Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It is located on Long Island Sound where the Housatonic River meets the ocean. The town is part of the larger Bridgeport area.

Stratford was first settled by Puritans in 1639. As of the 2020 census, about 52,355 people live there. The town shares borders with Bridgeport to the west, Trumbull and Shelton to the north, and Milford to the east, across the Housatonic River. Stratford has a rich history in aviation, military events, and theater.

History of Stratford
Geography and Nature
Population and People
Industries and Businesses
- Sikorsky Aircraft Company
- Stratford Army Engine Plant History
Transportation Options
Emergency Services
Education in Stratford
Fun Places to Visit
Sports in Stratford
Movies and News
- Movies Filmed in Stratford
- Local News
Sister Cities
Famous People From Stratford
Images for kids
See also

History of Stratford

Stratford Public Library, shown in a 1909 postcard

Street of the Triple Elms, as it looked in the 1890s

How Stratford Was Founded

Stratford was started in 1639 by a Puritan leader named Reverend Adam Blakeman and William Beardsley. They came with about 35 families from England to the Connecticut Colony. They were looking for religious freedom.

At first, the town was called "Pequannock" in 1639. In 1640, it was known as "Cupheag," which is a Native American word meaning "place of shelter." By April 13, 1643, the town was officially named Stratford. This name was chosen to honor William Shakespeare's hometown, Stratford-upon-Avon in England.

Puritan Life in Early Stratford

Stratford was one of many towns in the American colonies founded by Puritans. They moved from England in the 1630s to escape problems there. Some families had even lived in the Netherlands before coming to the New World. They wanted their children to grow up with English culture and language.

In early Stratford, the church and town were led by the same person, Reverend Blakeman. These communities aimed to be perfect religious places, far from kings or other rulers.

Reverend Blakeman led Stratford until he passed away in 1665. Over time, younger generations wanted to change some of the strict religious rules. The dream of a perfect religious town slowly changed into a more typical colonial town. By the late 1600s, the government of Connecticut took political control of Stratford.

Many families who first settled Stratford still live there today. In 1707, Stratford became home to Connecticut's first Anglican church. Later, settlers from Stratford helped start other towns, like Newark, New Jersey. They left Stratford because they felt its religious purity had changed. U.S. President Gerald Ford was a descendant of one of Stratford's founding families.

Towns That Grew From Stratford

Stratford was one of the two main settlements in southwestern Connecticut. Over time, parts of Stratford became new, separate towns. Here are some towns that were created from parts of Stratford:

Shelton (first called Ripton) in 1789.
- Monroe was created from Huntington (which was Ripton) in 1823.
Nichols (first called Unity in 1725, then North Stratford in 1744).
Long Hill (which joined with Unity to form North Stratford in 1744).
- Trumbull was formed when North Stratford separated from Stratford in 1797.
Bridgeport (also partly from Fairfield) in 1821.

Stratford in the 1900s

In 1914, a trolley line was built. It connected the Lordship area of Stratford to the nearby city of Bridgeport. This made it easier for people to travel to the resort areas.

Geography and Nature

Stratford covers about 19.9 square miles. Most of this is land (17.6 square miles), and 2.3 square miles is water. The lowest point in Stratford is at sea level along its coast. The highest point is about 295 feet above sea level near its northern border. The average height is 23 feet.

Islands and Coastline

Stratford has five islands, all located in the Housatonic River. These islands are Carting Island, Long Island, Peacock Island, Pope's Flat, and Goose Island. None of these islands are suitable for living on because they are very low. There was once a sixth island, Brinsmade Island, but it washed away before 1964.

Beaches in Stratford

Long Beach is about 1.5 miles long. The eastern part of the beach is open to the public and has parking and lifeguards. The middle part is a nature preserve for wildlife, especially nesting birds like American kestrels and ospreys. The western end used to have cottages, but they were removed in 2010.
Russian Beach is between Long and Short beaches. It has parking and a walkway called Point-No-Point. You can fish and swim here, but there are no lifeguards.
Short Beach is a 30-acre park at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It has picnic areas, sports courts for basketball, tennis, and volleyball, and a playground. There are also fields for softball, soccer, and baseball. The beach itself has 1,000 feet of shoreline with a concession stand, bathrooms, and lifeguards. Short Beach Park also has a nine-hole golf course.

Great Salt Marsh Wildlife Area

The Great Meadows Unit is part of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge. It is an important stop for birds during their migration. The open water area of the Great Salt Marsh is called Lewis Gut.

Paradise Green Park. This area has shops like a pharmacy, ice cream shop, restaurants, and a bakery.

Neighborhoods in Stratford

Stratford has many different neighborhoods, including:

Beaver Dam
Birdseye
Floral Park
Hawley Lane (shared with Trumbull)
Historic District
Hollister Heights
Lordship
Long Beach
Oronoque
Oronoque Hills
Oronoque Village
Paradise green
Peck's Mill
Putney
South End
Stony Brook Gardens
Stratford Center
Stratford Downtown
Success Village
Wooster Park

Roosevelt Forest Park

Located in the northern part of Stratford, Roosevelt Forest is a 250-acre area. It is mostly a mixed deciduous forest, with some wet areas and ponds. It was named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt and much of its paths and campsites were built in the 1930s. The forest has campsites with cooking pits, picnic tables, and walking trails.

Environmental Cleanup Sites

Stratford is home to two "Superfund" sites. These are places that need special cleanup because of hazardous waste. One site is related to Raymark Industries, which used to make brake pads and other products. They disposed of waste containing harmful substances like lead, asbestos, and PCBs. This waste was even used as fill material for lawns and schoolyards. The cleanup of these areas has cost over $200 million.

The other site is the former Stratford Army Engine Plant. The United States Army is cleaning up this area.

Population and People

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1820	3,438	—
1850	2,040	—
1860	2,294	12.5%
1870	3,032	32.2%
1880	4,251	40.2%
1890	2,608	−38.6%
1900	3,657	40.2%
1910	5,712	56.2%
1920	12,347	116.2%
1930	19,212	55.6%
1940	22,580	17.5%
1950	33,428	48.0%
1960	45,012	34.7%
1970	49,775	10.6%
1980	50,541	1.5%
1990	49,389	−2.3%
2000	49,976	1.2%
2010	51,384	2.8%
2020	52,355	1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2010, Stratford had 51,384 people living there. There were about 20,095 households. The population density was about 2,919 people per square mile.

Most of the people in Stratford (76.4%) were White. About 14.3% were Black or African American, and 2.4% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 13.8% of the population.

About 28.2% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.54 people. The average family had 3.11 people. The median age in Stratford was 42.2 years old.

Industries and Businesses

In 1939, Igor Sikorsky developed one of the world's first successful commercial helicopters in Stratford. His company, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, is still the largest employer in town.

Sikorsky Aircraft Company

Sikorsky Aircraft Black Hawk helicopters in Iraq in 2005

Stratford is home to the main office of Sikorsky Aircraft. This company was founded by Igor Sikorsky, who invented the first successful American helicopter. Since 1957, every Marine One (the helicopter used by the President of the United States) has been made in Stratford. In 2015, Lockheed Martin bought Sikorsky Aircraft.

Stratford Army Engine Plant History

The Stratford Army Engine Plant (SAEP) was a large manufacturing facility for the U.S. Army. It was located along the Housatonic River. The plant closed on September 30, 1998. The Army has been working to develop the property since then. There are plans to turn the former plant into a resort.

Transportation Options

A Metro-North train at Stratford station on the New Haven Line.

Air Travel

Sikorsky Memorial Airport is located in Stratford, even though it is owned by the City of Bridgeport. This 800-acre airport has two runways and a helipad. It offers helicopter service to New York City and is used by small aircraft.

Train Service

The Stratford (Metro-North station) is a stop on the New Haven Line. It is about 59 miles east of Grand Central Terminal in New York City. A train ride to Manhattan takes about 90 minutes. The station has limited parking and connects to bus services.

Roads and Highways

Several major highways serve Stratford, making it easy to get around. These include:

Interstate 95 (also known as the Connecticut Turnpike)
U.S. Route 1 (Boston Post Road)
The Merritt Parkway (Route 15)
Route 108
Route 110
Route 113
Route 130

In 1983, a serious accident happened at a toll booth on Interstate 95 in Stratford. This event helped lead to the removal of all toll booths across Connecticut.

Emergency Services

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

Stratford Emergency Medical Service (SEMS) started in 1977. It provides emergency medical care, including paramedic services, to the town. They respond to about 8,500 calls each year.

Fire Department

The Stratford Fire Department was established in 1909. It has four stations around town. Firefighters respond to about 6,000 calls annually.

Police Department

The Stratford Police Department was created in 1917. It has 98 officers and various units, including arson investigation, crime prevention, and a K-9 unit with police dogs. They also have a boat patrol and an animal control unit.

Education in Stratford

Public Schools

The Stratford Board of Education manages public education. There are 13 schools in total: two high schools, two middle schools, and nine elementary schools. About 6,800 students attend these schools.

High Schools

Frank Scott Bunnell High School
Stratford High School
A.L.P.H.A. (an alternative high school program)

Middle Schools

Harry B. Flood Middle School
David Wooster Middle School

Elementary Schools

Chapel Street Elementary School
Franklin Elementary School
Lordship Elementary School
Nichols Elementary School
Second Hill Lane Elementary School
Stratford Academy: Johnson House
Eli Whitney Elementary School
Victoria Soto Elementary School
Wilcoxson Elementary School

Private Schools

Stratford has two private Catholic schools for elementary and middle school students:

St. James School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)
St. Mark School (Kindergarten to 8th grade)

Higher Education and Training

The Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Stratford trains students in television and radio.
Porter and Chester Institute offers training programs in areas like automotive technology and medical assistance.
The Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians is located at Sikorsky Memorial Airport.

Fun Places to Visit

National Helicopter Museum

The National Helicopter Museum is located in the old Stratford railroad station. It shows the history of helicopters with photos and models. You can also see a Lycoming T53 jet engine there.

Oysters at low tide. Short Beach is open from sunrise to sunset.

Tree on Short Beach in Stratford, Connecticut

Boothe Memorial Park

Boothe Memorial Park is a 30-acre park in the Putney area of Stratford. It has the original Boothe family home and many interesting buildings collected by the Boothe brothers. You can also see an old tollbooth from the Merritt Parkway here.

Shakespeare Festival Theatre

In 1955, Stratford became home to the American Shakespeare Theatre. This theater had 1,100 seats and was located by the Housatonic River. Famous actors like Katharine Hepburn and Paul Newman performed there.

The theater stopped operating in the mid-1980s and was empty for many years. In 2019, the theater sadly burned down.

Shakespeare at Stratford Library

Since 2002, the Hudson Shakespeare Company has performed one of their Shakespeare in the Park shows each year. These performances take place in the outdoor theater behind the Stratford Library.

Historic Places to See

Several places in Stratford are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some of these include:

Boothe Homestead (1985)
Capt. David Judson House (1973)
Ephraim Wheeler House (1992)
Isaac Lewis House (1991)
Nathan B. Booth House (1992)
Sterling Homestead (1976)
Stratford Center Historic District (1983)
Stratford Point Lighthouse (1990)
Washington Bridge (2004)

Sterling House Community Center

Since 1932, Sterling House has been a community center for Stratford. It is in a beautiful old mansion built in 1886. Sterling House offers fun activities for kids and adults, hosts charity events, and has a rose garden and a 2-acre field.

Sports in Stratford

Stratford is home to the Connecticut Brakettes, a famous women's fastpitch softball team. They started in 1947. The Brakettes have won many championships, including three world championships and 28 national titles. They play at Frank DeLuca Hall of Fame Field. Many former Brakettes players have become Olympians or entered the National Softball Hall of Fame.

Movies and News

Movies Filmed in Stratford

Several movies have been filmed, at least partly, in Stratford:

Butterfield Eight (1960)
The Battle (2001)
Carnauba: A Son's Memoir (2001)
Zero Day (2003)
Das Kraftei – Raketenjäger ME 163 Komet (2004)
Boxes (2005)
Store (2006)
Listen to Your Heart (2009)
All Good Things (2010)
Daddy for Lunch (2010)
Sketchy Future (2010)
Sicarii (2011)
Chang Can Dunk (2023)

Local News

Stratford gets its news from Bridgeport's daily newspaper, the Connecticut Post. There is also a weekly digital newspaper called the Stratford Crier.

Sister Cities

Stratford has five sister cities around the world. These are towns also named Stratford, creating special connections:

Stratford-upon-Avon, England, United Kingdom
Stratford, New Zealand
Stratford, Australia
Stratford, Canada
Stratford, Canada

Famous People From Stratford

Many notable people have connections to Stratford:

Andrew Adams (1736–1797), a judge and politician, was born in Stratford.
Raymond E. Baldwin (1893–1986), a U.S. Senator and Governor of Connecticut.
William Beardsley (1605–1661), one of the town's founders.
Adam Blakeman (1596–1665), the Puritan leader who founded the town.
Tyler Bunch, a puppeteer and actor.
Javier Colon, a singer who won The Voice, grew up in Stratford.
William Samuel Johnson (1727–1819), a signer of the United States Constitution and first president of Columbia University, was born and died in Stratford.
Stephen King, the famous author, lived in Stratford briefly as a child.
Nancy Marchand (1928–2000), an actress known for The Sopranos, lived in Stratford.
Moby, a well-known musician, lived in Stratford as a child.
Igor Sikorsky, the founder of Sikorsky Aircraft.
Victoria Leigh Soto (1985–2012), a school teacher and victim of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, attended Stratford High School.
John William Sterling (1844–1918), a philanthropist and lawyer, lived in Stratford.
Gideon Tomlinson (1780–1854), a lawyer, U.S. Senator, and Governor of Connecticut, was born in Stratford.
David Wooster, a Major General in the American Revolutionary War, was born in Stratford.
John Zaffis, a paranormal investigator from the show Haunted Collector.

Images for kids

Stratford Town Hall
Seal of Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford's location within Fairfield County and Connecticut
Stratford's location within the Greater Bridgeport Planning Region and the state of Connecticut
Stratford Public Library, as seen in a 1909 postcard
Street of the Triple Elms, as seen in the 1890s
Stratford Point Light
Paradise Green Park. Shops in Paradise Green include a pharmacy, ice cream shop, restaurants, and a bakery.
Cleanup of a Raymark Industries Superfund site, in Stratford
Sikorsky Aircraft Black Hawk helicopters in Iraq in 2005
Metro-North New Haven Line train at Stratford station
Oysters at low tide. Short Beach is open from sunrise to sunset.
Tree on Short Beach in Stratford, Connecticut