Bridgeport,  an historic seaport city in Connecticut, and its largest city, boasting  a population of 148,654 in 2020, is the fifth-most populous city in New England. Located in Fairfield County at the mouth of the Pequonnock River on Long Island Sound, it is 60 miles (97 km) from Manhattan and 40 miles (64 km) from The Bronx.

From the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century, Bridgeport’s history was one of shipbuilding, whaling and rapid growth. Bridgeport’s growth accelerated even further from the mid-19th century to the mid-20th century with the advent of the railroad, Industrialization, massive immigration, labor movements until, at its peak population in 1950. The city’s most famous resident has been circus-promoter and once-mayor P.T. Barnum, who built four houses in the city and housed his circus in-town during winters. The only zoo in Connecticut is the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport. Bridgeport is home to several institutes of higher education, including  the University of Bridgeport, founded in 1927,  St. Vincent’s College, a private Roman Catholic college (dating back to 1991), and Housatonic Community College, home of the Housatonic Museum of Art with its extensive art collection 

Bridgeport offers a wealth of attractions: majestic shoreline parks, fascinating museums, regional baseball, hockey, and festivals and national musical acts and performances.