Westport, Connecticut
Town
Town of Westport
Westport Town Hall
Flag Seal Logo
Nickname:  WePo
Fairfield County and Connecticut  Western Connecticut Planning Region and Connecticut
Show Westport Show Connecticut Show the United States
Coordinates: 41°07′24″N 73°20′49″W / 41.12333°N 73.34694°W / 41.12333; -73.34694
Country	United States
U.S. state	Connecticut
County	Fairfield
Region	Western CT
Established	1835
Incorporated	May 28, 1835
Founded by	Bankside Farmers
Government [1]
• Type	RTM
• 1st selectwoman	Jennifer Tooker (R)
• 2nd selectwoman	Andrea Moore (R)
• 3rd selectwoman	Candace Savin (D)
Area [2]
• 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
P.O. Boxes	06881
Area code(s)	203/475
FIPS code	09-83500
GNIS feature ID	0213532
Website	www.westportct.gov

Westport is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, along the Long Island Sound within Connecticut's Gold Coast. It is 48 miles (77 km) northeast of New York City. The town is part of the Western Connecticut Planning Region. Westport's public school system is ranked as the top public school district in Connecticut and 17th best school district in the United States.^[3]

History

The earliest known inhabitants of the Westport area as identified through archaeological finds date back 7,500 years.^[4] 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.^[5] Settlement by colonialists dates back to the five Bankside Farmers; whose families grew and prospered into a community that continued expanding. The settlers arrived in 1693, having followed cattle to the isolated area.^[5] The community had its own ecclesiastical society, supported by independent civil and religious elements, enabling it to be independent from the Town of Fairfield.^[6] 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.^{[4][full citation needed]}

During the Revolutionary War, on April 25, 1777, a British force of 1,850 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.^[7] Minutemen from Westport and the surrounding areas crouched hiding while 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.^[8] An additional statue of two cannons facing the water, a testament to the resistance the minutemen displayed, was erected on the beach in 1901.^[9] A sign on Post Road East also commemorates this event.^[10]

The Town of Westport was officially incorporated on May 28, 1835, with lands from Fairfield, Weston and Norwalk.^[4][11] 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.^[12] For several decades after that, Westport was a prosperous agricultural community, distinguishing itself as the leading onion-growing center in the U.S. In addition, Westport became a shipping center in part to transport onions to market.^[13] Blight caused the collapse of Westport's onion industry, leading to mills and factories replacing agriculture as the town's economic engine.^[6]

Starting around 1910 the town experienced a cultural expansion.^[4][14] 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.^[15] 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."^[4]

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.^[16][17]

From the 1950s through the 1970s, New Yorkers relocating from the city to the suburbs discovered Westport's culture of artists, musicians and authors.^[14] 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."^[4][18] By this time Westport had "chic New York-type fashion shopping"^[19][20] and a school system with a good reputation, both factors contributing to the growth.^{[14][18][19][20][21][22]}

By the 21st century, Westport had developed into a center for finance and insurance, as well as professional, scientific and technical services.

Geography

According to a publication by the 2010 Census,^[23] Westport has a total area of 33.45 square miles (86.6 km²) of which 19.96 square miles (51.7 km²) (59.67%) is land with the remaining area of 13.49 square miles (34.9 km²) (40.20%) 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

Topography

Both the train station and a total of 26 percent of town residents live within the 100-year floodplain.^[26] The floodplain was breached in 1992 and 1996 resulting in damage to private property, the 1992 flooding of the train station parking lot and the implementation of flood mitigation measures that include town regulations that affect renovations and additions to building within the floodplain zone. ^{[citation needed]}

Neighborhoods

• 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.
• Westport Village – 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, and Bedford square, a mixed-use development incorporating the Bedford Mansion^[27]
• Greens Farms – Westport's oldest neighborhood, starting around Hillspoint Road and ending at Westport's boundary on the east side.^[5] Greens Farms has its own post office^[28] and train station^[29]
• Cockenoe Island (pronounced "KuhKEEnee"^{[citation needed]}) – 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^[5]
• 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^[30]
• Coleytown – Located at the northern edge of town, near the Weston town line. Home to Coleytown fire station, Middle and Elementary school. Named for Farmer Coley, who owned lots of land in this area
• 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^[31]
• SewTrol – The area containing the Town Sewage Treatment Plant, the Town Animal Control, and the State Boat Launch

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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.^[32]

The 2010 US Census counted the total number of households in Westport being 9,573 of which 7,233 (75.6%) were family households.^[33] 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%.^[34] 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.^[35] In 2018, data from the American Community Survey revealed that Westport was the 9th wealthiest city in the United States.^[36]

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, and BNY Mellon.^[37] 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

• 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^[4][38]
• The Smith Richardson Foundation, a public policy think tank, is headquartered in Westport, Connecticut
• Joseph J. Clinton Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 399 and August Matthias American Legion Post 63 are 501(c)(19) Non Profit charities located in Westport.

Arts and culture

Attractions

• The Westport Country Playhouse, founded in 1930, is a regional theater.^[39] After Paul Newman moved to Westport in 1960, he became a principal "driving force" behind the playhouse.^[39]
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MoCA) Westport, part of the Westport Arts Center; the facility was expanded in 2019 to include the permanent contemporary art collection.^[40]
• Westport Museum for History and Culture, founded in 1889, is dedicate to the history of Westport.^[41]
• The Wakeman Town Farm is a historic working farm and sustainability demonstration center.^[42][43]
• The Rolnick Observatory is located on a former Nike missile site.^[44][45]
• Earthplace, The Nature Discovery Center, is a 62-acre (250,000 m²) natural history museum, nature center and wildlife sanctuary.

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.^[46]

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.^[47]

Government

Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=Westport,_Connecticut
Text je dostupný za podmienok Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License 3.0 Unported; prípadne za ďalších podmienok. Podrobnejšie informácie nájdete na stránke Podmienky použitia.

---



---

www.astronomia.sk | www.biologia.sk | www.botanika.sk | www.dejiny.sk | www.economy.sk | www.elektrotechnika.sk | www.estetika.sk | www.farmakologia.sk | www.filozofia.sk | Fyzika | www.futurologia.sk | www.genetika.sk | www.chemia.sk | www.lingvistika.sk | www.politologia.sk | www.psychologia.sk | www.sexuologia.sk | www.sociologia.sk | www.veda.sk I www.zoologia.sk

---

Westport town vote
by party in presidential elections^[48]

Year	Democratic	Republican	Third Parties
2020	74.46% 13,048	24.09% 4,222	1.45% 253
2016	68.99% 10,655	26.99% 4,169	4.01% 620
2012	56.45% 8,495	42.79% 6,439	0.76% 114
2008	65.05% 10,067	34.52% 5,342	0.43% 66
2004	59.47% 9,115	39.56% 6,063	0.98% 150
2000	57.35% 8,304	38.61% 5,590	4.05% 586
1996	51.61% 7,331	40.73% 5,785	7.67% 1,089
1992	48.10% 7,799	38.02% 6,166	13.88% 2,251
1988	44.32% 6,519	54.73% 8,051	0.95% 140
1984	38.58% 5,774	61.21% 9,162	0.21% 31
1980	30.26% 4,381	53.95% 7,810	15.79% 2,285
1976	40.97% 6,053	58.73% 8,677	0.30% 44
1972	40.23% 5,937	58.98% 8,705	0.79% 116
1968	42.34% 5,435	54.82% 7,037	2.84% 365
1964	59.54% 6,939	40.46% 4,716	0.00% 0