Bridgeport

Bridgeport is a significantly diverse neighborhood in Chicago located on the city’s South Side. It is bordered by the south branch of the Chicago River towards the North and Bubbly Creek towards the West. Pershing Road is located towards the South of the community area, and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks border it towards the east. Neighborhood zip codes are parts of 60616,60608, and 60609. It is older than most neighboring suburbs sharing South Side architecture designs as seen in Longwood Manor. Distinct neighborhoods classified under the five geographical regions are as follows; Towards downtown, there is MCLevy Gren, Harral Square, The Hollow and Enterprise Zone. The South End has Seaside Park and Sandgate. The West Side neighbors ar Black Rock and West Side. The North End has Brooklawn, Lake Forest, Lake Success, Whisky Hill and Little Italy. Towards the East, East End, Pleasure Beach, Steel Point and Lower East Side. Ashland borders the city towards 89th street, 107nth street and some areas of the Conrail railroad tracks. Distance from the trucks to the Chicago loop is 15 minutes.

Population

The earliest inhabitants of the neighborhood were the native American tribe, Potawatomi. Jean Baptiste is the first non-indigenous inhabitant of the region and is referred to as the “founder of Chicago”. Over time, the demographics have shifted from a 200 people population in the 19nth century to today 146000. Statistics from the world population review in 2021 classified the neighborhood racial composition as follows:

· Bi or tri-racial- 2.85%

· Asians- 3.5%

· Others- 10.58%

· Black Descent- 32%

· Whites- 40%

83 % of Bridgeport inhabitants are U.S citizens, a lower statistical data from the previous 93%in 2018. The median age of the residents is 34.3. Native borns, however, have a younger median age of 29 compared to the 42 foreigners medium age.

Real Estate

Diversification and higher populations have caused an increase in housing demands resulting in price hikes and limited supply. Zip Code 60608 has 76550 homes for sale, 60609 has 63,601 and 60610 has 39904. Single-family attached and detached homeownership percentage ranks at 23% from the previous 19%in 2010. Multifamily 2 to 4 units home percentage stands at 34% from the last 42.5+ multifamily units are at 435 from the former 395 while mobile homes and others stand at 0%. Recently redeveloped and completed rental properties( studio, one and two bedrooms) have been developed, especially in Stamford. Element One, located in the same city, has redeveloped 175 luxury units as of 2018. Affordability indexing in Bridgeport is above the median Chicago range of 33500 with an 81.0 rating in 2017. Planned redevelopment projects placed for 2022 include:

· Cherry Street Lofts

· Father Panik Village Sites

· Marina Village

· Steelpointe

· Remington Arms property

· Barnum Train Station

· General Electric Site

It is called the “park city” due to its wide range of yearly cultural, social and creative functions. Its numerous parks hold events where artistic scenes are recreated. The Seaside park, for instance, is a fantastic family and friends chilling spot with its long shoreline sandy beach and woody spaces. The Pleasure Beach is another recreational spot with restaurants and more extended markets that add to the neighborhood’s aesthetics. Music and theater venues and events in the town include the Webster Bank Arena that holds sporting events and live concerts, and the Klein Memorial Auditorium, where touring shows and concerts are held. The latter has a 1400 seat capacity and is home to the famous Greater Bridgeport Symphony. Children’s entertainment is offered at Downtown Cabaret Theater and in museums and zoos. The Beardsley Zoo is the solo state zoo. The Barnum Museum offers circuses and showman historical celebrations. Housatonic Museum of Art and community college shows scientific exhibits and affiliates with the national space program.

Schools

Schools District ranking in Bridgeport is conducted by analyzing major statistics and reviews from students, parents and the U.S Education Department. In the ranking, factors considered include SAT/ACT scores, college readiness, state test score, public school district rating and quality of the tutors. There are 75 preschools, 43 elementary schools, 37 middle schools, 21 high schools, 43 public district schools, six public charter schools, and 58 private schools. In 2022, the best school districts and prominent private schools list of the neighbourhood ranked as follows:

· Multicultural Magnet School- Elementary

· Bridgeport International Academy

· Aerospace Hydrospace Engineering and Physical Sciences at Fairchild Wheler Campus- public.

· Pierre pont School- Private

· Green Farms Academy- Private

· BASIS Independent Brooklyn

· Fairfield College Preparatory School- Private.

· Achievement First Bridgeport Academy- Public

· Green Oaks Charter School- Public

Multicultural Magnet School rates first in the school districts elementary list, middle school list and 73rd overall in the Connecticut Elementary schools. The current student population is 467. Student to teacher ratio is 15:1 with 30 full time certified teachers. Student diversity shows a 77.1% minority enrollment rate. 56 % of the enrolled population are female, while 44% are male. Their highest ranking factor is the reading Proficiency Rank at 84th place in Connecticut.

Aerospace Hydrospace Engineering and Physical Sciences at Fairchild Wheler Campus is ranked top in the best high schools in the district. Its total enrollment stands at 449, and the teacher to student ratio is 20:1. It offers grades 9 to 12 and has been ranked the 90th place in Connecticut. The total minority enrollment rate is 80 percent. The highest national ranking factor attained is 2830th in the College readiness index ranking. The state graduation rank number is 145th in the state. School gender distribution percentages stand at 35 for females and 65 for males. It offers services to the economically disadvantaged population (60 %) through a 7% reduced lunch price program. Full-time teachers in the institution are 23.

Bridgeport International Academy is rated the best private school in the district. Its 2022 student population is 62 students with a class average of 12 people. Sixty per cent of its population are students of color, and its student-teacher average ratio is 6:1.

Crime Ratings

Statistics from the Chicago Police department shows that in District 03, murder and sexual assault incidents have changed by 50 per cent between January 17 and 23rd. At the same time, vehicle theft cases have shown a 7 per cent reduction rate. Shooting incidences remained constant while its crime complaint rate reduced by 11 per cent. Historically, crime rates were highest in 2021, with 155 reported cases compared to 2018, where only 139 crime cases were reported.

History

Geographically, Bridgeport is the largest city in Connecticut, with a population of 150000 as of 2020. It ranks fifth most populated in the New England region. The first European settlement is recorded to have started in 1644 at Black Rock Harbor at Pequonnock. They had a sacred spot, the Golden Hill, the current expressway route. Early economic and subsistent activities involved cultivation, livestock keeping and fishing using old techniques such as netting and spearing. The 20th century saw Bridgeport become an industrial center and population rise to 100000 people. Settlers included the Irish, Germans and Slovak immigrants. Factories at the time had the Singer factory, which still makes sewing machines, and the Wheeler and Wilson company. Other industrial companies were Stanley Steamer made steam cars and the Locomobile Company of America. Deindustrialization in the late 1970s affected the industry, and the cases of county mismanagement caused the conviction of significant officials. In 1978, teachers from Bridgeport went on strike for 19 days and demonstrated over contract negotiation issues. There was a court order stating that strikes by public servants in Connecticut were illegal. Thus, 274 teachers got fired and jailed.

The 21st century has seen Bridgeport become a race tolerant town while redeveloping stalled projects and those that failed during deindustrialization. Lofts and rental conversions have been redeveloped and equipped to cater for population growth. The 2007-2008 recession majorly halted the 1 billion dollar Steel Point development project and the Bijou Square condo project. The latter has, however, been redeveloped. The City Council, in 2009, approved the development project for the protection of residential neighborhoods. In 2010, they passed the bill on 20 million dollars as a federal stimulus fund for the Bridgeport Housing Authority. This was to stabilize housing after the Father Panik Village demolitions. In recent times, the MGM Resorts International company has proposed plans to construct a waterfront casino alongside a shopping mall in the city. Once built, the project is estimated to provide over 7000 job opportunities, both permanent and temporary.

The public park in Bridgeport was first planned for in 1806 in a public square. Population growth over time showed the essence of public areas, and by 1864, over 44 acres of land were set aside to build the Seaside Park, which now stands at 375 acres. The Beardsley park was allocated for in 1878 along the Pequonnock River. Fredrick Law is the designer of the two mentioned parks.

In terms of leadership, there is a mayor-council system in the city with 20 elected city council members from the districts. Notable corruption and malpractice cases reported involved the use of cocaine by John Fabrizi, a Mayor in 2006. Eddie Perez, the Mayor of Hartford in 2010, was involved in a corruption case.

Bridgetown Chicago is a friendly environment with lots of activities and bustling recreational life. Life is very affordable and peaceful. It is a place one would recommend their children to relocate to.