Bridgeport, Texas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bridgeport, Texas
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Downtown Bridgeport
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| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Wise |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.85 sq mi (20.32 km2) |
| • Land | 7.84 sq mi (20.31 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 768 ft (234 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,923 |
| • Density | 754.5/sq mi (291.49/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
76426
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| Area code(s) | 940 |
| FIPS code | 48-10264 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409907 |
Bridgeport is a city located in Wise County, Texas, United States. In 2020, about 5,923 people lived there. The city is known for its history with stagecoaches. In fact, in 2009, the Texas Legislature officially named Bridgeport the Stagecoach Capital of Texas!
Contents
Discovering Bridgeport's Past
Bridgeport's story began in February 1860. A man named William H. Hunt received permission to build a bridge. This bridge would cross the West Fork of the Trinity River. It was built about a mile southwest of where the city is today. You can still see a Texas State Historical Marker there.
The Stagecoach Bridge
This first wooden bridge was very important for a short time. It was part of the Butterfield Overland Mail route. This was a stagecoach route that carried mail and passengers. It was used from August 1860 to March 1861. When the American Civil War started, the mail route stopped. The old wooden bridge was left alone and eventually fell into the river.
How Bridgeport Became a City
In 1873, a new iron bridge was built. A post office was also set up, and that's when Bridgeport officially became a city. Its future looked bright in 1882. A man named Charles Cates found a lot of bituminous coal while looking for water. A company called Wise County Coal Company was formed. It became a major coal producer in Texas. However, by 1929, other fuels like natural gas and oil became popular. This led to the coal mines closing down.
Moving and Growing the Town
In 1893, the Rock Island Railroad built a train line east of the town. So, the whole town of Bridgeport moved about a mile east to its current spot. In 1913, Bridgeport officially became an incorporated town. Before 1917, oil and gas production started to become important industries. By the 1920s, about 1,872 people lived in Bridgeport.
During the 1920s, new businesses started. These included limestone quarries, which dug up rock for roads. A brick factory also opened. In 1931, a dam was built on the West Fork of the Trinity River. This created Lake Bridgeport. The lake quickly became a popular spot for fun and still is today.
In the second half of the 1900s, Bridgeport's industries kept growing. Oil, gas, and limestone continued to be very important. Bridgeport became the second-largest town in Wise County. These industries are still key to the local economy today.
Bridgeport's Location and Weather
Bridgeport is a city with a total area of about 7.9 square miles (20.3 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land.
Understanding Bridgeport's Climate
The weather in Bridgeport is known for its hot and humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. Bridgeport has a humid subtropical climate. This means it gets a lot of rain, especially in summer.
| Climate data for Bridgeport, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1935–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 92 (33) |
96 (36) |
96 (36) |
101 (38) |
106 (41) |
115 (46) |
114 (46) |
115 (46) |
111 (44) |
105 (41) |
93 (34) |
90 (32) |
115 (46) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 56.1 (13.4) |
60.0 (15.6) |
67.5 (19.7) |
75.6 (24.2) |
82.8 (28.2) |
90.8 (32.7) |
95.6 (35.3) |
95.9 (35.5) |
88.4 (31.3) |
78.2 (25.7) |
66.5 (19.2) |
57.8 (14.3) |
76.3 (24.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 43.5 (6.4) |
47.3 (8.5) |
54.8 (12.7) |
63.3 (17.4) |
71.8 (22.1) |
80.0 (26.7) |
83.9 (28.8) |
83.5 (28.6) |
76.2 (24.6) |
65.2 (18.4) |
53.9 (12.2) |
45.3 (7.4) |
64.1 (17.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30.9 (−0.6) |
34.6 (1.4) |
42.1 (5.6) |
50.9 (10.5) |
60.8 (16.0) |
69.2 (20.7) |
72.1 (22.3) |
71.1 (21.7) |
63.9 (17.7) |
52.1 (11.2) |
41.2 (5.1) |
32.8 (0.4) |
51.8 (11.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 1 (−17) |
1 (−17) |
9 (−13) |
24 (−4) |
34 (1) |
48 (9) |
53 (12) |
52 (11) |
33 (1) |
21 (−6) |
10 (−12) |
−8 (−22) |
−8 (−22) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.67 (42) |
2.21 (56) |
2.84 (72) |
3.04 (77) |
4.55 (116) |
3.73 (95) |
2.07 (53) |
2.18 (55) |
3.04 (77) |
3.91 (99) |
2.19 (56) |
1.91 (49) |
33.34 (847) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.6 (1.5) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.2 (0.51) |
1.8 (4.6) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 7.8 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 62.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Bridgeport
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 39 | — | |
| 1890 | 498 | 1,176.9% | |
| 1900 | 900 | 80.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,000 | 122.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,872 | −6.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,464 | 31.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,735 | −29.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,049 | 18.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,218 | 57.1% | |
| 1970 | 3,614 | 12.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,737 | 3.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,581 | −4.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,309 | 20.3% | |
| 2010 | 5,976 | 38.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,923 | −0.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,514 | 9.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Bridgeport in 2020.
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 2,750 | 46.43% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 157 | 2.65% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 25 | 0.42% |
| Asian (NH) | 45 | 0.76% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 3 | 0.05% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 192 | 3.24% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,751 | 46.45% |
| Total | 5,923 |
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 5,923 people living in Bridgeport. These people made up 1,777 households and 1,322 families.
Education in Bridgeport
Students in Bridgeport attend schools run by the Bridgeport Independent School District.
Getting Around Bridgeport
Bridgeport has its own airport, called the Bridgeport Municipal Airport.
Major Roads and Highways
Several important roads pass through or near Bridgeport:
US 380
SH 129
SH 114
SH 101
FM 920
Fun and Recreation
Lake Bridgeport is just west of the city. It's a great place for boating, watersports, and fishing. You can also visit Bridgeport Falls, located south of the city on the West Fork of the Trinity River.
The city also runs the Northwest OHV Park. This park is 300 acres big and is located north of the city limits. It's a special place where people can ride motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, and Jeeps on different kinds of trails.
Famous People from Bridgeport
- Kyle Clifton played football in the NFL for the New York Jets. He graduated from Bridgeport High School in 1980.
- Colin Jones (American football) is an NFL safety who played for the Carolina Panthers.
See also
In Spanish: Bridgeport (Texas) para niños
