Westport is a coastal town located on Long Island Sound in Fairfield County, Connecticut, 47 miles north of New York City in the United States. The population was estimated at 26,615 in 2005.[1] Westport is one of the most affluent communities in the United States and is home to significant cultural attractions, including the Westport Country Playhouse a longtime regional theater, the unique Levitt Pavilion providing free concerts, a strong arts council, the Westport Public Library, and a heritage as a former artists' colony. PoliticsThe town government consists of the three-member Board of Selectmen, a Representative Town Meeting (RTM), a Board of Finance, a Board of Education, a Planning and Zoning Commission, and many other commissions, boards, and committees. Geography and TransportationAccording to the United States Census Bureau, Westport has a total area of 33.3 square miles (86.3 km²).20.0 square miles (51.8 km²) or 60.02% of it is land and 13.3 square miles (34.5 km²) or 39.98% is water. Much of the eastern side of town is considered unusually flat in comparison to the rest of Connecticut. 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. 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 stations Amtrak stations are at Bridgeport (10 miles) and Stamford (12 miles). Westport station is the more widely used of the two, even among people living geographically closer to Green's Farms mainly because more trains stop there. The wait for a parking sticker at the Westport station is now nearly four years long. DemographicsAs 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 194.2/km² (503.0 persons/sq mi). The racial makeup of the town was 95.16% White, 1.13% African American, 0.05% Native American, 2.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.81% from two or more races. 2.34% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 9,586 households out 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. The median income for a household in the town was $119,872, and the median income for a family was $152,894. 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.[2] Neighborhoods
FloodingA total of 26 percent of town residents live within the 100-year-flood plain, and homes and businesses located near the water can become flooded in extremely intense storms. Many other communities along the Connecticut shoreline have flood-prone areas, but Westport has been cited as an example of a town that has taken more action than others in mitigating the problem. In one storm on December 11, 1992, when a Nor'easter struck the state, many cars parked at the Westport railroad station were immersed in water. "Very strong easterly gales of 55 mph (89 km/h) created by the storm caused severe coastal flooding in Westport and several other communities," according to the Association of State Floodplain Managers. "The Compo Beach and Saugatuck Shores areas of Westport were especially hard hit with virtually every building in both areas being inundated."[3] A total of 22 homes were raised higher starting in the mid-1990s with some help from state grants, and the town has taken other flood protection measures, including the installation of 16 combination staff gauges and evacuation signs,as well as the publication of a disaster preparedness brochure. These made Westport "the first community in Connecticut to have an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan" for flooding.[3] The town also has enacted tough regulations on home renovation and construction in flood-prone areas. Homeowners or businesses that build additions or renovations to their buildings in flood-prone areas must elevate the structure to one foot above the Base Flood Elevation if their renovations or additions exceed 50 percent of the fair market value of the property in any five-year period.[3] Another flood which hit the town on October 20, 1996, resulted in no damage to the original seven elevated homes, although several dozen others, not elevated, were flooded again. Ideas for preventing more flooding, such as construction of a berm near Compo Beach, were shelved in the mid-1990s, as they were considered too expensive. History
Although colonists settled along the Saugatuck River in 1639, Westport was officially incorporated as a town in 1835 with land taken from Fairfield, Weston and Norwalk. For several decades after that, Westport was a prosperous agricultural community, which distinguished itself as the nation's leading onion-growing center. Westport's Compo Beach was the site of a British expeditionary force's landing, in which about 2,000 British soldiers marched to Danbury and razed it, resulting in the Battle of Ridgefield. They were attacked on the way and attacked upon landing by Minutemen from Westport and the surrounding areas. A statue of a Minuteman, rifle in hand, is located near Compo Beach. The statue has its back towards the beach to symbolize the Minutemen's strategy of waiting for the British to land and then attacking them from behind. It wasn't until after the turn of the century that Westport gained the reputation as artist's colony and cultural center. While Westport still retains its cultural roots, the town is no longer an artist's colony. Despite the small-town charm, Westport is a thriving business center and home to approximately 15 corporate headquarters and more than 660 retailers. Timeline
1637: John Mason, Roger Ludlow and group of soldiers enter area for first time to battle Pequot Indians in Great Swamp. 1639: Several families led by Roger Ludlow return to area, purchase land in Fairfield and Norwalk from Indians, build church and log cabins. 1640: Several other families move to area from New Amsterdam, a large city 50 miles (80 km) away. 1648: Five settlers from Fairfield request Colonial Assembly's permission to settle in Machamux, today's Green's Farms. They call themselves the "Bankside Farmers." 1703: First schoolhouse built at Green's Farms commons area. 1777: British troops land at Compo Point; proceed north to burn supplies and ammunition at Danbury, Connecticut; engaged by American forces at the Battle of Ridgefield. 1789: George Washington visits Marvin Tavern. 1807: Newly laid out Post Road passes through growing port area of Saugatuck River. 1835: Daniel Nash and group of businessmen petition for incorporation of Westport, which includes parts of Fairfield, Norwalk, Old Saugatuck and Weston. 1842: Railroad arrives. 1861-65: Westport becomes biggest onion supplier to U.S. Army during Civil War. 1882: Staples High School founded, on Riverside Avenue. 1903: First automobile seen in Westport. 1908: Westport Public Library opens. 1920: F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald spend summer in Westport. 1935: Local artist paints mural on speakeasy wall, commemorating friends "we'll never forget." 1938: Merritt Parkway opens. 1949: First Representative Town Meeting (RTM) formed. Over 125 candidates vie for 26 slots. 1955: Parker-Harding Plaza created, behind Main Street stores. 1958: Connecticut Turnpike opens. 1959: New Staples High School, on North Avenue, opens. 1960: Town purchases Longshore Club Park. 1967: United Illuminating proposes building nuclear power plant on Cockenoe Island. Most Westporters oppose plan, and prevail in court. Twenty-first centuryOn September 11, 2001, two Westport residents were killed in the terrorist attacks of that day: Jonathan J. Uman, 33, and Bradley H. Vadas, 37. Both were in the World Trade Center.[4] The state's 9/11 memorial was put in Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. On the National Register of Historic Places
EducationWestport Public SchoolsTotal enrollment in Westport Public Schools as of Oct. 1, 2005 was 5,492 students. Each school has its own Web site. Staples High School,[6] was ranked by Newsweek magazine in 2005 as 452nd on a list of the best 1,000 high schools in the country[5] (Grades 9 to 12) with 1,800 students. The district has two middle schools (Grades 6 to 8) -- Bedford Middle School[7] and Coleytown Middle School -- with a total of 1,321 students. There are five elementary schools (Kindergarten to Grade 5) with a total of 2,556 students:
Long Lots, Saugatuck, and Greens Farms feed into Bedford. The other 2 schools feed into Coleytown. There a number of preschools in Westport, including Stepping Stones Pre-school, Greens Farms Nursery School, and Saugatuck Nursery School. For the 2006-07 fiscal year, the school district's budget is $82 million. The school district had a $78.6 million budget for the 2005-06 fiscal year, giving it an average per pupil expenditure of $14,316.citation needed The average class size in the school system as a whole was 21 students.citation needed Private educationGreens Farms Academy, located in the 1920s Vanderbilt estate overlooking Long Island Sound. GFA is a K-12 private preparatory school located in the Greens Farms section of town. Famous Places and Events of Westport
TheaterWestport is known for its excellent theatrical opportunities for both the audience and for the performer.
Media
Notable people past and presentFor a much longer list, see: List of people from Westport, Connecticut Among the many famous actors, singers and other entertainers who have lived in town are couples Paul Newman (until his death in 2008) and Joanne Woodward, as well as Phil Donahue and Marlo Thomas, radio personality Don Imus, singer Michael Bolton, recording artists Ashford and Simpson, and film producer Harvey Weinstein. Famous current and past residents include Martha Stewart, Bette Davis, Jim Nantz, Michael Douglas, comedians Rodney Dangerfield, Christopher Lloyd (Staples High School Class of 1957) and Imogene Coca, actress Marilyn Chambers (born in town), writer, TV and film actor Jack Klugman(Jacob Joachim Klugman), child actress Linda Blair, actress Sandy Dennis, Luke Greenfield, F. Scott Fitzgerald, actress Brett Somers, actor Geoffrey Holder, actress Pamela Sue Martin, actress Mariette Hartley, Helen Keller, US Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortas sportscaster Jim McKay and ABC News Anchor Harry Reasoner. Artists who lived in town include Saturday Evening Post cover illustrator Stevan Dohanos, singer/song writer Neil Sedaka, photographer Annie Leibovitz, The Twilight Zone creator Rod Serling, cartoonist Mel Casson, writer Peter De Vries and jazz musician Gerry Mulligan. Hilla von Rebay, founding curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, spent the last years of her life in Greens Farms and died there in 1967. Fala (1940-1952), President Franklin D. Roosevelt's dog, was an early Christmas gift from Mrs. Augustus G. Kellogg, a town resident. Actress Gene Tierney grew up in Greens Farms.citation needed Movies filmed in Westport
Prominent companies
Significant nonprofit institutions
Major Clubs and Service OrganizationsWestport Young Woman's League [20] - since its inception in 1956, the League has donated more than three million dollars to area charities.citation needed Its main fundraising events are the Creative Arts Festival, held at Staples High School in November, and the Minute Man Race in the spring. The League performs many community service activities. Westport Woman's Club [21] - founded in 1907, the club is dedicated to the promotion of charitable, cultural, educational and public health services. Its clubhouse, the 1881 Sidney Watts house, is located at 44 Imperial Avenue. The programs the Woman's Club has initiated to the town are numerous. League of Women Voters [22] - encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Sister CitiesWestport currently has three sister cities: See alsoFor further reading
References
External links
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