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Bridgeport, West Virginia facts for kids

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Bridgeport, West Virginia
City of Bridgeport
Governor Joseph Johnson House
Governor Joseph Johnson House
Motto(s): 
Opportunity Lives Here
Location of Bridgeport in Harrison County, West Virginia.
Location of Bridgeport in Harrison County, West Virginia.
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Harrison
Government
 • Type Manager Plan
Area
 • Total 10.73 sq mi (27.80 km2)
 • Land 10.69 sq mi (27.69 km2)
 • Water 0.04 sq mi (0.11 km2)
Elevation
1,020 ft (311 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 8,149
 • Estimate 
(2019)
8,842
 • Density 827.05/sq mi (319.33/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
26330
Area code(s) 304, 681
FIPS code 54-10180
GNIS feature ID 1536341
Website www.bridgeportwv.com

Bridgeport is a city in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 8,149 at the 2010 census.

The town of Bridgeport had its beginning in pre-American Revolutionary War times. In 1764, John Simpson entered the area and gave his name to Simpson Creek. Bridgeport was chartered in 1816. When the town was incorporated in 1887, it established the office of mayor and town council. The city currently employs a City Manager. Bridgeport is home to Meadowbrook Mall, a 100-store regional shopping complex serving North-Central West Virginia.

History

Bridgeport originally got its name from a cartographer’s mistake. Settled in the mid-1700s by early fur traders who came west over the Allegheny Mountains, settlers were forced to build forts to protect themselves from the elements, as well as from Native Americans who didn’t care for the intrusion on their lands. Thus, as legend has it, what was known as Bridge Fort was mistakenly deemed Bridgeport. [1]

On June 29, 2006, the city became noted as the site of a showdown over the issue of separation of church and state in the United States. A portrait of Jesus originally hung on a wall at Bridgeport High School. Two parents filed suit in federal court to have the portrait removed, after the Harrison County Board of Education deadlocked over whether to remove the portrait.[2] The portrait of Jesus was stolen from Bridgeport High School early in the morning on August 17, 2006 and a mirror was put in its place. [3]

In 2016, a baseball team from Bridgeport won the Little League state championship.

Bridgeport landmarks

  • Pete Dye Golf Club opened in 1993, rated the number one golf course in WV and number 99 on America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses by Golf Digest.
  • Simpson Creek Baptist Church is recognized as the oldest Baptist church in West Virginia by the West Virginia Baptist Convention and is also generally accepted as being the oldest Protestant church west of the Allegheny Mountains. The first formal records of the church are dated 1774.
  • Simpson Creek Covered Bridge located off of Meadowbrook Rd. Built in 1881 by Asa Hugill. One of only two covered bridges that still stand today in Harrison County.
  • The Bridgeport Lamp Chimney Company Bowstring Concrete Arch Bridge
  • The Governor Joseph Johnson House, aka Oakdale.

Geography

Bridgeport is located at 39°17′48″N 80°15′5″W / 39.29667°N 80.25139°W / 39.29667; -80.25139 (39.296544, -80.251305), along Simpson Creek.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.56 square miles (27.35 km2), of which, 10.52 square miles (27.25 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 395
1890 455 15.2%
1900 464 2.0%
1910 577 24.4%
1920 1,346 133.3%
1930 1,567 16.4%
1940 1,581 0.9%
1950 2,414 52.7%
1960 4,199 73.9%
1970 4,777 13.8%
1980 6,604 38.2%
1990 6,739 2.0%
2000 7,306 8.4%
2010 8,149 11.5%
2019 (est.) 8,842 8.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 8,149 people, 3,458 households, and 2,383 families living in the city. The population density was 774.6 inhabitants per square mile (299.1/km2). There were 3,678 housing units at an average density of 349.6 per square mile (135.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7%.

Of the 3,458 households 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.2% of households were one person and 12.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age was 44.7 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

Education

High schools

  • Bridgeport High School

Primary and middle schools

  • Bridgeport Middle School
  • Johnson Elementary School
  • Simpson Elementary School
  • Heritage Christian School

Libraries

  • Bridgeport Public Library

Transportation

North Central West Virginia Airport is located in Bridgeport. Allegiant Air has scheduled service to Orlando–Sanford and Myrtle Beach. United Express offers flights to Chicago–O'Hare and Washington–Dulles.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Bridgeport (Virginia Occidental) para niños

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