City of Bridgeport

Facts about Bridgeport

City established:

• 1821

Named from:

• Indian name "Pequonock." Formerly Stratfield or Newfield.

County:

• Fairfield.

Notable Citizens:

• Fred DeLuca, founder of Subway.
• Edwin H. Land, founder of Polaroid Corporation.
• P.T. Barnum; circus owner, entrepreneur, mayor of Bridgeport.
• Bob Crane, actor.
• Brian Dennehy, actor.
• Gustave Whitehead, inventor.

Top Five Attractions:

• Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo.
• Port Jefferson Ferry.
• Discovery Museum.
• Bridgeport Bluefish Baseball.
• Seaside Park.

Annual Events:

• St. Patrick's Day Parade (March).
• Barnum Festival (June).
• Juneteenth Parade and Celebration (June).
• Puerto Rican Day Parade (July).
• Bridgeport Arts Trail
• Downtown Concert Series
• Swim Across the Sound
• Caribbean Jerk Fest
• Cape Verdean Festival
• Downtown Farmers Market
• Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk

Quality of the city:

• Bridgeport is home to over 144,000 residents, 1,300 acres of public land for parks, 13 officially delineated neighborhoods across 16 square miles of land. Landscapes, highways, and communities define Bridgeport’s neighborhoods. Bridgeport offers a wealth of attractions: majestic shoreline parks, fascinating museums, regional baseball, hockey, and festivals and national musical acts and performances.