Page 34 - 181 Riverside Flipbook

The Story of Westport

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 & early settlers,
charmed by the lovely locale, began arriving around 1648. The

area quickly developed into a bustling agricultural & trade center
with wharves, stores, taverns & 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 & musicians who flocked

to the town giving it a slightly bohemian, charmingly off-beat
quality. The creative influx flourished & theater, music, art galleries
appeared. Likewise & of equal enjoyment, tennis, boating & golf

became popular, & 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 & commuters, all drawn to the vitality of a thriving
intellectual community. A dichotomy between affluent suburbia
& 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. Boasting a population filled with

exceptional schools, impressive recreational programs & facilities,
a quintessential main street & a phenomenal host of eateries &
shops all drenched in cosmopolitan flair, Westport offers something

for everyone. A picture perfect marina, wonderful sandy beaches,
a town golf course, pool & skating rink are just some of this small
town’s treasures. Celebrating a beautiful coastline on Long Island

Sound, Westport is ideally located 45 miles northeast of NYC.