Downtown Bridgeport Farmers Market

In the early 1800’s, after a number of name changes and the official declaration as a “city”, the borough of Bridgeport was experiencing tremendous growth. The quiet farming and seaport villages that defined the city were enjoying prosperous times. The official census counted 1,089 residents, 123 homes, two churches and eighteen sailing vessels. The first trains of the Housatonic Railroad Company came steaming into Bridgeport in 1840, bringing freight from ports in New York, Boston and Baltimore. The combination of the railway and the harbor laid the groundwork for the industrial era and the rise of the entrepreneurial spirit. Among those who’ve etched their names in Bridgeport’s history are Phineas T. Barnum, reknown showman, publisher and former mayor; Elias Howe inventor of the sewing machine; Gustave Whitehead, credited with the first successful powered flight and Harvey Hubbell, inventor of the electric plug and pull-chain light socket. By the late 1800’s the city’s population was nearing 20,000, over the next few years it tripled as immigrants, boasting more than sixty ethnic groups, established themselves in diverse neighborhoods. Today, the city occupies 18 square miles and boasts a population of more than 139,000 residents. As the largest city in Connecticut, Bridgeport has spent the last few years undergoing a strategic revitalization effort which continues to provide opportunities for residential and commercial development. Unlike most nearby urban centers, downtown Bridgeport is compact and easy to negotiate. Residents can walk to theaters, restaurants, museums and galleries, or to the Intermodal Transportation Center for bus, cab train or ferry transport. This variety and accessibility provides an appealing part of the urban experience for both working or playing in Bridgeport.