Bridgeport, West Virginia
Bridgeport, West Virginia | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 54-10180[3] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 1536341[4] | |
Website | www.bridgeportwv.com |
Bridgeport is a city in eastern Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 9,325 at the 2020 census.[2] It is part of the Clarksburg micropolitan area in North 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.
History
Bridgeport was first settled between 1771 and 1774 with the establishment of Simpson Creek Baptist Church, one of the first churches west of the Allegheny Mountains, and surrounding log cabins.[5] 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 governor Joseph Johnson was said to have seen the bridge as a port and named the town as such.[5] Bridgeport was chartered in 1816 and incorporated in 1887.[5]
The
On June 29, 2006, the city became noted as the site of a showdown over the issue of
Geography
Bridgeport is located at 39°17′48″N 80°15′5″W / 39.29667°N 80.25139°W (39.296544, -80.251305),[7] along Simpson Creek.[8]
According to the United 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.[9]
Demographics
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 | [2] | −0.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census[10] |
2010 census
At the
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.
2000 census
At the
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 the
Economy
Bridgeport is home to
Culture
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 by Golf Digest.[14]
Simpson Creek Baptist Church is recognized as the oldest
There are two historic bridges in the city, the Simpson Creek Covered Bridge built in 1881, and the Bridgeport Lamp Chimney Company Bowstring Concrete Arch Bridge built in 1924.
The Governor Joseph Johnson House, also known as Oakdale, was the residence of Joseph Johnson, the 32nd Governor of Virginia. Johnson was the only governor of Virginia from the Trans-Allegheny region.
Education
Bridgeport is served by the public Harrison County Schools district. Schools serving the city include Bridgeport High School, Bridgeport Middle School, Johnson Elementary School and Simpson Elementary School.[15]
Bridgeport is home to a library, the Bridgeport Public Library.
Transportation
Notable people
- Michael Late Benedum, wealthy businessman who made his fortune in the oil and natural gas industry
- Mike Florio, sportswriter
- Joseph Johnson, 32nd Governor of Virginia and the only from west of the Allegheny Mountains
- Confederate States Senator from Missouri
- T. Michael Martin, young adult novelist, author of 'The End Games'
- Benjamin Wilson, U.S. Representative from West Virginia's 1st district
References
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g Caldwell, Becky (February 13, 2013). "Bridgeport". e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
- ^ West Virginia Metro News Network
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ISBN 0-89933-246-3.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 21, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2007.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Zero-cobalt Li-ion battery maker SPARKZ announces site for W Va gigafactory". Green Car Congress. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
- ^ "Archived Document". Archived from the original on September 7, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ "Harrison County Board of Education". Harrison County Schools. Retrieved April 20, 2023.