Bridgeport, West Virginia | |
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 Logo | |
| Motto: Opportunity Lives Here | |
 Location of Bridgeport in Harrison County, West Virginia. | |
| Coordinates:39°17′48″N80°15′5″W / 39.29667°N 80.25139°W /39.29667; -80.25139 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Harrison |
| Chartered | 1816[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Manager Plan |
| • City Manager | Randy Wetmore |
| • Mayor | Andrew Lang |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.73 sq mi (27.80 km2) |
| • Land | 10.69 sq mi (27.69 km2) |
| • Water | 0.042 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,020 ft (311 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 9,325 |
• Estimate (2021)[3] | 9,257 |
| • Density | 827.1/sq mi (319.33/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 26330 |
| Area codes | 304,681 |
| FIPS code | 54-10180[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1536341[5] |
| Website | www.bridgeportwv.com |
Bridgeport is a city in easternHarrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 9,325 at the 2020 census.[3] It is part of theClarksburg micropolitan area inNorth Central West Virginia.
Bridgeport had its beginning in pre-American Revolutionary War times. In 1764, John Simpson entered the area and gave his name to Simpson Creek. Bridgeport was chartered in 1816. Bridgeport was first settled between 1771 and 1774 with the establishment of Simpson Creek Baptist Church, one of the first churches west of theAllegheny Mountains, and surrounding log cabins.[6] The town is believed to have been named for a bridge across Simpson Creek, but it is unclear what bridge was the namesake. Future Virginia governorJoseph Johnson was said to have seen the bridge as a port and named the town as such.[6] Others claim that the town name was meant to be "Bridge Fort," for the two forts built by early settlers, but the name was changed to Bridgeport after a mapmaker mislabeled it.[7] Bridgeport was chartered in 1816 and incorporated in 1887.[6]
TheNorthwestern Turnpike fromWinchester toClarksburg opened its portion in Bridgeport in 1838;stagecoaches began operating on the line in 1852.[6] During theAmerican Civil War, the town had split loyalties. The ConfederateJones–Imboden Raid of 1863 attacked much of the town's businesses and residents.[6] Establishing stockyards in the early century, the arrival of theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad in the 1850s led Bridgeport to be a center of trade for thecattle industry.[6] Manufacturers opened in the town in the early 1900s, including the West Virginia Pottery Company, Bridgeport Lamp Chimney Company, and later the Master Glass Company.[6]
In 1969, a painting ofJesus by Walter Sallman, called "Head of Christ", was hung on a wall outside theBridgeport High School principal's office, and it stayed there for 37 years,[8] despite multiple requests to have it taken down over the years.[9] In 2006,Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the West Virginia American Civil Liberties Union sued the city in federal court, saying that hanging painting in a public school indicates that the school endorses Christianity as its official religion.[8][a] On August 17, 2006, a thief stole the painting from the wall.[11] On September 1, some students gave the principal a framed mirror to hang in place of the stolen painting.[12] The mirror was inscribed with "To know the will of God is the highest of all wisdom. The love of Jesus Christ lives within each of us."[12] Because the painting was no longer hanging in the school, the school board decided to drop its defense of the lawsuit, and the parties settled out of court.[12][13]
Bridgeport is located at39°17′48″N80°15′5″W / 39.29667°N 80.25139°W /39.29667; -80.25139 (39.296544, -80.251305),[14] alongSimpson Creek.[15]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.56 square miles (27.35 km2), of which 10.52 square miles (27.25 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.[16]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 395 | — | |
| 1890 | 455 | 15.2% | |
| 1900 | 464 | 2.0% | |
| 1910 | 577 | 24.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,346 | 133.3% | |
| 1930 | 1,567 | 16.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,581 | 0.9% | |
| 1950 | 2,414 | 52.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,199 | 73.9% | |
| 1970 | 4,777 | 13.8% | |
| 1980 | 6,604 | 38.2% | |
| 1990 | 6,739 | 2.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,306 | 8.4% | |
| 2010 | 8,149 | 11.5% | |
| 2020 | 9,325 | 14.4% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 9,257 | [3] | −0.7% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] | |||
At the2010 census there were 8,149 people, 3,458 households, and 2,383 families living in the city. The population density was 774.6 inhabitants per square mile (299.1/km2). There were 3,678 housing units at an average density of 349.6 per square mile (135.0/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 95.5% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.9% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7%.[18]
Of the 3,458 households 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 28.2% of households were one person and 12.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86.
The median age was 44.7 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 30.8% were from 45 to 64; and 18.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.
At the2000 census there were 7,306 people, 2,988 households, and 2,103 families living in the city. The population density was 880.4 inhabitants per square mile (339.9/km2). There were 3,190 housing units at an average density of 384.4 per square mile (148.4/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 96.93% White, 1.25% African American, 0.05% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29%.[4]
Of the 2,988 households 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.8% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 26.9% of households were one person and 13.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.
The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% 65 or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.1 males.
The median household income was $49,310 and the median family income was $58,825. Males had a median income of $46,590 versus $29,861 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,132. About 3.7% of families and 5.0% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.
Bridgeport is home toMeadowbrook Mall, a super-regional shopping complex. The mall has agross leasable area of 849,206 square feet (78,894 m2) and 109 stores.[19] In September 2022, battery startup SPARKZ announced it would convert a formerglass plant in Bridgeport into a production facility for zero-cobaltlithium batteries.[20]
Pete Dye Golf Club opened in 1993, rated the number one golf course in West Virginia and number 60 on America's 100 Greatest Golf Courses byGolf Digest.[21]
Simpson Creek Baptist Church is recognized as the oldestBaptist church in West Virginia by the West Virginia Baptist Convention and is also generally accepted as being the oldestProtestant church west of theAllegheny Mountains. The first formal records of the church are dated 1774.
There are two historic bridges in the city, theSimpson Creek Covered Bridge built in 1881, and theBridgeport Lamp Chimney Company Bowstring Concrete Arch Bridge built in 1924.
TheGovernor Joseph Johnson House, also known as Oakdale, was the residence ofJoseph Johnson, the 32ndGovernor of Virginia. Johnson was the only governor of Virginia from theTrans-Allegheny region.
Bridgeport is served by the publicHarrison County Schools district. Schools serving the city includeBridgeport High School, Bridgeport Middle School, Johnson Elementary School and Simpson Elementary School.[22]
Bridgeport is home to a library, the Bridgeport Public Library.
North Central West Virginia Airport is located in Bridgeport.Allegiant Air has scheduled service toOrlando–Sanford andMyrtle Beach.United Express offers flights toChicago–O'Hare andWashington–Dulles.
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Municipalities and communities ofHarrison County, West Virginia,United States | ||
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