Editing Bridgeport, West Virginia

{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Bridgeport, West Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[City]]
|image_skyline            = GOVERNOR JOSEPH JOHNSON HOUSE, BRIDGEPORT, HARRISON COUNTY, WV.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = [[Governor Joseph Johnson House]]
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =
|image_blank_emblem       = Logo of Bridgeport, West Virginia.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo

<!-- Maps -->
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = Opportunity Lives Here

<!-- Images -->
|image_map                = File:Harrison County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Bridgeport Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Bridgeport in Harrison County, West Virginia.
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|coordinates              = {{coord|39|17|48|N|80|15|5|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in West Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[West Virginia]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison]]

<!-- Government -->
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = Manager Plan
|leader_title             = City Manager
|leader_name              = Randy Wetmore
|leader_title1            = Mayor
|leader_name1             = Andrew Lang
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_54.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 27.80
|area_total_sq_mi         = 10.73
|area_land_km2            = 27.69
|area_land_sq_mi          = 10.69
|area_water_km2           = 0.11
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.04

<!-- Population -->
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 311
|elevation_ft             = 1020
|population_total         = 9325
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref>
|population_density_km2   = 319.33
|population_density_sq_mi = 827.05

<!-- General information -->
|population_est           = 9257
|pop_est_as_of            = 2021
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 26330
|area_code                = [[Area code 304|304]], [[Area code 681|681]]
|website                  = [http://www.bridgeportwv.com/ www.bridgeportwv.com]
|footnotes                = 
|timezone                 = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 54-10180<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1536341<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
}}

'''Bridgeport''' is a city in eastern [[Harrison County, West Virginia]], United States. The population was 9,325 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/> It is part of the [[Clarksburg micropolitan area]] in [[North Central West Virginia]].

==History==
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 the [[Allegheny Mountains]], and surrounding log cabins.<ref name="ewv">{{cite web|url=https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/2343 |title=Bridgeport |author=Caldwell, Becky |publisher= e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia |date=February 13, 2013 |access-date=April 20, 2023 }}</ref>  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 (Virginia politician)|Joseph Johnson]] was said to have seen the bridge as a port and named the town as such.<ref name="ewv" /> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuggle |first=Zach |date=2015-08-20 |title=How 'Bridge Fort' became Bridgeport, and other tales of the city's history |url=https://www.wvnews.com/bridgeportnews/news/how-bridge-fort-became-bridgeport-and-other-tales-of-the-citys-history/article_b76fff20-f2f6-5aac-8604-4a85f52eb603.html |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=WV News |language=en}}</ref> Bridgeport was chartered in 1816 and incorporated in 1887.<ref name="ewv" />

The [[Northwestern Turnpike]] from [[Winchester, Virginia|Winchester]] to [[Clarksburg, West Virginia|Clarksburg]] opened its portion in Bridgeport in 1838; [[stagecoaches]] began operating on the line in 1852.<ref name="ewv" /> During the [[American Civil War]], the town had split loyalties. The Confederate [[Jones–Imboden Raid]] of 1863 attacked much of the town's businesses and residents.<ref name="ewv" /> Establishing stockyards in the early century, the arrival of the [[Baltimore and Ohio Railroad]] in the 1850s led Bridgeport to be a center of trade for the [[cattle]] industry.<ref name="ewv" /> 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.<ref name="ewv" />

On June 29, 2006, the city became noted as the site of a showdown over the issue of [[separation of church and state in the United States]].  A portrait of [[Jesus]] originally hung on a wall at [[Bridgeport High School (West Virginia)|Bridgeport High School]].  Two parents filed suit in [[United States federal courts|federal court]] to have the portrait removed, after the Harrison County Board of Education deadlocked over whether to remove the portrait.[http://www.wdtv.com/viewstory.html?name=2196027]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}  The portrait of Jesus was stolen from Bridgeport High School early in the morning on August 17, 2006 and a mirror was put in its place.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311234744/http://www.wvmetronews.com/index_forsub.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=16178 West Virginia Metro News Network]</ref>

==Geography==
Bridgeport is located at {{coord|39|17|48|N|80|15|5|W|type:city}} (39.296544, -80.251305),<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> along [[Simpson Creek (West Virginia)|Simpson Creek]].<ref>[[DeLorme]] (1997).  ''West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer''.  Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme.  p.25.  {{ISBN|0-89933-246-3}}.</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|10.56|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|10.52|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web |title=US Gazetteer files 2010 |url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2013-01-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt |archive-date=2012-01-25 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 395
|1890= 455
|1900= 464
|1910= 577
|1920= 1346
|1930= 1567
|1940= 1581
|1950= 2414
|1960= 4199
|1970= 4777
|1980= 6604
|1990= 6739
|2000= 7306
|2010= 8149
|2020= 9325
|estyear=2021
|estimate=9257
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] there were 8,149 people, 3,458 households, and 2,383 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|774.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,678 housing units at an average density of {{convert|349.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2010 census|racial 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%.<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2013-01-24}}</ref>

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 [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 7,306 people, 2,988 households, and 2,103 families living in the city. The population density was {{convert|880.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,190 housing units at an average density of {{convert|384.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial 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%.<ref name="GR2" />

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 [[poverty line]], including 6.6% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

== Economy ==
Bridgeport is home to [[Meadowbrook Mall]], a super-regional shopping complex. The mall has a [[gross leasable area]] of {{convert|849,206|sqft|m2|0}} and 109 stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.icsc.org/srch/lib/SCDefinitions99.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2007-05-27 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621081346/http://www.icsc.org/srch/lib/SCDefinitions99.pdf |archivedate=2007-06-21 }}</ref> In September 2022, battery startup SPARKZ announced it would convert a former [[Glass production|glass plant]] in Bridgeport into a production facility for zero-[[cobalt]] [[Lithium-ion battery|lithium batteries]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Zero-cobalt Li-ion battery maker SPARKZ announces site for W Va gigafactory |url=https://www.greencarcongress.com/2022/09/20220901-sparkz.html |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Green Car Congress}}</ref>

== 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]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.petedye.com/sites/courses/greatoaks.asp?id=758&page=44096 |title=Archived Document |access-date=November 3, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907044145/http://www.petedye.com/sites/courses/greatoaks.asp?id=758&page=44096 |archive-date= September 7, 2009 }}</ref>

Simpson Creek Baptist Church is recognized as the oldest [[Baptist]] church in West Virginia by the West Virginia Baptist Convention and is also generally accepted as being the oldest [[Protestant]] church west of the [[Allegheny Mountains]]. The first formal records of the church are dated 1774.

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 (Virginia politician)|Joseph Johnson]], the 32nd [[Governor of Virginia]]. Johnson was the only governor of Virginia from the [[Allegheny Mountains|Trans-Allegheny]] region.

==Education==
Bridgeport is served by the public [[Harrison County Schools]] district. Schools serving the city include [[Bridgeport High School (West Virginia)|Bridgeport High School]], Bridgeport Middle School, Johnson Elementary School and Simpson Elementary School.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Harrison County Board of Education |url=https://www.harcoboe.net/ |access-date=April 20, 2023 |website=Harrison County Schools}}</ref>

Bridgeport is home to a library, the Bridgeport Public Library.

== Transportation ==
[[North Central West Virginia Airport]] is located in Bridgeport. [[Allegiant Air]] has scheduled service to [[Orlando Sanford International Airport|Orlando–Sanford]] and [[Myrtle Beach International Airport|Myrtle Beach]]. [[United Express]] offers flights to [[O'Hare International Airport|Chicago–O'Hare]] and [[Washington Dulles International Airport|Washington–Dulles]].

==Notable people==
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* [[Michael Late Benedum]], wealthy [[business]]man who made his fortune in the [[oil]] and [[natural gas]] industry 
* [[Mike Florio]], sportswriter
* [[Joseph Johnson (Virginia politician)|Joseph Johnson]], 32nd [[List of governors of Virginia|Governor of Virginia]] and the only from west of the [[Allegheny Mountains]]
* [[Waldo P. Johnson]], [[Congress of the Confederate States|Confederate States Senator]] from [[Missouri]]
* [[T. Michael Martin]], young adult novelist, author of 'The End Games'
* [[Benjamin Wilson (congressman)|Benjamin Wilson]], U.S. Representative from [[West Virginia's 1st congressional district|West Virginia's 1st district]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Bridgeport (West Virginia)}}
* [http://www.bridgeportwv.com City of Bridgeport official website]
* [http://www.greater-bridgeport.com/ Greater Bridgeport Conference and Visitors Center]

{{Harrison County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia municipalities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Bridgeport, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Cities in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Cities in Harrison County, West Virginia]]
[[Category:Northwestern Turnpike]]
[[Category:Clarksburg micropolitan area]]
[[Category:1816 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:1887 establishments in West Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1816]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1887]]