Bridgeport, the most populous city in the state of Connecticut, is located on Long Island Sound. Bridgeport was originally a part of the township of Stratford. The first recorded settlement here was made in 1659. The city was not chartered until 1836. Bridgeport’s location on the deep Black Rock Harbor supported shipbuilding and whaling endeavors in the mid 19th century. Bridgeport’s advantageous geographic location encouraged the early settlers to shift from agrarian to mercantile and manufacturing pursuits. It grew from a whaling center into an industrial center after the opening of the railroad in 1840. To learn more about Bridgeport's History, visit the Bridgeport Public Library's, Historical Collections
