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Welcome to Westport
Fairfield County
Connecticut
School Information
Detailed Town Statistics
Summary Town Statistic
Westport
Westport is a coastal town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in the United States. The 2004 population estimate was 26,644.
The town is as affluent as other expensive Fairfield County towns, boasting a per capita income of more than $70,000. It is one of the most affluent communities in the United States. However, Westport has more cultural bustle than similar-sized towns, with the Westport Country Playhouse a longtime regional theatre, the unique Levitt Pavilion providing free concerts, a strong arts council, and a heritage as a former artists' colony.
The town has two Metro North railroad stations, Westport (Saugatuck) and Greens Farms.
Westport is a member of Westports of the World (WOW).
Sections of town
Saugatuck -- around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town -- a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices.
Greens Farms -- around the Greens Farms railroad station near the southeastern corner of town.
CockenoeIsland (pronounced "KawKEEnee") -- just off the southeastern coast of the town.
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. 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 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 away.
1648: Five settlers from Fairfield group request Colonial Assembly's permission to settle in Green's Farms. They call themselves "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.
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.
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 century
On September 11, 2001, two Westport residents were murdered in the terrorist attacks of that day: Jonathan J. Uman, 33, and Bradley H. Vadas, 37. Both were in the World Trade Center.[2] The state's 9/11 memorial was put in Sherwood Island State Park in Westport. In addition, the Coleman Brothers, Scott and Keith were killed in the attack. Although no longer Westport residents, they were both raised in town and graduated from Staples High School.
Famous Places and Events of Westport
Westport's Compo Beach was the site of the British invasion of Danbury, also known as Tryon's Raid.
Also near Compo Beach is the famous Minuteman Statue. One may notice that this statue was built facing away from the beach. This is because it commemorates the way the Minutemen hid and waited until they could attack the large British army from behind.
Westport houses the Westport Country Playhouse, a theatre scene active since 1930.
The city was made famous by the I Love Lucy television show, as it is where the Ricky and Lucy Ricardo (played by Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball) moved to after purchasing their new home. It was also the fictional residence of Darrin and Samantha Stephens on the television series Bewitched.
Joe Arcudi (1993-1997) was the first and as of yet the only Italian-American First Selectman in town history.
The film The Girl Next Door was vaguely based on Westport. It was filmed and set in California.
One of the most popular tracks on REO Speedwagon's eponymous debut album, released on Epic Records in 1971, was "157 Riverside Avenue." The title refers to the Westport address where the band stayed while in the studio, and remains an in-concert favorite.
The book The Stepford Wives was based on Westport. Some scenes from the 1975 film were filmed in Westport.
Notable people past and present
Individuals are listed by area in which they are best known:
Actors, artists, musicians, other entertainers
Michael Bolton, singer, current resident
Linda Blair child star who appeared in The Exorcist and a television actor, is a past resident
Marilyn Chambers (b. 1952), reformed porn star, born in town.
Imogene Coca, comedienne
Kevin Conroy (b. 1955), an actor, spent much of his childhood in town.
Karen Gibeault Daniels, opera performer, past resident
Rodney Dangerfield, comedian, past resident
Bette Davis, late actress, past resident
Sandy Dennis (1937–1992) Academy Award-winning actress, died in town.
Stevan Dohanos (1907–1994) an artist and illustrator known for his Saturday Evening Post covers, lived in town.
Phil Donahue, (husband of Marlo Thomas) talk show host, current resident
Michael Douglas, actor, past resident
Linda Fiorentino, actress
Matt Gallant (b. 1964), a television host, was raised in town.
William Glackens (1870–1938), a realist painter, died in town.
Luke Greenfield, grew up in town, movie director
Dan Hartman (1950–1994) a singer, songwriter and record producer, died in town.
Don Imus, current resident
Patricia Kalember (b. 1957), an actress, was partly raised in town.
Kerri Kenney-Silver (b. 1970), an actress, singer, writer and daughter of Larry Kenney, was born in town.
Larry Kenney, actor, radio personality on the Don Imus show and father of Kerri Kenney-Silver, lives in town.
Annie Leibovitz (b. 1949), portrait photographer, was born in town.
Christopher Lloyd, actor, past resident, 1957 graduate of local public high school, Staples High School.
Pamela Sue Martin (b. 1953), an actress, was born in town.
Cady McClain (born 1969), soap opera actress, owned a home in town since 1992
Steve Miner (b. 1951) a film and television director, was born in town.
Paul Newman (husband of Joanne Woodward), entrepreneur and actor, current resident
Alisan Porter (b. 1981), an actress and singer, went to high school in town.
Nile Rodgers, musician and music producer
Brett Somers, actress, game show personality
Marlo Thomas (wife of Phil Donahue), actress, current resident
Eric Von Schmidt (b. 1931), a folk and blues singer-songwriter of the folk/blues revival of the 1960s, is a town resident.
Harvey Weinstein, film producer, current resident
Joanne Woodward (wife of Paul Newman), actress, current resident
Madchen Amick actress, mother
Authors, writers, journalists
Lincoln Child (b. 1957), author of techno-thriller and horror novels, was born in town.
Frank Deford, journalist, writer and commentator, current resident
Peter De Vries (1910-1993) an editor and novelist, died in Norwalk.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, past resident
Hardie Gramatky (1907-1979), author, artist, illistrator, resident later in life, died and buried in town.
Hilton Kramer, editor and art critic, current resident
Ruth Krauss (1901-1993), author of children's books, including The Carrot Seed, died in town.
Robert Lawson (1892-1957), an author and artist whose children's books made him the first person to receive both the Newbery Medal (Rabbit Hill, 1945) and Caldecott Medal (They Were Strong and Good, 1940), died in town.
Harry Reasoner, late news anchor, lived in town
Max Wilk, author and current resident
Jane Yolen, author and past resident
Government and politics, office holders and activists
Wilbur Lucius Cross, (1862-1948), a governor of the state and namesake of the Wilbur Cross Parkway, was principal of Staples High School in his early 20s.
Henry M. Judah, a Civil War brigadier general, is entombed at Kings Highway Cemetery in town.
Others
Alan Abel, perpetrator of elaborate hoaxes, author, mockumentary film maker
Patti Davis, Ronald Reagan's daughter, briefly a resident in the 1990s
Jean Donovan an American missionary murdered in El Salvador. Was raised in town.
Matt Harding, Internet phenom
Helen Keller, past resident
Martha Stewart, homemaking advocate and businesswoman, former resident
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article “Westport, Connecticut”.
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