As a small, diverse town, Bridgeport boasts beautiful homes, excellent city services, fine schools and unrivaled recreational facilities. When moving to Bridgeport you will discover a family-oriented community that works to provide advantages to the area's youth. In addition, the city government is doing its part in making available the necessary utilities and major recreational facilities to produce a progressive community with plenty of opportunity for advancement.
History:
In 1836, Bridgeport, Connecticut was incorporated as a city. Bridgeport was the home of America's sewing machine industry in the years following the Civil War, and manufacturing continued to be a mainstay of the local economy. The greatest population surge came between 1896 and 1910 when the city swelled from under 50,000 people to more than 100,000. The influx of immigrants seeking factory jobs grew to include some 60 different ethnic groups. During the 1920s, the city became a major force in the newly developing aircraft industry. Bridgeport residents coped with the Great Depression by electing Socialist Jasper McLevy as mayor during the 1930s. World War II and the ensuring Cold War saw the nation's dependency on the defense industry escalate. During the last two decades of the 20th, the city lost many of its one-time industrial giants to out-of-state and foreign competition. In the late 1990s, the Bridgeport Housing Authority implemented several programs to revitalize many of the city's decaying neighborhoods. During the time when the city was a thriving manufacturing center, many housing units were built for its factory workers. Although Connecticut Magazine scored Bridgeport in 2003 as the lowest of 17 major cities within the state in terms of education, crime, and economic condition, the growth and active economic planning have encouraged hope for a prosperous future.
Economy:
Manufacturing and trade are being increasingly supplemented by the service-producing industries, particularly personal, business, insurance and health services. Wholesale and retail trade thrive thanks to the city's strategic location and crossroads of interstate highways, the city is now one of largest financial centers in New England. Creating new employment opportunities for local workers has been a focal point for community leaders. In particular, the Bridgeport Economic Resource Center has secured about 1,260 jobs since 2000, many in small start-up businesses like restaurants and shops. The renovation of the waterfront and other local developments have helped to lure homebuyers wanting to escape the expensive housing market in lower Fairfield County, where median prices are substantially higher than in Bridgeport. Bridgeport boasts a skilled labor force with a relatively high education level; approximately 41 percent of the labor force is college graduates. The city is focusing its efforts on expanding its manufacturing base into the international marketplace, relying on its excellent port facilities and transportation network. Growth in this area is projected primarily for small businesses.
Tourism:
Beardsley Zoo is the perfect place to spend the day with your family. Ideal for families with small children, the zoo is small enough to see it all yet, big enough to provide everything your young children would expect out of a big city zoo. Next, the Barnum Museum is a museum honoring the great showman P.T. Barnum. It offers a mix of exhibits highlighting P.T. Barnum's life, circus events and Bridgeport history. The Discovery Museum is another great place to bring the family for a day of fun and exploration. This science museum offers hours of fun through educational exhibits and demonstrations. For the sports fan, Bridgeport Bluefish Baseball Club is where you can catch an Atlantic league baseball game while enjoying peanuts, hotdogs and cold drinks. At night, head over to one of the city's local dive-bars, nightclubs or late night eateries and experience the local flavor.