Westport, established in 1865, is a coastal town in Fairfield County, Connecticut. It is just 47 miles from New York City and is situated between the towns of Norwalk and Fairfield along Long Island Sound. The population is approximately 26,552 people living within 20.01 square miles.
The town has two Metro North railroad stations, Westport (Saugatuck) and Greens Farms on the Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven line, which serves Grand Central Terminal in New York City and Union Station in New Haven. This line is shared with Amtrak trains, as it is part of the Northeast Corridor.
Westport has long been considered a cultural oasis. With its proximity to New York City combined with the serene lifestyle of Long Island Sound, Westport has always attracted many up-and-coming and famous artists. Established in 1930 as a summer theater, The Westport Country Playhouse has become nationally recognized and now offers year-round productions starring many famous performing artists. The Levitt Pavilion, an outdoor theater on the banks of the Saugatuck River, provides over 70 free concerts on a nightly basis during June, July and August. These are just a few of the cultural attractions that Westport has to offer.
Downtown Westport, commonly referred to as “Main Street” maintains the charm of New England while also providing boutiques, specialty shops and services, and well known national clothing chains. Intermixed among many of the bustling stores are exceptional restaurants, considered to be among the best in Fairfield county.
The Long Island Sound and the Saugatuck River offer the perfect backdrop to many outstanding recreational activities. The Inn at Longshore has an 18 hole golf course, three swimming pools, tennis courts, paddle tennis courts, the Longshore Sailing School, a picnic area and pavilion, a boating marina and yacht basin. During the winter months, the tennis courts are transformed into a picturesque skating rink. Next door lies Compo Beach offering a state-of-the-art playground, beachside softball and basketball courts and acres of beautiful, sandy beach. Sherwood Island is a state owned public beach that overlooks all the gorgeous shores of Long Island Sound.
Westport Schools
The educational system in Westport is exceptional. There are five elementary schools for kindergarten through fifth grade: Greens Farms School, Long Lots, Saugatuck Elementary, Kings Highway Elementary and Coleytown Elementary. Middle School begins in sixth grade at Bedford Middle School or Coleytown Middle. Both middle schools funnel into Staples High School. Westport public schools spend $11,217 per student compared to the national average of expenditure per student in the United States of $6,058.
For further information on the Westport Board of Education, please visit www.westport.k12.ct.us.
For more information on Westport, Connecticut, please visit www.westportct.gov and related links.
