kids encyclopedia robot

Westport, Connecticut facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Westport, Connecticut

Town of Westport
Westport Town Hall
Westport Town Hall
Flag of Westport, Connecticut
Flag
Official seal of Westport, Connecticut
Seal
Location in Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut.
Location in Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut.
Country  United States
U.S. state  Connecticut
County Fairfield
Metropolitan area Bridgeport-Stamford
Established 1835
Incorporated May 28, 1835
Founded by Bankside Farmers
Government
 • Type RTM
Area
 • Total 33.45 sq mi (86.6 km2)
 • Land 19.96 sq mi (51.7 km2)
 • Water 13.49 sq mi (34.9 km2)
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 27,141
 • Density 1,359.8/sq mi (525.0/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (Eastern)
ZIP Code
06880
PO Boxes
06881
Area code(s) 203/475
FIPS code 09-83500
GNIS feature ID 0213532

Westport is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, along the Long Island Sound within Connecticut's Gold Coast. It is 52 miles (84 km) northeast of New York City. The town had a population of 27,141 according to the 2020 U.S. Census.

History

Old Map of Westport, CT
Old Map of Westport, CT

The earliest known inhabitants of the Westport area as identified through archaeological finds date back 7,500 years. Records from the first white settlers report the Pequot Indians living in the area which they called Machamux translated by the colonialists as beautiful land. Settlement by colonialists dates back to the five Bankside Farmers; whose families grew and prospered into a community that continued expanding. The community had its own ecclesiastical society, supported by independent civil and religious elements, enabling it to be independent from the Town of Fairfield. The settlers arrived in 1693, having followed cattle to the isolated area known to the Pequot as the "beautiful land". As the settlement expanded its name changed: it was briefly known as "Bankside" in 1693, officially named Green's Farm in 1732 in honor of Bankside Farmer John Green and in 1835 incorporated as the Town of Westport.

During the revolutionary war—on April 25, 1777, a 1,850 strong British force under the command of the Royal Governor of the Province of New York, Major General William Tryon landed on Compo Beach to destroy the Continental Army’s military supplies in Danbury. Minutemen from Westport and the surrounding areas crouched hiding whilst Tryon's troops passed and then launched an offensive from their rear. A statue on Compo beach commemorates this plan of attack with a crouching Minuteman facing away from the beach; looking onto what would have been the rear of the troops.

The Town of Westport was officially incorporated on May 28, 1835, with lands from Fairfield, Weston and Norwalk. Daniel Nash led 130 people of Westport in the petitioning of the Town of Fairfield for Westport’s incorporation. The driving force behind the petition was to assist their seaport’s economic viability that was being undermined by neighboring towns’ seaports. For several decades after that, Westport was a prosperous agricultural community distinguishing itself as the leading onion-growing center in the U.S. Blight caused the collapse of Westport's onion industry leading to the mills and factories replacing agricultural as the town's economic engine.

Agriculture was Westport’s first major industry. By the 19th century, Westport had become a shipping center in part to transport onions to market.

Starting around 1910 the town experienced a cultural expansion. During this period artists, musicians, and authors such as F. Scott Fitzgerald moved to Westport to be free from the commuting demands experienced by business people. The roots of Westport’s reputation as an arts center can be traced back to this period during which it was known as a "creative heaven."

In the 20th century a combination of industrialization, and popularity among New Yorkers attracted to fashionable Westport—which had attracted many artists and writers—resulted in farmers selling off their land. Westport changed from a community of farmers to a suburban development.

In the 1950s through to the 1970s, New Yorkers relocating from the city to the suburbs discovered Westport's culture of artists, musicians and authors. The population grew rapidly, assisted by the ease of commuting to New York City and back again to rolling hills and the "natural beauty of the town." By this time Westport had "chic New York-type fashion shopping" and a school system with a good reputation, both factors contributing to the growth.

By the 21st century, Westport had developed into a center for finance and insurance (23%), and professional, scientific and technical services (21%).

Geography and environment

According to the United States Census Bureau, Westport has a total area of 33.3 square miles (86 km2). 20.0 square miles (52 km2) or 60.02% of it is land and 13.3 square miles (34 km2) or 39.98% is water.

Westport is bordered by Norwalk on the west, Weston to the north, Wilton to the northwest, Fairfield to the east and Long Island Sound to the south.

Climate

Climate data for Westport, Connecticut
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 69
(21)
74
(23)
85
(29)
96
(36)
97
(36)
97
(36)
102
(39)
104
(40)
97
(36)
86
(30)
82
(28)
76
(24)
104
(40)
Average high °F (°C) 37
(3)
39
(4)
48
(9)
60
(16)
70
(21)
79
(26)
84
(29)
82
(28)
75
(24)
64
(18)
52
(11)
42
(6)
61
(16)
Average low °F (°C) 19
(−7)
21
(−6)
29
(−2)
38
(3)
47
(8)
57
(14)
62
(17)
61
(16)
53
(12)
40
(4)
33
(1)
24
(−4)
40
(5)
Record low °F (°C) −18
(−28)
−14
(−26)
−6
(−21)
16
(−9)
28
(−2)
35
(2)
40
(4)
37
(3)
28
(−2)
16
(−9)
7
(−14)
−13
(−25)
−18
(−28)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.0
(100)
3.5
(89)
4.7
(120)
4.8
(120)
4.7
(120)
4.6
(120)
4.1
(100)
4.2
(110)
4.9
(120)
4.8
(120)
4.5
(110)
4.4
(110)
53.2
(1,339)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 7.6
(19)
7.8
(20)
4.9
(12)
0.7
(1.8)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0.6
(1.5)
4.6
(12)
26.2
(66.3)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 6.3 5.9 6.8 7.3 7.7 7.1 6.6 6.5 6.3 5.7 6.4 6.3 78.9
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 3.5 2.9 1.2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.1 1.4 9.1
Source: The Weather Channel

Topology

Both the train station and a total of 26 percent of town residents live within the 100-year floodplain.

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods of Westport, CT
Neighborhoods of Westport, CT
  • Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices. Saugatuck originates from the Paugussett tribe meaning mouth of the tidal river.
    • Saugatuck Shores – A curved peninsula surrounded by the Long Island Sound, this area was once part of the town of Norwalk. Today several hundred residents live on the peninsula, which became part of Westport in the 1960s.
    • Saugatuck Island – founded in the 1890s as Greater Marsh Shores, the island was renamed to its current name in 1920 and became a special taxing district on November 5, 1984.
  • Downtown Westport - The area around Post Road and Main Street on and near the Saugatuck River that serves as the center of Westport, with many shops and restaurants. There has been recent growth in the downtown area, including Levitt Pavilion, National Hall (The area where Post and Riverside intersect), and Bedford square (opening in 2017), a mixed use development on Church St, Elm St, Main St and Post Rd that will have apartments, public spaces, including a courtyard, underground parking, stores, and restaurants, as well as the incorporation of the historic Bedford Mansion.
  • Greens Farms – is Westport's oldest neighborhood starting around Hillspoint road and ending at Westport's boundary on the east side.
  • Cockenoe Island (pronounced "KuhKEEnee") – just off the southeastern coast of the town. Cockenoe Island is an uninhabited island that was purchased by Westport for $212,740 from the United Illuminating Company in 1969 so that the company could not use the land to build a nuclear plant.
  • Old Hill – west of the Saugatuck River and north of the Post Road, a historic section of town with many homes from the Revolutionary and Victorian eras. Prior to the road being called the Boston Post Road it was called the Connecticut Turnpike.
  • Coleytown – Located at the northern edge of town, near the Weston town line. Home to Coleytown fire station, Middle and Elementary school.
  • Compo – Located around the main beach in the town, Compo Beach. Compo (Compaug), can be traced back to the early Paugussett tribe and means the bear's fishing ground.
A panoramic view from Saugatuck Bridge, Westport, CT, USA
Panorama from Saugatuck Bridge, Westport, CT, taken in 2012.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 1,803
1850 2,651 47.0%
1860 3,293 24.2%
1870 3,361 2.1%
1880 3,477 3.5%
1890 3,715 6.8%
1900 4,017 8.1%
1910 4,259 6.0%
1920 5,114 20.1%
1930 6,073 18.8%
1940 8,258 36.0%
1950 11,667 41.3%
1960 20,955 79.6%
1970 27,318 30.4%
1980 25,290 −7.4%
1990 24,410 −3.5%
2000 25,749 5.5%
2010 26,391 2.5%
2020 27,141 2.8%
CT.gov

The 2019 US Census reported a population estimate of 28,491 with the median household income at $206,466.

The 2010 US Census counted the total number of households in Westport being 9,573 of which 7,233 (75.6%) were family households. The population density was 1,322.2 inhabitants per square mile (510.5/km2). There were 10,065 housing units at an average density of 503.0 per square mile (194.2/km2).

According to the 2010 Census, the population of Westport was 92.6% White, 4.0% Asian, 1.2% Black or African American, and 0.1% American Indian. Individuals from other races made up 0.6% of Westport's population while individuals from two or more races made up 1.6%. In addition, Latinos of any race made up 3.5% of Westport's population. About 29.8% of Westport residents were younger than age 18 as of 2010; higher than the U.S. average of 24%.

According to the 2000 Census, there were 9,586 households, of which 38.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.1% were married couples living together, 6.8% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 25.2% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.9% under the age of 18, 2.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 28.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.3 males.

According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the town was $147,391, and the median income for a family was $176,740. As of the 2000 Census, males had a median income of $100,000 versus $53,269 for females. The per capita income for the town was $73,664. 2.6% of the population and 1.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 2.7% are under the age of 18 and 2.1% are 65 or older.

In July 2008, Westport was named the fifth top-earning city in the US, with a median family income of $193,540 and median home price of $1,200,000. In 2018, data from the American Community Survey revealed that Westport was the 9th wealthiest city in the United States.

Architecture

National Register of Historic Places in Westport
Map of National Register of Historic Places in Westport

This is a list of structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Westport:

Name on the Register Image Date listed Location City or town Description
1 The Allen House
July 22, 2010
(#10000492)
4 Burritt's Landing North
41°06′57″N 73°22′32″W / 41.115833°N 73.375556°W / 41.115833; -73.375556 (The Allen House)
Westport Built in 1958, the house is the only known example in Westport of work by Chicago architect Roy Binkley, Jr..
2 Bradley-Wheeler House
Bradley-Wheeler House
July 5, 1984
(#84000791)
25 Avery Pl.
41°08′39″N 73°21′41″W / 41.144167°N 73.361389°W / 41.144167; -73.361389 (Bradley-Wheeler House)
Westport Headquarters and museum of the Westport Historical Society
3 Compo-Owenoke Historic District
April 19, 1991
(#91000393)
Roughly bounded by Gray's Creek, Compo Rd. S., and Long Island Sound
41°06′22″N 73°21′18″W / 41.106111°N 73.355°W / 41.106111; -73.355 (Compo-Owenoke Historic District)
Westport
4 Godillot Place
Godillot Place
August 29, 1977
(#77001396)
60, 65 Jesup Rd.
41°08′25″N 73°21′35″W / 41.140278°N 73.359722°W / 41.140278; -73.359722 (Godillot Place)
Westport A Stick style house built in 1879 , an associated cottage, and a carriage barn.
5 Green Farms School
April 19, 1991
(#91000391)
Junction of Morningside Dr. S. and Boston Post Rd., In the Greens Farms
41°08′13″N 73°19′31″W / 41.136944°N 73.325278°W / 41.136944; -73.325278 (Green Farms School)
Westport Tudor Revival style school built in 1925, designed by architect Charles Cutler
6 Kings Highway North Historic District
August 10, 1998
(#98000884)
Roughly along Kings Highway, N., from Wilton Rd. to Woodside Ave.
41°08′26″N 73°22′06″W / 41.140556°N 73.368333°W / 41.140556; -73.368333 (Kings Highway North Historic District)
Westport
7 Mill Cove Historic District
April 19, 1991
(#91000392)
Between Compo Mill Cove and Long Island Sound
41°06′47″N 73°20′32″W / 41.113056°N 73.342222°W / 41.113056; -73.342222 (Mill Cove Historic District)
Westport
8 National Hall Historic District
National Hall Historic District
September 13, 1984
(#84000812)
Riverside Ave., Wilton and Post Rds.; in downtown Westport, on the west side of (and abutting) the Saugatuck River and north side of Post Road East
41°08′25″N 73°21′54″W / 41.140278°N 73.365°W / 41.140278; -73.365 (National Hall Historic District)
Westport
9 Saugatuck River Bridge
Saugatuck River Bridge
February 12, 1987
(#87000126)
CT 136
41°07′22″N 73°22′10″W / 41.122778°N 73.369444°W / 41.122778; -73.369444 (Saugatuck River Bridge)
Westport From 1884, a swinging bridge
10 Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge
Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge
June 12, 1987
(#87000846)
Amtrak right-of-way at the Saugatuck River
41°07′10″N 73°22′08″W / 41.119444°N 73.368889°W / 41.119444; -73.368889 (Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge)
Westport
11 Shambaugh House
April 9, 1999
(#99000432)
12 Old Hill Rd.
41°08′38″N 73°22′12″W / 41.143889°N 73.37°W / 41.143889; -73.37 (Shambaugh House)
Westport
12 Town Hall
Town Hall
May 18, 1982
(#82004343)
90 Post Rd. E.
41°08′28″N 73°21′39″W / 41.141111°N 73.360833°W / 41.141111; -73.360833 (Town Hall)
Westport The former Town Hall
13 Westport Bank and Trust Company
Westport Bank and Trust Company
November 6, 2006
(#06000593)
87 Post Rd. E., in downtown Westport
41°08′30″N 73°21′40″W / 41.141667°N 73.361111°W / 41.141667; -73.361111 (Westport Bank and Trust Company)
Westport

Parks and recreation

Comprising 234 acres (0.95 km2), Sherwood Island State Park is located on Long Island Sound and includes beach access. Compo Beach and Burying Hill Beach are municipal beaches that are open to out-of-town visitors in the summer for a fee. The state's 9/11 memorial was put in Sherwood Island State Park in Westport; on a clear day the New York City skyline can be seen.

A panoramic view looking over Longshore Club Park, Westport, CT.
Panorama of Westport town park: Longshore Club Park, taken in 2011.

In 1960, Westport purchased Longshore Club Park.

In 2011, Paul Newman's estate gave land to Westport to be managed by the Aspetuck Land Trust.

In 2010, the historic Wakeman Farm was reopened to the public as the Wakeman Town Farm and Sustainability Center. The town's website describes as a "organic demonstration homestead open to the public. The Farm is a model facility created to educate the community with local healthy food production, responsible land stewardship, sustainable practices and community service orientation."

At sunrise
A panoramic view looking over Compo Beach, Westport, CT.
Panorama of Compo Beach, Westport, CT, taken in 2012.

Transportation

WestportCTTrainStation09302007
Westport train station

Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway, and U.S. 1, as well as the Saugatuck River, run through Westport.

Westport has two train stations, Green's Farms and Westport on the Metro-North Railroad's New Haven Line, which serves Stamford and Grand Central Terminal in New York City or New Haven-Union Station. This line is shared with Amtrak trains as it is part of the Northeast Corridor, but no Amtrak services stop at Green's Farms or Westport. The nearest Amtrak stations are at Bridgeport (10 miles) and Stamford (12 miles).

"Main to Train" study

A recent initiative by residents of the Town of Westport, Connecticut, culminating in a 2019 report. It is part of a greater interest to improve pedestrian and cyclist options from the major places of interest in town: downtown Westport to the Westport Train Station. This approximate two-mile stretch of road is most directly accessible via Post Road East (U.S. Route 1) to Riverside Avenue. The third iteration of the study will more specifically address ways in which this path can be improved for people not traveling by car; the first report considered the conditional state of the path and the second analyzed traffic conditions.

The Westport Planning and Zoning Commission is interested in offering more sustainable and accessible transit options: in 2017 the Commission released a report on alternate transit options, complete with surveys of town residents and maps of current sidewalks and bike paths. The lack of sidewalks on some two-way arterial and many collector streets may increase the potential for accidents. This is occurring in tandem with the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s notable laws which support users of all transit forms: the Complete Streets Law of 2009, the 2014 Vulnerable User Law, and the 2015 Bike Bill. A true application of change in the post-Complete Streets law is the restriping of road shoulders by the DOT across the state, including the many, already narrow, two-way streets. The narrowing of roads is known to encourage slower, safer driving, which protects pedestrians and cyclists, as well as auto users. This form of traffic calming is thus in line with Vision Zero, an interest by New Urbanists and city planners focused on reducing traffic-caused injuries and fatalities.

The Norwalk Transit District, with several routes available for Westporters due to support by the Town of Westport, offers another form of transit for mainly commuting use.

In popular culture

Music and musicals

  • One of the most popular tracks on REO Speedwagon's eponymous debut album, released on Epic Records in 1971, was "157 Riverside Avenue". The title refers to the Westport address where the band stayed during the recording process.
  • In the musical Rent, Benny is married to Alison Grey of Westport, who comes from a wealthy family.

Television

  • Westport is where the Ricardos and the Mertzes moved to when Lucy and Ricky bought a house in the country on I Love Lucy.
  • Westport was the location of the fictional residence (1164 Morning Glory Circle) of Darrin and Samantha Stephens on the television series Bewitched.
  • The Twilight Zone had one episode called "A Stop at Willoughby", wherein the main character worked in NYC and commuted by train to his home in Westport. It aired on May 6, 1960, and the episode was written by then-Westport resident Rod Serling.
  • In the television series The Dick Van Dyke Show, Alan Brady, the star of the show that Rob Petrie worked for, lived in Westport.
  • In the television series The West Wing, Bradley Whitford plays Josh Lyman, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, who comes from a wealthy family from Westport.
  • In the television show Boy Meets World, Anthony Tyler Quinn plays Mr. Jonathan Turner, main character's high school teacher, who comes from Westport.
  • The television show American Housewife is set in Westport.

Literature and film – Westport has been the subject, inspiration, or location for written and cinematic works:

  • In the popular book series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan, the main antagonist, Luke Castellan, formerly lived in Westport.
  • In 1911, part of the film The Charity of the Poor was filmed in Saugatuck followed up the next year, in 1912, with the film In Time of Peril.
  • The 1956 movie The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit, with Gregory Peck, was based on the book of the same name by Sloan Wilson which was itself set partly in Westport. Portions of the movie were filmed on location in Westport. In particular, shots of the Westport Saugatuck train station can be seen, as well as a sequence towards the end of the movie showing a still recognizable Westport Main Street in the late 1950s.
  • The 1958 production of Rally 'Round the Flag, Boys! was also set in Westport
  • The 1968 film The Swimmer starring Burt Lancaster and based on a short story by John Cheever, was partially filmed in Westport backyard pools.
  • In 1972 the local filmmaker Sean Cunningham shot The Last House on the Left which was his first feature film. Three years later the 1975 production of The Stepford Wives was released featuring scenes shot in a Williamsburg colonial house in Westport.
  • The 1998 production This Is My Father was partly filmed in Westport.
  • The 2004 film The Girl Next Door was vaguely based on Westport – director Luke Greenfield grew up in town. It was filmed and set in California. That same decade parts of the 2008 production of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 were filmed in Westport

·Believed to be the setting of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby" as he lived in Westport at the time of writing. East Egg and West Egg are believed to be represented by the signs "Easton" and "Weston" on the two sides of Westport.

Sister cities

Westport currently has three sister cities:

Economy

Commerce and industry

The financial services sector employs 7,171 in Westport; half of whom commute daily to Westport. The financial services industry is a major segment of the local economy. The major financial services companies in Westport now are Bridgewater Associates, a global investment manager and Westport's largest employer, Canaan Partners, an early stage venture capital firm focusing on IT and life sciences, and BNY Mellon. Professional, scientific, and technical services companies include Terex, a Fortune 500 company manufacturing industrial equipment and offering professional and technical services around those products, and dLife, a multimedia diabetes education (and marketing) company.

Nonprofits

  • The Westport Country Playhouse, founded in 1930, is a regional theater known for its excellent theatrical performances. After Paul Newman moved to Westport in 1960, he became a principal "driving force" behind the playhouse reported as "one of the country’s most respected summer theaters." The playhouse went through a renovation process that was completed in 2005 on its seventy-fifth anniversary.
  • Westport Museum for History & Culture, Formerly the Westport Historical Society, Westport Museum for History & Culture (WM), has been a cultural and educational organization dedicated to preserving, presenting and celebrating the history of Westport since its founding in 1889. Their mission is to inspire the holistic discovery of our town's history inclusive of our collective heritage and its place in the larger American story.
  • Save the Children, the American charity, governed entirely separately from the British charity of the same name, was headquartered in Westport before moving to Fairfield.
  • The Smith Richardson Foundation, a public policy think tank, is headquartered in Westport, Connecticut.
  • The Westport Animal Shelter Advocates (WASA) support the town's animal shelter located on Elaine Road, as well as other Fairfield County animal shelters.
  • The Joseph J. Clinton Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 399 has been a Westport institution since 1920. Named for World War I veteran, Private Joseph J. Clinton from Westport who was killed in France just 4 days before the armistice. VFW Post 399 is committed to making a meaningful and positive contribution to the veterans and families that have served our country with honor. We are part of the national Veterans of Foreign Wars organization and are a 501(c)(19) Non-Profit charity.

Education

Schools

Public schools

Staples High School, Westport, CT
View of Staples High School, December 2011

Staples High School is Westport's only public high school. Staples High School was ranked No. 1 for best high schools in Connecticut and 279th best nationwide." The school is in the Staples neighborhood.

The district has two middle schools, Bedford Middle School and Coleytown Middle School, the latter being down for renovations due to mold issues. In September 2009, Bedford Middle School was awarded the government-honored Blue Ribbon Award. In 2020, Bedford Middle and Coleytown Middle schools were ranked No. 3 and No. 7 in the state, respectively.

There are five elementary schools with a total of 2,556 students:

  • Coleytown Elementary School
  • King's Highway Elementary School
  • Green's Farms Elementary School
  • Saugatuck Elementary School
  • Long Lots Elementary School

There are numerous preschools in Westport, including Stepping Stones Pre-school, Greens Farms Nursery School, Saugatuck Nursery School, Earthplace Nursery School and the YMCA Childcare.

For the 2020–21 fiscal year, the school district's adopted budget is $121.9 million. The school district had an estimated $109.1 million budget for the 2009–10 fiscal year, giving it an average per pupil expenditure of $16,266. The average 2010 class size for kindergarten through first grade was 22 students and 25 students for second through fifth grade.

Private schools

Greens Farms Academy, located in the 1920s Vanderbilt estate overlooking Long Island Sound, is a K-12 private preparatory school located in the Greens Farms section of town. Pierrepont School, opened in 2002 on Sylvan Road, is a private K-12 school for gifted students.

Westport Public Library
The Westport Library taken from the opposite side of the Saugatuck River.

Scientific institutions

The Rolnick Observatory, operated by the Westport Astronomical Society, is open to the public for free on clear Wednesday and Thursday evenings. The observatory is located at 182 Bayberry Lane, on a former Nike missile site.

Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center, is a natural history museum, nature center and wildlife sanctuary located at 10 Woodside Lane. The organization is dedicated to the promotion of public environmental education, preservation and conservation. Activities include maintaining a 62-acre (250,000 m2) open space wildlife sanctuary with trails, presenting public nature education programs, a water quality monitoring program, an interactive nature discovery area, a nursery school and summer camp.

Notable people

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Westport (Connecticut) para niños

kids search engine
Westport, Connecticut Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.