Town of Stratford

Facts about Stratford

Town/City established:

• Incorporated in 1639.

Named from:

• Named in 1643 from Stratford-le-Bow, Essex, or more probably, Stratford-on-Avon; Indian name "Cupheag."

County:

• Fairfield.

Notable citizens (past and present):

• Javier Colon, singer/songwriter, winner of season one of The Voice grew up in Stratford and graduated from Bunnell High School.
• Tony Dovolani, ballroom dancer, cast member for Dancing with the Stars.
• William Samuel Johnson, signer of the United States Constitution, first Senator for Connecticut, first president of Columbia University.
• Tom Penders, college basketball coach and ESPN sports analyst.
• Igor Sikorsky, founder of Sikorsky aircraft.

Top Five Attractions:

• Stratford Historical Society.
• Stratford Antique Center.
• National Helicopter Museum.
• Boothe Memorial Park & Museum.
• Two Roads Brewing Company.

Annual Visitor’s Events:

• Memorial Day Parade.
• Main Street Festival, June.
• Fourth of July Fireworks.
• Blues on the Beach, July.
• Latin Music Festival, September.
• Pumpkin Festival, October.
• Holiday Festival, December.

Quality of town/city:

• Situated on Long Island Sound and bounded to the east by the Housatonic River, Stratford has 18 miles of coastline, two public beaches, five marinas, several fishing piers, two public boat launches, beautiful parks and recreational facilities. Within an hour drive of New York City, the Stratford is the eastern-most town in Fairfield County, also known as "Connecticut's Gold Coast." The diversity of the town's natural resources is as rich as its cultural heritage, ranging from the 250-acre, town-owned Roosevelt Forest to the Great Meadows Salt Marsh, one of the largest unditched salt marshes remaining in New England and now a portion of the Steward McKinney National Wildlife Refuge where approximately 270 species of birds can be seen.