Stamford, Connecticut facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stamford
City
Clockwise, from top: Downtown Stamford, Harbor Point, Stamford Museum & Nature Center, Stamford Center for the Arts, Fish Church, One Stamford Forum, Stamford Transportation Center, Old Town Hall, One Landmark Square
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  The City That Works, Lock City
Motto(s):  Innovating Since 1641
Fairfield County and Connecticut  Western Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Fairfield
Region	Western CT
Settled (town)	1641
Incorporated (city)	1893
Consolidated	1949
Named for	Stamford, Lincolnshire
Government
• Type	Mayor-Board of representatives
Area
• City	52.03 sq mi (134.75 km2)
• Land	37.62 sq mi (97.43 km2)
• Water	14.41 sq mi (37.33 km2)
• Urban	465 sq mi (1,205 km2)
Elevation	23 ft (7 m)
Population  (2020)
• City	135,470
• Density	3,601.0/sq mi (1,390.4/km2)
Demonym(s)	Stamfordian, Stamfordite
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Codes	069xx
Area code(s)	203/475
FIPS code	09-73000
GNIS feature ID	0211129
Major highways
Commuter rail

Stamford is a busy city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is about 34 miles (55 km) away from New York City. Stamford is the second-largest city in Connecticut, right after Bridgeport. It is also the sixth-largest city in all of New England.

In 2020, Stamford had a population of 135,470 people. This means it has grown a lot and is now bigger than Hartford and New Haven. Stamford is a big business center. Many large companies have their main offices here. This makes it a very important place for money and business in the New York area.

Stamford's economy focuses on managing money, real estate, and tourism. It also has strong industries in technology, healthcare, and transportation. The city is home to parts of the UConn Stamford and Norwalk Community College.

Stamford's Story: A Look at Its History

Stamford was first known as Rippowam by the Siwanoy Native American people who lived there. The first European settlers also used this name. The city's current name comes from the town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England.

The land for Stamford was officially bought on July 1, 1640. Captain Turner from the New Haven Colony and Chief Ponus signed the agreement. By the 1700s, Stamford was a key place for trading goods by water. This was easy because it was close to New York.

In 1692, Stamford had its own witch trials. These were not as famous as the Salem witch trials, but they also involved rumors and fear.

Over time, some areas separated from Stamford. New Canaan became its own town in 1801, and Darien followed in 1820.

In the late 1800s, people from New York City started building summer homes along Stamford's coast. Some even moved there permanently and traveled to Manhattan by train. Stamford officially became a city in 1893.

In the 1960s and 1970s, many companies moved their offices from New York City to Stamford. This caused a big building boom downtown. Many tall office buildings were built during this time. One of the tallest buildings, One Landmark Square, was built then. Later, the 34-story Park Tower Stamford became even taller.

Since 2008, a large project called Harbor Point has added even more growth. This area south of downtown now has many new homes, shops, offices, and a marina. This part of the city is sometimes called "New Stamford."

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people from New York City moved to Stamford.

Exploring Stamford's Geography

Aerial view of Stamford at night. You can see Norwalk, Fairfield, and Bridgeport in the distance.

Stamford covers about 52 square miles (135 square kilometers). About 37.6 square miles (97.4 sq km) is land, and 14.4 square miles (37.3 sq km) is water. It is the largest city in Connecticut by land area.

The city is located on Long Island Sound, which is a large body of water. It is about halfway between Manhattan and New Haven. Stamford is part of an area called the Gold Coast.

Stamford has about 45 different neighborhoods and villages. Some well-known ones include Cove, East Side, Downtown, North Stamford, and Shippan. The area north of the Merritt Parkway is called North Stamford. This part is the largest but has the fewest people.

Stamford shares borders with Pound Ridge, New York, to the north. It borders Long Island Sound to the south. To the west is Greenwich, and to the east is Darien. New Canaan is to the northeast.

The city also has several islands in Long Island Sound. These include Cove Island, Grass Island, and Jack Island. Cove Island is a popular place for beaches and fun activities.

Stamford's Climate and Weather

The Harbor Point Marina in Stamford during August 2018.

Stamford has a mild climate with warm summers and cool to cold winters. Rain and snow are spread out throughout the year. The warm season usually lasts from mid-April to early November. Thunderstorms can happen in the summer months.

The cool season is from late November to mid-March. Winter weather can change a lot, from sunny days to cold, windy conditions with snow. Stamford gets about 30 inches (76 cm) of snow each year. This is less than cities further inland like Hartford.

Sometimes, big storms like hurricanes or tropical storms hit the Connecticut coast. Some famous ones include Hurricane Carol in 1954 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Stamford has a long growing season for plants, lasting about 210 days. This means many different types of plants can grow here, even some that usually prefer warmer places.

Who Lives in Stamford? Demographics

Stamford's Population in 2020

In 2020, Stamford had a population of 135,470 people. This was a 10.5% increase from 2010. Stamford is now the second-most populated city in Connecticut.

The city is very diverse. In 2020, about 49.3% of the people were white (not Hispanic). About 14.1% were Black or African American. About 8.6% were Asian American. And 27.2% were Hispanic or Latino. Many different cultures and backgrounds make up Stamford.

The average age in Stamford in 2018 was 37.2 years old. This is a bit younger than the national average.

In 2023, the average household income in Stamford was $106,552. This shows that many people in Stamford have good jobs. The income per person in 2022 was $58,297. This was the highest in any city in Connecticut.

Most people in Stamford are religious or have a religious connection. The largest group is Christians, especially Roman Catholics. There are also synagogues for Jewish people and places of worship for other religions.

Stamford's Economy: A Hub for Business

The NBC Sports Group world headquarters at 1 Blachley Road.

Stamford is a major center for businesses. Many large companies have their main offices here. These include companies listed in the Fortune 500, which are the biggest companies in the U.S.

Some of the big companies with headquarters in Stamford are Charter Communications, Harman International, and Synchrony Financial. Other well-known companies include Indeed.com, WWE, and NBC Sports Group.

The Harbor Point area in the South End is one of the biggest development projects in the country. Many new shops and companies have moved there. This includes Design within Reach and Kayak.com.

Stamford has a giant WWE championship belt sculpture.

Arts and Culture in Stamford

The Stamford City Welcome Sign.

Science and Nature Spots

• The Stamford Museum and Nature Center is a great place to visit. It has 118 acres (48 hectares) of land. You can see art by Gutzon Borglum, who sculpted Mount Rushmore and lived in Stamford.
• The Stamford Observatory has a large telescope. You can learn about stars and planets there.
• The Bartlett Arboretum and Gardens is a 91-acre (37-hectare) botanical garden. It has over 850 types of trees and plants from all over the world.
• The SoundWaters Community Center teaches about the environment. It is located in Cove Island Park.

Theater, Film, and Video Fun

The Avon Theatre in 2013.

• Curtain Call Inc. puts on plays and shows at the Sterling Farms Theatre Complex.
• The Stamford Center for the Arts runs two theaters: The Palace Theatre and the Rich Forum. The Palace Theatre first opened in 1927.
• The Rich Forum is used by NBCUniversal to film TV shows. Shows like The Steve Wilkos Show are made there.
• AMC Theatres has two movie theaters in Stamford. The Avon Theatre Film Center shows independent movies.

Music Scene

The beautiful Gothic revival style of St. Mary's Church on Elm Street.

• The Orchestra Lumos performs classical and pop concerts at the Palace Theatre. They also have special concerts for families.
• The Connecticut Grand Opera performs opera shows at the Palace Theatre.
• Alive @ Five is a popular summer concert series in Columbus Park.
• The Stamford Chorale is a community choir that performs classical and modern music.

Art Galleries

• The UCONN Stamford Art Gallery shows art from new and famous artists.
• The Fernando Luis Alvarez Gallery is a modern art gallery. It features art from around the world.
• The Stamford Loft Artists Association helps local artists show their work.

Libraries for Learning

Stamford's public library is called the Ferguson Library. It is one of the biggest libraries in Connecticut. The library also shows movies and has a used book store.

The library has branches in different parts of the city. The Harry Bennett Branch is the largest library branch in the state.

Parks and Recreation: Fun Outdoors

Stamford has many miles of shoreline for fun activities and two public beaches.

• Mill River Park is in the middle of downtown. It has an old grist mill. Many community events happen here.
• Cummings Park is a public beach. It was created in 1906.
• The 83-acre (34-hectare) Cove Island Park has beaches, picnic areas, and a small wildlife area. It is great for bird watching.
• Jackie Robinson Park is named after the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson. He lived in Stamford.
• Terry Connors Ice Rink offers public ice skating and ice hockey.
• Scalzi Park has playgrounds, sports fields, and courts for many sports. It also has a concrete skate park.
• Stamford has two public golf courses: Sterling Farms Golf Course and The E. Gaynor Brennan Golf Course.
• Dorothy Heroy Park is in North Stamford.
• Mianus River Park is a large nature reserve with 187 acres (76 hectares).
• The Italian Center has tennis courts, swimming pools, and a miniature golf course.
• The Stamford YMCA offers swimming lessons and sports like basketball.
• The Stamford Yacht Club is a private club for boating.

Education in Stamford

Stamford has a very educated population. Most adults aged 25 and older have finished high school. More than half have a college degree.

Stamford is home to a branch of the University of Connecticut, known as UConn Stamford. Sacred Heart University also has a program for physician assistants at the Stamford Hospital campus.

Stamford Public Schools has 13 elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools. Over 16,000 students attend these schools. Students come from many different backgrounds. More than 75 languages are spoken at home by students.

The city of Stamford provides most of the money for its public schools. In 2022-2023, the school budget was over $300 million.

Stamford's three public high schools are Westhill High School, Stamford High School, and the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering.

There are also several private schools in Stamford. These include Villa Maria School and King School.

Media and Entertainment in Stamford

• NBC Sports Group has its world headquarters in Stamford. They produce shows like Football Night in America and all NBC Olympic coverage here.
• Several TV shows have been filmed in Stamford. These include Maury and The Steve Wilkos Show.
• ITV America has a large office in Stamford. They produce shows like Hell's Kitchen and Queer Eye.
• WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) has had its global headquarters in Stamford since 1985.
• Charter Communications, a big cable company, has its main office in Stamford.
• The YES Network, which shows Yankee games, has a major office here.
• The TV show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was filmed in Stamford for a time.
• The fictional Dunder Mifflin paper company from the TV show The Office had a branch in Stamford.

Print Media in Stamford

• Stamford Magazine
• Stamford Advocate, a daily newspaper
• Hey Stamford!, a digital media brand
• El Sol News and La Voz, Spanish-language newspapers

Radio Stations in the City

• WEDW-FM 88.5 (National Public Radio)
• WSTC-AM 1400
• WEBE 108 - 107.9

Emergency Services: Keeping Stamford Safe

Stamford Emergency Medical Services (SEMS)

SEMS is a non-profit group that provides emergency medical care in Stamford. They respond to about 14,000 calls each year. All SEMS units have at least one trained paramedic.

Medical facilities in Stamford include:

• Stamford Hospital, a Level II Trauma Center
• Tully Health Center

Fire Department

Fire protection in Stamford comes from the paid Stamford Fire Department (SFD). There are also four volunteer fire departments: Glenbrook-New Hope, Belltown, Springdale, and Turn of River. Long Ridge is a mix of paid and volunteer members.

All these fire departments are now combined into one Stamford Fire Department.

Police Department

The Stamford Police Department (SPD) is the city's only police force. It has about 280 police officers. This makes it the fifth-largest police force in Connecticut.

The main police headquarters is at 725 Bedford St. The SPD also has smaller offices in other parts of the city.

Getting Around Stamford: Transportation

Train Travel

A Manhattan-bound Metro-North Railroad train leaving the Stamford Transportation Center.

Stamford is on the New Haven Line of the Metro-North Railroad. This is a train system for people who travel to and from New York City. Stamford is the second busiest station on this line. It's a major place to switch trains.

You can take trains from Stamford to New York (Grand Central Terminal) and to places like New London. The trip to Grand Central Terminal takes about 47 minutes.

Stamford is also a stop for Amtrak trains. The Acela, a fast train between Boston and Washington D.C., stops here. Other Amtrak trains like the Northeast Regional also stop in Stamford.

Airports Near Stamford

Stamford is close to several airports. There are four smaller airports for general aviation, two regional airports, and five international airports.

Bus Services

City buses are run by CT Transit. The main bus station is next to the train station. Buses go to nearby towns like Darien, Norwalk, and Greenwich. You can also take a direct bus to White Plains, New York.

Greyhound offers bus service between cities from the Stamford train station. You can take a Greyhound bus to New Haven, Boston, and New York City.

Highways for Driving

Two main highways go through Stamford. Interstate 95 is the main route through downtown. The Merritt Parkway runs through the northern part of the city. The Merritt Parkway is only for passenger cars.

Stamford also has other state highways. Route 1, also called Main Street, is a busy road. Route 137 (Washington Boulevard and High Ridge Road) is a main road that goes north and south.

Famous People from Stamford

Many interesting people have lived in Stamford:

• Andrew P. Bakaj (born 1982), a former government official, grew up in Stamford.
• Dana Delany (born 1956), an actress, grew up here.
• Willy DeVille (1950–2009), an R&B singer, was born in Stamford.
• Harry Houdini (1874–1926), the famous escape artist, had a summer home in Stamford.
• J. Walter Kennedy (1912–1977), a former mayor of Stamford, was also a commissioner for the National Basketball Association.
• Cyndi Lauper (born 1953), a singer, has a home in North Stamford.
• Joe Lieberman (1942–2024), a U.S. Senator, was born and grew up in Stamford.
• Christopher Lloyd (born 1938), an actor, was born in Stamford.
• Dan Malloy (born 1955), a former governor of Connecticut.
• Vince McMahon (born 1945) and Linda McMahon (born 1948), who started World Wrestling Entertainment.
• Jackie Robinson (1919–1972), the baseball legend, lived in North Stamford. A local little league is named after him.
• Stephen Sondheim (1930–2021), a famous composer, lived in North Stamford as a boy.
• Bobby Valentine (born 1950), a former baseball player and manager.
• Gene Wilder (1933–2016), a beloved actor and director, lived in Stamford.

Stamford's Sister Cities

Stamford has special connections with cities around the world, called "sister cities":

• Afula, Israel
• Jiangdu, Jiangsu, China
• Lima, Peru
• Minturno, Lazio, Italy
• Settefrati, Lazio, Italy
• Sparta, Greece
• Kramatorsk, Ukraine

Images for kids

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  A collection of images showing different parts of Stamford.

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  The official seal of Stamford, Connecticut.

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  The logo of Stamford, Connecticut.

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  The flag of Stamford, Connecticut.

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  Stamford's location within Fairfield County and Connecticut.

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  Stamford's location within the Western Connecticut Planning Region and the state of Connecticut.

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  Aerial view of Stamford at night with Norwalk, Fairfield, Bridgeport, and beyond visible and Long Island Sound completely dark.

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  Harbor Point Marina in Stamford in August 2018.

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  NBC Sports Group world headquarters at 1 Blachley Road.

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  WWE's previous headquarters in Stamford.

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  Stamford's giant WWE championship belt sculpture.

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  Stamford City Welcome Sign.

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  Avon Theatre in 2013.

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  The Gothic revival exterior of St. Mary's Church on Elm Street.

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  Stamford boasts miles of accessible shoreline for recreation and two public beaches.

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  A Manhattan-bound Metro-North Railroad train leaving Stamford Transportation Center.

See also

In Spanish: Stamford (Connecticut) para niños