City of Bridgeport

Bridgeport is a thriving multicultural city located right on the water of Long Island Sound in the southern part of Connecticut. Our great location and proximity to other cities such as New York and Boston make Bridgeport a wonderful city to live, work, and visit. Being the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut, Bridgeport has an estimated population of over 137,900 people. Home to American Icons such as PT Barnum and Tom Thumb, Bridgeport has a rich history to be told.


Historically, Bridgeport was originally a part of the township of Stratford. The first settlement here was made in 1659. It was called Pequonnock until 1695, when its name was changed to Stratfield, due to its location between the already existing towns of Stratford and Fairfield. During the American Revolution it was a center of privateering. In 1800 the borough of Bridgeport was chartered, and in 1821 the township was incorporated. The city was not chartered until 1836. Interestingly, the city was home to the Frisbie Pie Company, and therefore it has been argued that Bridgeport is the birthplace of the Frisbee. Bridgeport's rich history of providing the rest of the United States with needed manufactured goods during the early- to mid-20th Century earned it the name "Arsenal of Democracy" during World War II.


Bridgeport is also often referred to as the "Park City" because it possesses such beautifully designed public parks. Our Seaside Park and Beardsley Park were both created by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect who famously designed Central Park. 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. Other area attractions include Barnum Museum, Bridgeport Symphony, Beadsley Zoo, Bluefish, Cabaret Theater, Captain's Cove, City Lights Gallery, Discovery Museaum, Wonderland of Ice and many more.