Bridgeport, Pennsylvania


Bridgeport is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, north of Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River. Former industries included paper, flour, cotton, woolen mills, steel works, and brickyards. Bridgeport is east of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington and the Continental Army passed through Bridgeport on their way to their winter encampment in Valley Forge. 3,097 people lived in Bridgeport in 1900; 3,860 in 1910; and 5,904 in 1940. The population was 4,554 at the 2010 census.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bridgeport has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Demographics

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 79.8% White, 7.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.8% Asian, and 3.4% were two or more races. 12.8% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry .
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,371 people, 1,983 households, and 1,070 families residing in the borough. The population density was 6,679.9 people per square mile. There were 2,088 housing units at an average density of 3,190.9 per square mile. The racial makeup of the borough was 91.44% White, 2.68% African American, 0.14% Native American, 2.43% Asian, 1.26% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.84% of the population.
There were 1,983 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.1% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.0% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 18.9% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 34.3% from 25 to 44, 21.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.1 males.
The median income for a household in the borough was $36,899, and the median income for a family was $44,292. Males had a median income of $32,305 versus $27,523 for females. The per capita income for the borough was $19,420. About 5.4% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.7% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Bridgeport has a city manager form of government with a mayor and a seven-member borough council. The borough manager is currently Keith S. Truman, and the mayor is Mark E. Barbee. Beginning in 2014, council contracted from nine to seven members.
The borough is part of the Fourth Congressional District, the 149th State House District and the 17th State Senate District.

Education

Bridgeport Borough is part of the Upper Merion Area School District.

Infrastructure

The Bridgeport Bridge is a Historic American Engineering Record-documented Philadelphia & Western Railway bridge spanning the Schulykill River west of DeKalb Street. It is a single-track curving structure that was built in 1912. The structure, including trestle approaches and spans over the river, has been believed to be "perhaps the longest bridge on an American interurban railroad".

Notable people