Bridgeport after 1846. He contributed much to the city, especially East Bridgeport. Seaside Park also has a soldiers' and sailors' monument. In the vicinity are many upscale residences.

Aside from the Pequonnock River and the Yellow Mill Pond, there is Cedar Creek. Cedar Creek is a lake-like tidal creek that lies between Black Rock and Seaside Park. Black Rock Harbor lies at the mouth of the creek.[34]

The principal municipal buildings in Bridgeport are the city's two hospitals(St. Vincent's Medical Center and Bridgeport Hospital), the Protestant orphan asylum, the Barnum Institute (occupied by the Bridgeport Scientific and Historical Society), the Bridgeport Medical Society, City Hall, the Fairfield County Courthouse, the Barnum Museum, and the United States Customs House, which also contains a post office.

Historical postcard showing Brigeport Harbor
1941 postcard showing Fairfield County Courthouse in Bridgeport

Neighborhoods

Bridgeport is made up of approximately 60 distinct neighborhoods and districts.

Islands

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1840 3,294
—
1850 6,080 84.6%
1860 12,106 99.1%
1870 18,969 56.7%
1880 27,643 45.7%
1890 48,866 76.8%
1900 70,996 45.3%
1910 102,054 43.7%
1920 143,555 40.7%
1930 146,716 2.2%
1940 147,121 0.3%
1950 158,709 7.9%
1960 156,748 −1.2%
1970 156,542 −0.1%
1980 142,546 −8.9%
1990 141,686 −0.6%
2000 139,529 −1.5%
Est. 2006 137,912 [35] −1.2%
Population 1840–1970[36]

As of the census[37] of 2000, there were 139,529 people, 50,307 households, and 32,749 families residing in the city. The population density was 8,720.9 people per square mile (3,367.0/km²). There were 54,367 housing units at an average density of 3,398.1/sq mi (1,312.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 45.02% White, 30.76% African American, 0.48% Native American, 3.25% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 14.81% from other races, and 5.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 31.88% of the population. Other ancestry groups include: Italian (8.6%), Irish (5.1%), Portuguese (2.9%), Polish (2.8%), and German (2.4%). [1]

A typical street scene in Bridgeport

There were 50,307 households out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% were married couples living together, 24.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.34.

In the city the population was spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,658, and the median income for a family was $39,571. Males had a median income of $32,430 versus $26,966 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,306. About 16.2% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.8% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 25, 2005[38]
Party Active Voters Inactive Voters Total Voters Percentage
  Democratic 33,374 2,855 36,229 58.23%
  Republican 5,069 468 5,537 8.90%
  Unaffiliated 18,538 1,887 20,425 32.83%
  Minor Parties 27 3 30 0.05%
Total 57,008 5,213 62,221 100%

Education

Higher education

Bridgeport is home to Housatonic Community College, St. Vincent's College, University of Bridgeport and the Yeshiva Gedola of Bridgeport.

Public education

The city's public school system has 30 elementary schools, three comprehensive high schools, two alternative programs and an interdistrict vocational aquaculture school. The system has about 20,800 students, making the Bridgeport Public Schools the second largest school system in Connecticut after Hartford. It is ranked #158 out of the 164 Connecticut school districts.[39] The school system employs a professional staff of more than 1,700.

The city has started a large school renovation and construction program, with plans for new schools and modernization of existing buildings.

High Schools

Private education

Bridgeport is also home to several Catholic schools, including St. Ambrose (the largest), St. Raphael's, St. Augustine, St. Andrew's, St. Peter's, and St. Ann.

Government and politics

The city is governed by the mayor council system. There are twenty members of the city council elected from districts. Each district elects two members. The mayor is elected by the entire city. Bridgeport is notable for having had a Socialist mayor for 24 years; Jasper McLevy served as mayor from 1933 to 1957. A more recent mayor, Joseph Ganim, was involved in a corruption scandal, as has been the case with some other mayors in Connecticut.[40] In June 2006, Mayor John M. Fabrizi admitted that he had used cocaine while in office.[41]

Culture

Barnum Museum

Performing arts

Theater and music

Bridgeport has a number of venues for live theater and music events, ranging from intimate performing spaces to a stadium hosting rock concerts.[42]

Music festivals and concert series

Bridgeport has been the annual home to Gathering of the Vibes, a weekend long arts, music and camping festival featuring some of the best names in festival talent. In 1999, 2000, and 2007 through 2010, thousands of people have come from all over the world to camp in Seaside Park and enjoy such talent as Buddy Guy, Bob Weir and Ratdog, Deep Banana Blackout, Les Claypool, Assembly of Dust, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Los Lobos and Bridgeport's own The Alternate Routes.

Bridgeport is also the home of the Black Rock Art Center, a multi-cultural center that presents performing artists from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Americas both at the Art Center and also in a Summer Sounds of the World concert series. The series has featured such artists as blues musician James Cotton, Grammy-award winner Eddie Palmieri, the Cambodian Angkor Dance Company, salsa master Larry Harlow, and folk artists Richie Havens and Odetta. The Art Center features a world music series, a cabaret series, the Black Rock Blues Festival, in addition to cinema, gallery, and educational programs.

Notables

Museums, zoos, and parks

Museums and zoo

Theater and music

Bridgeport has a number of museums, ranging from the science-oriented to fine arts and historical, as well as the state's largest zoo.[42]

Parks

Bridgeport's first public park was the 4-acre (16,000 m2) Washington Park in East Bridgeport, first set aside as a park in 1851.[43] As the city rapidly grew in population, residents recognized the need for more public parks and by 1864, Barnum and other residents had donated approximately 35 acres (140,000 m2) to create Seaside Park, now increased to 375 acres.[44] In 1878, over 100 acres (400,000 m2) of land bordering the Pequonnock River was added as Beardsley Park.[45] Frederick Law Olmsted, famous for creating New York City's Central Park, designed both Seaside and Beardsley Parks.[46] Over time, more parks were added including 35-acre (140,000 m2) Beechwood Park and Pleasure Beach, home to a popular amusement park for many years.

The "Park City" now has these parks:

In popular culture

Movies filmed in Bridgeport

A list of films shot or partially filmed in the city:[52]

Television filmed in Bridgeport

Sports

Club League Venue Established Championships
Bridgeport Bluefish ALPB, Baseball The Ballpark at Harbor Yard 1998 1
Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL, Ice hockey Arena at Harbor Yard 2001 0

The recently-built Arena at Harbor Yard serves as the city's sports and hospitality center. Seating 10,000, the Arena serves as the home rink of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers AHL hockey team, as well as the home court of the Fairfield University's basketball team.

The Ballpark at Harbor Yard serves as a minor-league baseball stadium, and was built in 1998 to serve as the homefield of the Bridgeport Bluefish. It is located downtown on a former brownfield site. It is visually prominent to commuters on I-95 or on passing trains.

Kennedy Stadium serves as a community sports facility. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, it was the home of an Atlantic Coast Football League minor league football team, the Bridgeport Jets, a New York Jets farm team also known locally as the Hi-Ho Jets due to their sponsorship by the (Hi-Ho) D'Addario construction company.

Fairfield University is located in the neighboring town of Fairfield, and many of the athletic teams play on campus. Only the men's and women's basketball teams play in Bridgeport.

Broadcast stations in the city

Radio

Due to Bridgeport's close proximity to Long Island Sound, many AM stations from New York are received clearly day and night in the market. These include WMCA, WFAN, WOR, WABC, WNYC, WCBS, WEPN, and WQEW.[55]

Radio stations in the Bridgeport, Connecticut market
By FM frequency
89.5 · 91.1 · 92.3 · 92.5 · 93.1 · 93.7 · 95.1 · 95.5 · 95.9 · 96.3 · 96.7 · 97.1 · 97.9 · 98.5 · 98.7 · 99.1 · 99.9 · 100.3 · 101.1 · 101.3 · 101.9 · 102.3 · 102.9 · 103.5 · 104.1 · 104.3 · 105.1 · 105.9 · 106.1 · 106.7 · 106.9 · 107.5 · 107.9
By AM frequency
600 · 660 · 690 · 710 · 770 · 880 · 930 · 960 · 1010 · 1050 · 1100 · 1260 · 1290 · 1340 · 1360 · 1370 · 1440 · 1450 · 1500 · 1530
By callsign

WABC · WADS · WALK · WAXQ · WBAB · WBLI · WBLS · WBON · WCBS (AM) · WCBS-FM · WCCC · WCCC-FM · WCTZ · WCUM · WDJZ · WDRC · WDRC-FM · WEBE · WELI · WEPN · WEZN · WFAN · WFIF · WFOX · WHCN · WHLI · WHTZ · WICC · WINS · WKCI-FM · WKTU · WLTW · WNYG WOR · WPAT · WPAT-FM · WPKN · WPLJ · WPLR · WQCD · WQHT · WQXR · WRKI · WRKS · WSHU-FM · WSHU (AM) · WSKQ · WURH · WWPR · WWPR-FM · WWYZ · WXRK · WYBC · WZMX

Bold stations are local to Bridgeport, most others are from New York

Connecticut Radio Markets: Bridgeport • Danbury • • • • Norwalk-Stamford

 :  ·  ·  ·  ·  ·  · Bridgeport · Danbury ·  · Stamford-Norwalk

Media

Television

Transportation

Airports

Nearby Sikorsky Memorial Airport once provided regional flights to major hub cities such as Logan International Airport in Boston and Baltimore-Washington International Airport; however, service to the airport declined in the 1990s, and US Airways Express became the last airline to suspend operations at the airport in November 1999. In June 2006, US Helicopter began scheduled service to New York City from the Sikorsky Airport. Tweed New Haven Regional Airport is another nearby facility that provides scheduled air service. The closest international airports are Bradley Airport in Windsor Locks CT, La Guardia and John F. Kennedy in New York City and Newark in Newark, New Jersey.

Major highways

Bridgeport has several major roadways. Interstate 95 and the Route 8/Route 25 Connector meet in downtown Bridgeport. I-95 runs east-west near the coast heading towards New York City to the southwest and Providence to the northeast. Routes 8 and 25 run north-south across the city, with the two routes splitting just north of the city. Route 8 continues towards Waterbury and Torrington and Route 25 continues towards the Danbury area. Both Routes 8 and 25 connect to the Merritt Parkway in the adjacent town of Trumbull.

Other major surface arteries are U.S. 1 (the Boston Post Road), which runs east-west north of downtown, and Main Street, which runs north-south towards Trumbull center. The city also has several secondary state highways, namely, Route 127 (East Main Street), Route 130 (Connecticut Ave, Stratford Ave, Fairfield Ave and Water Street), and the Huntington Turnpike.

Railroad and ferries

The Bridgeport Station is part of an intermodal transit hub

The city is connected to nearby New York City by both Amtrak and Metro-North commuter trains. Many residents commute to New York jobs on these trains, and the city to some extent is developing as an outpost of New York–based workers seeking cheaper rents and larger living spaces. Connecting service is also available to Waterbury via Metro-North, and New Haven via Amtrak and Metro-North. Shoreline East Service links Old Saybrook and New London with New Haven, which extends to Bridgeport and Stamford during rush hours Mon. – Fri. only.

The Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Ferry service runs from Bridgeport across Long Island Sound to Port Jefferson, New York; the three vessels "Grand Republic", "P.T. Barnum" and "Park City" transport both automobiles and passengers.

Buses

The Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority (GBTA) provides bus service to Bridgeport and its immediate suburbs. Route 2 the Coastal Link goes west to Norwalk and east to Westfield's Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, from where Connecticut Transit can bring passengers to the New Haven Green. Greyhound and Peter Pan Bus Lines both offer intercity bus service to points throughout the Northeast and points beyond.

Historic sites

Bridgeport has a number of sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

For places on the register elsewhere in Fairfield County, see List of Registered Historic Places in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Notable people, past, and present

Obverse of the Bridgeport Half Dollar

For further information, see People of Bridgeport, Connecticut

Perhaps Bridgeport's most famous resident from the past is P. T. Barnum, the circus promoter who also served as mayor of the city. His portrait was used on the obverse of the coin commemorating the city's centennial in 1936.

Other Bridgeporters who achieved fame far outside the city include:

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Annual Estimates of the Population for All Incorporated Places in Connecticut" (CSV). 2006 Population Estimates. U.S. Census Bureau, Population Division. 2006. http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/files/SUB-EST2006_9.csv. Retrieved June 28, 2007. 
  2. ↑ http://pe.usps.com/search/jsp/search/vv_docread.jsp?k2dockey=http%3A%2F%2Fpe.usps.com%2Ftext%2Fdmm300%2FL007.htm%40PE_DMM300_HTML_5&serverSpec=56.0.145.56:9920&QueryParser=Simple&querytext=%28bridgeport%3Cand%3Ect%29&dtype=2#hit0
  3. ↑ Waldo, v1 1917, pp. 14--16.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Bridgeport, Conn.". The Encyclopedia Americana: a library of universal knowledge. 4. New York: Encyclopedia Americana Corp.. 1918. pp. 527. http://books.google.com/books?id=CGIMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA527. Retrieved 2010-07-29. 
  5. ↑ Orcutt, v1 1886, p. 609.
  6. ↑ Orcutt, v1 1886, pp. 470--474.
  7. ↑ Waldo, v1 1917, pp. 37--38.
  8. ↑ "History Of Frisbies". http://bridgeport.ct.schoolwebpages.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=26565. Retrieved November 28, 2007. 
  9. ↑ Emily Ross, Angus Holland (2005). One hundred great businesses and the minds behind them. Sourcebooks, Inc.. pp. 388. ISBN 978-1402206313. http://books.google.com/?id=6qSx2UrQ_H0C&pg=PA388. 
  10. ↑ Orcutt, v1 1886, pp. 608--609.
  11. ↑ Waldo, v1 1917, pp. 222--225.
  12. ↑ Strother, French (January 1916). "America, A New World Arsenal". The World's Work: A History of Our Time XXXI: 321–333. http://books.google.com/?id=09_Sr9emceQC&pg=PA321. Retrieved August 4, 2009. 
  13. ↑ "National Historic Places Nomination" (pdf). Black Rock. 1978. pp. 11. http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/79002658.pdf. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  14. ↑ Burr, Raymond F., Abraham Lincoln: Western Star Over Connecticut, Lithographics Inc., Canton, Connecticut (no year given), pages 1 and 15; book contents reprinted by permission of the Lincoln Herald, (Harrogate, Tennessee) Summer, Fall and Winter, 1983 and Spring and Summer, 1984
  15. ↑ Holzer, Harold, Lincoln at Cooper Union, (Simon & Schuster: New York), 2004 Chapter 8: "Unable to Escape This Toil," p. 201 ISBN 0-7432-2466-3
  16. ↑ "Martin Luther King in Bridgeport?". Bridgeport Public Library. http://www.hiddenhistoryofbridgeport.com/2009/01/martin-luther-king-in-bridgeport.html. Retrieved 2010-07-30. 
  17. ↑ Fred Lucas (2006-04-06). "Bush visits Bridgeport". News Times (Danbury). http://www.newstimes.com/default/article/Bush-visits-Bridgeport-98971.php. Retrieved 2010-07-30. 
  18. ↑ Kimes, Beverly Rae (editor) and Clark, Henry Austin, jr., The Standard Catalogue of American Cars 1805-1942 , 2nd edition, Krause Publications (1989), ISBN 0-87341-111-0
  19. ↑ Philip Sheldon Foner (1982). History of the Labor Movement in the United States: 1915-1916, on the Eve of America's Entrance into World War I, Vol. 6. International Publishers Company, Incorporated. p. 196. ISBN 9780717805952. http://books.google.com/?id=ixcYmW_jR8kC&pg=196&lpg=196&q. "[A] ten-hour center like Bridgeport was converted overnight into an eight-hour community, a result that ten years of agitation under normal conditions might not have accomplished." 
  20. ↑ "Bridgeport Working: Voices from the 20th Century". Bridgeport Public Library. http://www.bridgeporthistory.org/. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  21. ↑ Matthew L. Wald (1982-09-05). "THE Workplace in Transition". New York Times (US). http://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/05/nyregion/the-workplace-in-transition.html. Retrieved 2010-07-28. 
  22. ↑ Andi Rierden (1990-02-25). "Bridgeport is Fighting Its 'Dump City' Image". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/25/nyregion/bridgeport-is-fighting-its-dump-city-image.html?pagewanted=1. Retrieved 2010-08-01. 
  23. ↑ Musante, Fred. The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E4D6173AF932A35751C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print. Retrieved April 26, 2010. 
  24. ↑ George Judson (August 2, 1991). "U.S. Judge Blocks Bridgeport From Bankruptcy Court". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/02/nyregion/us-judge-blocks-bridgeport-from-bankruptcy-court.html?scp=212&sq=&st=nyt&pagewanted=1. Retrieved 2010-07-17. "The case attracted national attention as Bridgeport portrayed itself as a city abandoned by industry, left to bear alone the poverty and social problems of Fairfield County that its suburbs turned their backs on." 
  25. ↑ Lisa Prevost (2009-04-10). "Revival in Progress; Stay Tuned". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/realestate/12zone.html?ref=commercial. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 
  26. ↑ Bill Cummings (2009-08-31). "Bridgeport council approves development plan". News Times (Danbury). http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Bridgeport-council-approves-development-plan-1127.php. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 
  27. ↑ Keila Torres (2010-02-14). "Agencies partner for housing/medical complex in Bridgeport". News Times (Danbury). http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Agencies-partner-for-housing-medical-complex-in-364841.php. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 
  28. ↑ http://www.bridgeportct.gov/fire/Pages/MissionStatement.aspx. Accessed July 1, 2010
  29. ↑ http://www.thepostroad.com/bfd.html. Accessed July 1, 2010
  30. ↑ http://www.bridgeportct.gov/pages/NewsDetails.aspx?itemid=84. Accessed July 25, 2010
  31. ↑ Source: Bridgeport Animal Control
  32. ↑ The Winter of 95–96: A Season of Extremes, National Climatic Data Center
  33. ↑ "NCDC: U.S. Climate Normals". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20/ct/060806.pdf. Retrieved 2010-05-11. 
  34. ↑ Cedar Creek on by Google Maps
  35. ↑ Census data for Bridgeport, United States Census Bureau. Accessed December 23, 2007.
  36. ↑ U.S. Census Bureau. Accessed January 23, 2008.
  37. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  38. ↑ "Registration and Party Enrollment Statistics as of October 25, 2005" (PDF). Connecticut Secretary of State. http://www.sots.ct.gov/ElectionsServices/lists/2005OctRegEnrollStats.pdf. Retrieved October 2, 2006. 
  39. ↑ http://www.schooldigger.com/go/CT/districtrank.aspx
  40. ↑ Everton Bailey Jr. (2010-06-18). "Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez convicted of corruption". Associated Press (Christian Science Monitor). http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0618/Hartford-Mayor-Eddie-Perez-convicted-of-corruption. Retrieved 2010-08-15. "Corruption investigations have brought down several prominent Connecticut politicians within the past decade.... Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim was convicted of corruption in 2003, sentenced to nine years in prison and released to a halfway house in Hartford in January. Former Waterbury Mayor Philip Giordano is serving a 37-year prison sentence for sexually abusing two girls, crimes that came to light during a federal corruption investigation." 
  41. ↑ Michael J. Daly (2008-06-15). "Fabrizi's story still intrigues". Connecticut Post. http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Fabrizi-s-story-still-intrigues-219989.php. Retrieved 2010-08-15. 
  42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 Patricia Harris and David Lyon (2008-02-06). "On a comeback: After some down times, city find itself on the verge of a renaissance". Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/connecticut/articles/2008/02/06/on_a_comeback/. Retrieved 2010-08-05. 
  43. ↑ Waldo, v1 1917, p. 277.
  44. ↑ Jeff Holtz (2002-08-18). "The View From/Bridgeport; Historic Seaside Park Recaptures Its Appeal". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/18/nyregion/the-view-from-bridgeport-historic-seaside-park-recaptures-its-appeal.html?scp=2&sq=historic%20seaside%20park%20recaptures%20its%20appeal&st=cse. Retrieved 2010-08-01. 
  45. ↑ Waldo, v1 1917, p. 280.
  46. ↑ F.L. & J.C. Olmsted (1884). Beardsley Park: Landscape Architects' Preliminary Report. Privately Printed (Boston). pp. 4–7. http://books.google.com/?id=reoCAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA4&q. 
  47. ↑ http://www.jstor.org/pss/2711156
  48. ↑ Stephen King (1978). Night shift. Doubleday. pp. 255--256. ISBN 978-0385129916. http://books.google.com/?id=YTDDiSUsD-EC&pg=PA255&q. "'P.S. 119, Bridgeport, Connecticut' .... 'Ed Hamner, Sr., was a compulsive gambler. He worked for a top-line advertising agency in New York and then moved to Bridgeport sort of on the run.'" 
  49. ↑ A. J. Sobczak, Janet Alice Long, and Frank Northen Magill (1998). Cyclopedia of Literary Characters, Volume 1. Salem Press. pp. 190. ISBN 978-0893564384. http://books.google.com/?id=IJMYAAAAIAAJ. "Joseph Wykowski. a recruit of Polish background from Bridgeport, Connecticut..." 
  50. ↑ http://www.songlyrics.com/reo-speedwagon/157-riverside-avenue-lyrics/
  51. ↑ http://thinkexist.com/quotation/everywhere_outside_new_york_city_is_bridgeport/206038.html
  52. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&locations=Bridgeport,%20Connecticut,%20USA&&heading=18;with+locations+including;Bridgeport,%20Connecticut,%20USA
  53. ↑ "History" section of the WICC web site accessed June 29, 2006
  54. ↑ WPKN web site "About" page accessed June 29, 2006
  55. ↑ Radio Stations in Bridgeport, Connecticut. : Radio-Locator

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