Bridgeport, Texas | |
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.jpg) Downtown Bridgeport | |
 Show Bridgeport Show Wise County Show Texas Show the United States | |
| Coordinates:33°12′38″N97°46′17″W / 33.21056°N 97.77139°W /33.21056; -97.77139 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Wise |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.85 sq mi (20.32 km2) |
| • Land | 7.84 sq mi (20.31 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0039 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 768 ft (234 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 5,923 |
| • Density | 755.3/sq mi (291.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 76426 |
| Area code | 940 |
| FIPS code | 48-10264[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 2409907[2] |
| Website | www |
Bridgeport is a city inWise County,Texas, United States. The population was 5,923 in 2020.[4] In 2009, Bridgeport was named by the Texas Legislature as the Stagecoach Capital of Texas.[5]
Bridgeport's history began in February 1860 when William H. Hunt was granted a charter from the West Fork Bridge Company to build a bridge across the West Fork of theTrinity River. The bridge was located approximately one mile southwest of the present townsite. A Texas State Historical Marker alongside Farm To Market Road 920 denotes the spot of the original bridge today.
The wooden bridge was used for a portion of theButterfield Overland Mail stage route used for only a few months between August 1860 and March 1861. After theAmerican Civil War began, the mail route was no longer used and the original wooden bridge was abandoned, deteriorated and collapsed into the river.
In 1873 a new iron bridge was built and a post office established, thus formally creating the city of Bridgeport, TX. Its future was assured in 1882 when Charles Cates discovered a vein ofbituminous coal while drilling for water. The Wise County Coal Company was formed and was a leading producer of coal for the state until competition from natural gas and petroleum closed the coal mines in 1929.
A catholic congregation was served by Rev. J.J O'Riordan fromHenrietta, the first Catholic Church in Wise County, theSt. John the Baptizer Catholic Church was constructed in 1926.[6]
In 1893 theRock Island Railroad established a line east of the town, so the town moved approximately one mile east to its present site. In 1913 the town was incorporated. Gas and Oil production became a local industry prior to 1917. The 1920s census showed a town of 1,872. During the 1920s, limestone quarries that produced aggregate for road construction and a brick factory were established. In 1931, a dam was constructed approximately three miles west of town on the West Fork of the Trinity River, creating Lake Bridgeport. The lake was a local center for recreation and remains so today.
During the latter half of the 20th century, Bridgeport's oil, gas, and limestone industries continued to flourish and the town became the second largest town in Wise County. These industries continue to be the local economic leaders.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, Bridgeport has a total area of 7.9 square miles (20 km2), all land.[7]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen climate classification system, Bridgeport has ahumid subtropical climate,Cfa on climate maps.[8]
| Climate data for Bridgeport, Texas (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1935–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 92 (33) | 96 (36) | 96 (36) | 101 (38) | 106 (41) | 115 (46) | 114 (46) | 115 (46) | 111 (44) | 105 (41) | 93 (34) | 90 (32) | 115 (46) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 56.1 (13.4) | 60.0 (15.6) | 67.5 (19.7) | 75.6 (24.2) | 82.8 (28.2) | 90.8 (32.7) | 95.6 (35.3) | 95.9 (35.5) | 88.4 (31.3) | 78.2 (25.7) | 66.5 (19.2) | 57.8 (14.3) | 76.3 (24.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 43.5 (6.4) | 47.3 (8.5) | 54.8 (12.7) | 63.3 (17.4) | 71.8 (22.1) | 80.0 (26.7) | 83.9 (28.8) | 83.5 (28.6) | 76.2 (24.6) | 65.2 (18.4) | 53.9 (12.2) | 45.3 (7.4) | 64.1 (17.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 30.9 (−0.6) | 34.6 (1.4) | 42.1 (5.6) | 50.9 (10.5) | 60.8 (16.0) | 69.2 (20.7) | 72.1 (22.3) | 71.1 (21.7) | 63.9 (17.7) | 52.1 (11.2) | 41.2 (5.1) | 32.8 (0.4) | 51.8 (11.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 1 (−17) | 1 (−17) | 9 (−13) | 24 (−4) | 34 (1) | 48 (9) | 53 (12) | 52 (11) | 33 (1) | 21 (−6) | 10 (−12) | −8 (−22) | −8 (−22) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 1.67 (42) | 2.21 (56) | 2.84 (72) | 3.04 (77) | 4.55 (116) | 3.73 (95) | 2.07 (53) | 2.18 (55) | 3.04 (77) | 3.91 (99) | 2.19 (56) | 1.91 (49) | 33.34 (847) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.6 (1.5) | 0.5 (1.3) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.51) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.2 (0.51) | 1.8 (4.6) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 4.5 | 4.8 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 7.8 | 6.3 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 5.1 | 5.6 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 62.1 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Source:NOAA[9][10] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 39 | — | |
| 1890 | 498 | 1,176.9% | |
| 1900 | 900 | 80.7% | |
| 1910 | 2,000 | 122.2% | |
| 1920 | 1,872 | −6.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,464 | 31.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,735 | −29.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,049 | 18.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,218 | 57.1% | |
| 1970 | 3,614 | 12.3% | |
| 1980 | 3,737 | 3.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,581 | −4.2% | |
| 2000 | 4,309 | 20.3% | |
| 2010 | 5,976 | 38.7% | |
| 2020 | 5,923 | −0.9% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 6,514 | 10.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[11] | |||
| Race | Number | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 2,750 | 46.43% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 157 | 2.65% |
| Native American orAlaska Native (NH) | 25 | 0.42% |
| Asian (NH) | 45 | 0.76% |
| Some Other Race (NH) | 3 | 0.05% |
| Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH) | 192 | 3.24% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2,751 | 46.45% |
| Total | 5,923 |
As of the2020 United States census, there were 5,923 people, 1,777 households, and 1,322 families residing in the city.
Bridgeport is served by theBridgeport Independent School District.
Bridgeport is served by theBridgeport Municipal Airport.
Lake Bridgeport is located west of the city and offers recreational boating and watersports, as well as freshwater fishing.[14] Bridgeport Falls is also located to the south, on theWest Fork of the Trinity River.[15]
The City operates Northwest OHV Park on the north of the city limits. This is a 300-acre park for motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, and Jeeps to roam over trails through varied terrain.
For almost 100 years, Bridgeport was served by the First National Bank of Bridgeport. The bank was purchased in the late 1900s by primary investors Billie C. Green, W.W. "Wilson" Ray, and M.L. Manoushagian. It, however, was sold in December 2005 toFirst Financial Bank (Texas) (stock symbol FFIN[16]) based inAbilene and became part of a six branch bank consisting of institutions in Bridgeport, Boyd, Decatur, Keller, and Trophy Club.[17][18][19]
The Community Bank opened the doors for business in June 2007. It is the only locally owned and independently operated bank in Bridgeport, Texas. Every year, the bank donates thousands of dollars and numerous hours of community service to the school district and local charities.The Community Bank is guided by officers Theresa East, Jamie Cook and Joe Murphy.[20]
Municipalities and communities ofWise County, Texas,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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