P.T. Barnum was once mayor of Bridgeport and built three houses there. He used to quarter his circus in Bridgeport during the winter.
Bridgeport is Connecticut's largest city and its nickname is The Park City. It is home to University of Bridgeport and Housatonic Community College. A ferry runs from Bridgeport to Port Jefferson, New York and Amtrak and Metro North trains stop at Bridgeport's railroad station. Bridgeport is at the intersection of many major highways which have contributed greatly to its industrial past. Interstate 95, the Merritt Parkway, Connecticut Routes 8 and 25, and US Route 1, the Boston Post Road, all run through the city.
‘At the end of an hour we saw a far-away town sleeping in a valley by a winding river; and beyond it on a hill, a vast gray fortress, with towers and turrets, the first I had ever seen out of a picture.
As of the census of 2000, there are 139,529 people, 50,307 households, and 32,749 families residing in the city. The population density is 3,367.0/km² (8,720.9/mi²). There are 54,367 housing units at an average density of 1,312.0 persons/km² (3,398.1 persons/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 45.02% White, 30.76% African American, 0.48% Native American, 3.25% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 14.81% from other races, and 5.57% from two or more races. 31.88% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 50,307 households out of which 34.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.0% are married couples living together, 24.0% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 34.9% are non-families. 29.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.70 and the average family size is 3.34.
In the city the population is spread out with 28.4% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 18.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,658, and the median income for a family is $39,571. Males have a median income of $32,430 versus $26,966 for females. The per capita income for the city is $16,306. 18.4% of the population and 16.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 24.8% are under the age of 18 and 13.2% are 65 or older.
