Westport, Connecticut facts for kids

Westport, Connecticut
Town
Westport Town Hall
Flag Seal
Location in Fairfield County and the state of Connecticut.
Country	United States
State	Connecticut
NECTA	Bridgeport-Stamford
Region	South Western Region
Incorporated	May 28, 1835
Area
• Total	33.3 sq mi (86.2 km2)
• Land	20.0 sq mi (51.8 km2)
• Water	13.3 sq mi (34.5 km2)
Elevation	26 ft (8 m)
Population (2010)
• Total	26,391
• Density	792.5/sq mi (306.16/km2)
Time zone	Eastern (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST)	Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code	06880
Area code(s)	203
FIPS code	09-83500
GNIS feature ID	0213532
Website	http://www.westportct.gov/

Westport is a coastal town of colonial origin located along Long Island Sound in Fairfield County, Connecticut, 47 miles (76 km) northeast of New York City in the United States. The town had a population of 26,391 according to the 2010 U.S. Census and in 2008 ranked the tenth wealthiest town in the U.S. with populations between 20,000 and 65,000, and second in the state.

History

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.

Minutemen Statue on Compo Beach

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 (20.6)	74 (23.3)	85 (29.4)	96 (35.6)	97 (36.1)	97 (36.1)	102 (38.9)	104 (40)	97 (36.1)	86 (30)	82 (27.8)	76 (24.4)	104 (40)
Average high °F (°C)	37 (2.8)	39 (3.9)	48 (8.9)	60 (15.6)	70 (21.1)	79 (26.1)	84 (28.9)	82 (27.8)	75 (23.9)	64 (17.8)	52 (11.1)	42 (5.6)	61 (16.11)
Average low °F (°C)	19 (-7.2)	21 (-6.1)	29 (-1.7)	38 (3.3)	47 (8.3)	57 (13.9)	62 (16.7)	61 (16.1)	53 (11.7)	40 (4.4)	33 (0.6)	24 (-4.4)	40.3 (4.63)
Record low °F (°C)	−18 (-27.8)	−14 (-25.6)	−6 (-21.1)	16 (-8.9)	28 (-2.2)	35 (1.7)	40 (4.4)	37 (2.8)	28 (-2.2)	16 (-8.9)	7 (-13.9)	−13 (-25)	−18 (-27.8)
Precipitation inches (mm)	4.0 (102)	3.5 (89)	4.7 (119)	4.8 (122)	4.7 (119)	4.6 (117)	4.1 (104)	4.2 (107)	4.9 (124)	4.8 (122)	4.5 (114)	4.4 (112)	53.2 (1,351)
Snowfall inches (cm)	7.6 (19.3)	7.8 (19.8)	4.9 (12.4)	0.7 (1.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0.6 (1.5)	4.6 (11.7)	26.2 (66.5)
Avg. 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
Avg. 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

• 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.

Panorama from Saugatuck Bridge, Westport, CT, taken in 2012.

Demographics

See also: List of Connecticut locations by per capita income

Historical population
Year	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%
Source: CT.gov

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,644 people, 9,586 households, and 7,170 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,286.7 people per square mile (496.8/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, Hispanics 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.

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 July 2008.

Architecture

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	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		July 5, 1984 (#84000791)	25 Avery Pl. 41°08′39″N 73°21′41″W	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	Westport
4	Godillot Place		August 29, 1977 (#77001396)	60, 65 Jesup Rd. 41°08′25″N 73°21′35″W	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	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	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	Westport
8	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	Westport
9	Saugatuck River Bridge		February 12, 1987 (#87000126)	CT 136 41°07′22″N 73°22′10″W	Westport	From 1884, a swinging bridge
10	Saugatuck River Railroad Bridge		June 12, 1987 (#87000846)	Amtrak right-of-way at the Saugatuck River 41°07′10″N 73°22′08″W	Westport
11	Shambaugh House		April 9, 1999 (#99000432)	12 Old Hill Rd. 41°08′38″N 73°22′12″W	Westport
12	Town Hall		May 18, 1982 (#82004343)	90 Post Rd. E. 41°08′28″N 73°21′39″W	Westport	The former Town Hall
13	Westport Bank and Trust Company		November 6, 2006 (#06000593)	87 Post Rd. E., in downtown Westport 41°08′30″N 73°21′40″W	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.

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

Panorama of Compo Beach, Westport, CT, taken in 2012.

Transportation

Saugatuck River

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).

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:

• Marigny, France
• St. Petersburg, Russia
• Yangzhou, People's Republic of China

Images for kids

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  View of Staples High School, December 2011
  

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

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  Westport Country Playhouse