Fairfield, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fairfield, Connecticut Uncoway (The Place Beyond)
Town
Clockwise from top: Old Town Hall, Fairfield University Art Museum, Fairfield Community Theater, Fairfield Beach, Lake Mohegan
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  Qui Transtulit Sustinet
Fairfield County and Connecticut  Greater Bridgeport Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Fairfield
Region	CT Metropolitan
Founded	1639
Founded by	Roger Ludlow
Government
• Type	RTM
Area
• Total	31.38 sq mi (81.3 km2)
• Land	29.9 sq mi (77 km2)
• Water	1.48 sq mi (3.8 km2)
Elevation	59 ft (18 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	61,512
• Density	2,057.3/sq mi (794.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	06824, 06825, 06828
Area code(s)	203/475
FIPS code	09-26620
GNIS feature ID	0213429
Major highways

Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is located on the beautiful Gold Coast of Connecticut. Fairfield is next to the city of Bridgeport and the towns of Trumbull, Easton, Weston, and Westport. In 2020, about 61,512 people lived here. The town is part of the larger Greater Bridgeport Planning Region.

Fairfield's History

Early Colonial Settlement

In 1635, a group of Puritans and Congregationalists from the Massachusetts Bay Colony wanted to create their own communities. They were given permission to settle in areas that are now part of Connecticut, including the towns of Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford.

On January 14, 1639, these settlers created a set of rules called the Fundamental Orders. These rules made Connecticut a self-governing area. By 1639, new towns were being started. Roger Ludlowe, who helped write the Fundamental Orders, bought land called Unquowa. This land is now Fairfield. He chose the name "Fairfield" because it was a pleasant place.

Historian John M. Taylor wrote about how Roger Ludlowe helped settle the area:

Early in 1639, the General Court granted a commission to Ludlowe to begin a plantation at Pequannocke. He was on that errand, with a few others from Windsor, afterwards joined by immigrants from Watertown and Concord. He stole a large tract of land from the Pequannocke sachems – afterwards greatly enlarged by other purchases to the westward – and recalling the attractive region beyond (Unquowa), which he had personally seen on the second Pequot expedition, he also "set down" there, having purchased the territory embraced by the present town of Fairfield.

How New Towns Formed from Fairfield

Fairfield was one of the two main settlements in southwestern Connecticut during the early days of the Connecticut Colony. The other main settlement was Stratford. The border between Fairfield and Stratford was officially set in May 1661. The border with Norwalk was set later, in May 1685.

Over time, parts of Fairfield became new, separate towns. Here are some of the towns that were created from parts of Fairfield:

• Redding in 1767
• Weston in 1787
• Easton, which was created from Weston in 1845
• Bridgeport in 1821 (also partly from Stratford) and again in 1870 when the Black Rock area left Fairfield
• Westport in 1835 (partly from Weston and Norwalk)

Fairfield During the Revolutionary War

When the American Revolutionary War started in the 1770s, people in Fairfield were deeply affected. Even though many people in the area were Loyalists (meaning they supported the British King), the people of Fairfield quickly supported the idea of independence. During the war, there were constant raids across the Long Island Sound. Loyalists from British-controlled Long Island would attack the coast using small boats. Gold Selleck Silliman, whose house is still on Jennings Road, was in charge of protecting the coast.

In the spring of 1779, Loyalist raiders captured Silliman from his home. This happened just before a major British attack on Fairfield County. On the morning of July 7, 1779, about 2,000 British troops landed on Fairfield Beach. They then proceeded to burn Fairfield because the town supported the Patriot cause (those who wanted independence). Ten years later, President George Washington visited Fairfield and noted that the signs of the British attack were still visible. He saw the chimneys of many burned houses still standing.

Fairfield in the 20th Century

The First World War (1914-1918) changed Fairfield from a farming community. The war caused a huge economic boom in nearby Bridgeport, which made a lot of weapons. This led to a housing shortage in Bridgeport, and many workers moved to Fairfield to build their homes. Trolleys and later cars made it easy for these new middle-class residents to live in the countryside.

By the time of the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Fairfield's population had grown from 6,000 to 17,000 people. Even during the Great Depression, the town continued to grow.

On November 29, 1945, a barge with two crewmen got stuck on Penfield Reef in Fairfield during a storm. A helicopter from the nearby Sikorsky Aircraft plant in Bridgeport performed the first civilian helicopter rescue in history.

The opening of the Connecticut Turnpike in the 1950s brought even more growth to Fairfield. By the 1960s, Fairfield was known as a residential, suburban town.

Around 1970, General Electric (GE), one of the world's largest companies, moved its main office to Fairfield. However, on May 8, 2017, GE moved its headquarters to Boston, Massachusetts.

Fairfield's Geography

Fairfield is located right on the shore of the Long Island Sound. The town covers about 31.3 square miles. Most of this area, about 29.9 square miles, is land. The rest, about 1.48 square miles, is water.

Rivers and Waterways

Several rivers flow through Fairfield. These include the Mill River, Rooster River, Ash Creek, Sasco Brook, and Aspetuck River.

Fairfield's Neighborhoods

Fairfield Center in a 1956 postcard

Fairfield has many different neighborhoods, each with its own feel. Two well-known areas are Southport and Greenfield Hill. Southport is known for being a wealthy area. Greenfield Hill is famous for its large green spaces, beautiful dogwood trees, and a charming town green with a white church.

Other neighborhoods include Stratfield, Tunxis Hill, the University area, Grasmere, Mill Plain, Knapp's Village, Melville Village, Holland Hill, Murray, and the Fairfield Beach area. The beach area has seen many new homes built recently as people want to live close to the beach and downtown. This has caused property prices to go up.

Fairfield has two main shopping areas: the Post Road (U.S. 1) and Black Rock Turnpike.

Some of Fairfield's neighborhoods are:

• Fairfield Center/Downtown Fairfield
• Fairfield Beach
• Fairfield Woods
• Grasmere
• Greenfield Hill
• Lake Hills
• Mill Plain
• Murray
• Sasco Hill and Beach
• Southport
• Stratfield Village
• Tunxis Hill

Fairfield's Population

According to the census from 2010, there were 59,404 people living in Fairfield. These people lived in 20,457 households, with 14,846 of those being families. The town had about 1,927 people per square mile. There were 21,648 housing units in total.

Most of the people in Fairfield (91.6%) were White. About 3.7% were Asian, and 1.8% were African American. About 5.0% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

In terms of age, 25.4% of the population was under 18 years old. About 15.1% were 65 years or older. The average age in Fairfield was 40 years old.

The average household income in Fairfield was $117,705 in 2013. The income per person was $55,733. Only a small number of people, about 2.9% of the population, lived below the poverty line.

Fairfield's Economy

In 2012, a financial company called Moody's Investors Service gave Fairfield a very high credit rating, an "AAA bond" rating. This means the town is considered very good at managing its money. Fairfield has kept this high rating.

Local Businesses and Schools

Fairfield is home to several important companies and universities:

• R.C. Bigelow (Bigelow Tea Company) – This famous tea company has its main office here.
• Sturm, Ruger & Co. – This company, which makes firearms, has its headquarters in Southport.
• Fairfield University – A large university with about 5,000 students and over 500 teachers.
• Sacred Heart University – This is the second-largest Roman Catholic university in New England.

Fun Places to Visit in Fairfield

Fairfield Beach, in a 1921 postcard

Post Road, in Fairfield Center, in a 1934 photo

1910 postcard showing Fairfield Library

Fairfield Community Theater, building shown on the right in this 1938 postcard, is now operated by Sacred Heart University

Historical Sites to Explore

Fairfield has many places that are important to its history:

• Connecticut Audubon Society Birdcraft Museum and Sanctuary – A museum and bird sanctuary at 314 Unquowa Road.
• Bronson Windmill – An old windmill located at 3015 Bronson Road.
• Fairfield Historic District – This area includes the old town center, with Fairfield's town hall, public library, and houses from the late 1700s.
• Greenfield Hill Historic District – A historic area known for its beautiful green spaces.
• Pequot Library – A historic library in Southport, founded in 1887.
• Southport Historic District – A historic area around Southport Harbor.

Arts, Entertainment, and Sports

• The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at Fairfield University hosts concerts, dance shows, plays, and lectures. It has a 740-seat theater and an art gallery.
• The PepsiCo Theatre at Fairfield University is where the university's theater program puts on shows.
• The Community Theatre in downtown Fairfield was reopened by Sacred Heart University in 2019. It was originally built in 1920 as a place for live shows and is Fairfield's oldest movie theater.
• The Fairfield Theater Company has an auditorium near the downtown train station.
• The Gazebo on Sherman Town Green offers free concerts during the summer.
• Pequot Library is known for its programs and collection of rare books.
• WSHU-FM Public Radio is operated by Sacred Heart University.
• WVOF is a radio station run by students at Fairfield University.
• Fairfield University hosts many college sports events that are open to the public, like basketball, baseball, soccer, and volleyball.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Penfield Beach

Fairfield has many fun outdoor activities, especially because it's right on the Long Island Sound.

• Beaches: The town has about 5 miles of coastline with five public beaches. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer.
• South Benson Marina: This town-owned facility has 600 boat slips that residents can rent for the summer.
• Lake Mohegan: This lake is a great place for hiking and includes beautiful waterfalls called The Cascades.
• Fairfield Audubon Society and Bird Sanctuary: These are popular spots for hiking and enjoying nature.
• Ye Yacht Yard: Located on Southport Harbor, this facility helps residents launch their boats. It's also home to Community Sailing of Fairfield, where members can use sailboats.
• The "SportsPlex": Located downtown, this center offers activities like ice skating, indoor climbing, indoor soccer, and gymnastics.

Emergency Services

Fairfield Police Department

The Fairfield Police Department was started in 1926.

Fairfield Fire Department

The town of Fairfield is protected by 95 professional firefighters from the Fairfield Fire Department (FFD). There are also volunteer firefighters from the Southport Volunteer Fire Department and Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department. The professional Fairfield Fire Department has five fire stations and uses five engine companies, one ladder company, one rescue company, and three fireboats. The Southport Volunteer Fire Department has been serving the community since 1895, and the Stratfield Volunteer Fire Department since 1920.

Education in Fairfield

Main entrance to Fairfield University

Fairfield has two public high schools: Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe. There are also three public middle schools: Roger Ludlowe, Tomlinson, and Fairfield Woods Middle School. The town has eleven public elementary schools.

Fairfield also has several Catholic schools. These include two high schools, Fairfield Prep and Notre Dame, and two elementary schools, St. Thomas Aquinas and Our Lady of the Assumption.

Private schools that are not religious include Fairfield Country Day School and the Unquowa School.

For higher education, Fairfield is home to two universities: Fairfield University and Sacred Heart University.

Media in Fairfield

Fairfield has several local news sources:

• Fairfield Online News
• Connecticut Post (a newspaper based in nearby Bridgeport)
• Fairfield Minuteman
• Fairfield Citizen-News
• Fairfield Sun
• HamletHub Fairfield
• Fairfield Magazine
• Fairfield County Catholic
• WSHU-FM (radio station)
• WVOF (radio station)

Transportation in Fairfield

Fairfield is easy to get around with major roads like U.S. 1, Interstate 95, and the Merritt Parkway. The town has three Metro-North Railroad train stations: Fairfield–Black Rock, Fairfield, and Southport. Public buses from the Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority also serve the town.

The Fairfield Metro-North station platform, tracks, and overpass

Places of Worship

Fairfield has many different churches and places of worship, including:

• St. Anthony of Padua Church
• Trinity Baptist Church
• Greenfield Hill Congregational Church – Congregational Church
• First Church Congregational – UCC
• Southport Congregational Church
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church – Episcopal Church (United States)
• St. Timothy's Episcopal Church – Episcopal Church (United States)
• Trinity Episcopal Church – Episcopal Church (United States)
• Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church – United Methodist Church
• Black Rock Congregational Church – non-denominational evangelical
• Our Saviour's Lutheran Church – Lutheran Church (ELCA)
• First Presbyterian Church of Fairfield – Presbyterian Church
• Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church
• Our Lady of the Assumption
• St. Pius X Church
• St. Thomas Roman Catholic Church
• Chabad of Fairfield
• Congregation Beth El

Famous People from Fairfield

Leonard Bernstein in his Fairfield home studio, c. 1988

• William Burnett Benton (1900–1973), a former U.S. senator
• Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990), a famous conductor and composer
• James Blake (born 1979), a professional tennis player
• Julius Boros (1920–1994), a professional golfer who won major championships
• Aaron Burr Sr. (1716–1757), a clergyman and educator, and father of Vice President Aaron Burr
• John Byrne (born 1950), a comic book artist and writer
• Ann Shaw Carter (1922–2005), the first woman to be a commercial helicopter pilot
• Susan Cooper (born 1935), author of the children's book series The Dark Is Rising
• Hume Cronyn (1911–2003), an actor known for films like Lifeboat and Cocoon
• Michael J. Daly (1924–2008), a World War II hero who received the Medal of Honor
• Keir Dullea, an actor, known for 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Timothy Dwight IV (1752–1817), a minister, author, and president of Yale College
• Tatiana Foroud, an internationally recognized genetic researcher
• Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth, founding members of the bands Talking Heads and Tom Tom Club
• J. J. Henry, a PGA golfer
• Paul Hogan, also known as "Crocodile Dundee," an actor who lived in Fairfield
• Don Imus, a radio personality
• Pat Jordan, a sportswriter and author
• Linda Kozlowski, an actress, born in Fairfield
• David LaChapelle, a photographer and director, born in Fairfield
• Justin Long, an actor known for Jeepers Creepers and Ed
• Roger Ludlow, the founder of Fairfield
• John Mayer, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and guitarist
• Matt Morgan, a professional wrestler and actor
• Anne M. Mulcahy, former chairman of Xerox Corporation
• Charles Nagy, a former MLB pitcher for the Cleveland Indians
• Joe Namath, a New York Jets quarterback and Hall of Famer
• Henry Fairfield Osborn, (1857–1935) a geologist and paleontologist
• Jason Robards, an actor who lived in Southport
• Richard Rodgers, a famous composer of many songs and Broadway musicals
• Meg Ryan, an actress known for Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally..., born in Fairfield
• Chris Sarandon and Joanna Gleason, actors
• Gold Selleck Silliman, a general during the Revolutionary War
• Samuel Smedley, a privateer during the Revolutionary War
• Jonathan Sturges, a delegate to the Continental Congress
• Gene Tierney, an actress known for Laura, who attended Unquowa School in Fairfield
• Brian Torff, a jazz musician and head of the Fairfield University music program
• Raviv Ullman, a star of Phil of the Future
• Robert Penn Warren, a famous author and poet
• Robert Waterman, a clipper ship captain who named Fairfield, California after this city
• Michael Weatherly, an actor known for NCIS
• Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric
• Bob Wright, chairman of NBC for 20 years
• Mabel Osgood Wright, an author and founder of the Connecticut Audubon Society
• Julie Benko, an actress who attended Fairfield Ludlowe High School

Images for kids

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  Postcard from 1932 showing bathers at Fairfield Beach

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  Historical Postcard of the Tide Mill Tavern, Southport

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  Fairfield's Burr Homestead in a 1938 photo

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  Pequot Library in Southport, 1966

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  Southport Congregational Church, 1966

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  Historical Woodcut from c. 1840 Showing Old Town Hall and Town Green

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  Trinity Church in Southport, 1966

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  Penfield Reef Lighthouse is located in Long Island Sound off the coast of Fairfield Beach

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  Bellarmine Hall at Fairfield University

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  The "1812 Sycamore" near Town Hall (cut down in 2013)

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  Historic Pequot Library, founded in 1887, Southport

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See also

In Spanish: Fairfield (Connecticut) para niños