Page 30 - Old Orchard LONG BROCHURE

THE STORY OF WESTPORT

Population 28,042
Size 20 Square Miles

Mill rate 18.07
Public Schools 5 Elementary, 2 Middle, 1 High School
Private Schools Green Farms Elementary

Like many New England towns, Westport’s unique character can be traced to the
town’s roots in Native American tribes. Local Indians used the beautiful shoreline
for their summer camps and early settlers, charmed by the lovely locale, began
arriving around 1648. The area quickly developed into a bustling agricultural and
trade center with wharves, stores, taverns and homes during the Revolutionary War,

the local militia played a major role, engaging the retreating British in a skirmish near
Compo Beach where a Minuteman statue commemorates the event. It wasn’t until
1835 that the region became incorporated as a town, breaking off from the original
town of Fairfield.

Soon after the turn of the 20th century, Westport was again discovered, this time
by artists, writers and musicians who flocked to the town giving it a slightly
bohemian, charmingly off-beat quality. The creative influx flourished
and theater, music, art galleries appeared. Likewise and of equal

enjoyment,tennis, boating and golf became popular, and fine educational
institutions were founded. Well established families brought a beehive
of cultural activity & businessmen flocked to the town’s quality of
life.

Today, the population is a comfortable mix of families,
small business owners and commuters, all drawn to
the vitality of a thriving intellectual community. A
dichotomy between affluent suburbia and old

New England milieu, Westport retains all
the charm of a small New England town
with the gifts that come along with
obtaining the American dream.